SETTING UP A NATIONAL CHAPTER OF ISTA

GUIDELINES ON FORMING AN ISTA AFFILIATED
NATIONAL S.C.E.N.A.R. SOCIETY
version Apr-2005

1. ISTA encourages the formation of national scenar societies, as this is the only means for a nation to gain a voice on ISTA’s governing body.  Large nations are welcome to apply for regional or state scenar societies, providing it is understood that voting on ISTA various committess will never deviate from one nation one vote.

2. No less than 7 S.C.E.N.A.R. trained individuals, each either already a member of ISTA or eligible for membership (complete a membership application form and state in the "Personal Information" box that this a pre-registration enquiry), are required to form a national association. To do so, subject to local legal requirements, these individuals simply need to declare themselves associated (see sample declaration), produce a constitution, elect a representative to ISTA and make application to ISTA for affiliation.  The first step therefore is for 7 SCENAR practitioners in your country to become registered as ISTA members, or at least to establish that they are all eligible for membership, apply now.

3. In making the declaration, the newly formed association undertakes –

• to be guided by ISTA’s Codes as published on its website, www.scenartech.com
• to draw up a list of definitions and variations required to be applied under local national conditions and

  publish these under their country’s name in Appendix A of ISTA’s Code of Practice
• be open for membership by all practitioners meeting qualifying standards and utilising any device

  classified by ISTA, and only by it, as a “S.C.E.N.A.R.”
• to run its affairs in a proper and professional manner

4. It is recommended by ISTA that each national association adopt the following name “[country] S.C.E.N.A.R. Society”, e.g. the UK S.C.E.N.A.R. Society (UKSS); the Canadian S.C.E.N.A.R. Society (CSS); the Bulgarian S.C.E.N.A.R. Society (BSS); etc. [the full stops after each capitalised initial is intended to signify that the professional user of any device, irrespective of its trade-name, that is classified by ISTA of being a S.C.E.N.A.R. is eligible for membership. Collectively each of these Societies will be known as an ISTA Chapter.

5. The newly formed society will also need to decide (and advise ISTA) whether it wishes its members to be direct members of ISTA only (as is the case with the UK S.C.E.N.A.R. Society), or of their national organisation and ISTA (as in the case of the Irish S.C.E.N.A.R. Society) or whether it wishes to be corporately affiliated (as in the case of the Bulgarian S.C.E.N.A.R. Society). In the UK’s case there is no additional administration, all is handled by ISTA and therefore no independent pool of funds need to be created; in the case of Ireland, members pay a membership fee to both their national association and ISTA; and in the case of Bulgaria, the national association pays a contribution to ISTA’s costs, while its members do not automatically become ISTA members. Where a Bulgarian practitioner wishes to become an ISTA member, application to ISTA directly is encouraged; this application needs to be endorsed by the national society. Terms are negotiated with individuals within the guidelines from time to time laid down by ISTA’s Executive Committee. these generally seek to reflect the benefits and services ISTA can make available in each national setting.

6. Commercial interests may not form part of the national society’s original founding group; but are eligible for election as representative with ISTA for the national association. Where the potential for a conflict of interest arises in voting situations, such commercial parties will be required to abstain from exercising the national vote. Each national organisation may be represented by 2 delegates at ISTA’s planning and executive meetings, but only one vote per nation is permitted.

7. National associations may incorporate themselves as non-profit professional organisations, in accordance with the laws of the country of their domiciliation. They may not directly involve themselves in commercial activities. Where such are contemplated for purposes of generating financial support, these are required to be conducted via a separate legal entity, the existence and nature of which they are required to make public.

8. Each national association will be offered space in ISTA’s website, which may either form a link to its own, or may replace the need for an independent one entirely. All information on ISTA’s website and those directly linked to its site is expected to adhere to editorial guidelines from time to time advised. The guidelines are primarily intended to ensure that all claims and communications are professionally acceptable and appropriately presented, they are not intended to restrict each national association’s right and freedom to determine the nature of its web-located material.

9. These guidelines are to be treated as dynamic, rather than static, as increased experience in setting up national associations will undoubtedly suggest changes. In reflecting the spirit S.C.E.N.A.R., all such change will be welcome and will apply forward from the latest dated version of this document.

10. It is advisable to discuss formation plans informally with ISTA before proceeding with the formation of the national association as there always remains the risk that somebody else may be in the process of doing to the same.

11. Please refer to ISTA membership details for current costs.