The agenda for the meeting was as follows:

Theo Davies: Informed the assembly that only two members of the former ESAMEG were present and there was the need to elect new interim officers. The two members present were Steve Mogere and himself.

Opio Oketch: Suggested that officers should be elected either now, or at a later meeting that the Association could arrange to run in conjunction with the ‘Management and Application of Geoscience Information’meeting tentatively slated for Namibia in 2007.

Ezzoura Errami: Suggested that a small working group be formed now and a proper

election for an executive committee be held during the next meeting of

the Association slated to run in conjunction with the ‘Management and

Application of Geoscience Information’meeting in Namibia in 2007, or

at the 22^nd CAG in Tunisa in 2008.

Theo Davies: Explained the need for elections to be held on that day (04 July, 2006) since the dates suggested above were too far in the future; he observed that such a protracted postponement would further retard the work of the Association.

Isaac Njilah: Also emphasized that the interim officers should be elected on that day (04 July, 2006) and that substantive officers could be elected at the next CAG in Tunisia.

Theo Davies: Read out the names of the previous office bearers as follows:

Steve Mogere: Read out relevant portions of the "Constitution and Bye-laws Document’ of the Association to all participants.

Theo Davies: Read out the positions to be filled as follows: Chairperson, Deputy chairperson, Secretary General, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer and Webmaster. He then noted that since it was a small office the duties of the Public Relations Officer could well be performed by the Secretary General.

Isaac Njilah was then called upon to conduct the elections.

Isaac Njilah: Suggested that open elections be held by simple show of hands.

Annegret Lombard: Asked whether it would be acceptable to nominate, and vote for persons who were absent.

Theo Davies: Suggested that if an absent nominee wins a vote, he/she would be briefed on the proceedings and presented with his/her tasks. If he/she declines the position, then the runner up would be requested to take it up.

Isaac Njilah: Conducted the vote.

Thomas Schlüter: Noted that the tentative name ‘Sub-Saharan Africa Association of

Medical Geology’ appears to imply an exclusion of participants from

Theo Davies: Re-iterated that the existing constitution was the framework document of the parent organization, IMGA and that if it were to be adopted, we may need to make slight modifications so that it specifically addresses issues of the new Association that are peculiar to the African region.

Steve Mogere: Read through relevant sections of the ‘Constitution and Bye-laws’ of IMGA.

Ezzoura Errami: Asked if there was a way the new body could link itself to other

bodies like the Geological Society of Africa, in order to limit the

amount of membership fees.

Charity Kisirisa: Suggested that the parent logo for IMGA be adopted, but modified by

further addition of a medical symbol, an idea that was supported by

Ezzoura Errami.

Theo Davies: Informed the house that he will request the parent association, IMGA to host the new Association until such time when its own website will be ready.

Ian Jackson: Suggested that the issue of the logo design be decided through email communication between members, since it will take some time for people to conceive suitable images.

A total of 23 members registered with the Association, as show in the table below;

Theo Davies: Noted that proposal writing should be incorporated in the postgraduate curricula of geoscience departments, and that proposals should be written jointly and submitted as associations or geological societies, rather than by individuals. He informed the house that the present Africa Regional Director of ICSU, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, based in South Africa, regularly circulates information on project grants available for postgraduate and faculty research.

Ian Jackson: Invited all to the Namibia meeting in 2007, for further insight on informatics, and also the proposed workshop on medical geology where further issues on proposal writing will be discussed.

Theo Davies: Stressed that curriculum development of postgraduate courses in geology should emphasize medical geology since the science is fast evolving, with the highest potential for success in Africa, compared to other parts of the world. He noted that medical geology has already been introduced in the postgraduate curricula of Moi University, Kenya, Kenyatta University, Kenya, University of Jos, Nigeria, University of Venda, South Africa and a number of other universities in Africa.

Ezzoura Errami: Observed that we should embrace a parallel and participatory approach in our studies, such that whole communities, policy makers and the society at large will understand what medical geology is about.

Theo Davies: Noted that there is a general lack of skilled technicians capable of maintaining and routinely operating modern analytical instruments. Another problem relates to the difficulties in importation of spare parts and accessories from overseas manufacturers. Consequently, the kind of quality assurance needed for reliable analyses of trace elements at the very low concentration ranges desirable in medical geology studies, is still a distant dream in many African laboratories.

Opiyo-Akech: Observed that laboratory technicians are often not properly trained and that members of the teaching staff with expertise in analytical instrumentation, who can supervise technicians are seldom available due to teaching overload.

Steve Mogere; Noted that academicians (teaching staff with relevant expertise) should take an initiative to train technicians, lobby for improved pay package for them, and write good proposals that prominently embody technical staff training components.

Theo Davies: Called upon every member to devise means of fundraising for the Association.

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