1999

XX WAF World

Minutes of the

Annual Congress Meeting

Tokyo, Japan

December 2, 1999

Marriott Hotel

Meeting was called to order and chaired by Mr. Fred Roy - Interim President of WAF

at 3:30 p.m.

1. Attendance & Introductions
   

Fred Roy - Interim WAF President                   Keith Koenig - Canada

Willy Deneumostier -Secretary General           David Shead - Head Referee

Kathy Defeche - Belgium                                  Kim Shoesmith - England

Szilvszter Gyulai - Hungary                              Leanyialui Ierenc - Hungary

Sandoz Szekezes - Hungary                               Denise Wattles - USA

Leonard Harkless - North American Rep          Valeri Babuk - Belarus

Igor Akhmedshin - Russia                                 Andrey Petrov - Russia

Guo Qing Hong - China                                     Bill Frank - Germany

Vookko Naskali - Finland                                 Harri Naskali - Finland

Mitsuo Endo - Japan                                         Darrell Belyk - Canada (Observer)

Lise Blanchard – Canada (recording sec.)        Neil Pickup - England

REGRETS: Austria, Uganda, Korea, India, Pakistan & Morocco.

Due to some interventions by Mr. Baran Das, India was denied Visas at the last minute. They would have attended with over 40 armwrestlers.

2. Review of last years minutes in Thunder Bay, Canada
   

Changes to be made as follows:

Page 8 - Item (b) to read as follows: That any elbow lift at start of the match is a foul except for a Coincidental Foul it will be a re-start.

Page 7 - Table dimensions: Thierry Melina was suppose to make a presentation but sends his apologies, he could not attend. It was

decided to table this discussion for another 3 years, this would give Thierry time to make his presentation.

MOTION: To approve last years minutes

Motion by: Leonard Harkless

Seconded by: David Shead

All in favor: APPROVED Opposed 0 Abstain 0

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3. Affiliation of New Members

We welcome China, Belarus & Hungary. We received letters from Morocco , India & Czechoslovakia asking that they be recognized.

The representatives from Hungary explained that they would like communications opened with Milan Capla they feel that he is a very

important man and should be involved in WAF. They where explained that WAF has been trying to communicate with him but that

at the moment his choice is to follow Mr. Das. They were assured that WAF would continue their quest for unification and that

communication was always open.

Mr. Endo asks if we are truly trying to bring both WAFs together and join the World of Armwrestling therefor eliminating the split.

Mr. Roy explained that an invitation was sent to both Mr. Das and Mr. O'Leary to come to Japan and talk to us about unification,

they did not even reply.

Mr. Akhmedshin says that we have had enough talk on this subject, we have many examples of what Mr. Das and Mr. O'Leary

have done. The IMPORTANT thing is that we work together towards one unified organization.

4. Annual Reports from Committee members

Report from Mr. Fred Roy - Interim President of WAF

Mr. Roy agrees with Mr. Endo that we need to work together. The armwrestlers are what makes the WAF not the delegates,

we are only here to carry out their wishes. Mr. Das and Mr. O'Leary did not work as we do and that is what has caused the split,

they have tried to put all sorts of stops to our goal of unification. Despite their efforts we are doing great and will continue to grow

under the strong commitment of all present today.

They have written a fax forbidding anybody from talking with Mr. Roy. If someone does talk to Mr. Roy they would be expelled

from WAF, what kind of democracy is that.

Fred expressed his happiness at seeing everyone in Japan and Thanked Mr. Endo for hosting this year’s event. A democratic

vote was held to have the 1999 WAF Championships in Japan and we followed that democratic vote.

Report from Mr. Willy Deneumostier - Interim Secretary General of WAF

Willy's Report was read by Lise Blanchard at his request. A copy of his report is attached.

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Report from Mr. Igor Akhmedshin - European Continental Body

He thanked everyone for attending the 20^th WAF World Championship in Japan. He Thanked Willy for hosting the European

Championships in Belgium last July, 250 competitors attended.

If we continue to work together we will accomplish much success. We have made suggestions to the Constitution and have

submitted them the Mr. Roy.

In spite of the fact that the old WAF held what they called a World Championship in Russia, it was not supported by the Russian

Government. Mr. Akhmedshin has supporting papers from his Government stating that the Russian Armsport Federation with Mr.

Akhmedshin as President is the only armwrestling organization recognized by them.

Belarus has bid for the 2000 European Championships and he is happy to have representatives from Hungary present today.

He is looking forward to working with them.

Report from Mr. Leonard Harkless - North American Continental Body

Mr. Harkless explained that Mr. Devoto has not been feeling well and will be undergoing a small operation this week. We all

wish him well. Mr. Devoto sends his greetings to all. We are working towards adding new countries to the North American

Federation and we are in contact with Mexico.

Mr. Akhmedshin suggest that we send Mr. Devoto an e-mail wishing him the best.

E-mail him at ddevoto@sonic.net

Report from Mr. Mitsuo Endo - Asian Continental Body

He is very happy to announce that China is attending this year and that Korea will be on board next year. He is also looking

forward to bringing others on board.

Report from Mr. David Shead - Head Referee of WAF

He would like to emphasize the importance of supporting our referees. In Canada last year some giant steps where made

towards making the Referees quite unified. The refereeing at the Worlds in Canada was one of the bests and he congratulates

Canada for their great work. We will be holding Seminars - across the World and we are looking for countries to Host these

Events. He is extremely pleased with the cooperation between referees and he is looking forward to working with Mr. Harri Naskali..

