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Members' space Inland Waterways International |
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campaigning for inland waterways worldwide since 1995 |
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IWI held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday September 18, 2011, at the Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (Northern Shipping Museum) in Groningen, Netherlands, after the mayor opened the World Canals Conference. To meet the increased costs of printing, administration, postage,..., the membership subscription rates have been increased to GBP 15.00 for individual members, GBP 40.00 for voluntary organisations and GBP 60.00 for corporate members (public bodies, businesses). See the Membership page.
IWI's WCC Committee selects the sites to host the annual World Canals Conference. Since 2008 IWI has hosted the WCC Steering Committee. It was felt by past conference organisers that the WCC mission statement and the statutory objectives of IWI were so close that IWI could be considered a natural home for what was previously an informal group of organisers of past conferences. The committee is chaired by Rory Robinson.
IWI supports the International Canal Marketing Team initiative set up at the Rochester 2010 WCC. The group, which includes IWI corporate members, is exploring the possible approaches to marketing and promotional programs in relation to canals and waterways. The group is chaired by Markly Wilson of New York Department of Economic Development (I love NY program). Contact the group through the Rivers Organization. Members receive regular news of campaigns and developments in all areas through the magazine World Wide Waterways and newsletter IWI News. World Wide Waterways No 25 is currently in preparation. President |
New Council Member Benny Ruus IWI is pleased to announce the appointment of Benny Ruus, CEO of the Dalsland Canal Company (Sweden) as a full member of its Council. 58 years old, married with three children, Benny Ruus has been managing the Dalsland Canal for 20 years, and was nominated president of the Swedish and Norwegian Canal Society (IWI corporate member) in 2011. Before coming to canals, he was a teacher, and was headmaster of a Junior High School before moving on to teachers' training and educational development. He was then CEO of a Company in Stockholm for four years before the move to Dalsland.Two years after joining the Dalsland Canal Company he started a programme to develop the canal by providing better services to visitors: guest harbors, lock stations, visitor centers, marinas, gas-stations, jetties, bridges... A parallel programme for conservation of the canal's cultural heritage focused on renovation of the famous Håverud Aqueduct, lock chambers, lock gates, old buildings and various items of equipment. Over the 17 years 1994-2011, about 7.5 million EUR has been invested in these projects. His keen interest in canal construction, water technology, construction materials and heritage has been stimulated by visits to many canals in Europe, and a number of canals in the USA, Canada and China, both heritage and commercial. A member of the Swedish Canals Association for 20 years, he took part in the Canaux 98 heritage canals conference in Toulouse, and was one of the organisers of the World Canals Conference in Trollhättan in August 2005. 
Objectives IWI brings together people and organisations who support the conservation, use, development and proper management of inland waterways worldwide. It aims to raise public awareness of the benefits of using waterways for a wide range of activities, from inland water transport to cruising, towpath walking and other recreational uses, as well as appreciating their architectural and landscape values as heritage. It also promotes restoration, where appropriate, of waterways which have become derelict. Håverud Aqueduct on the Dalsland Canal in Sweden
IWI's 16th Annual General Meeting The AGM in Groningen noted the almost unanimous vote by members in favour of two amendments to the association's constitution, which are now passed: the first to approve integration of the World Canals Conference Steering Committee as a sub-committee of IWI, the second to create a position as ex-officio member of Council, for interested persons who may wish to avoid a situation of conflict of interest with their official responsibilities within an organisation directly involved in inland waterway management or operation. IWI's 15th Annual General Meeting took place at the Rochester Plaza Hotel in Rochester, NY (USA) on Sunday 19 September 2010. Following the business of the AGM, three candidate sites for hosting the WCC in 2013 presented their projects: Inverness (Scotland), Ghent (Flanders, Belgium) and Toulouse (France). The Selection Committee later chose Toulouse to be host site in 2013. | |||
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