It is important that all Members are familiar with the existence and responsibilities of the different bodies and forums of IHTSDO in order for the them to know what roles and responsibilities the Member and, more specifically, the NRC play (or can play) within these, but also to be acquainted with the support and benefit each Member can get by engaging in the different forums.
The bodies and forums of IHTSDO are the foundation for the continuous maintenance, development and distribution of SNOMED CT, and they provide the organizational framework for communication and collaboration between the different parts of the SNOMED CT community.
Participation in IHTSDO forums and other activities is governed by the Conditions for Participation in IHTSDO Bodies and Forums, which can be found here: http://snomed.org/participation_conditions.pdf
An overview of the different Bodies and Forums is shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14 - Bodies and Forums of IHTSDO
[[Image to be added]]

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest authority in IHTSDO and contains one representative from each of its national Members. The General Assembly is collectively responsible with assuring that the Purpose, Objects and Principles of the Association are pursued and that the interests of IHTSDO are safeguarded. It can make binding decisions regarding all matters relating to IHTSDO, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Association, such as budget, work plan and strategic goals. It is recommended though not required that General Assembly representatives attend all meetings. Face to face meetings occur usually twice per year with occasional teleconferences and electronic voting.

Management Board

The Management Board is appointed by the General Assembly. Members have the opportunity to nominate delegates to the Board. The Management Board directs the Association and has the responsibility for key business decisions. It has four face-to-face meetings per year with teleconferences between these meetings.
The Management Board also appoints the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who has day-to-day responsibility for running the organization. A Management Team responsible for particular lines of business supports the CEO and directs the work or additional employees.

Forums

Member Forum

Each IHTSDO Member is entitled to choose a representative to the IHTSDO Member Forum (MF). The MF acts as an advisory body to the Management Board.
The MF is also a means for optimizing the collaboration and coordination among IHTSDO Member countries provides a means for Members to have discussions on specific Member issues. Moreover, the MF facilitates contact and communication between countries with similar foundations, needs, priorities, etc. It is recommended that each Member gets involved with and makes use of the MF.
The MF can raise issues of concern to the Management Board and is asked by the Management Board for specific feedback on items. The MF is the conduit for communicating widely on consultations that IHTSDO may undertake. These consultations may include specific issues related to SNOMED CT content or IHTSDO documents, products and services. The MF is also a key player in determining which IHTSDO work items should be undertaken and prioritized.

Vendor Forum

The structure and role of the Vendor Forum (VF) is currently being revised as part IHTSDO's vendor strategy. As an expert group from a range of industry sectors, the VF will identify ways to facilitate use of SNOMED CT.

Advisory groups

[[Text to be added]]

Special Interest Groups

Besides the Advisory Groups, a set of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) function as advisory bodies on issues related to their specific areas relevant to the strategic direction and resulting specific work areas of IHTSDO, its Members and the Community of Practice.
The SIGs are open to anyone who is interested.
[[NEEDS REVISIONS]]

Project Groups

Project Groups (PGs) are focused on completing a specific assignment within a defined period of time. They generally have a fixed membership. Each Project Group reports to a specific Standing Committee or the Member Forum.
Further information about current and previous IHTSDO project groups can be found at IHTSDO webpage: ihtsdo.org/about-ihtsdo/governance-and-advisory/working-groups/project-groups/

IHTSDO Confluence

[[ADD INFORMATION HERE]]

IHTSDO Meetings and Events

The IHTSDO arranges two events a year. In April it holds a Business Meeting and in October a second Business Meeting is combined with the annual SNOMED CT Implementation Showcase. The venue of the October event varies each year and Members encouraged to submit proposals for hosting the event in their country.

Business Meetings

IHTSDO Business Meetings include face-to-face meetings of the IHTSDO Governance Bodies, Committees and Forums. Business Meetings may also include face-to-face meetings of some of the Special Interest Groups.
While meetings of Committees and Special Interest Groups are open to observers, some sessions of other groups are closed and may only be attended by members of the relevant bodies.
A key part of each Business Meeting is the open meeting of the IHTSDO General Assembly, where the key strategic decisions, plans and achievements are made and announced.

SNOMED CT EXPO

The SNOMED CT Expo is an open event for anyone interested in SNOMED CT and practical applications of the terminology. The event includes invited keynote speakers and several tracks of peer-reviewed presentations about SNOMED CT in general with a focus on implementation experiences and developments that facilitate more effective use of the terminology.
 The Expo also includes tutorials and workshops for those seeking greater understanding of SNOMED CT, an exhibition of vendor products that use SNOMED CT and a range of poster presentations on related topics.
The Expo is the main annual event in the IHTSDO calendar for anyone interested in the use and development of the global healthcare terminology. In addition to the scheduled sessions, it provides an excellent opportunity to network with others with a shared interest in SNOMED CT.