The world of cancer information
International Cancer Information Service Group (ICISG)
General Meeting of Members
August 28, 5PM – 6PM
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Geneva, Switzerland
The International Cancer Information Service Group (ICISG) met at the UICC World Cancer Congress in Geneva on Thursday August 29, 2008. The General Meeting of the Members was called to order by Anne Vézina, president of the ICISG. In attendance were 23 participants.
| Board members | |
Anne Vézina (chair) Silvia Den (ex-officio) |
Canadian Cancer Society, Canada |
| Participants from member organizations | |
Gillian Batt |
Cancer Council New South Wales, Australia |
MEETING OF THE MEMBERS
1. Welcome to members
Anne Vézina welcomed everyone to the 2008 ICISG general meeting of the members. She acknowledged the generous sponsorship and support of the UICC, American Cancer Society and the Swiss Cancer League, as the host of the general meeting of the members. She introduced Bruno Mieli, Executive Director of the Swiss Cancer League, to say a few words.
Bruno Mieli spoke of the benefits of international collaborations and of the importance of cancer information services. He expressed his support and best wishes for ICISG.
The meeting was called to order. The agenda for the meeting was adopted and the minutes of the last general meeting held in Washington in July 2006 were approved. The minutes will be posted on the ICISG website.
2. Election of Board of Directors 2008-2010
During the nomination period from May 26 to July 25 2008, nominations for positions on the Board of Directors were received. Biographies of the candidates were posted on the web site at the end of July. Anne V reminded members that the ICISG board is a “hands-on” board and that the number of directors specified in the bylaws was extended from 12 to 15 in January 2008.
Anne V introduced the nomination of new candidates:
Silvia Den Swiss Cancer League
Marianne Duperray Institut national du cancer, France
Martin Ledwick Cancer Research UK
Tomoko Takayama National Cancer Centre, Japan
A vote was called and the four nominations were approved by the members to the ICISG for the period 2008-2010.
Anne introduced a motion for the re-election of six Board members:
Doreen Akkerman Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia
Mary Anne Bright National Cancer Institute, United States
Catherine Dickens United Kingdom
Cora Honing Dutch Cancer Society, Netherlands
Marion Morra Morra Communications, United States
Monika Preszly German Cancer Research Centre, Germany
The motion was carried unanimously.
Anne V encouraged individuals to join to Board of Directors as ex-officio members. She welcomed
Gillian Batt Cancer Council of New South Wales, Australia
Amanda Hordern Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia
Board of Directors 2008-10
Chris Thomsen (president) National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, United States
Doreen Akkerman Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia
Marianne Duperray Institut national du cancer, France
Mary Anne Bright National Cancer Institute, United States
Francesco de Lorenzo Associazione Italian Malati di Cancro Parenti e Amici – ImaC, Italy
Silvia Den Swiss Cancer League
Catherine Dickens United Kingdom
Roshini George American Cancer Society
Cora Honing Dutch Cancer Society, Netherlands
Martin Ledwick Cancer Research UK
Marion Morra Morra Communications, United States
Monika Preszly German Cancer Research Centre
Tomoko Takayama National Cancer Centre, Japan
Anne Vézina (past-president) Canadian Cancer Society
Irene Miller (secretariat) Canadian Cancer Society
Ex-Officio
Gillian Batt Cancer Council of New South Wales, Australia
Amanda Hordern Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia
Ana Olivera (Ex-Officio) UICC, Switzerland
3. President’s report 2006-08 [link to AGM presentation on the web]
Anne V acknowleded the contribution by the Board of Directors during 2006-08 and thanked Ana Olivera and Irene Miller for their generous support.
Anne V reminded all present of the mission of the organization and the objectives for 2006-08. She highlighted the growth in membership with 8 new members and reported on accomplishments as follows:
- Signature of a collaboration agreement with UICC in May 2007 to help cancer organizations build capacity to start a CIS
- Support cancer organizations to start a CIS (Japan, France, Turkey, South Korea)
- Relationships with other cancer associations (Associazione Italian Malati di Cancro Parenti e Amici – AIMaC, Italy, American Cancer Society, European Cancer League)
- Course on How to start and manage a CIS 2008 (51 participants from 18 countries)
- CIS Toolbox on www.icisg.org (25 unique users and 92 visits)
- Completion of the Strategic plan 2008-2010
- Publication The International Cancer Information Service: A World Wide Resource, Journal of Cancer Education 2007:22(suppl.);s61-s69
4. New President
Anne V expressed her appreciation to all present for their support during her presidency. She introduced Chris Thomsen as the new ICISG President for 2008-2010.
Link to Chris’ presentation- last section of AGM presentation
Chris T extended her thanks to all and specifically to the Swiss Cancer League, ACS, UICC and CCS for their sponsorship and support, and welcomed new Board members. Chris T provides a brief retrospective of the accomplishments of ICISG since 1996. She acknowledged past presidents and reminded everyone that it takes a village to progress.
Chris T presented the objectives for 2008-10 as follows:
Short-term
- Update the CIS Toolbox
- Update and refresh the website
- Survey members on ICISG services
- Expand outreach for workshops
- Explore collaborations with ACS and ECL
Longer term
- Explore new partnerships
- Expand memberships (especially with cancer organizations in South America and Africa)
- Increase advocacy
- Explore creation of an Advisory Committee
Chris T concluded by explaining that a membership with ICISG means being part of a worldwide network, it is a statement of unity and support, a commitment to quality in our work and it is a joint commitment to the power and importance of cancer information.
7.0 Next meeting and adjournment
Chris T noted that the Board of Directors conducts its business through conference calls and one in-person meeting per year. She noted that the next ICISG Meeting of the Members will be confirmed at a later date.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.