ICM London

Who had the intention to go the the ICM in London... because please read the message here first:

Dear Network,

It is with great sadness that we address you today. The International Board has decided to make use of the possibility stated in the Standing Orders article 4.6 "Force Majeure".

The article reads as follows; "In case of Force Majeure the International
Board has the right to delegate the practical organisation of a Council
Meeting to a national group, local group or an organising committee. This
decision by the International Board can in such cases overturn a Council
decision to delegate the organisation."

We hereby announce that the International Board has today made a decision to discharge ELSA UK as Host of the International Council Meeting Spring 2006, and delegate the organisation to an organising committee lead by the International Board.

The reasons behind this decision and for the force majeure are the
following:
- No successful communication between the OC and the International Board even though several and consecutive attempts were made and therefore
as to our knowledge there are:
o Lack of co-operation on the OC's behalf;
o No written confirmation of any venues (accommodation, Workshop and Plenary rooms or Gala Ball) has been provided to the International Board;
o No deposit paid for any venues (the reason for no written
confirmations);
o No financial resources;
o Lack of human resources;
- Lack of showing that they have control of the organisation five
weeks before the event takes place;
- Risk of bankruptcy of ELSA UK;

But the most important reason is the risk of cancellation few weeks/days
before the event takes place!

We do regret to make this decision and especially at this place in time. We
know some of the delegations already have booked and paid their flights, and we will try our best to find and provide cheap transportation to the new venue. The International Board will spend the following days for searching for concrete options. This means that an ICM will take place, however the specific venue will be disclosed along with more concrete information in the very beginning of next week.

However, the reason for sending out this information already at this stage,
is to merely ask those of you that have not booked your flights yet, to wait
until we get back to you with more information.

This situation means that the ICM needs to be summoned again, because the invitations sent out before the deadline stated in our Internal Regulations, contain the incorrect venue as of this day. Consequently, the new invitations will not be sent out according to the mentioned deadline. The National Groups will then have to decide in the beginning of the
International Council Meeting whether they accept to be summoned in this
way. Should they decide not to, the Council will not be summoned correctly hence the National Groups meeting do not have decision making powers.

We ask all the National Groups for your understanding and assistance in this and we will devote the most of our time to make this ICM happen. We do strongly believe this is the best option we have at the moment, taking into consideration all known circumstances.

Sincerely yours,



Josefin, Heidi, Wouter, Mircea, Leo, Julianna and Katia
The International Board
________________________________________

ELSA International
239, Blvd. General Jacques, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 646 2626 Fax: +32 2 646 2923
E-mail: elsa@brutele.be Homepage: http://www.elsa.org

ELSA International's Partners
Cambridge ILEC * CMS * Deloitte * LexisNexis * Microsoft * Thomson
L-Soft * Alternet

We are waiting next week so as to know some more, and then we'll see & express ourelves!

It's just that I had bought my airplaneticket just several hours before the announcement... How Ironic!

But it is now back in London!!!