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ISIAQ Newsletter — July 2004 (Some time-sensitive topics have been deleted.)

ISIAQ President's Editorial

New Publication: Airborne Particles and Settled Dust

 

 

ISIAQ President's Editorial

Framework for Joint Operation between ISIAQ and IAIAS

DRAFT PROPOSAL

October 29, 2003

1. Intent of this document

The leadership on ISIAQ and IAIAS have participated in preparing this document. The purpose is to inform our membership and ask for their input into the possible merger of the two organizations. We will circulate this document and ask for you comments by September 19th, 2004. If a merger is acceptable to the membership, then amendments of our charters will be necessary in order to create a fully integrated single organization. Hopefully, we can have resolution on a merge by the end of 2004 with amendments finalized by the end of the year. Included in this document are some of the issues that well need open and active debate so the organization that emerges is a creation that serves the membership and promotes the science of indoor environments.

2. Background

Similarities and differences in purpose and operation of the two organizations

The purposes of the two organizations are similar.

  • The International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) is an open international, independent, multidisciplinary, scientific, non-profit organization whose purpose is to support the creation of healthy, comfortable and productivity-encouraging indoor environments by promotion of scientific knowledge and exchange through publications, working groups, conferences, and symposia.
  • The International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences (IAIAS) is an international, independent, multidisciplinary, scientific, non-profit society of elected professionals who promote international scientific cooperation in the field of indoor air sciences through conferences, awards and special projects.

The main difference between the two organizations is that membership in ISIAQ is by application and subject to payment of membership fee, while membership in IAIAS is by invitation, which is extended in recognition of significant contribution to the field. The funds that ISIAQ generates from membership fees are used for publication of the journal Indoor Air, publication of the Newsletter and towards operation of the Secretariat. The funds of IAIAS are generated by conference fees and donations. At the moment, these funds have been contributed only by the Indoor Air conferences held in Denmark and Japan. In principle, there is an agreement that the Indoor Air conference held in Monterey will make a contribution.

Existing agreement between ISIAQ and IAIAS

A framework for collaboration between the two organizations was formulated in July 1996 in Nagoya, and included the following main points:

  • Indoor Air Conferences to be co-organized by the Academy and ISIAQ
  • ISIAQ informs about Academy activities in its Newsletter
  • Neither of the organizations will initiate activities that would be in conflict with the activities of the other organization
  • Consultation between the two organizations to be established

This framework provided links between the two organizations, while maintaining their full independence, which is conceptually presented in Figure 1.

The framework certainly helped to maintain some level of communication and consultation, but was not sufficient to serve as a basis for structured and efficient joint operation, which would support the purpose of both organizations.

Disadvantages of operating as independent organizations

The main disadvantages in operating in a fully independent manner include:

  • Lack of means for supporting the joint purposes of the two organizations
  • Each President of an IAxx conference and its Committee is required to develop from scratch their own plan for the conference and run it, learning from their own mistakes. This is very inefficient, where the majority of the effort of the committee is directed towards developing its own way for running the conference. It is also associated with a high risk of failure, particularly in an economical sense.

As a note, the same model has been used to date in relation to the HBxx conferences, however, with the support of the Secretariat, ISIAQ will have the means for running these conferences using the same standard structure for each conference, and thus significantly reducing the workload of the organizing committee. IAIAS, which does not have an administrative arm, will not be able to do the same with IAxx conferences.

  • Every three years ISIAQ is required to go through the same time and energy consuming process of negotiation with the new President and his/her committee, new arrangements for co-organization of the IAxx conferences.
  • While the conferences generate funds for the IAIAS awards, the full potential for and benefit of, a surplus, which was or could be generated through the conferences, has not been taken advantage of. To date any surplus generated by the IAxx conferences has been managed and used by the organizing committees of the conferences. Additional surplus would be highly desirable to support many of the initiatives and activities, which ISIAQ and IAIAS could undertake, which has been however, impossible due to the lack of funds.

3. Proposed Structure for Joint Operation

It is proposed that the two organizations be re-constituted, which would enable them to merge while maintaining their individual identities.

The two organizations should be fully merged, thus achieving the conceptual form presented in Figure 2.

  • ISIAQ will be the name for the new merged organization. While a new name has been suggested for the fully merged organization, “International Indoor Air Society” (IIAS), it seems more prudent to keep the now recognized name of ISIAQ.
  • Honorary Fellows or just “Fellows” would be established within ISIAQ from the current membership of IAIAS.
  • BOD of ISIAQ operates the society.
  • Fellows will be expected to serve on taskforces, ad hoc or standing committees or as selected or appointed officers of the newly merged organization.

4. Description of the Proposed Joint Operational Structure

In general terms, the roles of the two organizations in the tandem operation could be described as follows:

  • IAIAS would become the equivalent of “Fellows” in other societies. Bestowing the title of “Fellow” is usually reserved for accomplished senior members (some societies elect non-members). The “Fellow” designation recognizes scientific and/or professional contributions that advance the knowledge and/or practice, in this case, of indoor air science and/or indoor air quality.
  • ISIAQ would continue to promote the mission of the society as governed by its members.