We must work towards establishing Junior, Senior and Master Levels of Referees.

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Everybody must know that Mr. Das and Mr. O'Leary have been putting a lot a pressure on the Ministry of Sports - We have faxes

and letters from the following Federations documenting these facts. Norway, Brazil, Russia, India & Morocco

Motion to accept all Reports as presented: Motion by: Keith Koenig - Canada

Seconded: Kathy Defeche - Belgium

All in favor: APPROVED OPPOSED: 0 ABSTAINED: 0

 

5. The filling of new vacancies on the Executive Committee
   

Mr. Roy asks if we should wait to communicate with the individuals who are not with us, or should we vote to replace them.

Countries are very confused with all the letters and correspondence they have been receiving.

Ms. Denise Wattles feels that we should try to work with these people.

Mr. Neil Pickup feels that we need to be responsible and try not to turn the people who have worked toward getting the sport

recognized in their country, we should try to get them back in our folds and work with them to see that we have one unified World Federation

Mr. Keith Koenig - These countries show good leadership and we should work with them and not start playing the same game

the old WAF has done with expulsions

Mr. Endo agrees with everyone.

Hungary would like us to document that the Hungarian Federation chooses to show their support to the WAF chaired by Mr. Roy.

They also request that we send them a letter stating that we are the World Arm sport Federation. They feel that this is a democratic

Federation and they are proud to be affiliated. They will also send a letter of recommendation to other countries stating their full

support and urging them to do the same.

Mr. Bill Frank - Germany - Many players do not know that this is happening, they go to the championships to pull. I hope with my

heart that we can join as one.

Mr. Leonard Harkless - Makes a motion to leave the doors open for these people to see that we will work with them. Let them

make the decision to follow a democratic organization

Seconded by: David Shead

All in favor: APPROVED OPPOSED: 0 ABSTAINED: 0

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6. Discussion on next World Championships
   

Motion that we accept Harri Naskali of Finland's proposal to host the 21^st WAF Championship in November 2000.

Motion by: David Shead Seconded: Kathy Defeche

All in favor: APPROVED OPPOSED: 0 ABSTAINED: 0

No other bids proposed

7. Discussion of changes to Rules , Articles or By-Laws
   

RULES: Change to read that the weigh-ins will be held no sooner than 24 hours before the first day of the competition.

MOTION: Denise Wattles SECONDED: Keith Koenig

All in favor: APPROVED OPPOSED: 0 ABSTAINED: 0

CONSTITUTION: Mr. Roy has written a new Constitution, this was distributed to all Countries and some

have returned changes they would like made. We will go through and discuss these changes. We will then vote on

accepting the new Constitution as presented with the changes made.

Changes suggested are as follows:

1) Mr. Endo - says that he is very proud to be part of the World Arms wrestling Federation and asks that we return

to the Arm wrestling word that so easily describes our sport. The word armsport could mean any sport that has to do with arms.

Mr. Igor suggest that we should be careful, before we make this decision, it may well be the fact that we cannot use the word wrestling.

Mr. Harkless informs everyone that Mr. Devoto holds the rights to title ARM WRESTLING

MOTION: that we change the word Armsport back to Armwrestling.

MOTION: Mr. Endo SECONDED: Neil Pickup

ALL IN FAVOR: 10 PASSED OPPOSED: 0 ABSTAINED: 2 RUSSIAN

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All other changes to the Constitution have been agreed upon and the changes made.

Motion to approve the new Constitution as presented with changes discussed.

Motion by: David Shead Seconded: Vuokko Naskali

All in favor: APPROVED Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0

8. Discussion of Old Business - No old business to discuss
   

9. Discussion of New Business
   

a) International Tournament: Hungary would like to host an International Tournament in hopes

of uniting all countries in the World. They will put a proposal together and present it to the WAF.

b) BUDGET: b. Since we have not recieved the accounts from Mr. Das as requested and have

to start a new account, it is difficult to establish a Proposed Budget.

MOTION: That Mr. Roy and Mr. Deneumostier establish a budget for the year 2000 and prepare

a proposed budget for the year 2001.

Motion by: Denise Wattles Seconded by: Andrey Pretov

All in favor: APPROVED Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0

c) Registration Fees: A $20.00 per puller registration fee has always gone to WAF.

MOTION: That we split the $20.00 Registration 50/50 between the host country and WAF starting

in the year 2001.

Motion by: David Shead Seconded by: Denise Wattles

All in favor: APPROVED Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0

MOTION: Effective year 2000 the Registration Fee will be changed from $20.00 per competitor to $30.00

per competitor

Motion by: Kathy Defeche Seconded by: Keith Koenig

All in favor: 10 Opposed: 4 Abstained: 0

Motion is carried

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d) Igor presented a letter from the European Continental Federation and asks that the General Congress

approve the disciplinary actions taken by the EAF directed at the Georgian organization and the Bulgarian

organization for an incident at the European Championships..

MOTION: The General Congress accepts the disciplinary action taken by the EAF

Motion by: Kathy Defeche Seconded by: Andrey Petrov

All in favor: APPROVED Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0

10.   Open discussion to the General Membership - none
    

11.   Meeting adjournment at 7:30 p.m.

 Motion to adjourn by:  Leonard Harkless

Seconded by:  Keith Koenig

ALL IN FAVOR:  APPROVED

_____________________                                              _________________
Mr. Willy Deneumostier                                                    Mr. Fred Roy
Interim General Secretary                                                  Interim President