Quebec Hilton, Quebec, Canada

AGM 2004

Present: Catherine Bolton (USA); Margi Moscardi (South Africa); Gigi de Mier (Puerto Rico); Juan Carlos Molleda (USA); Margaretha Sjoberg (Sweden); Rose Marie Losier (Spain); Ulli Sats (Estonia); John Paluszek (USA); Marie Russell (USA); Karen Dalton (Canada); Robyn Quinn (Canada); Lisa Homer (Canada); Lisa Finucane (New Zealand); Anne Gregory (UK); Toni Muzi Falconi (Italy); Colin Farrington (UK); Steve Sawyer (UK); Jean Valin (Canada). FAPRA asked to observe but did not attend

Proxies
Received from CERP, Ireland and PRIA

Minutes of the AGM 2003
Minutes of the AGM 2003 were approved without amendment

Election Results - Returning Officer's Report
The returning officer, Gerry Davis (PRII), provided the following:

All elections uncontested
Sej Motau (PRISA) nominated and elected Chair 2006/7
Ajit Pathak (PRSI) and Francisco Biondo (Brazil), nominated and elected Members at Large
Congratulations were passed to Sej Motau as Chair-Elect

The report was duly accepted and approved

Report of the Honorary Treasurer
Margi Moscardi presented the financial report for year 2003/4
Noted that the GA budgets were small but that this is offset by voluntary work carried out by associations and 'seconded' staff members whose input more than doubles the budget in resource terms

The re-appointment of the auditors and acceptance of the financial report were duly approved

Amendment to the Article 9(1) of the articles of association
The new sub article 9.1(2) for the creation of a post of immediate past-chair was approved

AGM Closed

Membership Arrangements and Status

• Margaretha Sjoberg noted that the Danish Consultants Association is non-national and should be listed as such - there is a separate national association
• New members: Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; Venezuala
• In discussion: Czech and Swiss Associations
• Brazil changed to a national member
• Australia is becoming more involved, Lisa Finucane to liaise with PRIA

'PR Landscapes' Project - presented by Juan Carlos Molleda

• 12 guides currently published in the public area of the GA website
• All profiles have been approved by local representatives and then checked by Juan Carlos and Jean Valin
• Noted the need for contents pages on future guides
• A paper is available for other associations on what is required to produce a guide
• Several associations have offered to produce a guide in lieu of membership fees
• Guides to the Philippines, Nigeria, South Korea, Venezuela and New Zealand are in progress
• Challenges: availability of resources in different countries, need to assign this work to each national association in the future, requirement to make sure guides remain current and up-to-date
• PR Landscape project is a possible candidate for sponsorship
• Jean Valin noted the need to link together the PR Landscapes and Regulation Study in the future
• Thanks were extended to Juan Carlos for his continued hard work

Regulation Study Update - presented by Toni Muzi Falconi and John Paluszek

• Toni Muzi Falconi outlined the original objectives of the project; to find common areas of regulation and major issues which need addressing in the PR and communication management area
• In order to set parameters and create a model, focus was placed on three countries - Italy, South Africa and the UK, funded by a grant from Edelman Worldwide
• Suggestion has been made for the study now to be extended to Australia, Canada and Spain
• Need for dedicated person or organisation to monitor regulation coming out of Brussels and Washington - Executive Board to review options
• Next steps to be addressed at next council meeting

Committees and Board Liaison

• Current work group lists were reviewed
• Associations urged to seek participation from suitably experienced members in their country
• Full details are published on the GA website

Outreach and Future Meetings

• Francisco Biondo and Juan Carlos Molleda are working to extend membership in South and Central America
• Potential WPRF meeting and GA council in Brazil in Spring 2006
• Similar strategy in action in India. Potential Executive Board and regional council meeting in December 2005
• PRSA are putting together a delegation to China for 2005, GA representation will be included
• Proposals put forward for Council 2005 in Puerto Rico, Istanbul, Trieste, Bled and Sweden. Decision to be reached by September 2004. All proposals to be sent, according to the GA meetings protocol, by 1 August 2004
• Executive Board meeting will take place in London in November 2004

XPRL - report by Toni Muzi Falconi and Mike Granatt

• Toni Muzi Falconi has met and reviewed progress with the XPRL chair
• Agreement made for XPRL to appoint a fundraiser, using GA grant of $10k, to bring in money for XPRL. GA then to be reimbursed $10K upon successful completion
• Recognition given that XPRL must be extended and promoted and that GA involvement would help this

Closing Remarks

Jean Valin formally closed the meeting, thanking attendees for their involvement. Jean additionally thanked the Executive Board for their support and continued work.

Colin Farrington extended his personal gratitude and that of the Alliance to Jean Valin for his work as chairman, and to the CPRS for hosting the GA meetings.