Mi^sist NEWSLETTER vol. 1, no. 1

lASSlST CONSTITUTION

I. Name

Article 1

The name of the association shall be: International Association for Social Science
Information Service and Technology. The Association will hereafter be referred to

by the acronym: lASSIST:

I Headquarters

Article 2

The headquarters of lASSIST will be located with the designated treasurer.

Objectives

Article 3

The objectives of lASSIST are:

3.1 To encourage and support the establishment at local and national levels of
information centers for data base reference, maintenance, and dissemination.

3.2 To foster international dissemination and exchange of information on signi-
ficant developments in information centers for statistical and textual

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machine-readable data bases.

3.3 To coordinate on an international level programs, projects, and general
procedural efforts which provide an international forum for the discussion
of problems relating to information centers.

,3.4 To promote the development of professional standards and encourage the

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establishment of training courses for data center personnel.

Activities

Article 4

To accomplish the objectives of lASSIST the following activities are envisioned:

4.1 Action Groups organized to find solutions to specific problems and/or to

develop and compile relevant materials for specific projects.

4.2 Workshops , Seminars or Training Sessions In any area consistent with the

lASSIST objectives stated above.



^\sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no. 1

4.3 Newsletter to be published and circulated regularly to all lASSIST members.

4.4 Any other activities which advance the Association's objectives.

Membership

Article 5

5.1 Anyone interested in supporting the objectives of lASSIST may apply for

individual voting membership.

5.2 Other categories of membership may be instituted by the Steering Committee.

5.3 Dues will be established by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

Governance

Article 6

The Association shall consist of a General Assembly composed of all voting members

and an executive body to be known as the Steering Committee. The General Assembly

will establish the general policies of the Association and elect members of the

Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will implement policies, develop acti-

vities and future directions for the Association and elect officers.

6.1 The General Assembly will be organized by regions which will be constituted

by the Steering Committee and lASSIST members within each region will elect

a regional secretary who will serve as the administrative officer for that

region.

6.2 The General Assembly will meet at least once every three years.

6.3 The Steering Committee shall be composed of ten members elected by the

General Assembly and the secretaries of all approved regions.

6.4 A Nominating Committee of three members will be appointed by the Steering

Committee to prepare a slate for the election of the ten at large Steering
Committee members. Any member who receives the support of five other mem-

bers may have his name placed on the ballot.

6.5 Elections will be held by mail and the ten candidates receiving the largest
number of votes will be elected.

6.6 The Steering Cormittee will elect from among the members designated by the

plenary General Assembly a chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and a treasurer
and will appoint a newsletter editor.



i)^$sist NEWSLETTER vol.1, no.

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Amendments

Article 7

Amendments to these statutes may be proposed by any member with the support of five
signatures. All amendments will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval
along with the election ballot. Amendments approved by a majority of the members
voting will be incorporated into the Constitution.

Termination

The Association may be dissolved by a majority of the members. Remaining funds will
be transferred to the International Social Science Council.

Transitional Norm

The ad hoc Steering Committee will serve until after the first meeting of the
GenerTl Assembly, but in any case not later than December 31, 1978. The ad hoc
committee will arrange for a regular election to be held as soon as possible be-
fore that date.

SECRETARIAT REPORTS

Canadian Secretariat Report

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Sharon Chappie
Data Clearing House for the Social Sciences

The Data Clearing House for the Social Sciences is the Canadian Secretariat
for lASSIST. Activities of lASSIST are published in the Data Clearinghouse
Bulletin .

A large campaign for lASSIST membership was conducted by the Data Clearing-
house. Over five hundred forms were sent out. To date, 53 individuals and in-
stitutions have expressed an interest in affiliating with lASSIST; 9 others wish
to be retained only on the mailing list. Supplementary membership campaigns are
being considered.

Interest in the established Action Groups is as follows: Data Archive Regis-
try: 13; Data Archive Development: 13; Data Acquisition: 14; Data Documentation:
16; Classification: 8; Process-produced data: 16. Coordinators for each of the
groups have been appointed. Initial meetings are planned for the coming months.