From indexwest@mindspring.com Mon Aug 17 14:22:53 1998 Received: from mxu4.u.washington.edu (mxu4.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with ESMTP id OAA82138 for ; Mon, 17 Aug 1998 14:22:53 -0700 Received: from dewdrop2.mindspring.com (dewdrop2.mindspring.com [207.69.200.82]) by mxu4.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with ESMTP id OAA16234 for ; Mon, 17 Aug 1998 14:22:52 -0700 Received: from LOCALNAME (pool-207-205-175-99.snfr.grid.net [207.205.175.99]) by dewdrop2.mindspring.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id RAA05699 for ; Mon, 17 Aug 1998 17:22:24 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3.0.3.16.19980817135751.3f9fd9c6@mindspring.com> X-Sender: indexwest@mindspring.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (16) Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 13:57:51 To: INDEX-NW@u.washington.edu From: Kari Kells Subject: International Indexing Org proposal Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ASI members - I'm forwarding a message from Lori Lathrop that includes a proposal (by Alan Walker) for the establishment of an international indexing organization. Lori is asking for feedback to be sent to her so that she can bring ASI members concerns/support to the next SI conference. Read on.... -Kari -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Kari Kells Chair and Webmaster PNW Chapter American Society of Indexers www.mindspring.com/~indexwest/ASI/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >Forwarded Message: >Subj: Alan Walker's article >Date: 98-08-16 17:10:16 EDT >From: 76620.456@compuserve.com (Lori Lathrop) >Sender: 76620.456@compuserve.com (Lori Lathrop) >To: indxmann@aol.com (Jean Mann), cskuster@library.lib.binghamton.edu >(Charlotte Skuster) > >Jean and Charlotte -- I am forwarding Alan Walker's article, which he wrote >for the Austalian Society of Indexers' newsletter. > >I will be meeting with Alan and SI representatives at the SI Conference, >October 9-11, in Tynemouth. Before I leave for England, however, I would >like to encourage ASI members to contact me directly with any feedback they >have on Alan's proposal for an international affiliation agreement. > >Thanks much! .... Lori >*********************************************************************** >Lori Lathrop ---------->INTERNET:76620.456@compuserve.com >President - 1998-1999, American Society of Indexers >Lathrop Media Services, 7308-C East Independence Blvd., #316 > Charlotte, NC 28227 / Phone: 704-531-0021 >URL - http://idt.net/~lathro19 (note: that's a "nineteen" at the end) >*********************************************************************** > >--------------- Forwarded Message --------------- > ><
July 1998 > >The international organisation of societies of indexers > >Letter from the President to members of the Australian Society of Indexers > >Dear member, > >In May I had the interesting experience of attending the conference of the >American and Canadian societies of indexers, in Seattle. As well as the >normal >professional sessions and enjoyable social events, this conference provided >an >unusual opportunity for international communication among indexers. > >This was the first time that all the serving principal officers of the >affiliated British, American, Australian and Canadian societies had all >been >in the same place at the same time. Out of a number of informal meetings of >office-bearers of the societies has come a proposal for the establishment >of >an international indexing body. > >1. Reasons for establishing an international body > >Indexing is international. Many of us work for clients based outside our >national borders, and many of the problems and opportunities dealt with by >the >various societies are similar. > >At present the only formal international activity is the publication of our >international journal, The Indexer (see below). Nevertheless, this is often >perceived as a British journal. There is also some dissatisfaction with the >present affiliation agreements between the societies, which give the >British >society 'parent' status. There seems to be a real desire to set up a >genuinely >international body responsible for those indexing matters which are best >dealt >with on an international basis. > >These might include, but are not limited to, services to members such as >the >publication of a print journal, the establishment of an e-journal, the >provision of electronic discussion groups, and the organisation of >conferences >and workshops. > >In addition, an international body would provide a mechanism whereby the >existing national societies could co-operate on matters of mutual interest. > >2. Problems with the present affiliation agreements > >The Society of Indexers (SI) has affiliation agreements with the younger >societies operating in the US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, and >southern >Africa. These affiliation agreements give the British society a sort of >"parent society" status. Four of the agreements have been in force since >the >1970s, and are in need of revision to reflect current conditions. Better >still, a new co-operative international agreement could be developed and >adopted. > >3. A minimalist international body > >I have made a proposal for the establishment of a minimalist international >body. My proposal does not envisage a large bureaucratic body, such as the >International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). >Rather than a federation model, I am proposing a bureau model. That is, the >establishment of a minimalist structure, supported by the existing national >societies, with the express purpose of performing designated international >functions. > >4. Participating societies > >Such a body, or bureau, might be established initially by the four >"national" >societies whose office-bearers met in Seattle. Actually, it is not accurate >to >speak of "national" societies, since AusSI's membership includes New >Zealanders, the Society of Indexers has a number of Irish and