European ISUFT-members also plan to visit members of the Research and Technology Department of the European Commission and the transportation department (DG Move) to promote underground freight transportation.
European Construction Technology platform
Regarding initiatives for and topics like underground construction as well as new transportation concepts for goods there is a huge European initiative driven by the transportation industry.
The European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) is already quite active and have as a part of their strategy the same target as ISUFT: “Underground Construction has to be made more attractive by tying it to a definite societal need, such as energy and/or transport /cargo issues in highly populated areas”. Robert Stein has proposed to the European ISUFT members to join them.
Elections 2011
There will be an election held with ballots to be sent via email November 1 to replace board members Willy Winkelmans and Noel Hodson who have served their terms according to bylaw specifications. Dr. Liu’s position as a board member also needs to be filled. Dr. Visser graciously assumed the role of president according to the bylaw mandate that the Vice President assume the president’s role in case of death. The original board had seven members (including Dr. Liu) and should retain that many from year to year. Their terms were determined by the bylaw’s Article 6, Section 4 which staggers terms according to the number of votes.
A February 26, 2009 email from Dr. Liu (who was elected President by a unanimous vote) announced: “The following 6 individuals were elected to be Board Members: Johan Visser (21 votes), Mohammad Najafi (20 votes), Qihu Qian (19 votes), Robert Stein (19 votes), Willy Winkelmans (17 votes), and Noel Hodson (11 votes). Because Johan Visser led the vote, he will be the Vice President for the next 4 years. Mohammad Najafi will serve 4 years on the Board, Qihu Qian and Robert Stein will serve 3 years on the Board, and Willy Winkelmans and Noel Hodson will serve 2 years on the Board. “
Board Directors Willy Winkelmans and Noel Hodson will have served two years and 9 months by November 1, 2011 (using February 1, 2009 as the start date) and can be re-elected. After Dr. Liu’s death, Johan Visser became President. Mohammad Najafi became Vice President, and the remaining board members continued to serve in their present positions. But Dr. Liu’s position as a board member is still vacant.
