EFCS Discussion Forum


Dear colleagues,

I will first apologise for the delay in starting this new discussion, but I was very busy in my lab last week. I will mention here some preliminary remarks.

Thanks to Gunter's efforts in providing us an electronic platform, we are now able to start a next step in the discussion about the constitution of an European federation.

L'Association Francaise de Cytometrie will be represented by myself, president of the society and mandated, to negotiate this constitution, during our last general assembly in October 96.

I strongly suggest that at this moment, only national cytometric societies participate in this initial step. That will say the group of 8 presidents mentioned by Gunter in his mail of 4/2/97 13.05. If they want, the presidents of the Polish, Swiss and Swedish cytometry society can join us. I'm agreeing with Dr. Hemmer that our discussions are not top secret and can be read by third party, but for efficacy, it is better to discuss only between the societies covering all the multidisciplinary aspects of cytometry.

So, I suggest to open a short discussion on the constitution of a temporary experimental structure to establish cooperation between national societies. The responsibility of this small group will be, in the near future, the examination of specific needs to constitute a real federation and to formulate rules for inclusions of other cytometry groups.

The membership weight of the national societies will be taken into account by giving to the societies a number of votes proportional to the proved number of members (like one vote / 100 members). After starting all the decisions will be taken at a minimum of 2/3 majority.

In any way, we can fix a maximum duration for the experience: for example to the end of 1998, for any evolution in the way of

1) constitution of a real federation or 2) the dissolution of the temporary structure

I hope to receive very soon a positive answer from you, and at least before begin April.

Of course don't hesitate to formulate your suggestions.

Best regards

Jean-Luc D'Hautcourt

President de l'Association Francaise de Cytometrie