In those regions where economical conditions make it difficult for individuals to join IASS, Chapters have been formed. Each Chapter consists of one or more groups of persons who share their contribution to the Association by each paying a partial membership fee to his or her Chapter Representative; depending on local conditions, these partial fees are as low as 1/10 the normal Individual fee.
Following is the current policy for Chapters adopted by the IASS Executive Council on October 26, 2008. This policy is intended to simplify fee-payment procedures and to give Chapter Members access to the membership privileges of this website, including access to the membership Directory and the Online Journal of the IASS.
Formation of an IASS CHAPTER
On receiving a formal proposal from a group of interested persons, the President of IASS, with concurrence of the Working Bureau, may authorize the creation of an IASS Chapter. Such a Chapter must extend over a well defined area covering a country, a group of countries, or a geographical region not covered by any other Chapter. (If there are a large number of interested individuals in one country, the Chapter in this country may consist of a number of appropriately sized groups, each of which is treated as a Chapter under this policy.) In addition, the area must be one where economic conditions make individual membership in the Association difficult. Once authorized, Chapters operate under the aegis of the IASS and in pursuance of the Association's statutory objectives.
Membership of an IASS CHAPTER
Membership in an IASS CHAPTER is open to all those who would otherwise qualify to become members of IASS. Thus all those interested in adding to and promulgation of the knowledge of shell and spatial structures are included, such as architects, engineers, builders, researchers, teachers, students, historians of art, architecture and engineering, and others. It is intended that the term "shell and spatial structures" be interpreted in the widest possible sense, including such lightweight structural systems as membranes, cable-supported structures, masts and towers, space structures, etc.
Number of Members in a Chapter
The number of members in a Chapter, n, shall be generally 10 or fewer, except that it may be established at a different value by the President, with the concurrence of the Working Bureau of the IASS.
Categories of Membership
Two categories of membership of a Chapter are possible:
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Chapter Representative. Each group of n members of the Chapter who are not also members of IASS shall elect from among themselves for a period of 3 years one person, the Chapter Representative, who shall become an Individual member of IASS, with all duties, rights and privileges of membership, including the right to vote and to receive the Journal. In addition, each group of n Chapter members shall receive, through the Chapter Representative, one print copy of the Journal. The Chapter Representative shall pay to the parent organization, IASS, the usual annual dues of an Individual member of IASS. The Chapter Representative shall serve as the liaison between the Chapter and the President, the Executive Council, and the Secretariat of the IASS, including providing on an annual basis the list of active members of the Chapter, including their e-mail addresses.
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Chapter Members. They shall pay no dues to the parent organization, IASS, but at the discretion of the Chapter Representative may pay to him/her annual dues up to one n-th (1/n) of the annual dues of the individual member of IASS; these Chapter members shall be entitled to attend IASS Symposia at an IASS member's discount rate, and to participate in all activities of the Association, including Working Groups. They shall not have the right to vote in IASS elections, nor the right to hold office in the parent Association. Once registered with the IASS Secretariat by the Chapter Representative, they shall have the same access to the IASS website as Individual members, including access to the online Journal.
Governance of the Chapter
Each Chapter shall organize itself in a manner appropriate for local conditions and Chapter activities. For example, the Chapter might be governed by a board consisting of a chairman (normally the Chapter Representative), secretary, and treasurer, elected by the vote of Chapter members to a three-year term. The Chapter Representative shall include in his/her annual report to the President and Secretariat a brief description of the organizational structure of the Chapter, including the names of the Chapter officers.
Duration of Chapters
The term of existence of an approved Chapter shall be five years. If a the end of this period the chapter wishes to continue, a renewal proposal with justification shall be presented to the President of the IASS. The decision for renewal of the Chapter shall follow the same procedures as used for approval of the formation of Chapters.
This page last updated 27 January 2009
