Nominations are currently being sought for the post of Society of Archivists
UK and Ireland representative on the International Council of Archives
Section for Professional Associations steering committee.

SPA representation

The SPA is now ICA's largest section and aims to provide soldarity and
support to its member archival associations around the world. It is an
extremely important lifeline to many archival societies around the world.
Its website is the world's most important provider of information on how to
run an archival association.

Requirements: the candidates must be a full member of the Society of
Archivists and fluent in at least 2 of the working languages of the ICA
which are French, English and Spanish. They must also have a good knowledge
of Society as well as demonstrate an interest and engagement in
international issues. The representative will be also required to attend and
report back to the International Affairs Committee meetings which are held
twice a year in London. In addition reports on all activities with the SPA
must be written and sent to ARC as well as Council.

Involvement involves attending 2 week long meetings a year in Spring and
Autumn as well as woking throughout the year on SPA projects.  It is a
serious but rewarding commitment of time.

Representation requires each representative taking on a task in light of
their experience and background.   Projects have included the hughly
sucessful code of ethics, archival solidarity, as well as work being carried
out at the moment on competencies and certification in our profession. Other
projects have included model constitutions  to help professionals formally
establish an association. We also have compiled a directory of associations
listing  SPA member and non-member associations worldwide.  Lobbying
guidelines have also been devised giving advice to associations on how to
lobby on behalf of archives and records management services. Conference
Planning Guidelines have been developed by SPA giving advice to associations
on how to organise conferences and meetings, from small seminars to large
multi-stranded conferences, locally and globally. The SPA committee also
organises conferences such as the European Conference (last held in Poland)
as well as the recent conference on professional associations in Madrid.

Please email [log in to unmask] for any further information.
Nominations in the form of CV and letter with names of two referees should
be sent by the 29th February. These will be considered by the Society in
light of applications.

See http://www.ica.org/en/node/50 for more details about SPA.

Patricia Sleeman
Secretary of SPA