SAGIM

Congress Centre, Tromsø, Norway

1. The meeting was opened by Einar Husebye, who established that a due notice of the general assembly has been given.

2. As chairman for the meeting Asle Medhus was elected.

3. As secretary for the meeting Niels Qvist was elected.

4. The annual report was presented by Einar Husebye with reference to the written report with a highlight on courses and the web site. The report was taken into notice without any notifications. The missing newsletter that was written in late October 1998 was apologised for due to clerical problems. The newsletter will appear on the web site.

5. Annual economical report was presented by Niels Qvist, and it showed a minor negative balance. Costs regarding the Postgraduate Course should have been presented separately in a report for the course as a special activity with separate grant. In the future there will be separate reports for special activities such as e.g. SAGIM courses.

6. Proposed budget for 1999-2000 was accepted provided that grants are established. Einar Husebye presented information from negotiations with the main sponsor which indicated, that the principles for funding layed down during the last four years will be continued, including a basic grant for running the organisation and additional support related to specific activities.

7. Membership fee for 1999-2000 will be unchanged 200 kr in Norway, Sweden and Denmark and 150 FM in Finland.

8. The SAGIM web site was presented by Odd Helge Gilja. The address is http://www.haukeland.no/sagim

9. The Scandinavian Postgraduate Course on Gastrointestinal Motility will be held in Oslo from 23. to 25. marts 2000 on Ullevål-University Hospital with Einar Husebye as local organiser.

10. European Society of Gastrointestinal Motility The name has been changes to the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. The society is going into a more active period and will even provide the members with a newsletter. A membership of the European society includes a subscription on the journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility at a reduced rate. Attendance to the European meetings is also at a reduced rate. Einar Husebye has been elected as a member of the steering committee in the European Society.

11. Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Hasse Abrahamsson who is a member of the editorial board has given the following report: The present number of subscribers is 754. From 1998 the number of issues per year is 6. The rejection rate for manuscripts is approx. 25% which is lower than during 1995-96 despite harder criteria for acceptance. Thus, the quality of the manuscripts has improved. A web site for the journal is under development. The publisher (Blackwell Science) is introducing electronic subscription as an alternative. The journal with full papers will be available on-line in Synergy. Access with password etc. The journal is affiliated with the European Motility Society. During the last year more members of the American Motility Society have been positive to an affiliation but no contract has been signed so far.

12. The next general assembly will be in connection with the Nordic Gastromeeting in Göteborg 19-21 June 2000. SAGIM will apply for a scientific session with guest lecturer and 5-8 free oral presentations.

13. Niels Qvist was elected as president for a 2-year period.

14. Einar Husebye and Juhanni Sand leaves the steering committee, and for the new steering committee the following were elected

Odd Helge Gilja, Einar Björnsson, Markku Luostarinen, Søren Kruse Andersen

For substitute members the following was elected:

Hans Gregersen, Asle Medhus, Juhanni Sand, Magnus Simrén

Some concern was put forward because two of the members of the steering committee is from the same hospital. This should be avoided in the future.

15. Accountants

Svante Nordgren; Lars Rasmussen

16. Election Committee

Einar Husebye, N;  Kari-Matti Hiltunen, SF;  Karsten Kraglund, DK;   Hasse Abrahamsson, S

17. Niels Qvist closed the meeting with a thanks for the election as president. A great thank was given to Einar Husebye for his great effort in running the organisation throughout the last fours years. He has a great responsibility for the initiation of the SAGIM courses and a lot of other business which has improved the organisation and brought it up to date scientifically as well as organisational.

Referent

Niels Qvist