Congress

EUROPEAN CANOE ASSOCIATION.
MINUTES OF THE 4th CONGRESS ZAGREB CROATIA
8th JULY 1999.

1.CON.4.99. OPENING OF THE CONGRESS

The President Albert Woods welcomed all the Delegates to Zagreb and in particular welcomed Mr Ulrich Feldhoff the ICF President who said a few words to the Congress concerning the work of the ICF since he became the new President and he informed us all of the increase in athletes places for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He also informed us that Dragon Boat, Rafting and Out-Rigger were now part of the ICF remit. He told us that Canoe touring and the environment were better placed and controlled by the Continental Associations in the future.

President Woods then introduced Matija Ljubec the Sports Director of the Croatian Olympic Committee who welcomed all the delegates and thanked the ECA for the award of the European Racing Championships to Zagreb at a time of conflict in neighbouring areas.

The President also made a special welcome to President Filip Curcovic of the Croatian Federation, who was present after a recent illness and he wished him a speedy recovery.

2.CON. 4.99. ROLL CALL OF DELEGATES and ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM.

The following Federations were confirmed as represented at the Congress.

AUT, BEL, BiH, BLR, BUL, CRO, CYP, CZE, DEN, ESP, FIN, FRA, GBR, GER, GRE, HUN, IRL, ISR, ITA, LAT, LTU, MKD, POL, POR, ROM, RUS, SLO, SUI, SVK, SWE, UKR, YUG

TOTAL OF 32 FEDERATIONS : SIMPLE MAJORITY 17 VOTES

RRRR2/3rds MAJORITY 22VOTES

3.CON. 4.99. ACCEPTANCE OF NEW MEMBER FEDERATIONS.

The Secretary General Francesco Conforti reported to the Congress that ARMENIA had applied for membership of ECA. The Congress members voted unanimously that they be accepted into membership of ECA.

4.CON.4.99. APPOINTMENT OF SCRUTINEERS FOR THE CONGRESS.

Two Scrutineers were appointed.

5.CON. 4.99. PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY GENERAL’S REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE AAAAAAAALLBOARD OF DIRECTORS

The President referred the Congress to the written report (attached to the Congress papers). There were no questions and it was proposed and seconded and voted unanimously that the report be accepted.

6.CON. 4.99. BALANCE SHEET.

The Secretary General Francesco Conforti presented the Balance sheet to Congress. He pointed out that there had been income from the Member Federations and the only expenditure was the bank charges for currency exchanges. He had written to all the Federations to remind them that the individual Federation sending its subscription to the ECA BANK should cover all bank charges. He also informed the Congress that $9000.00 US had been received from the ICF towards administration costs and thanked the ICF for their kind help.

7.CON. 4.99. AUDITORS REPORT.

The Honorary Auditor Tomislav Krsnik said that the accounts and balances had been checked and were acceptable.
The Report was proposed and seconded and voted unanimously that the Auditor’s Report should be approved.
The President also thanked the Secretary General for his work in producing the Accounts.

8.CON. 4.99. AMENDMENTS TO THE ECA STATUTES.

PROPOSAL FROM THE SWISS FEDERATION

1) Article 5.6. "Motions for amendments to the Statutes shall be submitted at least 12 weeks before the opening day of the Congress. In any case motions do not have to be submitted before January 1st of the year of the Congress"

2) Article 6.2. Elections Nominations for the positions shall be submitted at least 12 weeks before the opening day of the Congress. In any case motions do not have to be submitted before January 1st of the year of the Congress"

BOTH THE ABOVE PROPOSALS WERE ACCEPTED BY THE CONGRESS

9.CON. 4.99. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RULE AMENDMENTS

PROPOSAL FROM THE POLISH FEDERATION

1)"That the Senior Sprint Racing European Championships be held in the even years"

THE CONGRESS ACCEPTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

POZNAN WOULD BE AWARDED THE 2000 RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND MILAN WOULD BE THE LAST SENIOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2001 HELD IN THE ODD YEAR.

PROPOSAL FROM THE ECA BOARD

2) DEFINITION OF UNDER. 23 ELIGIBILITY

"The first year that an Under 23 competitor can compete is the year in which his/her 19th birthday falls, and the last year he/she may compete as an Under 23 is the year in which his/her 23rd birthday falls."

