Minutes of the General Assembly meeting of The International College of Psychosomatic Medicine, Quebec City, Canada, August 30, 2007 Present: Sensky (President), Fava(President-elect), Streltzer (Secretary), Finset (2nd President-elect), Kubo (Treasurer), Leigh, Fink, Deter, Barbosa, Verissimo, van Zyl, Gagnon, Shueh, Joukamaa, Dan Dumistrascu, Oosterwijk, Singh, Orth-Gomer, Leombrni, Abbate-Daga The president of ICPM, Tom Sensky opened the meeting calling for members to contribute publications, Powerpoint slides, and photos to the website (icpm.org). He described the formation and functioning of the Nominations Committee. He noted to add a Publicity committee. Discussion suggested it be a publicity-liaison committee to liase with related organizations.Dr. Fava presented a proposal to provide an award of recognition - a certificate, “Specialist in Psychosomatic Medicine,” modeled after a similar initiative by the European Society of Hypertension. This would be for the purpose of increasing awareness of ICPM, boosting membership, and establishing a link with educational activities and courses, including ICPM workshops at other psychosomatic meetings. Members Tom Wise and Antonio Barbosa have agreed to form a committee to establish this certificate. Dr. van Zyl argued that this must not simply be a piece of paper but must have credibility, and he brought up the question of maintenance of credentials. Dr. Singh eloquently discussed the importance of educational activities for ICPM, citing modes from WPA. A lively and productive discussion ensued, citing the high scientific quality of the current and recent Congresses, our strong heritage, and focusing on the role of ICPM vis-à-vis other organizations. Dr. Kubo gave the treasurer’s report. ICPM is not rich, but it is financially sound. Assets are $55,933USD. Thanks were extended to our administrator, Gary Belcher for his outstanding job. The membership fee structure was discussed, and Dr. Sensky announced that the fee for those few members who do not receive journals, so that ICPM receives the same amount from each category. Dr. van Zyl reported on the current Congress. The scientific program was outstanding and he had received excellent feedback. All present agreed. Unfortunately, the Congress was running at a deficit, underwritten by Laval University, due to lack of drug company support and competing meetings. He noted how things might have been done differently in retrospect, information that is being taken into account for the 2oth Congress. The assembly gave a hearty round of applause to Dr.’s van Zyl and Gagnon for their hard work and achievement of an excellent Congress, and they were given gifts from ICPM as a token of appreciation. Dr. Fava discussed the 20th Congress, to be held in Torino, Italy in 2009. He introduced Giovanni Abbate-Daga, chair of the organizing committee, and Paolo Leombruni, chair of the scientific committee. Planning appears to be proceeding very well. Dr. Sensky announced that the site of the 2011 Congress has been chosen to be South Korea, based on the proposal of Dr. Koh, with a final decision to be made following clarification of further specific poiunts with Dr Koh. Dr. Sensky then announced the new slate of officers and the recommendations of the nominations committee. All candidates were approved unanimously. The new officers are: President – Giovanni Fava (Italy); 1st President-elect – Arnstein Finset (Norway); 2nd President-elect - Jon Streltzer (USA); Secretary – Louis van Zyl (Canada); Treasurer - Chiharu Kubo (Japan). Dr. Finset reported that Dr. Orth-Gomer had agreed to chair the new Publicity committee. Dr.’s Deter and Dumitrascu volunteered to be on the nominations committee, and in his absence, Dr. Gagnon was volunteered to be on that committee also. On behalf of ICPM, Dr. Fava presented Dr. Sensky with a gift, thanking him for his hard work, carried out with charm and grace, and for laying the groundwork for important new initiatives by ICPM Adjournment.