world federation of societies of anaesthesiologists annual report 2006

A FINAL WORD FROM THE PRESIDENTThis will be my last contribution to the WFSA annual report since 1996, a strange sensation. Having served eightyears as your Secretary, I have now entered my last year as President. To follow Kester Brown was a difficulttask. Only those close to him will remember the struggles he went through in his Presidency such as a retiringExco chair halfway; a secretariat in disarray immediately following the Montréal World Congress and a breakdownof the stock market. Few outsiders appreciate the enormity of some of WFSA tribulations, all carried out in therole of scientific volunteer.I have ensured WFSA’s Executive Committee involvement in my activities and hopefully our membership.Those who know me better and some around me, are aware of my enthusiasm and drive. However, I have cometo realise it takes more to roll WFSA up the mountain into the 21 st century from a group of enthusiastic pioneers inthe fifties into a global federation encompassing 122 societies.WFSA is an interesting organisation and quite unique joining all national member societies of anaesthesiologistsin the world together in one body aimingto make available the highest standards of anaesthesia pain treatment, trauma management and resuscitation toall peoples of the world.WFSA’s aims are generally wide and embrace its core activities education, publication, safety and quality ofpractice. Needless to say, money is required to support these activities. Creating more resources was why WFSAcommenced the Foundation. The dream behind this was to raise funds externally thus decreasing thedependence on subscriptions and a WCA surplus.Times in the 1 st world are changing rapidly due to prosperity in some countries, economic growth in others anddevelopment such as internet, Skype and cell phones. People realise slowly that peace brings more welfare thanwar, at least so we noticed the last 60 years in Western Europe. The previously called 2 nd world such as EasternEurope, Middle East, India and China is swiftly catching up and promises much for the future. To translate thesetechnological and economical developments into the WFSA of this century, day and age has met with a numberof hurdles which I would like to share with you.A new Constitution or the rules of the gameAn organisation based on scientific, charitable, voluntary contributions should not unnecessarily loose its timeover who directs what, how and why workings take place. Guidelines, statutes and bylaws should be transparent,understandable and accessible to all members. WFSA’s procedures and jobs should in my eyes be clearlyadvertised, applied for by willing and able people and selected in a transparent way. In the past, WFSA was reallyrun by few volunteers with time and interest available. Funds were scarce so requests sparse. Now thatEducation, Publications and Safety have obtained fair budgets, an increase in interest to organise the worldcongress or participate in WFSA activities is observed. Where in the past it was difficult to identify willing and ableparticipants, now they seem to be knocking at the door. This change into a true global federation with a fairbudget and permanent office requires a change in structure and thus in constitution. All of you have received thedraft in April, approx. one third of member societies has commented and suggested additions or alterations, onethird has more or less agreed and one third has not responded. Please let your voice be heard!Communication may be understood as I hear what you say; or I understand what you mean to say; or let metranslate it into the language I think in - so I may consider my reply; subsequently I need to chew my answer intothe right language- words – colour; non verbal body language of the sender and receiver, behaviour and attitudetoresult finally in the actual reply I care to give. Most of us in WFSA think in another language and thus have togo through this process which is often considered time consuming, cumbersome and awkward for those withEnglish as its first language. All of us are shaped by our family, education, culture and working environment. Wetend to project a comparable framework in others before we indeed wonder and reflect about the wordsexpressed. In this speedy world we assume rather than verify: we are só busy! Yet, the process of truly listeningand trying to understand your partner in conversation makes an enormous difference in the outcome ofconstructive deliberations.Working together with the members of the Committee on Statutes and Bylaws chaired by the cautious guidanceof Bill Owens on this new draft WFSA constitution, the members of the Executive Committee have realised theimportance of real communication and the art of diplomacy respecting each other’s traditions and cultures.Understanding, supportive listening and patience will be required if WFSA truly continues to build on the past andremains a multi-lingual, international global federation, unless the Treasurer is prepared to spend heaps of moneyon simultaneous interpretation. Let us not forget our first and foremost goal: to provide better educated and safercare for our patients!The airline world has realised the importance of communication following some major accidents. Crew resourcemanagement was established as a result of that. Rhona Flin and her group in Aberdeen 1 have translated this into3