The 8th General Assembly of the International Federation for Cell Biology was called to order at 12.15 by President Ivan L. Cameron (USA).

1) Executive Committee:
Members of the Executive Committee were introduced:
Vice President Arthur Zimmerman (Canada),
Secretary General Denys Wheatley (UK).
Also introduced were appointed Treasurer Elaine Hardman and Editorial Assistant Angela Panther.

2) Delegates present:
Delegates present who signed in were:
American Society for Cell Biology - Dr. Bjorn Olsen and Ms. Elizabeth Marincola; Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology - Dr. Cynthia Jensen;
Canadian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology - Dr. Selma Zimmerman;
Chinese Society for Cell Biology (Shanghai) - Dr. X. Ding;
European Life Scientists Organization (ELSO) - Dr. Kai Simons;
Ibero-American Society for Cell Biology (IBERO) - Dr. H. Carvalho;
Japanese Society for Cell Biology - Dr. Yoshiniori and Dr. Ohsumi;
Korean Society for Molecular and Cell Biology - Dr. Song and Dr. Park,
Taiwan Society for Cell Biology - Drs. L. Wa, Yan-Hna and C. Chang,
Ukraine Society for Cell Biology - Dr. Elizabeth Kordyum,
Russian Society for Cell Biology - Dr. Parvenov.

3) Applications for membership:
The new Cell Biology Societies of Russia, Ukraine and Iran were presented by Dr. Cameron and unanimously approved by the delegates to the General Assembly.

4) Applications for renewals of membership:
It was proposed to and approved by the General Assembly, that societies that had previously been members under an umbrella organization and who now desire to rejoin the IFCB as individual member societies, be allowed to rejoin without submitting a formal application for membership. This motion was approved by the General Assembly. The countries that have inquired about rejoining as individual societies include the Cell Biology Societies of Spain, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil and France.

5) Programs sponsored by IFCB:
The list of major programs sponsored in the last 4 years was read. This list included:
2000: The 7th International Congress for Cell Biology, Australia
The European Cell Cycle Conference
2001: The Hunter Cell Biology Meeting, New South Wales
Cell Signaling Symposium, Hong Kong
IberoAmerican 8th International Congress
2002: Cell Biology Meeting, Hungary
Travel grants to Centrosome and Spindle Pole Conference, Germany
Merton Bernfield Memorial Lecture, American Society for Cell Biology
2003: Hunter Cell Biology Meeting, New South Wales
2004: Brazilian Cell Biology Society
Ukrainian Cell Biology Meeting
Hunter Cell Biology Meeting
A. Islam, travel grant for Cold Spring Harbor symposium
ELSO $25,000 total for meeting and travel grants

6) Journal Activities:
The IFCB official journal Editor Denys Wheatley gave a report of Journal activities. He reported profits from Cell Biology International, the creation of Cancer Cell International and the arrival of the first proceeds check from Biomed Central, the publisher of Cancer Cell International. In a rapidly changing world of journals, CBI was seen as a strong and sustainable journal by our publishers, Elsevier. He stated that our international coverage was superior to almost all other cell biology journals, but this policy did not allow us to "cherry pick" like other journals and raise our impact factor as high.

7) IFCB travel grants:
There was a report of travel grants awarded to attend the meeting totaling $16,400, and of a meeting grant to SBCF and ELSO of $8,600. (See the attached list of travel grants.)

8) Subscription changes:
There were no requests from country delegates to change the subscription levels.

9) Secretariat:
The formation of an IFCB secretariat to be run by the Secretary General, was approved by the meeting, and a figure for the running of this, for the next year was given.

10) Treasurers Report:
Treasurer Elaine Hardman presented a summary treasurer's report. A copy of the summary report was distributed to all delegates. (Report is attached.) The Federation is in a good financial condition.

11) Next ICCB congress:
9th ICCB 2008:
There were bids from the Taiwan and Korean societies to host the next meeting. The bid from the Korean Society was approved. The Korean society will host the meeting in Seoul, South Korea in 2008.

12) Election of officers 2004-2008:
The candidate for President, Dr. Ken Wu (Taiwan) was introduced to the delegates. He spoke of his vision for the society to: 1) support cell biology in member countries, 2) support cell biology in developing countries, 3) support future of young cell biologists, 4) enhance the public understanding of cell biology and increase collaboration with industry and 5) support all life sciences and international scientific societies to enhance human health and welfare.

