Welcome to 2011.
At the end of last year we invited WAIMH affiliate presidents as representatives of their affiliates to participate in a brief survey.
Most affiliates participated and the responses have been collated into a WAIMH Affiliate profile document that will be readily available to Presidents and will be posted on the WAIMH website afterwards. Inclusive of biographical information and organizational structure variances, there is also information concerning a vast array of training, service and education activities being conducted across the affiliates.
This is a wonderful first working document. A dynamic document that can function as base from which to explore and inspire our relationships as affiliates and with WAIMH.
Thank you to all those who were able to contribute to this document. Special thanks also to Leena Kiuru in the WAIMH office for her enduring editorial support.
Our next key initiative is to run another survey in the first part of 2011. This time the focus will be on the specific needs of affiliates. Responses to this survey will potentially yield a rich cross cultural needs assessment while also highlighting areas of shared concern. Information from this survey will be used to guide issues of affiliate resourcing among the affiliates and in partnership with WAIMH, so we can all engage as fully as possible with the aims of WAIMH.
We also use this opportunity to remind all Affiliates Presidents to renew their WAIMH memberships and to regularly inform the central office (office@waimh.org) about changes in their officers or contact information.
As we are progressively moving towards a more bidirectional communication with the Affiliates, we also wish to encourage Affiliates to use their mailing lists for circulating WAIMH invitations and updates.
Authors
Foley, Maree, MPhil (Dist)
Affiliate Council Representative,
New Zealand,
St-André, Andre, MDCM,
Chair of Affiliate Council ,
Canada
