O PI N I O N Who decides at FIDI? Secretary General Jesse van Sas explains who makes the decisions at FIDI U nlike a company, FIDI actually has a very democratic decision process, whereby all major rules and policies are decided by the most important stakeholders in our association the FIDI Affiliate. Much like with the European Union, there is a popular belief that Brussels decides on just about everything you as an Affiliate have to commit to. Whether it is the new mandatory compliancetraining course for CEOs, the budget for next year or the new FAIM 3.2 standard, very often we get the comment that FIDI has decided to impose yet another standard or rule on the membership. In fact, for many years now, FIDIs governance rules have taken a very different stance and have ensured that such decisions are taken or approved by the membership, as defined in the FIDI Statutes. A simple graphic (see below) shows you that the highest authority in FIDI are the individual Affiliates who, through their local or regional FIDI Association, decide on just about everything that determines the future of FIDI. JESSE VAN SAS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF FIDI GLOBAL ALLIANCE FIDI Affiliates (612) = FIDI membership Local or regional FIDI Associations Delegates Meeting & General Assembly = the FIDI parliament (27) = represent all FIDI Affiliates FIDI Board = executive body FIDI office = daily management W W W. F ID I. O R G FF291JunJul19 pp11 Jesse Opinion.indd 11 Twice a year, the representatives of the FIDI Associations meet in the Delegates Meeting FIDIs parliament to go through an extensive agenda, with reports to review and decisions to vote on. These are lengthy but highly rewarding meetings, with frank and open discussions on what lies ahead for our organisation and how we can best arm ourselves for the challenges that FIDI Affiliates are facing. Decisions are not taken lightly, and often require considerable time and negotiations spanning various Delegates Meetings before finally going to vote and subsequent implementation. Prior to these Delegates Meetings, your local or regional FIDI Association Chair will consult with you, the Affiliates in the region, on what your view is on the proposed agenda items. This is your chance to offer input, suggest amendments, voice your concern or show your support. Your representative will take your comments back to the Delegates Meeting for further discussion with all the other FIDI Associations and Board. Only after ample review and debate is the matter put to a vote, after which a democratic decision is noted. Of course, this does not mean that everyone will have his or her way, but that is how democracy works. The FIDI office will then start working on the implementation of the decision of the Delegates Meeting through our usual communication channels, offering guidance and help where needed. If you feel that your concerns are not being heard, then do make the effort to attend your local Association meetings and convey your views. Do not hold back, but do understand that certain proposals are made for the future benefit of FIDI and FIDI Affiliates. Some pressing matters such as, for example, certain compliance rules, may not be hot in your part of the world yet, but they are elsewhere and will no doubt make their way to your area as well. It is the role of the FIDI Board and office, together with the members of the Delegates Meeting, to detect future developments and equip FIDI with the means to address these challenges. The strength of FIDI and its growing relevance in the mobility industry are its Affiliates, and it is great to see that they take their responsibility to approve sometimes less popular decisions, all for the future benefit of the whole FIDI community and the broader removal industry. Only after ample review and debate is the matter put to a vote, after which a democratic decision is noted 11 10/05/2019 15:15