[WAAMA Secretariat Report] On September 2-3, 2019, the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (WAAMA) held its Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council in Toronto, Canada. WAAMA Chairwoman Liu Jianhua attended the meeting and delivered a work report. The meeting deliberated the application of US members to replace their Vice Chairman, the application of Mexican Abacus Association to join WAAMA, and the amendments to some articles related to WAAMA’s appraisal and competition methods. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Cheng Beiping, Secretary-General of WAAMA.

Frist, Ms. Wang Lisha, the member of the Standing Council of WAAMA and President of the ISTAR Education of Canada, made a welcome speech. Ms. Wang Lisha expressed her warm feelings about the Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council of WAAMA to be held in Toronto, Canada. She vowed to do a good job in the facilitation work, and wished the meeting a full success.

Then, Chairwoman Liu Jianhua delivered a work report on behalf of the Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council of WAAMA.    Chairwoman Liu Jianhua pointed out: The past 12 months was the first year in which the Fifth Council of the WAAMA performed its duties, and it was also a year in which the world’s abacus and mental arithmetic cause developed vigorously. Thanks to the joint efforts of all member organizations, the WAAMA has made remarkable achievements in theoretical research, competition appraisal, teacher training, international exchanges and publicity.

Chairwoman Liu Jianhua stressed that WAAMA should keep pace with the times, seek innovative development in the next stage, and strive to follow the new requirements of the times, and adhere to the new concepts of inheritance, development and innovation of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. To that end, Chairwoman Liu Jianhua made three suggestions on WAAMA’s future work: First, we should broaden communication channels, strengthen communication among member units, and actively play WAAMA’s leading role in the industry. Second, we should actively expand the scale of the organization and persist in planning WAAMA’s various tasks with international standards, so as to promote the healthy and sustainable development of WAAMA. Third, we should keep pace with the times, make continuous reforms and innovations, and strive to achieve the innovative development of abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic.

The Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic deliberated and adopted the work report submitted by Chairwoman Liu Jianhua, approved the application of US members to replace their Vice Chairman, approved the application of Mexican Abacus Association to join WAAMA, revised some articles related to WAAMA’s appraisal and competition methods, and initially decided the time and venue for the Eighth Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic in 2020.

On September 3, 2019, Chairwoman Liu Jianhua and her retinue visited the ISTAR Education of Canada, and had a cordial meeting with abacus and mental arithmetic teachers there.