1. Name and Objectives

The body shall be called the Asian Mycological Committee (AMC)). Its objectives shall be (a) the development and promotion of mycology in all its branches through meetings, publications and other means deemed appropriate, (b) the representation of the mycological interests of Asia, and (c) encouraging liaison with, and development of, national and regional bodies within Asia which have mycological interests.

2. Membership

AMC shall comprise of Members and Honorary Members. Each country within the Asia region shall have one national representative as a Member appointed under the terms of the Framework for the Nomination of National Representatives to AMC (Appendix 1). Members shall normally serve for a period of four years.

Honorary Members shall be persons of pre-eminence in mycology and be elected according to the procedures specified in Appendix 2 (Nomination of Honorary Member, IMACA). The number of Honorary Members shall not exceed three at any one time.

3. Officers

Officers of AMC, elected from among Members, shall be the Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, and a General Secretary. Where a Member is the Chairman or a Vice- Chairman, the country represented by that Officer shall be entitled to an additional Member (appointed under the terms of Appendix 1) to serve on the Committee. The additional Member from the same country as the Chairman shall hold the office of Secretary. Officers shall serve for a period of four years and be eligible for re-election to one further term. Elections shall be held every four years. Nominations shall require the support of three Members who shall sign a Nomination Form, and the written consent of the nominee. If the number of nominations does not exceed the number of vacancies, the nominees shall be declared duly elected. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, a ballot shall be held with nominees receiving the majority of votes from the Members present declared elected.

Vacancies arising through resignation/premature retiral within an existing term of office shall be filled by a postal ballot held within three months of the vacancy occurring.

4. Activities

The activities of AMC shall include:

(a) sponsorship and organisation of scientific meetings, symposia and workshops within the Asia region

(b) publication of the AMC Newsletter, and other educational and scientific literature

(c) representation of the mycology-related interests of Asia

(d) promotion of AMC activities internationally

5. Committees

Sub-committees for special purposes may be formed only with the majority approval of the Membership and their functions shall be as prescribed by the Membership. The Chairman or his nominee shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

6. Conduct of Business

The business of AMC shall be conducted in accordance with the Constitution.

7. Alteration of the Constitution

A Member may propose a change to the Constitution, details of which shall be circulated to other members at least two months before a Committee Meeting. Proposals for an alteration must have the support of at least one-third of the Members present at a Committee Meeting. A proposal for an alteration must receive the approval of two-thirds of Members present at a Committee Meeting in order to be presented for adoption. A copy of duly approved proposals shall be sent to each Member and final adoption of any alteration to the Constitution shall require acceptance by not less than two-thirds of the Membership. Members shall be informed of alterations by the General Secretary.

8. Circulation of the Constitution

A copy of the Constitution shall be given to each Member upon joining AMC.

9. Limitation of Liability

No Officer or other Members of AMC shall be responsible for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission done in good faith in the exercise of the powers conferred through AMC's Constitution.

10. Meetings

AMC shall hold two types of meetings; Committee Meetings and General Meetings.

Committee Meetings shall normally be convened annually at a venue to be approved by the Members at least two years in advance. Ordinarily, a Committee Meeting shall be held during and in association with a mycological conference organised by mycological interests within the host country. The Chairman of AMC shall be the chairman or, in his absence, a Vice-Chairman or other Officer. The business of the meeting shall include:

a) a report from the Chairman;

b) the presentation of reports on membership, programmes, publications, and any other significant activities of the Committee;

e) any other relevant business.

The General Secretary shall notify Members of a Committee Meeting at least three months in advance. Any Member wishing to raise a substantial matter for inclusion in the business of the meeting shall notify the General Secretary at least two months before the meeting. The General Secretary shall then send an Agenda to all Members not later than one month before the meeting. Each Member shall have one vote on each issue and voting shall be by show of hands or otherwise as the Chairman may direct. The Committee shall have power to co-opt/invite additional participants to a Committee Meeting to further particular interests not otherwise represented in the Committee. Co-opted/invited participants shall not have voting rights.

General Meetings shall normally be held every four years and shall proceed according to the same format adopted for Committee Meetings plus the additional business of electing Honorary Officers of AMC.

11. Permanent Address

The AMC address shall be that of the current Chairman

Present:
1. Prof. Dr Suziki Akira (SA) Japan (Chairman)
2. Prof. Dr Kevin. D. Hyde (KDH) China (General Secretary)
3. Prof. Dr. Amin Uddin Mridha (AUM) Bangladesh (Country Representative)
4. Prof. Dr. Xingxhong Liu (XL) China
5. A. Prof. K. Rajugopal (KR) India
6. Dr. Bahram Sharifnabi (BS) Iran
7. Prof. Oded Yarden (OY) Israel (Country Representative)
8. Dr. Tsutmu Hattori (TH) Japan (Country Representative)
9. Prof. Dr.Tae Soo Lee (TSL) Korea (Country Representative)
10. Dr. Vikineswary Sabaratnam (VS) Malaysia (Country Representative)
11. Ms. Ohnmar Myo Aung (OMA) Myanmar
12. Dr. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz (TDC) Philippines (Country Representative)
13. Dr. Larissa Vasilyeva (LV) Russia
14. Dr. Ching-Hua Su (CHS) Taiwan (Country Representative)
15. A. Prof. Dr. Kasem Soytong (KS) Thailand (Country Representative)
16. Dr. Le Xuam Tham (LT) Vietnam

