Delegates met for IVO-conference

During OTWorld 2014 the IVO delegates met for a conference in Leipzig. One of the principle issues was the question of the sponsor concept for the association that wants to get better funding through partners from the industry. A further topic was the aim to continue to accelerate international standards.

 

Also there were reports from the member countries. Reiner Schumacher as representative of the German Central Association ZVOS talked about standards for protection shoes for diabetics. There was a discussion at the round table about an issue from the Canadian National Association: Jonathan Strauss (PAC) asked his international colleagues the exciting questions:„What are you doing to market/raise awareness of the profession in your country and what, if any, research projects is your association or your members currently undertaking?“. Kuribayashi described the situation of orthopaedic shoe technology in Japan and the Belgian delegate Koenraad Vansteenwegen presented a book written by him and published in Dutch (a practical guide for the orthopaedic shoetechnologic solutions regarding foot problems). In the following there was a discussion about the procedure, conforming to the law, with working and safety shoes, a topic that is currently an issue for Rob Verwaard and the members of the Dutch association.

Serge Mathis, responsible for the organization of the IVO-Congress in Paris in 2015, presented the work already done and asked for support with visitor promotion in the member countries. Also preparations began for the congress in 2018: Jonathan Strauss and the Canadian organization team are looking for a suitable venue and asked the other delegates how many visitors can be expected from the individual countries.

Additionally there were news from the IVO's official international organ, "foot&shoe“. Right now it is being reviewed how it can develop into a listed and thus quotable scientific journal, maintaining at the same time its craft-oriented direction and its platform for international exchange. Furthermore the IVO's Internet presence on the website of foot&shoe is being revised.