We started with Pablo Colangelo being presented with a plaque of appreciation from Servas Pakistan.
The Servas youth group then led the participants in an action song.

Jaime Romero (Columbia), Pablo Colangelo (Argentina), Judith Rivadenellon (Peru) read the First Latin American Servas meeting declaration in English and Spanish (pages 154 to 159 from the conference binder).

The membership report from Rita Dessauvage (Belgium), Eva Meggeneder (Austria) and Harald Seiffert (Germany) was accepted.

The following countries were accepted immediately as full members of Servas Bolivia, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Greece, Kazakhstan, Taiwan.

Discussion developed around whether to withdraw membership or not. Sheldon Weeks (Botswana) felt it maybe very discouraging for countries to feel rejected when membership was withdrawn. Rita Dessauvage explained that non-member status means that a country does not have voting rights, not that they are no longer a Servas national group.

Pramod Kumar, SI General Secretary, explained that all member groups are national groups, but not all national groups are member groups. Only member groups have voting rights. A country with even one
or two hosts is automatically a national group.
The GA voted to change the status of Bangladesh
from a member group to a national group. Carried.
Paraguay, Kyrgystan, Iceland: no annual reports,
but traveller reports are positive; no action taken.
GA ACTION: REMOVED from member status: Zimbabwe and Netherland Antilles.
GA ACTION: REMOVED Mauritius from voting rights
GA ACTION: TIE VOTE (23/2/21); so the President took a deciding vote and so Latvia won't be denied of voting rights.

Motion about Hong Kong was withdrawn.

Israel asked for definition; when does a country gain or lose voting status. Motion died because it had NO SECONDER.

Questions were raised by the floor about definitions: National Groups; Membership Group; Activity; Voting Rights
Lunch at 1:15 pm.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:Group photo-lobby. Demelza (Malawi) introduced newsletter.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: x2 coaches were taken to visit 'Casa de T –Cocina De Autor' where we walked around a closed craft village ? and then recovered drinking organic tea & plates of gorgeous cakes for 2hours and then sang raucously in the bus on the way back. 8.30pm dinner.
EVENING:Talk & video on 'The Walk for Peace' to take part world-wide on 2nd October 2009 for more info:worldmarch.org
Candidates for nomination for EXCO positions made individual presentations or someone spoke on their behalf.
Candidates: ?President:Gary Sealey-Canada; ?Vice President Pramod Kumar-India; Jaime Romero-Columbia; John-Hopkins KINENE (withdrawn); ?General Secretary: Penny Pattison-Canada; ?Treasurer: Muhammed Khan-Pakistan; Alex Dali-France; Mirek Wasilewski-Poland. ?Host list Coord:Pablo Colangelo-Argentina; ?Peace Secretary: Luise Corbetta-Italy, Kim Jong Soo-South Korea, Sercan Duygan-Turkey. Closed: 2am!!!!!!!!!!!!!