overseas >members, and there is a southern African society which is also >trans-national. > >The participation of other appropriate societies should be encouraged. As >well >as the southern African society, which recently affiliated with SI, there >is a >China Society of Indexers (CSI), founded in 1991 and reported to have over >300 >members in 1993. > >5. Publication of an international journal > >The Indexer has been published since 1958, originally as the "journal of >the >Society of Indexers", and currently as the "journal of the Society of >Indexers >and of the affiliated American & Australian & Canadian Societies". The >Indexer >became the journal of these societies as part of affiliation agreements >with >SI, adopted by ASI in 1972, by AusSI in 1977 and by IASC/SCAD in 1979. > >Despite these agreements, and despite the efforts of successive editors to >encourage international contributions, The Indexer is generally perceived >to >be a British journal. > >At present, members of the British, American and Canadian societies receive >The Indexer as part of their membership subscription. Members of AusSI can >choose whether or not to take The Indexer as part of their subscription, at >a >discount rate; about half the members of AusSI subscribe. The ASI Board is >also investigating un-bundling subscriptions to The Indexer from the >membership fees, which would certainly have some effect on the journal's >budget, though not, I hope, on its viability. > >Discussion of these issues led to suggestions that it would be more >appropriate for an international journal, such as The Indexer, to be >published >by an international body; there have also been suggestions for changes of >name >and focus. Personally, I think The Indexer serves us well, as it has done >for >forty years, and I treasure and use my own full set. I would also be sorry >to >see the name change, both because it is a good, clear and recognisable one, >and because (as an ex-librarian) I abhor title changes. > >Whether The Indexer continues in its present form, or with a change of name >or >publisher, what is important is that such a publication survives and >develops. >The continued publication of a high-quality international journal for >indexers >is vital for our profession. > >5. Some other possible functions for the international body > >The following are examples of functions for which the bureau might be given >responsibility. Any initiatives in such areas would be possible only after >the >body were established, and in accordance with its charter. > >. Publication of a new international electronic journal for indexers, >particularly for the dissemination, through its electronic format, of >articles >of a type not so easy to accommodate in print journals. > >. Provision or sponsorship of electronic discussion groups. > >. Coordination of the international program for conferences and meetings. > >. Providing a mechanism for formal communication and an international forum >for the societies to discuss matters of mutual interest, and to negotiate >benefits for each other's members (such as discounts on membership, >publications and conferences). > >6. How might the body be established and managed? > >The following points are based on my own suggestions for the organisation >of >the international body. They have been circulated to the other societies as >a >basis for discussion. > >. An agreement, with a set of bylaws, would be drawn up, and endorsed by >each >of the participating societies. > >. Basic funding might be a small percentage of membership fees from each >society. This might mean (for example) that $2 out of each AusSI member's >annual subscription would go towards supporting the international body's >expenses (mainly stationery and communications costs). International >publications, conferences and other activities would have to be >self-funding. > >. There should be a board of directors, including at least one >representative >of each participating society. In addition, there would need to be >committees >for particular functions, such as editorial boards for journals (including >e- >journals). > >. Most communication would be by email. In addition, meetings could be held >during appropriate conferences, which are now being held about three times >a >year in various parts of the world. The budget would not normally cover >travel >expenses. > >. To the extent that a headquarters is needed, it could be attached to the >office of one of the societies, or some other appropriate institution. As >with >other operations of the societies, most of the work would be done in the >offices of the office-bearers, whose expenses should be reimbursed. > >7. The next step > >The next conference of an indexing society is being organised by the >Society >of Indexers at Tynemouth in October this year. The British society has >offered >free places at the conference to representatives of the other societies, >and I >will be taking up the offer on behalf of AusSI. We aim to have a >constructive >international planning meeting at Tynemouth. > >In the meantime, I would appreciate receiving your views on these >proposals, >so that I can convey Australian and New Zealand indexers' attitudes as >fully >as possible. > >Alan Walker >30 June 1998 > > >BOX: > >"I now take the view: > >1. That an international body, separate from, but established by the >existing >national societies, should be established. > >2. That its major function should be, initially, to publish a high-quality >international journal. > >3. That it would be likely to develop other roles best performed on an >international basis - perhaps establishment of an electronic journal, or >running international conferences. > >4. That, failing (or pending) the establishment of such a body, the >affiliation agreements should all be revised and (if possible) brought into >line." > >Extract from an email from Alan Walker, President of the Australian Society >of >Indexers, to the principal officers of the American, British and Canadian >societies (2 June 1998). > > .