Prosthetics and Orthotics

Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 1978,2,1-2
Editorial
By the time members receive this copy of the journal, the first year of the triennium will be nearly
over. For many members in remote areas their only contact with the Society during this time will
have been through the pages of this publication. To them, and perhaps to others, this will be the only
practical expression of activity. However, this is far from being a true picture—Officers, Members of
the Executive Board, National Officers, members of the various standing and other committees are
working steadily to further the aims of the Society in the continuing efforts to raise standards of treatment
throughout the world.
In November the Executive Board met in Copenhagen for the first time since the New York
Congress. Some comments on that meeting and some of the discussions which took place may serve
to illustrate the spectrum of activity.
Attendance was very large. Of the ten Elected Board Members listed in this issue, eight were
present at the meeting. Another five of the Standing Committee Chairmen and two of the Consultants
also attended. This remarkable turn-out, at little or no cost to the Society, of a group of notable
people whose time is so valuable, is a clear indication of the worth which they place on the Society's
work.
Reports were received from a number of the standing committees.
The newly formed Protocol Committee under the chairmanship of Past President, Dr. Jansen,
has started work in an advisory capacity to the Board. One of its first tasks is the examination of
membership classes and the functions of the secretariat. This committee has special responsibilities in
respect of advising the Board on the interpretation of the Constitution. A first stage in this is a study
of the Constitution itself in the light of experience gained to date in its operation. The secretariat
would be interested to hear from any member who believes he, or she, has identified any anomolies,
or has suggestions which would lead to improvement.
The new Conference Committee is already offering guidelines and assistance to the Netherlands
Congress Committee in its preparations for the 1980 World Congress. The Dutch group are presently
considering alternative sites in Amsterdam, the Hague and Groningen and producing detailed budgets
for Board approval. It is hoped that this Congress will once again take place in collaboration with our
friends from INTERBOR.
The Evaluation Committee is presently developing an exciting proposal for an international
programme of evaluation. The Society is unique in its capability of offering such a programme to
governments on the basis of establishing protocol, identifying institutions and individuals to take part
and co-ordinating work and results.
The Education Committee is planning for a follow-up event to the International Study Week on
Prosthetic/Orthotic Education which took place in the University of Strathclyde in 1974. The new
meeting in 1979 would concentrate on the clinical and practical content of training programmes and
would be linked with the problems of developing countries. It is hoped to associate this activity with
another ISPO event to be sponsored by Danida (the Danish overseas aid agency) which would take
place in the same year and would study the lasting impact of training methods in developing countries.
The Membership Committee is continually fostering the development of new National Member
Societies. Indeed at this meeting Pedro Prim reported on the formation of a National Society in Spain.
Unfortunately, the chairman of the committee, one of the founder members of our Society and a
tireless and meticulous worker for the Society and the Board, Dr. McKenzie, has resigned from
chairmanship following a recent illness. Happily he has made an excellent recovery and we are sure
members would wish to be associated with the President and the Board in expressing our gratitude
to him for outstanding and dedicated work and in wishing him, and his wife Kay, a long and happy
retirement.
Other items of interest were discussed by the Board which were not directly related to individual
committee activity.
The Society's links with Rehabilitation International and, in particular, its International Comrnis-
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