IFSW General Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 10-12 July 2002
Introduction
The IFSW now comprises member organisations in 79 countries representing 500,000 social workers worldwide.
The goals and priorities of the IFSW are determined by the membership through the Constitution. These are implemented by the elected Executive Committee and the appointed Secretary General and staff of IFSW.
Background
The Constitution was subject to limited review and change at the 2000 General Meeting in Montreal. A paper outlining the recommended changes was presented to that meeting and adopted with some amendments. Two other papers were tabled identifying a range of strategic and major constitutional matters. The General Meeting agreed that further work should be carried out in regard to the issues identified and other issues which emerged through the course of the General Meting. Subsequent to the General Meeting the following has occurred;
- A discussion paper was prepared and circulated to all member organisations, all main representatives and the Executive Committee. The paper was based on the original material presented in Montreal, the feedback from discussions and the continuing work of the Structure & Operations Committee in co-operation with the Membership Committee and the Elections Officers.
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- The paper was circulated in February 2001. The paper canvassed a series of key issues and sought feedback on specific questions. The questions were not mutually exclusive and members were invited to raise other issues, which they believed the Structure and Operations Committee should consider in its deliberations.
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- At its meeting in August 2001 the Executive Committee considered the results of the feedback. The Executive Committee noted the comparatively small number of respondents, however determined that
- The level of representation was sufficient to proceed.
- The matters raised were of such importance that they must be addressed and put to the General Meeting in 2002.
- Based on discussion in Singapore a further paper was developed which was discussed at the Officers Meeting in January 2002. This paper was also provided to the Solicitors Bates Wells and Braithwaite for their advice.
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The following represents the recommendations of the Executive Committee to the Membership, incorporating the advice of the IFSW Solicitors. Included in this paper are the motions which will be put to the General Meeting. These have been prepared by our solicitors to ensure that they are appropriate and in line with the general principles which govern NGO’s similar to the IFSW.
Many of these recommendations carry with them constitutional changes and we urge you to read the paper. If you are not clear about anything in this paper please seek clarification. Questions should be directed to the President who is also Chairperson of the Structure and Operations Committee. It is preferable that this be done via e-mail to
imeldad@bigpond.comRECOMMENDATIONS
Constitutional Recommendations
Goals of IFSW
- That the Goals of IFSW be altered to reflect the separation between goals and plans ( the means of attaining the goal)
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Membership
- That there be two classes of membership
- Full member
- Provisional member – member unable to meet all responsibilities and criteria for a period of time
- An organisation applying for membership shall be known as a Candidate
- Criteria for determining membership be changed to specify that completion of post secondary education in social work is a specific requirement.
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National Coordinating Bodies
- That the changes to the development of Co-ordinating bodies outlined in the attached document be endorsed.
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Regions
- That management of the membership process be transferred to the Vice Presidents and Regions in line with the process outlined at page ?
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Executive Committee - Size of Committee
- That the Executive Committee be reduced from 17 to 12.
- The 12 positions be, President, Treasurer, five (5) Vice Presidents and five (5) Members at Large, one from each region.
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Executive Committee - Elections Process
- That the election of the Vice President and Member at Large occur at the Regional level.
- That the election of President and Treasurer occur at the full membership level, i.e. the General Meeting.
- That the half of the Executive Committee be elected at one General Meeting and the other half be elected at the subsequent General Meeting thus ensuring a degree of continuity of skill in the Executive Committee
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Executive Committee - Terms of Office
- That the term of office be changed from 2 years to 4 years and that no individual may serve in any one Executive position for more than 8 years consecutively
- That no individual may serve for a total consecutive period of more than 12 years.
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Miscellaneous and Transitional Provisions
- That the series of recommendations prepared by the IFSW Solicitors to ensure the transition from one set of provisions to the new provisions be adopted together with minor alterations designed to clarify and make consistent the constitution.
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Non Constitutional Recommendations
- That IFSW increase levels of delegation within its structure and ask the Structure and Operations Committee to further develop a framework for delegation.
- That the IFSW introduce performance appraisals for all members of the Executive Committee, main representative and committee members. Further it asks the Structures & Operations Committee to develop a framework for further consideration
- That a review of the dues policy with particular reference to debt relief and default be referred to the Finance Committee for further and separate consideration. In doing so the Finance Committee should be guided by the comments received through the survey conducted in February 2001.
- That IFSW continue to be based upon a centralised structure however investigate all possible options to further strengthen regional structures within that framework.
- That regions be encouraged to engage in regional fundraising to the extent that is reasonable in the economic environment of the time and place.
- That the General Meeting remains at its current frequency – to be held every two years.
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The President & Secretary General have sought the advice of the Solicitors for IFSW on any transitional arrangements required. These are incorporated into this paper where appropriate.
A full description of the changes can be found in the attached report. Copies of the report on the survey conducted in February 2001 have not been included in the interests of paper and resources. They are available on request from the Secretariat and it would be preferable if they could be sent by e-mail. We will provide hard copies to those member organisations who do not have access to a reliable e-mail system.
Imelda Dodds
Convenor
On behalf of Structure & Operations Committee
April 2002
Mr. Terry Bamford has agreed to be the London based liaison person with our Solicitors Bates Wells & Braithwaite. This is also important in the event that any proposed changes could give rise to a conflict of interest for the Chairperson of Structures and Operations Committee and President, Imelda Dodds and all members of the current Executive Committee.
