Sections

• The board met in Croatia in April and in December in Copenhagen, relevant minutes have been circulated.
• Housekeeping rules have been created and must be approved at this occasion.
• It was decided to include our JMA as member with voting rights – since the bylaws only allows for 6 members in the board, we so far decided to include our JMA as an Adjunct Member. This item should also be discussed.
• Two Task forces are currently working: one on APT chaired by Kristiina Turjanmaa and a second one has just been approved by ExCom, namely on Late phase reactions in AD, chaired by Thomas Werfel. Discussion with Rudolf Valenta on presenting the APT position paper in Vienna is undergoing.
• The Vienna program has adopted most of our decisions, including a session together with ESCD.

Future congresses:

• Vienna
• Gothenburg
• Barcelona
• Warsaw
• London
• Istanbul

The two latter may be switched.

Regarding the process of evaluating abstracts or the congresses, it has been agreed between Pediatric and Dermatology Sections, that we evaluate abstracts on dermatological topics together.

Activities 2004/2005

• Urticaria Consensus Meeting October, Berlin
• Newsletter June 2005
• Planning and approval for Food Allergy Course april 2006, together with Ped Section
• Practall – a Joint Initiative between EAACI and AAAAI on the topic AD. Two more are planned, Anaphylaxis and Pediatric Asthma.


• For 2006, 2-3 summer schools EAACI/GA2LEN are scheduled. One is already accepted in Oslo, two more are currently being evaluated. Application for summer schools must be filed in during the next two months.

Dermatology section should propose a summer school for 2006 or 2007 (preferentially). Topic should be decided here.

Unsolved issues to be addressed in the next period:

• The number of members with voting rights in our Section is stable at a low level (280). ENT is closing in on us and we need to find ways of increasing the number of our core members. This can only be done internally by taking members from other sections - an unwise solution: Instead we should attract members from outside EAACI and talks with EADV and ESCD has been initiated and will be substantiated in the near future.

 

• Our JMA, Ulrike Raap has been nominated JMA Chair and will represent the JMA in ExCom. She has been replaced by Dr Elena Borzova, from Russia. A warm welcome to you. We must decide whether our JMA is an ordinary member or an adjunct member. The work in ExCom has been interesting and sometimes hard – there are a lot of things to be learnt especially since there are several political issues to be aware of at and between the meetings. But our impact is increasing and we should strengthen our efforts in seeking influence there. Therefore I am willing to serve another period as chairman of our Section.

Carsten Bindslev-Jensen

1 – Board
The board is elected according to the bylaws of the EAACI.
In addition, the JMA Dermatology representative is taken as an Adjunct Board Member with full responsibilities and voting rights. He/she will count as the 8th ordinary member of the board. The number of members present to make a formal decision is 4/8, single majority votes (e.g. 5/3) are required for decisions. Only members present at the meeting are allowed to be elected for their first period serving on the board.

2 – Section board meetings
Minimum twice per year: one at the EAACI congress, one at the Derm Section meeting. In years with no section meeting, the meeting should be held preferably at other congress, e.g. EADV. Extra meeting in case of urgent matters is possible if it is announced by the chairman one month in advance, unless all board members have unanimously accepted a prior meeting. Electronic communication, telephone conference may be used for intermediate decisions. Meetings are normally on invitation by the chairman, but any member of board can request on extra meetings or electronic/telephone conferences. In this case, a majority decision is required by e-mail in advance. Any extra meeting in person is subject to available funding.
Meetings are chaired by the chairman, in unexpected absence by the secretary.

3 – Daily routine
The daily routine is run by the Chairmen and Secretary, all communication should be preferably by e-mail and all board members will be copied in.

4 – Section activities

4.1 Meetings
At the EAACI Congress, the section should ensure a balanced programme regarding dermatological contents in allergy.

EAACI Derm section meetings should be held preferably annually, external additional funding should be looked for every 2-3 years, joint meetings with other sections are encouraged.

Joint sessions at international or national dermatology congresses, esp. EADV, are desirable.

4.2 Internet
The internet should provide information about meetings, protocols of board meetings, task forces, guidelines, activities (responsible: secretary).

4.3 Guidelines
Guidelines on relevant subjects should be prepared by the section, if possible of highest level. Guidelines prepared by other sections or the EAACI ExCom dealing with dermatological topics in allergy should be co-authored by the Derm Section.

4.4 Task forces
In topics of dermatology where special attention is needed, the Derm Section should be putting up EAACI Task Forces.

4.5 Other activities
All other activities which are in the interest of the aims of the EAACI and dermatology in allergy, e.g. contact with patient organisation, are encouraged, but usually not extra-funded.

5 – Collaboration with other institutions
Collaboration with other institutions, especially GA²LEN, is strongly encouraged.

6 – Financial affairs
Both, the Chairman and the Secretary, are responsible for the correct spending of the budget, all decisions on higher sums of spending, esp. for section meetings, need to be approved by the board.