22 April 2005, Tokyo, Japan
The meeting was called to order at 18:20 by president,
Dr. Laszlo Vass.
The topics discussed were:
- Financial matters:
There are no outstanding liabilities, but only two societies (the Hungarian and the Turkish) paid their dues for 2005. There isn't to much money, but enough to start work; Dr. Ben Anderson asked for and got financial support for the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI). - Membership:
The American Society for Breast Diseases decided to leave the WSBH. On the other hand, there are several countries who intend to join the Society. The existing structure - national societies providing membership for all of their members - cannot be continued; individual membership should be introduced parallelly with society membership with different fixed fees (US$ 500 per society and US$ 10 per individual member); Society membership should be kept otherwise certain areas might fall out of the global network of the WSBH, while being global is the main strength of the Society. Member societies should serve as a basic network for the WSBH; Industrial partners can join as corporate members and make benefit out of the collaboration with a neutral international society - Projects:
The WSBH Project Session proved that the idea of launching projects was good. The running projects are well worth the support of the Society. New project ideas were also suggested, and are welcome - Website:
The reconstruction of the website has been initiated in order to develop intraactive communication (consultation/2nd opinion centre). It can be used for the detection of the members' requirements by an on-line needs assessment questionnaire. - 4th WSHB Congress
Upon the proposal of Dr. Xi-Shan Hao, president of the Tianjin Medical University and Cancer Hospital the 4th Congress of the WSBH will be held in Tianjin, together with the 6th Biennial Meeting of the Asian Breast Cancer Society in 2007.
The meeting was adjourned at 19:30.
László Vass MD, PhD FIAC
President