International Writing Centers Association
To accomplish these goals well, regionals should, at minimum, enact the following criteria within the first year of their IWCA affiliation:
- Hold regular conferences.
- Issue calls for conference proposals and announce conference dates in the IWCA publications.
- Elect officers, including a representative to the IWCA board. This officer will at minimum be active on the board's listserv and ideally will attend board meetings as feasible.
- Write a constitution that they submit to the IWCA.
- Provide IWCA with regional reports when asked, including membership lists, contact information for board members, dates of conferences, featured speakers or sessions, other activities.
- Maintain an active membership list.
- Communicate with members through an active distribution list, website, listserv, or newsletter (or a combination of these means, evolving as technology allows).
- Establish a plan of co-inquiry, mentoring, networking, or connecting that invites new writing center directors and professionals into the community and helps them find answers to questions in their work.
In return, regionals will receive encouragement and assistance from IWCA, including annual payment to defray the costs of conference keynote speakers (currently $250) and contact information for potential members who live in that region and belong to the IWCA.
If a regional is unable to meet the minimal requirements listed above, the IWCA president shall investigate the circumstances and make a recommendation to the board. The board may decertify the regional organization by a two-thirds majority vote.
(c) 2006 International Writing Centers Association