Nomination of Candidates for the IFSW Executive Committee (Document 10 Jan. 2002)
To: Member Organizations of the International Federation of Social Workers
Cc IFSW Executive Committee
Ottawa, January 10, 2002
The International Federation of Social Workers will hold its next General Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, July 10-12, 2002, at which Officers and Members-at-large of the Executive Committee for the next term will be elected.
Your organization is hereby invited to prepare for nomination of candidates, in accordance with By-Law 11(b) of the current constitution. Please note that you can only nominate candidates from your own organization.
The deadline for nominations is 60 days before the date set for counting the ballots (May 13, 2002).
As you are aware, IFSW is engaged in a major review of its constitution. To this effect, attached you will find a memo from the IFSW Secretariat. A full briefing paper outlining the proposed changes is being prepared, and the Secretariat will send it out not later than April 11, 2002. A full set of nomination documents, taking the proposed changes into consideration, will be mailed out together with this briefing paper. Please wait to receive these documents before you send us your nomination(s).
Yours sincerely,
Eugenia Repetur Moreno, SW, MSW. (Equiv.), RSW
IFSW Elections Officer
c/o CASW Executive Director
Canadian Association of Social Workers
383 Parkdale Avenue, Suite 402,
OTTAWA, ON K1Y 4R4, CANADA
Tel (1) 613 729 6668, Fax (1) 613 729 9608
Email: morenoeu@casw-acts.ca
Cc IFSW Executive Committee
Ottawa, January 10, 2002
The International Federation of Social Workers will hold its next General Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, July 10-12, 2002, at which Officers and Members-at-large of the Executive Committee for the next term will be elected.
Your organization is hereby invited to prepare for nomination of candidates, in accordance with By-Law 11(b) of the current constitution. Please note that you can only nominate candidates from your own organization.
The deadline for nominations is 60 days before the date set for counting the ballots (May 13, 2002).
As you are aware, IFSW is engaged in a major review of its constitution. To this effect, attached you will find a memo from the IFSW Secretariat. A full briefing paper outlining the proposed changes is being prepared, and the Secretariat will send it out not later than April 11, 2002. A full set of nomination documents, taking the proposed changes into consideration, will be mailed out together with this briefing paper. Please wait to receive these documents before you send us your nomination(s).
Yours sincerely,
Eugenia Repetur Moreno, SW, MSW. (Equiv.), RSW
IFSW Elections Officer
c/o CASW Executive Director
Canadian Association of Social Workers
383 Parkdale Avenue, Suite 402,
OTTAWA, ON K1Y 4R4, CANADA
Tel (1) 613 729 6668, Fax (1) 613 729 9608
Email: morenoeu@casw-acts.ca
MEMO FROM THE IFSW SECRETARIAT
To: All Member Organisations of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
Dear Colleagues,
As you know over the past 4-years the IFSW has been engaged in a major review of its constitution. The first part of that process was concluded at the Montreal 2000 General Meeting and the second stage will be brought to the forthcoming General Meeting to be held in Geneva July 10-12, 2002.
Members who were present at the Montreal General Meeting will recall that a number of problems and limitations were identified with the existing provisions governing elections. The need to address those issues urgently was expressed at the conclusion of the Montreal meeting. During the intervening two years the Executive Committee, with the assistance of its Structure and Operations sub-committee, have engaged in a period of consultation and discussion about proposed changes. Member organisations will recall receiving a discussion paper in February 2001.
Based on that consultation and subsequent discussions a full briefing paper outlining the proposed changes to the constitution has been prepared and is currently being finalised. It will be distributed to all member organisations at least 90 days before the General Meeting.
The international nature of IFSW and the fact that we can only afford to meet in person every two years, raises difficulties in terms of achieving constitutional reform which is both efficient and achieved in a timely manner. If we are not to wait until 2004 for change, the required resolutions to amend the constitution must be passed at and must be effective as from the 2002 General Meeting. Meanwhile, we are obliged to continue operating under the existing constitution as if the proposed changes will not be effected (and indeed in case some or all of them are not).
The most significant problem is that the full reform proposals include key changes in the constitutional provisions relating to the Executive Committee, but that the implementation of the existing provisions for the elections of the Executive Committee at the forthcoming meeting must continue unaffected by the possibility that they will be superseded.
Specifically, we are required to issue the enclosed call for nominations for elections to the Executive Committee, on not less than 180 days’ notice, in accordance with By-Law 11(b) of the current constitution, while the full reform proposals include:
i. a reduction in the number of Executive Committee members;
ii. an increase in the standard term in office;
iii. an increase in the total number of consecutive years individuals may serve as Executive Committee members; and
iv. new procedures to ensure terms in office are staggered, so providing constitutional assurance that the Executive Committee will retain continuity of experience and that a situation will not arise where all members are due to be replaced in a single election.
The Executive Committee proposes to address these complexities in the following way:
1. Members are asked to respond to the call for nominations in the usual way and the Election Officer will process nominations in the usual way.
2. As stated above the full briefing paper setting out the full reform proposals will be circulated to all members at least 90 days before the General Meeting. In as far as the proposals are inconsistent with the existing election procedure, the briefing paper will state this explicitly and will set out a full explanation as to why the Executive Committee consider this to be in the best interests of IFSW. The briefing paper will also state explicitly how far such changes are intended immediately to supersede the existing election procedure and how far they are, instead, intended to be introduced by longer-term transitional arrangements.
