RISK newsletter:
Council Considering Chapter Mission Statement

Source: RISK newsletter, Third Quarter 1996, published by the Society for Risk Analysis

The SRA Council has tentatively approved a mission statement for SRA chapters that was drafted by the Sections and Chapters Committee and is based on discussions with chapter presidents. Charles Menzie, the committee’s chair, presented the statement to the Council at its meeting last April.

The Council requests SRA members to comment on the draft statement before it takes formal action at its next meeting. Please send comments as soon as possible to Charles A. Menzie at Menzie-Cura & Associates Inc., One Courthouse Lane, Suite Two, Chelmsford, MA 01824, fax (508) 453-7260, e-mail menziecura@aol.com.*

Draft Mission Statement

The mission of the Chapters of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) is to:

1. Provide a public forum for the discussion of risk analysis and risk management issues at local and regional levels, as well as national levels;
2. Foster the advancement and understanding of new methodologies and technology in the practice of risk analysis;
3. Serve as a resource for the local scientific, regulatory, and industrial/municipal community;
4. Represent the interests and goals of SRA in a regional setting;
5. Enhance communication between the national organization and its membership;
6. Develop membership within the SRA at a local or regional level.

Chapters may approach this mission in a variety of ways. They are particularly encouraged to:

1. Schedule, manage, and publicize periodic Chapter meetings. The frequency of meetings should be dependent upon the level of local interest. At least two meetings a year (and preferably more) in addition to the annual meeting is considered a minimum in order to foster a continuing spirit of exchange. Consideration should be given to the location(s) of meetings so that the membership within the Chapter has an opportunity to attend. This might involve rotating the meeting locations.
2. Develop communication tools (mailings, newsletters, e-mail) for announcing events and local news.
3. Maintain a mailing list with notation of dues-paying members.
4. Encourage all chapter members to become members of the national organization and to receive the newsletter, meeting announcements, and journal.
5. Regularly advise the national office of Chapter activities. This includes the preparation of periodic news pieces for RISK newsletter.
6. Encourage the chapter president, or a designated representative, to attend the national annual meeting. Chapters should discuss possible travel support to the national meeting for the chapter representative.
7. Contact the SRA Sections and Chapters Committee chair or the SRA Secretariat as needed for assistance on: a) monetary issues, b) ideas on setting up workshops or poster presentations, c) obtaining speakers from the national organization, and d) publicizing events or activities.
8. Look for opportunities to cooperate with other scientific organizations and professional societies in activities pertaining to risk analysis.

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*An electronic version of the draft mission statement that can be used in preparing comments is available on the World Wide Web in RiskWorld at http://www.riskworld.com. Go to the Professional Organizations department and successively select Society for Risk Analysis, RISK newsletter, Third Quarter 1996. [Editor's note: You are now viewing the electronic version to which this footnote refers.]

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