Internet Society of Australia
A Chapter of the Internet Society

Becoming a Chapter of ISOC

When discussion started in June 1996 about setting up an Internet Society of Australia, the inital suggestion from Hugh Irvine was that it be an organisation that was independent from the original Internet Society, started in the US four years ago.

After Hugh went to an ISOC conference in July and attended the Chapters meeting, he returned convinced that working within ISOC as a chapter was a better way to proceed: it would still be possible to have a clear focus on Australian issues, but the opportunity would also be available to express our perspective to the wider Internet community as well.

After a great deal of debate on the pros and cons on the inet-issues list in September and October, with input from a number of people who had been involved in ISOC activities in the past, the matter was put to inet-issues for a vote: out of 74 votes, 62 (84%) voted in favour of becoming a chapter.

This is why the formation of the Society is now proceeding towards setting up as a chapter of the Internet Society. All members of ISOC-AU will automatically become full voting members of ISOC, and receive the Society journal and discounts on workshop and conference attendances.

For ISOC-AU to become a chapter of ISOC, we need to show that we have 25 existing members of ISOC in the society. Would any current ISOC members, who also intend to become ISOC-AU members, please send email to the address below with your name and membership number, so a list can be put together as soon as possible.