Discussion took place and the ICF President Feldhoff mentioned the position of the ICF that there was no need to have a lower age limit. President Woods on behalf of the ECA Board accepted this amendment and the amended proposal was as follows: -

"The last year that an Under 23 competitor can compete is the year in which his/her 23rd birthday falls."

THE CONGRESS ACCEPTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE CZECH FEDERATION

3,A) Flat Water Committee

"Senior European Championships restrict only for competitors to 23 year old and to organise it every second year."

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE SWISS CANOE FEDERATION

3.B) "Competition programme The senior European Championships in Racing and Slalom shall be replaced by European Championships for Competitors with the age from 19 to 22 years old"

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE ECA BOARD

3.C) SPRINT RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

"That at all ECA Junior Racing Championships there will be in addition European Under 23 Championships held."

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE CZECH CANOE UNION

4) SENIOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

"Adopt the distance of 5000mt instead of 200mt."

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE CZECH CANOE UNION

5.A) Slalom and Wildwater Committee

"To organise Seniors European Championships together with European Championships for 23 years old competitors. It means 3 and 3 boats in each category."

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

PROPOSAL FROM THE ECA BOARD

5.B) SLALOM AND WILDWATER CHAMPIONSHIPS

"During the senior events we increase participation to maximum 6 boats per category, 3 of which would be under 23."

THE CONGRESS REJECTED THE ABOVE PROPOSAL.

10.CON. 4.99. ECA ELECTIONS

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WERE ELECTED TO THE ECA BOARD

PRESIDENT:	ALBERT WOODS (GBR)	(4 YEAR TERM)
VICE PRESIDENTS:	CORNELIU BARSANESCU (ROM)	(2 YEAR TERM)
VICE PRESIDENTS:	JORN CRONBERG (DEN)	(4 YEAR TERM)
SECRETARY GENERAL:	FRANCESCO CONFORTI (ITA)	(2 YEAR TERM)
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD:	JESUS RODRIGUEZ INCLAN (ESP)	(4 YEAR TERM)
	BRANCO LOVRIC (CRO)	(4 YEAR TERM)
	HALINA PIKULA (POL)	(4 YEAR TERM)
	PELLE LINBERG (SWE)	(2 YEAR TERM)
	VICTOR KIRIN (BUL)	(2 YEAR TERM)

11.CON. 4.99. ELECTION OF HONORARY ECA AUDITOR

HONORARY AUDITOR: TOMISLAV KRSNIK (CRO) (4 YEAR TERM)

12.CON. 4.99. ECA SUBSCRIPTION 2000/2001.

It was proposed by the Board of Directors that the ECA Subscription for 1999/2001 should remain at $100.00 US. This was carried unanimously.100 ecu was also accepted.

13.CON. 4.99. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2000-2005.

THE CONGRESS AGREED THE FOLLOWING CHAMPIONSHIPS.ALSO GRE ATHENS 2006 SENIOR SPRINT RACING

DISCIPLINE	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
SENIOR SPRINT RACING	POL POZNAN	ITA MILAN	HUN ZEGED		POL POZNAN
JUNIOR SPRINT RACING	LTU TRAKAI		CRO ZAGREB		POL POZNAN
SENIOR SLALOM	ITA MEZZANA		SVK BRATISLAVA		MKD SKOPJE
JUNIOR SLALOM		SVK BRATISLAVA		GER HOHENLINBURG		POL BYDGOSZCZ
SENIOR WILDWATER		ITA VAL DE SESIA		SLO SOCA
JUNIOR WILDWATER		ITA VAL DE SESIA		SLO SOCA
MARATHON RACING		HUN GYOR **		POL GDANSK		NO APPLICANT
CANOE POLO		POL BYDGOZCZ		NO APPLICANT		NO APPLICANT

** Replaces DINANT BEL

PLEASE NOTE THAT CONGRESS SUBJECT TO THE ECA TECHNICAL APPRAISAL GRANTED ALL THESE EVENTS.

14.CON. 4.99. CLOSING OF THE CONGRESS.

The President thanked the Congress for their hard work, good humour and understanding, which had enabled the business of the Congress to be conducted in an efficient manner. He also thanked the instant translators for their hard work and diligence.
Thanks were also given to the Croatian Canoe Federation for providing the facilities for the Congress.
Finally he thanked the delegates for their attendance and officially closed the 4th ECA Congress.

ALBERT WOODS	FRANCESO CONFORTI
ECA PRESIDENT	ECA SECRETARY GENERAL