3. In as far as the reform proposals contemplate a different outcome from that which would be produced under the existing procedures, this will be made explicit and if the new arrangements require new nominations in these terms, again, this will be explicitly stated and fully explained in the briefing paper.
4. The reform proposals will be taken at the 2002 General Meeting as a series of resolutions.
5. To the extent that the effect of this is the adoption of proposals that are inconsistent with the existing election procedures, the new Executive Committee will be appointed in accordance with the newly amended constitution, rather than the existing procedures.
In proposing this course of action the Executive Committee is very conscious of its duty to make every step fully comprehensible to Members, to explain its reasoning with great clarity and due detail, and most importantly to demonstrate to the Members that the course of action is, despite the difficulty and complexity, in the best interests of the IFSW.
Members are asked to appreciate this and to apply themselves with great care to the briefing paper went it is sent and in particular to the relationship between the reform proposals and the existing constitutional arrangements for the Executive Committee.
Members should also appreciate that to achieve what is intended will involve some very particular drafting of the reform proposals and of required transitional provisions within the constitution itself.
Bates, Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors have assisted us in this process. They are a London based firm with extensive experience in constitutional matters relating to Non Government Organisations. It is anticipated that a meeting with the solicitors, to be held in February will enable the finalization of the paper referred to above.
Berne, January 10, 2002
Tom Johannesen
Secretary General
Dear Colleagues,
As you know over the past 4-years the IFSW has been engaged in a major review of its constitution. The first part of that process was concluded at the Montreal 2000 General Meeting and the second stage will be brought to the forthcoming General Meeting to be held in Geneva July 10-12, 2002.
Members who were present at the Montreal General Meeting will recall that a number of problems and limitations were identified with the existing provisions governing elections. The need to address those issues urgently was expressed at the conclusion of the Montreal meeting. During the intervening two years the Executive Committee, with the assistance of its Structure and Operations sub-committee, have engaged in a period of consultation and discussion about proposed changes. Member organisations will recall receiving a discussion paper in February 2001.
Based on that consultation and subsequent discussions a full briefing paper outlining the proposed changes to the constitution has been prepared and is currently being finalised. It will be distributed to all member organisations at least 90 days before the General Meeting.
The international nature of IFSW and the fact that we can only afford to meet in person every two years, raises difficulties in terms of achieving constitutional reform which is both efficient and achieved in a timely manner. If we are not to wait until 2004 for change, the required resolutions to amend the constitution must be passed at and must be effective as from the 2002 General Meeting. Meanwhile, we are obliged to continue operating under the existing constitution as if the proposed changes will not be effected (and indeed in case some or all of them are not).
The most significant problem is that the full reform proposals include key changes in the constitutional provisions relating to the Executive Committee, but that the implementation of the existing provisions for the elections of the Executive Committee at the forthcoming meeting must continue unaffected by the possibility that they will be superseded.
Specifically, we are required to issue the enclosed call for nominations for elections to the Executive Committee, on not less than 180 days’ notice, in accordance with By-Law 11(b) of the current constitution, while the full reform proposals include:
i. a reduction in the number of Executive Committee members;
ii. an increase in the standard term in office;
iii. an increase in the total number of consecutive years individuals may serve as Executive Committee members; and
iv. new procedures to ensure terms in office are staggered, so providing constitutional assurance that the Executive Committee will retain continuity of experience and that a situation will not arise where all members are due to be replaced in a single election.
The Executive Committee proposes to address these complexities in the following way:
1. Members are asked to respond to the call for nominations in the usual way and the Election Officer will process nominations in the usual way.
2. As stated above the full briefing paper setting out the full reform proposals will be circulated to all members at least 90 days before the General Meeting. In as far as the proposals are inconsistent with the existing election procedure, the briefing paper will state this explicitly and will set out a full explanation as to why the Executive Committee consider this to be in the best interests of IFSW. The briefing paper will also state explicitly how far such changes are intended immediately to supersede the existing election procedure and how far they are, instead, intended to be introduced by longer-term transitional arrangements.
3. In as far as the reform proposals contemplate a different outcome from that which would be produced under the existing procedures, this will be made explicit and if the new arrangements require new nominations in these terms, again, this will be explicitly stated and fully explained in the briefing paper.
4. The reform proposals will be taken at the 2002 General Meeting as a series of resolutions.
5. To the extent that the effect of this is the adoption of proposals that are inconsistent with the existing election procedures, the new Executive Committee will be appointed in accordance with the newly amended constitution, rather than the existing procedures.
In proposing this course of action the Executive Committee is very conscious of its duty to make every step fully comprehensible to Members, to explain its reasoning with great clarity and due detail, and most importantly to demonstrate to the Members that the course of action is, despite the difficulty and complexity, in the best interests of the IFSW.
Members are asked to appreciate this and to apply themselves with great care to the briefing paper went it is sent and in particular to the relationship between the reform proposals and the existing constitutional arrangements for the Executive Committee.
Members should also appreciate that to achieve what is intended will involve some very particular drafting of the reform proposals and of required transitional provisions within the constitution itself.
Bates, Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors have assisted us in this process. They are a London based firm with extensive experience in constitutional matters relating to Non Government Organisations. It is anticipated that a meeting with the solicitors, to be held in February will enable the finalization of the paper referred to above.
Berne, January 10, 2002
Tom Johannesen
Secretary General
page last updated on 22.10.2005