Report of the International Committee
for the Year ending June 30, 2006

Committee Membership
The entire International Committee was reappointed for the year, in response to our request for continuity. The Committee had made ambitious plans in 2004, and not all have been accomplished to date. Progress was made, but maintaining the same committee seemed to be the best way to proceed. One vacancy was guaranteed for year 2006-2007, as Dr. Pita moves to an ex officio membership in his capacity as the new Director of the Canadian/International Constituency Group.

Meetings
The International Committee met twice during this reporting period, once face to face, and once by teleconference. The first meeting was held at Sigma Xi Headquarters in Research Triangle Park on November 19th, 2005. The second meeting was held by teleconference on January 27, 2006.

Program Manager Search
Chairman Alexander participated in the successful search for a new program manager for International Programs for Sigma Xi. The new manager was to continue many of the previous activities but also focus on international programs. Five finalists were interviewed for the position (Friday, 18 November 2005) at the Sigma Xi Center. The successful candidate, Dr. Syed Ahmad, joined the Organization in January 2006.

New Chapters and International Partners

The Committee endorsed applications from the following new Chapters or Partners:

The Iberian application for formation of a chapter was endorsed by the Committee in April, 2006.

The committee endorsed the Romanian Application for formation of an International Partner in April 2006.

Following the teleconference meeting of the Committee in January, at the recommendation of Committee member Ms. Magdalena Navarro, Dr. Ahmad sent letters along with brochures and other informative documents, to Brazil and Chile. The intent was to encourage the formation of Chapters or Partners. Committee member Magdalena Navarro followed up with a personal visit to Chile, with discussions about forming a Chapter at ITAL (Food Technology Institute.)

Andhra University in India has expressed an interest in forming a Partner, and Chairman Alexander has corresponded with Professor E. V. Gangadharam about this. The Alaska Chapter contributed $100 towards this for start up.

Interest has been expressed in Malaysia, to develop and strengthen Sigma Xi activities, and move towards formation of a Chapter.

General Status of Activities

1. The relationship between the Canadian/International Constituency became closer, when the Chair of the International Committee was designated a voting member of the Constituency by the Sigma Xi Board of Directors. While there was reasonable question on the part of Constituency members about an appointed full member in a group that is elected, in practice this should not cause any problem. A good working relationship is the goal, and there is good chance of achieving this in time. There are overlapping goals, but neither can really do the needed job alone, given that each meets once or twice a year, at best.

2. Sigma Xi's representation on the Consortium of Affiliates for International Programs (CAIP), operated by AAAS, is official. According to the then Sigma Xi President Elect Jim Bauer, Syed Ahmad and Vera Alexander were supposed to be on the CAIP mailing list, as representatives of Sigma Xi. Dr.Ahmad was to replace Christine Piggee in this regard. This has now been done, but there has been no contact to date with the International Committee Chairman by CAIP.

3. An action item that was not accomplished was in the category "recruiting individual members" where the Committee was to draft a letter for potential international members that stressed the Society's new international initiatives and strategies. The idea was for the Committee to provide their thoughts on what might be in the letter and for the Program Manager to draft the letter for review by the Committee before it is finalized.

4. The International Committee adopted the following resolution at the November 19, 2005 meeting:

   In order to foster the inculcation of the principles of the Society among researchers, be it resolved that the International Committee charges the Directorate of Membership & Chapter Programs to encourage chapters to elect eligible scientists to associate membership status as early as possible within their careers to allow promotion to full membership prior to their departure from graduate programs.

   No feedback has been received, but the Committee was informed that there would be action in response.

5. Members of Committee for the year ending June 30, 2006 were:
   Vera Alexander - Chair
   Ana Barahona
   Michael Crosby
   George Hammons
   Magdalena Navarro
   Antonio Pita-Szczeniewski
   Seng-Lai Tan
   Michael Whitehead

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