- approved 03/1999, updated 05/2010 -
Purpose
Sister Societies are national or international professional/learned communications (or equivalent) associations with status/charter similar to ComSoc, and similar in technical scope. (Examples of Sister Societies are IEICE, Popov). Related Societies are national or international professional/learned associations with status/charter similar to ComSoc, but complementary in technical scope. (Examples of Related Society are IEEE Computer Society, ISOC)
The Sister & Related Societies Board is responsible for the oversight of Society relations with professional societies internationally, and includes agreements with professional societies as well as promoting and coordinating Society/professional-society activities.
Organizational Structure (Refer to Bylaws Article 6)
- Director - Sister and Related Societies
- Vice President – Members Relations
- Additional members (as needed for international representation) .
Activities
Actions and Objectives
- The Board helps in defining strategies and directions for new professional-society agreements, proposes revision to existing agreements, and proposes renewal agreements for those that will expire.
- Approaches to a professional society are normally made by the Sister and Related Societies Director through a local Communications Society officer, such as a member of the Board of Governors or a local ComSoc Chapter Chair.
Concerns and Initiatives
- A standard agreement form and a standard side-agreement form have been created and are used as starting points for new agreements and renewals. Where different forms of agreement arise, anomalies and inconsistencies must be identified.
- Agreements will be publicized within the Society to insure that all commitments that have been entered into will be honored.
How to Make it Happen
- Proposed amendments to agreements as well as agreements under discussion will be forwarded to the President and Vice President - Members Relations for review.
- Regular contact will be maintained with each professional society.
- Reciprocal publicity is a key feature in each agreement. Advertisements and articles from (and for) professional societies will normally be handled by the Vice President s– Publications and Conferences working with the Director - Magazines, and Headquarters staff.