Meeting of the Council of the European Federation

There is now a web site for both the European Federation and Working Group 2 (Nutrition). This is linked to the WPSA web site that nobody can ever find (www.wpsa.com) and which is seriously out of date. We are told that General Council are taking steps to rationalize the site and make it more effective.

Prof. Colin Whitehead (Secretary) reported that no increase in fees is necessary this year (the benefits of a canny Scot in charge!)

The Federation will sponsor a President's Prize for best paper and poster by young scientists at the European Poultry Conference.

Financial support will be given for Working Groups that are in the process of being set up (i.e. Turkeys and Reproduction). Lots of Working Group meetings are planned for 2001. Progress on the proposed Working Group on Physiology had stalled and steps will be taken to kick-start the process again.

Prof. Dietmar Flock described plans for the European Poultry Conference in 2002 to be held at Bremen, Germany, 12-15 August (inevitably clashing with several other meetings). A bid had been received to hold the 2006 meeting in Italy and there was more than a rumor that one would be submitted from France.

Meeting of Branch Secretaries

The Dutch Branch has produced a video in conjunction with a number of Dutch Companies on Poultry Health (further details above).
Piet Simons can also provide copies of the European Federation Working Group Tables on Nutrient Composition for $10.
New (large and clumsy!) lapel badges are available at a cost of $3.50 for anyone desperate to advertise their allegiance to WPSA. The Branch secretary will model one especially for delegates at the Annual Meeting in York (he gets one free, lucky man!).

Fees paid by Branches to the main organization will remain the same for another two years! UESCO could help with payments for the 100 developing countries that have difficulty paying in US$ … but it had proved to be difficult.

Prof. Avigdor Cahaner outlined plans for a list of experts that could be drawn upon by Branches in the Developing world for advice, professional visits and co-operative arrangements. The cost of travel would be met by WPSA - watch this space.

The WPSA Newsletter that usually duplicates what has already appeared in the Journal and Branch Newsletters might be sent out by email and added to the website (see under European Federation).

A new membership list will be printed in June 2001. It will also be placed on line. Data-protection issues were glossed over.

General Council

Membership is up 15%, with 12 new Branches.

The Indian President of WPSA, Mrs. Anuradha J. Desai, who is the head of a very large Western-style poultry company, paid a moving tribute to the importance of women poultry farmers in the developing world.

The financial status of WPSA investments had improved and the WPSJ was now self-financing because of much increased sponsorship.

The retired Journal editor, Chris Hann, reported that about 60% of the journal comprised scientific articles and he appealed on behalf of the new editor for quality papers, especially from industry.
The impact factor of WPSJ in 1998 was 1.33 compares with 1.26 for Poultry Science.

Five members were elected to the Poultry Hall of Fame: Dr Paul Siegel (USA), Dr Nissan Rand (Israel) and Prof. Dr Rose-Marie Wegener (Germany), Dr William Stadelman (USA) and Dr Roy Crawford (Canada).

Dr Peter Hunton (Canada – an ex-Brit) was elected President, Dr Piet Simons (Netherlands) as Secretary and Dr Francine Bradley (USA) remains as Treasurer.

An election of rather dubious validity saw Dr Colin Fisher (UK), Dr Rob Gous (S, Africa), Dr Bruce Sheldon (Australia, Senior Vice President), Prof Dietmar Flock (Germany) and Prof Avigdor Cahaner (Israel) elected as Vice Presidents and these make up the rest of the General Council.

Chris Hann (UK) and Fransisco Monet (Spain) were elected Life Members.

PMH