Presentation of candidate for Secretary General, Denys Wheatley. He stated a desire to involve young scientists internationally and to increase association with other international scientific organizations. He wants to become more proactive in the next 4 years, helping developing countries to start cell biology societies and increasing the membership of country cell biology societies in the IFCB.

A secret ballot was held for Dr. Ken Wu for President and Dr. Denys Wheatley for Secretary General. The recorded votes were unanimously in favor.

13) Umbrella Organisations:
The membership of umbrella organizations (IBERO, APOCB, ELSO) was explained and the position will be reviewed over the next 4-year period, with any changes to their association/affiliation with IFCB that may require a constitutional amendment being prepared for the next GA.

14) Education and training:
Cynthia Jensen (Aust & NZ) presented a proposal to expand the educational activities of the IFCB. Ideas were given during the discussion to increase the educational reach of the IFCB including links on the WEB page to cell biology educational sites, sponsoring educational programs and the activities of the journals. Elizabeth Marincola announced the formation of the ASCB educational council and the resources on the ASCB WEB site that are freely available. It was suggested by the publishing editor (Steve Watson, in attendance) that CBI could have free pages in each issue devoted to educational materials.

15) Outreach:
There was a brief discussion on the amount the IFCB should spend on outreach in the next 4 years. About $100,000 is available, provided the intimation that 2003 royalties (journal profits) were of the order indicated by the publishing editor (30,000 GBpounds; $56,000*) on past performance, although these funds have yet to be transferred to IFCB. (* since verified)

16) Resolution put to the GA:
Dr. Arthur Zimmerman (Canada) presented a resolution on stem cell research. After considerable discussion, the following modified resolution was passed by a vote of 13 delegates for, 3 delegates against:

"The International Federation for Cell Biology, which represents cell biologists from 50 countries and fosters and facilitates freedom for research in all its aspects, hereby affirms the therapeutic value of embryonic and adult stem cell research."

It was generally agreed during the discussion that this statement should in no way be construed as in support of human cloning. This statement would appear on our website, but it was unanimously agreed that it should not be seen as part of my basic mission statement.

17) Vote of thanks to the delegates for attending:
Dr Wheatley (Sec Gen) thanked all the delegates for their attendance, and gave an appreciation of the wonderful efforts over the last 4 years by Dr. Ivan Cameron, Dr. Elaine Hardman and Ms. Angela Panther in tackling IFCB work. Special thanks and appreciation were accorded to Dr. Arthur Zimmerman for his stalwart support and generous service to IFCB during his 16 years of service.

Respectfully submitted,

W. Elaine Hardman, Ph.D.

FINANCIAL REPORT SUMMARY 2001 TO JULY 2004

Assets beginning 2001 $525,653.00

Incomes CBI $188,109.65
dues $16,096.90
interest $20,587.14
interest $6,624.47
interest $8,409.40

total income $239,827.56

expenses grants $26,125.00
Pres/SecGen $84.95
secretary $605.00
telephone $270.75
postage $123.10
Art post $0.00
printing/pubs $700.00
travel $9,657.98
Journal Dev. Fund $35,000.00
new journal support $69,615.00
total expenses $142,181.78

Net 2001 TO 2004 $97,645.78

Assets on hand July 2004 $623,298.78

Grants awarded to:
2000: the 7th International Congress for Cell Biology, Australia
the European Cell Cycle Conference
2001: the Hunter Cell Biology Meeting, New South Wales
Cell Signaling Symposium, Hong Kong
IberoAmerican 8th International Congress
2002: Cell Biology Meeting, Hungary
Travel grant to Centrosome and Spindle Pole Conference, Germany
Merton Bernfield Memorial Lecture, Am. Society for Cell Biology
2003: Hunter Cell Biology Meeting, New South Wales
2004: Brazilian Cell Biol Society
Ukrainian Cell Biology Meeting
Hunter Cell Biology meeting
A. Islam, travel grant for Cold Spring Harbor symposium
ELSO $25,000 total for meeting and travel grants (not included in totals above)

