Joining nations 1947-1990

EARLY DEVELOPME TS, 1949 -1 954

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It was in 1952 that the title 'Annual Assembly' passed into current usage and its programme assumed what became the definitive pattern. Held in Goteborg with, thanks to the Treasurer, all the facilities of ESAB available, there was sufficient staff to type and duplicate day by day the minutes of the Commission meetings, minutes which were prepared by Drafting Committees appointed by each Commission. This meant that it was no longer necessary to hold the unsatisfactory day-long plenary session at which the Chairmen of Commissions presented verbal reports, since the commission resolutions could be submitted in writing to the final meeting of the Governing Council. Thus the pattern of four half-day Commission meetings and four half-day Drafting Committee meetings was established, to be main– tained with minor variations over the next 40 years. It must not be supposed, however, that the principle of holding an annual meeting was accepted without question. Traditionally, the conferences of international engineering associations took place every few years for the presentation of papers. Initially, within the IIW, there was a strong current of opinion which held that annual meetings were too eJ..'Pensive, including as they did elaborate social and ladies' programmes, and that it would be preferable in alternate years for the Governing Council and the Commissions to hold independent and separate meetings. Finally, a compromise was reached in 1952 to the effect that Annual Assemblies should be of two categories: (1) Congresses with a public session, official reception, etc. (2) Working sessions of the Governing Council and the Commissions. In the event, the only assembly which was specifically of category 2 was that held the following year (1953) in Copenhagen and which was otherwise notable for the first exhibition of national publications, an established feature at virtually all subsequent assemblies. When it came to the point, the member countries proved unwilling to organise the austerity assemblies envisaged in the compromise decision of 1952; indeed the assemblies in the following years in Florence (1954) , Zurich (1955), Madrid (1956), Essen (1957) and Vienna (1958), all with attendances of approximately 500, were, from the social point of vie~, probably the most elaborate ever organised.

Banquet on the occasion of the 195 1 Annual Assembly.