F I D I S E RV ICES adamant that they would definitely sign up for an inperson conference as soon as it is safe to do so. It was also noticeable that the attendees overall were much more operational, compared with the more high-end management representatives who usually attend the live conferences. The positive side of the virtual setting is that it allows us to reach a more diverse audience there were many participants who would not have had the opportunity to go to the live event, mainly because of cost. But the lack of owners and executive managers present might be a sign that the online format is not yet considered of equal strategic value compared with live events. This was also visible in the content sessions. The IAM presented a full agenda of panel discussions on various hot topics. The sessions were well attended and gave way to many comments in the chat box, which was great to see. The ease and low cost of setting up an online panel or workshop, and the fact that you can target very specific audiences, means that these kind of sessions are probably here to stay in the long run. But again, it just doesnt beat the real thing. The key value of content-driven sessions lies in the conversations and debates that take place during and after, and the live engagement with key decision-makers. Answering emails while listening to an online pre-recorded conversation just does not have the same impact as sitting in a full room with well-known figures. All in all, the 2020 IAM annual meeting was a success for the FIDI team, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The IAM did a fabulous job in adapting their annual meeting to an online setting in a record time and with the tools at hand. Congratulations to Chuck, Brian, Katia and the entire team. Online events have definitely gained their place in the international moving industrys event scene, and rightfully so. But not as a full replacement of real-life, on-site events; rather as a welcome complement, allowing for greater diversity and engagement with our members and partners making the times we meet in person even more special and meaningful. JESSE VAN SAS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF FIDI As the ongoing pandemic continues to prevent the organisation of in-person meetings, the FIDI Delegates met online on 20 October 2020 for the formal Delegates Meeting and Extraordinary General Assembly. While the previous meeting in September covered the details of FIDIs recent activities, this latest meeting focused on key discussion points, which were put to the vote during the EGA T BELOW: A screenshot of the FIDI virtual booth he main discussion points of the FIDI Delegates Meeting and Extraordinary General Assembly were as follows: FAIM In September, the Delegates approved the Boards proposal to put a moratorium on all pending FAIM 3.2 audits, and the FCC was tasked to develop a FAIM remote audit scheme for 2021. During the October meeting, John Prooij, FIDIs Project Manager Quality and Risk, presented the details of the FAIM 3.2 remote audit scheme, which will be implemented for 2021. The FCC will share more information on the procedure and requirements in due course; you can read more details about the remote audit process on pages 52-53. FIDIs Secretary General Jesse van Sas confirmed that the audit fee will be set at 3,600 and that the remote audit process will provide a saving of approximately 25 per cent compared with the onsite audit. The new fee covers the FAIM Coordination Centre costs, annual internal audits, EY and FAIM development. The yearly Financial Assessment is not included, as it is currently in the final pilot year. He also underlined the fact that this remote audit scheme will be implemented until the end of 2021 as an exceptional measure, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thereafter, lessons learned will be considered for the development of FAIM 4.0. As a consequence of the resources taken to implement the remote audit scheme, the release of the next FAIM standard could now potentially be delayed to January 2023. Delegates all voted in favour of the remote audit scheme during the EGA vote. FASI Although the FASI programme has worked well for decades, providing a security blanket for our Aliates, the current crisis will no doubt put pressure on the longevity and viability of the protection system and fund. The Board, therefore, has decided to appoint a committee of experts to review the entire FASI concept, coverage and funding, in order to determine if it still remains a valuable feature for FIDI Aliates and if/how it should be reformed. Pending the results of this review and considering the current risks, the Board urged the Delegates to bolster 26 FF300 DecJan21 pp24-27 IAM.indd 26 WWW. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 24/11/2020 15:24