[Annelida] Letter of the president IPA

[Guillermo San Martín]

Dear colleagues and friends,

The International Polychaete Association (IPA) was created in 1986,after the 
First International Polychaete Conference. Every Association has a 
constitution; the original was developed by Dr Kirkegaard and was modified by 
David George in July 1989 and Pat Hutchings (1992, Angers), and finally 
approved at the 1998 Conference in Curitiba. The constitution of the IPA and 
members of the Advisory Council of the years 1998-2001 are available in 
Annelida web page (http://biocollections.org/pub/worms/ipa-intr.html). All 
polychaetologists are strongly encouraged to consult it.  

During the final meeting of the VIII IPC, in Madrid, July 2004, no changes to 
the Constitution were proposed, a new President was elected and some new 
members were invited onto the Advisory Council (AC).  

However, two problems must be solved, to proceed correctly with the rules of 
our constitution. In this letter, I am proposing some changes as president of 
the IPA, which includes several suggestions made by numerous colleagues, to 
whom I want to express my acknowledge for their interest.  

One of the problems is the composition of the AC. There are countries without 
representation and other countries with more than one; also, some members have 
been in the AC from many years; our constitution (Article V, section 2) states 
clearly that "the term of office of members will be six years, with half of 
the membership elected each triennium". Also, the Advisory Council "shall 
provide balanced representation among regions"; since the picture of the 
polychaetologists on the world has substantially changed during the last 
years, the composition of the AC should be modified.  

The other is the Secretary-Treasurer.  This office is elected for a six year 
term and must be renovated. I would like to acknowledge all the work that Andy 
has undertaken during these six years. He has already sent to me his 
resignation by e-mail.        

Ruth Barnich, is kindly willing to take over the job. However, it is necessary 
to know if anybody else is willing too. Please, contact me if there is any 
other candidature or if you propose any other. The deadline for other 
candidatures is the 31st January. After February 1st, I will contact all you 
again to give the proposed names and ask for your vote.  

Regarding the composition of the AC, it is more difficult to solve by e-mail. 
However, this point must be in the agenda for discussion during the next 
conference. I encourage to all the polychaetologists to think about proposals 
for a balanced composition of the AC, in which all workers on polychaetes be 
represented, according the rules of our constitution, as well as any other 
change.

The AC will be also constituted by the President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past 
President and Past Conference Host. 

I also want to encourage for candidatures for the following International 
Polychaete Conference. I have formally received none yet, and it would be 
accurate to have several to be voted during the next one. I remind you that 
there is a protocol for the selection of the conferences in our constitution, 
which should be sent to me and presented and voted in the next conference. I 
am looking for offers for the conference in 2010.  

I want to wish to all you HAPPY CHRISTMAS, as well as a HAPPY YEAR 2005 plenty 
of discoveries and success.  


Wormly and metamerically 
Guillermo San Martín

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