The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) will amend its articles to allow the formation of national and regional "chapters", in a move designed to give members in different parts of the world greater local autonomy.
The ICHCA's board, which met in May, said in a report that as a result of the proposed changes "members in any country may get together to form a national chapter under the auspices of ICHCA International".
Moving to a chapter structure would allow members to coordinate their efforts and have more input into the international activities of the association, the report said.
Chapters would be designed so members could meet as often as they felt appropriate.
The only condition imposed by the ICHCA was that its secretariat be notified of the formation of any new chapter and that the chapter be self-funded.
"If national chapters prove successful, there is no reason why some of them should not get together to form regional chapters, where cross-border cooperation can also take place," the ICHCA said.
Meanwhile, ICHCA Australia Ltd appointed a new board at its June 17 meeting. The chairman is now John Strang, while Ken Hoggett and David Bendall will serve as directors.
In the USA, the ICHCA has announced it will attempt to create a worldwide network of institutions to focus on research education relative to transportation, logistics and supply chain management.