Minutes of the 54th meeting of the Council of the International Union of Immunological Societies

              Minutes: 54th IUIS Council Meeting
Taipei, 16 October 2008
Present: Laurence Boumsell, Gérard Chaouat, Mohmed Daha, Alioune Dieye,
Peter Doherty, Anna Erdei, Gilbert Faure, Olivera Finn, David Hafler,
Wayne Hein, Jorge Kalil, Stefan Kaufmann, Michelle Letarte, Seppo
Meri, Marianna Newkirk, Clelia Maria Riera, Sergio Romagnani,
Christopher Rudd, Reinhold Schmidt, Kiyoshi Takatsu, Rudolf Valenta
Observers: Masa Myasaka, Yousuke Takahma, Margarida Carneiro (webmanager)
Excuses: Elopy Sibanda, Dexian, Zheng, Rolf Zinkernagel, Kenneth Söderhäll,
Pascal Launois, René A.W. van Lier, Christopher Parish, Helen Chapel
1. Opening
Professor Peter Doherty, President of IUIS, opens the meeting. He first thanks our hosts
of FIMSA and then welcomes all delegates and observers.
2. Minutes of the 52nd and 53rd Council Meeting, Rio 2007
Prof. Doherty thanks Prof. J. Kalil for the excellent ICI-meeting held in Rio, 2007. No
comments are made about the minutes because most of the relevant items are on the
agenda. The minutes are approved unanimously.
3. President’s Report (Prof. Doherty)
Prof. Doherty’s report is included in the attachments of the meeting. Most important
point is a proposal of the EXEC to launch an e-journal. This item will be discussed later.
Additionally Prof. Doherty is happy that we have succeeded in recruiting a website
manager (Dr. Margarida Carneiro).
4. Secretary General’s Report (Prof. Daha)
Moh Daha has prepared a report which is included in the attachments of the meeting. He
mentions that the business of IUIS has entered a stable phase again after the retirement of
Sylvia Trittinger. He is happy with the contribution of Margarida Carneiro and is looking
forward to hear the discussion about the possibilities to set up an e-journal that will give a
face to IUIS that is unique and that hopefully will boost the identity of IUIS.
Two new societies, Tunisia and Gambia, have become members of IUIS and a third
application of the Estonian Society for Immunology already has been received. It seems
that some administrative matters about the Singapore Society for Immunology are still
not completed. Both FIMSA and IUIS will try to sort this out.
5. Treasurer’s Report
The budget for 2008 has been approved already in Rio according to proposal B., which
meant that in general higher amounts than before were allocated to those committees that
required more operational costs. IUIS has two operating accounts, namely: one in US
Dollars and one in Euros. This facilitates bank transfers and saves costs. The treasurer,
Marianna Newkirk, indicates that our investment portfolio has suffered recently from the
economic slowdown and that we are busy sorting out which board members of IUIS have
signing authority. Once this is established, the EXEC, following consultation of the
Council (especially Drs. Hafler and Rudd), will take a decision when and where to