News Story
Minutes of General Assembly (Dubai)
2008 EuroCHRIE Conference
11.00 – 12.30 am, Tuesday, 14th October, 2008
EAHM AUDITORIUM – Emirates Academy
DUBAI, UAE
AGENDA
1. Call to order (Eléonore Vial EV)
Eléonore Vial welcomed everybody to the General Membership Assembly Autumn Meeting and conveyed the I-Chrie board members greetings to the EuroChrie members. EV thanked the Emirates Academy team, especially Ron Hilvert and John Sutton for organising such a great conference. The past president of I-Chrie, Ray Kavanaugh Purdue University, passed away the previous week and there was a minute of silence in his memory.
2. Apologies for Absence
Rai Shacklock (Director of Membership), Richard Ginioux (France), Catherine D’Amico (Spain), Jane Spowart (South-Africa, Africa) sent aplogies for absence.
3. Minutes of the last General Membership Assembly – Leeds, UK
The minutes were accepted by the members.
4. EuroCHRIE President Report (Eleonore Vial EV)
EV reported that she had a meeting in Atlanta with Mokie Steiskal and Kathy McCarty in order to discuss cooperation between I-Chrie and EuroChrie. As the new President of EuroChrie EV is familiarising herself with the tasks required of the president. On top of that everything is going smoothly.
5. Immediate Past President Report (Ron Carpenter RC)
Ron Carpenter has worked with this year´s awards by forming an awards committee to take care of awards delivered in Dubai. The Board had a discussion dealing with the number of members on the awards committee. It is suggested that the number of members would increase from three to five and they would be named by the position. The Committee Members may also nominate an individual, who has received the EuroChrie award. EuroChrie members will be sent a proposal for the change of by-laws via the webpages and there will then be a vote (noted by email).
Another issue is the change of officers. Presently the change takes place at the I-Chrie Conference. The proposal is that the change would in future take place at the EuroChrie Conference.
Peter Jones explained what is happening with the I-Chrie by-law changes. There is nothing which prevents EuroChrie changing the bylaws as proposed.
Ron Carpenter asked the members to think award nominees for Helsinki Conference. Also If any EuroChrie member is interested of serving as a board member, he or she should contact any current board member. RC thanked the board for their support during his presidency.
6. Vice President Report (Olgun Çiçek OC)
Olgun Çiçek was a member of the organising committee for the Dubai Conference. He thanked the Emirates Academy for giving him this opportunity. He also took care of the minutes of the Dubai pre-conference board meeting. OC was a member of the Awards Committee and especially in charge of the industry award which is delivered for the first time in Dubai. OC coordinated the organising team of the Alumni Panel and Reception and attended the Atlanta I-Chrie Conference.
7. Secretary Report (Jouni Ahonen JA)
Jouni Ahonen delivered the minutes of the Atlanta board meeting to the board members. The minutes of this general membership assembly will be posted on line at www.eurochrie.org.
8. Treasurer’s Report (Hervé Fournier HF)
HF presented the 2008 and 2009 budgets and raised the point that each conference is an important revenue source for EuroChrie. 15,000 was put in the reserve contingency fund. Next year EuroChrie will invest in communication with the members. HF confirmed that EuroChrie money is in a safe bank in Switzerland. Some money will be set aside for image marketing – Polo shirts have been ordered.
Peter Jones made a point of correction. HF said that the budget is only an estimate and asked if it could be approved by the members. The budget has to be approved by the membership meeting. A question was raised dealing with the accounts: should those be approved by the general membership meeting as well? Bill Samenfink responded by saying that there is no need for that.
The 2009 budget was voted on and approved.
9. Director at Large Report (Bill Samenfink BS)
Bill Samenfink briefly introduced the by-law change and there was a discussion around the issue. The election period will be changed according to the changes of officers. The period will start early august. Also, a 20% discount for EuroChrie members for two periodicals is offered by xxx. That adds value for the membership. BS was congratulated for his post as a vice president of I-Chrie.
10. Board of Directors’ and Area Consultants’ Report:
I. CONFERENCE (Susan Fournier SF)
Susan Fournier thanked the Emirates Academy for organising a wonderful conference.
a. Helsinki, 2009 – the presentation will follow this meeting.
b. Amsterdam 2010 – Saxxion and Senden will organise the next conference.
c. Further bids and/or interested Institutions - EuroChrie is still looking for a place to organise the 2011 conference. SF will send a bid document for those who are interested.
II. COMMUNICATION & MARKETING (Robert Wetterauer RW)
The plan was to develop a strategic marketing plan because there is a need to get new members. Polo Shirts (150) will be delivered to the members after this meeting. There was also a need for a new high-resolution logo and that was ordered. The advertising plan and related activities will be implemented before the Helsinki Conference. RW explained that the press packages are planned to increase the brand awarness and thus the number of members. RW asked for the help of the membership in taking care of marketing activities. EuroChrie Webpages have been updated and there is now also a mobile version of the webpages available.
III. INDUSTRY RELATIONS (Othmar Müller OM)
Othmar Müller explained his activities : The Nestlé ProGastronomia will be able to bring presentations to the future conferences (Hygiene + Food safety). OM will also try to help to bring schools from Eastern Europe (17 Schools) to Helsinki. Work together with the "Savoy foundation" / FFH Fondation pour la formation des hôtelière. To discuss at the next meeting with the Chairmen of the foundation at 5th December in Zürich. Next step: Decision how we go further on at the next board Meeting in Helsinki.
IV. INDUSTRY AREA CONSULTANT (Patrick Connor PC)
Patrick Connor just joined the board and has now the possibility to work with the board as the industry area consultant. First he wanted to increase his understanding of what are the needs of the schools for the industry partners. PC is looking forward to bringing some new supporting partners available to the members. He has also been involved in marketing and strategy planning, as well marketing activities and atracting new members. He is a member of the I-Chrie strategic committee and will continue to visit the schools. The aim is to increase brand awarness through branded products for EuroChrie. By delivering the polo shirts hopefully people will start asking who we are.
V. AREA CONSULTANTS
Eleonore Vial explained the important role of the area consultants. At the moment EuroChrie has 165 members. EV said that Rai Shacslock was appointed recruiter of the year. Jan Willem Meijerhof, Eda Gurel, Hilary Murphy, Sandra Watson, Paul Jackson Gary Prosser and Jouni Ahonen presented their reports (reports attached).
11. Any other business
No other business raised.
Close of Meeting 11.07
KEY : Eléonore Vial EV, Ron Carpenter RC, Ogun Çiçek OÇ, Jouni Ahonen JA, Hervé Fournier HF, Bill Samenfink BS, Susan Fournier SF, Othmar Müller OM, Rober Wetterauer RW, Patrick Connor PC.