FINANCIAL REPORT DETAILS, 2001 TO JULY 2004
During 2001 During 2002
Incomes CBI $44,396.80 Incomes CBI $54,044.37
dues 3,750 dues $3,100.00
interest, Fleet 6940.37 interest, Fleet savings $6,303.36
interest, closed CD 4527.01 interest, Frost money market $611.17
interest, Treasury bond 2305.77

total income $61,919.95 total income $64,058.90

expenses grants $10,500.00 expenses grants $6,625.00
Pres/SecGen $84.95 Pres/SecGen
secretary $600.00 secretary (statement fee) $5.00
telephone $250.00 misc (wire fee) $8.50
postage postage $123.10
Art post Art post
printing/pubs printing/pubs
travel $2,138.98 travel $1,953.00
Journal Dev. Fund $7,500.00 Journal Dev. Fund $10,000.00
new journal support $17,500.00 new journal support $23,815.00
total expenses $38,573.93 total expenses $42,529.60

Net 2001 $23,346.02 Net 2002 $21,529.30

Assets on hand end 2001 $548,999.02 Assets end of 2002 $570,528.32

Assets beginning 2003 $570,528.32 Assets beginning 2004 $625,768.69

During 2003 Jan-July 2004
Incomes CBI $89,668.48 Incomes* CBI
dues $5,635.15 dues $3,611.75
interest, Fleet savings $5,140.01 interest, Fleet savings $2,203.40
interest, Frost money market $882.73 interest, Frost money market $603.56
interest Frost CD $6,103.63

total income $101,326.37 total income $12,522.34
*
expenses grants $3,000.00 Expenses** grants $6,000.00
Pres/SecGen Pres/SecGen
secretary (statement fee) secretary (statement fee)
misc (wire fee) misc (checks) $12.25
postage postage
Art post Art post
printing/pubs printing/pubs $700.00
travel $4,786.00 travel $780.00
Journal Dev. Fund $10,000.00 Journal Dev. Fund $7,500.00
new journal support $28,300.00 new journal support
total expenses $46,086.00 total expenses $14,992.25
**
Net 2003 $55,240.37 Net Jan to July 2004 -$2,469.91

Assets end of 2003 $625,768.69 Assets July 31, 2004 $623,298.78

*Not included are Journal income and $950 in dues not on July statement

**Not included are Journal support funds for 2004
and expenses for General assembly

Travel Grants to the 2004 International Meeting
Surname First name award ($) Address
Albaq'-Xavier Anna Crist 600 Anna Cristina de Albuquerque Xavier, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5? Andar, CEP: 20231-050, Rio de Janeiro,-RJ , Brazil
Belyaeva Tatiana 700 To be paid in Nice
Bompard Guilliame 600 School of Biosciences, Div, of Mol.Cell Biol, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Brozovic Anamaria 700 Zagrebacka Banka, Trg bana J. Jelacica, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Colonna Cecilia 1000 Cecilia Colonna savings account, Bank One, Illinois, NA Springfield, IL 62701.
de la Cour Delphine 400 DELACOUR Delphine,INSERM U560,Place de Verdun,59045 Lille Cedex, France
Hvristova kamelia 700 First Investment Bank, Bulgaria
Leontieva Ekaterina 700
Litanyuk Anna 700 Anna Litanyuk. Passport no: 4005 349123, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Lubov Ginkul 700
Mehdipor Parvin 1000
Oliveira Silvia 600 Silvia Souza de Oliveira, Divisão de Biologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisa, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5? Andar, CEP: 20231-050, Rio de Janeiro,-RJ , Brazil
Oz Devrim 700
Parfenov Vladimir 1000
Patalano Solenn 400 bank address: Caisse d'Epargne, Ce Pays de la Loire,Guerande, 5R des Lauriers, 44350 Guerande, France
Pavlova Galina 700 To be paid in Nice
Poderoso Cecilia 1000 Av. Santa Fe 2781 4? A. (1425). Capital Federal Buenos Aires, Argentina
Shvachko Ludmilla 700
Sidorik Lyudmilla 1000 Fedex or DHL to: Institute of Molecular biology and Genetics NAS of Ukraine, Zabolotnogo street, 150, 03143, Kiev-143
Silva Livia Goto 600 Livia Goto Silva, Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37, 5? Andar, CEP: 20231-050, Rio de Janeiro,-RJ , Brazil
Titiova Elena 700 Institute of Gene Biology, Vavilov str. 34/5, 119334 Moscow, Russia
Valtcheva Ralitza 700
Carvalho Hernandes 500 Bank Banespa, bank no 0033, Agency 0207, SWIFT BESPBRSPSPO Brazil