In more detail, the activities of the two organizations will include:

IAIAS Fellows would remain an honorary status but its members would operate through an elected executive committee and appointed ad hoc committees. Activities would include the following, among others:

  • Identification and assessment of professionals, whose contribution to indoor air sciences is outstanding, and therefore warrant recognition as Fellows of ISIAQ.
  • Selection of recipients of Yaglou, travel grant awards and any other awards which may be established in the future.
  • Fellows would be expected to volunteer service to ISIAQ through taskforces, conferences, organizations and other committees or activities.
  • Fellows would be dues paying members of ISIAQ.

ISIAQ will be responsible for operations and budget and its actions in the tandem will include, but will not be restricted to:

  • Oversight of the journal operated with an independent editor and editorial board.
  • Managing conferences and workshops. An option currently considered is that the Secretariat would run those aspects of all the future conferences, which remain standard regardless of the location of the conference. These include: budgeting, promotion, publication of conference announcement material, communication with the participants, collection of registration fees, and publication of abstract/proceedings books. The staff of the Secretariat would be increased to include a permanent position(s) necessary to maintain conference support. (Whether this option be adopted or whether the conferences would be organized as they have been so far (by local organizing committees) is of no critical relevance to the considered merge between ISIAQ and IAIAS).
  • Administration and operation of the Task Forces.
  • Coordination of chapters.
  • Communication with members and others through a newsletter, web site and correspondence.

IAIAS and ISIAQ will be jointly responsible for coordination of scientific and operation activities, and these will include:

  • Jointly selecting Presidents of the conferences.
  • Jointly reviewing options and requirements for supporting scientific excellence.

5. Mechanism for Joint Operation in the interim

One managing body will be established, which will govern the whole organization. The structure of this body and the role of the office bearers would be developed. In a transition period (e.g., current terms of elected officers), a management structure will be put in place formally linking the representations of the two organizations, which are the ISIAQ Board of Directors (BOD) and the Executive Committee of IAIAS (Ex Com). For the current term the President of IAIAS will become a member of the ISIAQ BOD, and the President of ISIAQ will become a member of the IAIAS Ex Com.

Modifications, as described above, will require amendments in the By-laws and Constitution of the two organizations, respectively.

6. Financial Issues

  • IAIAS (Fellows) will establish a separate bank account for receiving and dispersing of funds related to awards, travel scholarships, and modest organizational expenses. The account will be included in the ISIAQ treasurer’s report and subject to auditing as required by ISIAQ’s non-profit status.
  • ISIAQ’s BOD and Fellow’s ExCom will periodically review the account funds necessary as an endowment to maintain the awards and travel scholarship programs of IAIAS. The intent being self-sufficiency of these programs.
  • Fellow’s endowment will grow and be maintained by a direct assessment to conference registration fees, private and corporate donations and interest. For example, it might be agreed to establish a $100,000 endowment fund where 5% per year is available for Fellow’s award programs. A portion of funds received from conference fees may be directed to the endowment fund will require approval of BOD upon petition of the Fellows. Strategy for attracting private and corporate donations will be considered. At the moment ISIAQ does not have reserves to establish the endowment.

7. Issues to address for transition

In order to enable implementation of the above conceptual structure of joint operation of the two organizations, the following steps need to be taken:

ISIAQ and IAIAS should jointly develop:

  • Management structure discussed in general terms under points 3 through 6 above,
  • Structure for sequence/content of the future conferences. The proposed option is:
  • Merging the two conference series into one, and running one major international conference every year beginning with HB2006
  • In addition, running of smaller, regional conferences

ISIAQ will:

  • Introduce an amendment to its By-Law to extend membership of the BOD by a representative of IAIAS Ex Com.
  • Develop a proposal for practical implementation of the Secretariat operation to include in its role running of the conferences.

IAIAS will:

  • Seek advice from ExCom and advisory board (e.g., IA past presidents). Introduce an amendment to its Constitution to extend membership concerning merger with ISIAQ.

8. Time table

  • November/December 03 request input from ISIAQ BOD and ISIAS ExCom on this document.
  • Present concept to membership attending HB03 in December. This is not a vote but an open discussion.
  • January 04, JDS and Lidia M. revise document for broader distribution to membership.
  • July 04, distribute to membership as a background document before a vote.
  • September 04, propose a motion to membership for vote on the merger of the two organizations. Motion charges the leadership to develop the amendments necessary to effect the merge.
  • July – Sept 04, develop amendments.
  • October 04 submit the amendments to membership for vote.
  • November 04 conclude the merge and announce results.
  • Summer 05 announce the merger at the conclusion of IA05 meeting.

 

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New Publication: Airborne Particles and Settled Dust

Former ISIAQ President Lidia Morawska and current ISIAQ BOD member Tunga Salthammer have recently published a book entitled, ‘Indoor Environment: Airborne Particles and Settled Dust’.

The description of the book is as follows: Covering the fundamentals of airborne particles and settled dust in the indoor environment, this handy reference investigates: relevant definitions and terminology, characteristics, sources, sampling techniques and instrumentation, exposure assessment, and monitoring methods. More information about the book can be obtained from: www.wiley-vch.de or www.wiley.com. It is suggested that you type in either Morawska or Salthammer at the websites to get information on the book.

 

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