8. Exchange/ Teaching Programme

The Chairman indicated that the United Kingdom and some other countries have qualified people available who have shown interest in teaching in other countries. This would be more beneficial than a student exchange system. These could be two week courses and it would be necessary for the host country to guarantee the air fares and accommodation to get the scheme started.

Through a letter, Switzerland had indicated that an exchange programme was a good idea but expensive. To overcome the language problem, a teacher with, say, twenty pupils, could have an interpreter. There may also be problems with VISAs, Work Permits, etc.

The following points were made:

Malta Suggested a pool of approximately twenty people with different areas of experience Ireland Agency gives funding for training The country looking for training could contact Government for funding Nothing to stop WACS requesting funding from EEC Most important to find out the requirements of the country WACS could put together a Working Group Norway Top chefs will not work for nothing Roumania Very important for their country to have help to develop gastronomy and thanked WACS for the opportunity

The Chairman asked whether any countries could envisage problems with governments, visas and work permits and stated this was not often a problem in the United Kingdom.

After further discussion the Chairman suggested that countries write to either himself or WACS:

1. If they are willing to give talks/lectures, etc to other countries and their speciality

2. If they require help in any specific areas and would like to invite lecturers/chefs to their country

3. Regarding the point made by Sweden that Chefs would not work for nothing, the Chairman agreed that volunteers should be given some remuneration. However, if people have volunteered to give their time free it is just to get the scheme going and, hopefully, if we can get funding from the EEC or some other source, then of course payment can be made.

9. Proxy Vote

A thorough discussion took place regarding who should hold the Proxy Vote when a country does not attend a meeting (Continental Director or another) and how a vote should be given. Each country was asked to comment and the following points were made:

Ø Ireland expressed the view that the vote was vitally important and should be protected at all times.
Ø Cyprus agreed that every country should be represented.
Ø Malta disagreed and felt it incorrect to give a proxy vote.
Ø Germany suggested abolishing the proxy vote. They have done this in their own association where only members attending are able to vote.
Ø Concerns were expressed over countries who find it difficult to find a delegate to attend and who would then be denied their right to vote.

Taking the above concerns and views into consideration, it was agreed unanimously that the way forward should be to give a postal vote to fully paid-up member countries who are unable to attend. To achieve this it was suggested that all nominees for election to the WACS Board should be submitted three months in advance of the election date to enable a voting form to be produced with all nominees names and allow countries to apply for a postal voting form if they are unable to attend.