Others Present:
1. Prof. Dr Pedro W. Crous (PC) President of the IMA
2. Prof. Dr Paul W. J. Taylor (PT) Australia

Absent:
1. Dr. Hean Vanhan Cambodia (Country Representative)
2. Prof. D. J. Bhat India (Country Representative)
3. Dr. Kartini Kramadibrata Indonesia Country Representative
4. Dr. Rasoul Zare Iran (Country Representative)
5. Mr. Phengsintham Pheng Laos
6. Dr. Tsetseg Baljinov Mongolia
7. Dr. S.C. Singh Nepal (Country Representative)
8. Dr. Farhat Jamil Pakistan (Country Representative)
9. Dr. Mikhail Pivkin Russia (Country Representative)
10. Dr. Nimal Adikaram Sri Lanka (Country Representative)
11. Dr. Teck Koon Tan Singapore (Country Representative)

Proceedings:
Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman SA.

Welcome to new members and explanation and history by KDH:
KDH explained brief history of AMC. The IMA (International Mycological Association) Committee for Asia was founded on September 2, 1977 during the second International Mycological Congress (IMC2) held in Tampa, Florida, USA, as the Committee for the Development of Mycology in Asian Countries. The Committee's aim is to promote the development of mycology through various activities associated with mycological education, training, research, and service in countries and regions within Asia. In this congress, many regional and international mycologists have worked together and it is a great chance to improve the ideas relating to mycology. Each country has a representative to attend this meeting however some countries representatives are absent. At the moment, AMC does not have funding and little can be done without funding. We need to raise the funds. The AMC webpage has been set up and needs to update. All the member countries need to send the updated information including meetings and conferences.

Chairman’s Report:
SA announced that the President of the IMA has attended this meeting and requested to give remarks on the meeting.

IMA President’s address:
PC addressed the main idea to attend this meeting. The Executive Committee meeting of the IMA for the Australasia region will be held following this AMC General Meeting. PC explained about the presently organized mycological associations in the world and updates of the executive committee of the IMA. The first meeting was held in April and 10 members were attended. The second meeting was held during the MSA. Currently, IMA has established the webpage and mycological organizations of the world can be linked to this web. The aim of this webpage is broadly leading to the other associations in order to provide data of update information including meetings and conference. IMA encourages the regional mycological organizations to submit the pre-proposal to host the 2014 IMC. PC suggested that AMC should discuss new set up of AMC, new statues and several issues in this meeting. Applications for the financial support should be submitted by August 15th each year.
Chairman SA noted the name of the congress, Asian Mycological Congress, IMACA and Asian Mycological Committee. SA raised the question about to change the names. The others agreed that no changes were needed.

Country Reports:
Country reports and present situation were reported by each country’s representatives. The country’s mycological association, number of mycologists in country, meetings and conference, future plan were included in the reports.

AMC2007 organizing country’s Report:
VS explained that she was working with full time staff member to develop an office of the organizing committee, information management systems, policies and procedures to ensure financial issues and fund-raising activities. Unexpected problems occurred during this time and everything has been overcome.
After her brief discussion, the others congratulated VS.

Nomination and election of new executive committee members:
SA raised the question about to change the constitution of AMC. KDH proposed that there should be two Vice chairmen: one for Activity and the other is for Treasurer.
Officers of the AMC were elected for the period of next four years (2007-2011, until the 2011 AMC meeting) by the proposal of countries’ representatives.
Newly elected officers
Prof. Dr. Kevin D. Hyde (Chairman)
Prof. Dr.Tae Soo Lee from Korea (Vice-Chairman-Activity)
Dr. Tsutmu Hattori from Japan (Vice-Chairman-Treasurer)
Ms. Ohnmar Myo Aung from Myanmar (General Secretary)

Comments by new Chairman
KDH firstly thanked the former Chairman SA for his contribution for the period of past four years. He announced that the next meeting will be held in Taiwan in 2009 and this meeting has to decide the host for the 2011 meeting.
TSL proposed Korea to be the host for AMC2011.
OMA informed that Prof. D. J. Bhat (India) has proposed India to be the host for AMC2011.
The committee decided that AMC 2011 will be held in Korea and the satellite meeting will be held in India at a separate time and subject. Satellite meetings can be proposed by any Asian member countries and will be supported by AMC. However they must be at a separate time and have a separate theme. They are not regarded as the main AMC conferences and no support is available.
KDH encouraged the member countries to update the webpage including meeting and conferences. The members can contact OMA to upgrade the webpage.
KDH raised the issue about the working group in particular field of interests. He pointed out that we need to encourage the setting up of research groups and to promote the young mycologists to become leader of the mycology in the future. We have already set up the Asian Freshwater Fungi Research Group (AFFRG).
KDH discuss about the AMC award for recognition of advancing mycology in the Asia. Discussion about two awards: young mycologist and senior mycologist.
PC suggested to follow the MSA awards. This is working very well and AMC will get a lot of information regarding selection of awardees. Chairman should set up the selection committee within 6 months.
Other business
KDH opened discussion for other business in the AMC.
SA discussed the time of new executive committee and it was confirmed by the member who attended this meeting. The present committee will be presented until Korea AMC meeting.
KDH asked the members to give any idea, suggestions and comments and told that everyone can contact freely to the Chairman.
KDH announced the logo competition for the AMC. Everyone from the member countries can participate in this competition.
BS from Iran suggested that the registration fees for the next meetings should be accepted by credit cards. Everybody agreed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Minutes submitted by General Secretary, Ohnmar Myo Aung.