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Proceedings of the 18
th
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013
enhance the ISSMGE website, and to support the development
of the GeoWorld communication platform. This led to greater
than forecast expenditure in Information Technology, but this
was largely offset by reduced expenditure in other initiatives.
In 2012, the budgeted income and expenditure was largely as
forecast. The Corporate Association subscription rate had been
raised to USD1500 per annum, which had increased receipts. In
Expenditure there were savings relative to Budget under the
headings of Other Initiatives and Information Technology.
The Secretary General asked Council to approve the
accounts for the two years separately. For the 2011 accounts,
Michael Davies (VP Australasia) proposed the accounts be
accepted, and was seconded by Fidelis Ejikeme (Nigeria), while
for the 2012 accounts, acceptance was proposed by Georg
Heerten (Germany) and seconded by Trevor Orr (Ireland). On a
show of hands, both sets of accounts were accepted by
unanimity.
28
BUDGET 2013 - 2015, FORECAST TO 2017
Michael Davies presented the proposed ISSMGE budget for
2013 to 2015, and forecast through to 2017, which is given in
Appendix 17. A 2% growth from member society subscriptions
was envisaged and allowance made for the increase in
Corporate Associates joining ISSMGE. Changes to the
Conference Manual meant that there was now income from
Conferences only in the years of the main International and
Regional conferences of ISSMGE. There were to be no
changes to costs for the Secretariat and Board, except to allow
for inflation. An allowance had been made to Future
Developments in Information Technology in 2014 and 2017. In
initiatives, ISSMGE had made a contribution to the
Geotechnical exhibition at the Musée des arts et métiers. Even
with a small contingency this resulted in a forecast annual
surplus of approximately GBP50,000, and it was proposed that
this should be transferred to the ISSMGE Foundation.
In discussion, John Carter (Australia) supported the annual
transfer of surpluses to the ISSMGE Foundation, but suggested
that rather than maintain an annual cash balance of
GBP500,000, the retained balance should be increased annually
to allow for inflation. Samuel Ampadu (Ghana) wondered if
setting a budget today would give too many constraints to the
new ISSMGE President. Michael Davies replied that this was
just a budget rather than actual expenditure and that the Statues
included a cause that specifically permitted the president to
authorise expenditure. It was further noted that the budget
applied only up to 2015, the remainder of the proposal being an
estimate of what may happen in the subsequent two years.
Council was asked to approve the budget: John Carter
(Australia) proposed acceptance, and this was seconded by
Jorgen Steenfelt (Denmark). On a show of hands, the budget
was accepted by unanimity.
Michael Davies went on to summarise the present financial
position of the ISSMGE Foundation. The current balance was
in the order of GBP75,000, and a number of awards would be
paid soon after the Paris Conference. There was obviously
insufficient capital to allow for awards only to be made from
annual investment income, and there would be a need for
ongoing donations to the Foundation. The President confirmed
that payment of Foundation awards were made after the event
and on production of receipts.
29
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Georg Heerten (Germany) commented that the 10th
International Conference on Geosynthetics and the 33rd
Baugrundtagung would be combined and held in Berlin from
the 21-26 September 2014. He had offered to host a FedIGS
Board meeting at the event, and he was now inviting all Council
Meeting delegates to promote the conference to their
membership.
Heinz Brandl (Austria) commented that after the death of
Professor Terzaghi, he started the Danube European
Conference, and that the 50th anniversary event would be held
in Vienna from the 8-11 September 2014. He hoped that
Council delegates would promote this Jubilee conference to
their membership.
Gautam Ghandhi (India) requested that in future, supporting
member societies should not be included on the ballot paper for
ISSMGE paper. The Secretary General agreed to this change
for the future.
Toru Sueoka (Japan) stated that after the Toronto Council
Meeting the Japanese Geotechnical Society had distributed a
special volume concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The JGS had recently published articles on the earthquake in
Soils and Foundations. These were available with open access
and a brochure concerning this was available from the JGS.
30
DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
The next Council Meeting would be held on Sunday 13th
September 2015 in Edinburgh.
The Secretary General expressed his deep appreciation to
the Member Societies for their cooperation in making the
meeting run smoothly and in particular thanked Yvonne Hanna,
and Violaine Gauthier, for their help. The President thanked the
Council Delegates and the Board members for their
contributions and support in developing ISSMGE activities, and
closed the meeting, expressing his gratitude to the CFMS for its
hospitality and help in organising the meeting.
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