Ebeh Kodjo (Togo) was elected to be the new African representative, for a 3 year term. He replaces Akinbode Oluwafemi (Nigeria). About 24% of the eligible members voted (76% did not).
The FCA Board of Directors election ended on March 2, 2011. Three seats were
contested in this election: 2 of the 6 regional seats and 1 of the 3
at-large positions. As such, the ballots featured respectively the AFRO and
EMRO regions along with one AT-LARGE seat.
Candidates for each individual position were nominated by their affiliated
organization during the nomination phase. During the election, members of
the FCA were granted the opportunity, via a secure online voting site, to
select one representative for the AFRO region, EMRO region and AT-LARGE
seat.
Member organizations were also granted an opportunity to vote on the
adoption or rejection of the modified articles of association which are
summarized here:
The Swiss fiscal authorities have mandated the FCA to make some changes to
its Articles of Association in order to maintain its charitable tax exempt
status. The intent of the request from the Swiss fiscal authorities is to
eliminate a potential loophole in the articles that could make it possible
to use the FCA for the purpose of escaping taxation and laundering money. If
we do not include this language in the Articles of Association the FCA will
lose its charitable tax exempt status in Switzerland.
In accordance with election rules, only organizational members of the
FCA-otherwise non-governmental organizations, were eligible and each
entitled to one vote. Individual members of the Alliance were not eligible
to vote in the general assembly.
Approximately 24% of eligible voting member organizations took part in the
vote. In compliance with election rules, a minimum 10% voter turnout is
required.
Alliance members overwhelmingly approved the adoption of the revised
Articles of Association by a 95.24% majority.
The revised Articles adopted as a result of this session will continue to
ensure that the FCA benefits from the full protection and rights that are
guaranteed to non-governmental organizations under Swiss law.
The FCA membership elected a diverse Board with different talents, all of
whom have substantial experience as advocates and a high level of commitment
to tobacco control.
As a result, Dr. Ebeh Kodjo Fabrice was elected to the AFRO regional seat,
Fouad Fouad was elected to the EMRO regional seat and Luk Joosens was
appointed to the At-Large seat. Marty has sent separately the election
results and will post them on the intranet.
The elected officials will serve for a three-year term on the Board.
The new composition of the Board of Directors of the Framework Convention
Alliance is as follows:
AFRO: Dr. Ebeh Kodjo Fabrice
AMRO: Paula Johns
EMRO: Fouad Fouad
EURO: Deborah Arnott
SEARO: Shoba John
WPRO: Mary Assunta
AT-LARGE: Cornel Radu
AT-LARGE: Patricia Lambert
AT-LARGE: Luk Joosens
I also want to take this opportunity to thank again the 3 outgoing Board
members have been involved with FCA since early in its inception and have
contributed enormously to the FCA over the years.
The three outgoing Board members are: Dr Ehsan Latif, who has served on the
FCA Board since Jan 2004 representing the EMRO Region; Olufemi Akinbode, who
has been serving on the Board since Jan 2006 representing the AFRO Region;
and Dick Daynard who also joined the FCA Board in Jan 2006 as an At large
Member.
The next FCA Election will be held in December 2011. In the upcoming 2011
FCA Election the following three seats will be contested: 1 At-Large seat
and the positions for the WPRO and EURO regions.
The FCA Articles of Incorporation provides that the Board of Directors shall
meet and elect its own officers. The result of the election is not
therefore indicative of who becomes officer in the Board of Directors.
Best Regards,
Framework Convention Alliance
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