Rule Change

RULE CHANGE BALLOT OF THE IPA MEMBERSHIP 2010

Replacement of the office of Secretary General with an office of Vice-President

The IPA Membership was asked to vote on the proposal to replace the office of Secretary General with an office of Vice-President who shall be elected by the members as part of a presidential team made up of the President and Vice-President.

On 1st February 2010 Dr. H. Gunther Perdigao, IPA Secretary General, distributed information on this proposed change to the IPA’s Rules to the IPA Membership (click here to read the survey document which includes further information about this proposed change).

On 19th March 2010 a ballot was despatched asking the IPA Members to vote on this amendment. The ballot was held by e.mail only. All IPA Members who had provided the IPA with an e.mail address were sent voting information by e.mail. The information was also sent to IPA Societies, for those who had not provided an e.mail address. Information about the ballot was also posted on the IPA’s website.

The deadline for voting was Sunday 25th April 2010. The results of the ballot are as follows:

Number voting FOR 1,616 (82.5% of the valid vote)

Number voting AGAINST 222 (11.3% of the valid vote)

Number of ABSTENTIONS 121 (6.2% of the valid vote)

Any change to the Rules requires an affirmative vote by two thirds of the Members whose ballots are received. The Rule change has therefore been passed by the IPA Membership.

The Rule change will be made in two stages. The first Vice President will take up office in July 2013, when the current administration hands over to the incoming European administration. The rules concerning the Governance of the IPA will therefore need to remain the same until that time, so that the role of the current Secretary General is covered. However the Rule concerning the IPA Election process will be changed immediately to cover the process for electing the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect for 2013.

Click here to see the revised Rules that apply until July 2013.