Joining nations 1947-1990

9

THE BIRTH OF THE IIW

(founded 1946). Others included a significant number of individual members and thus some of the activities of a learned society; ex– amples are the Istituto Italiano della Saldatura (founded l 948), the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Lastechniek (founded l 934) and the Norsk Sveiseteknisk Forening (founded 1932). In Austria, France and the UK, founder membership was held by each of two separate organisations devoted to welding, one being a learned society primarily composed of individuals and the other an organisation concentrating on research and other functions. In South Africa and the USA, the founder members were first and foremost learned societies, created respectively in 1948 and 1919. In addition, a small number of other organisations, whose interest in welding was more marginal, participated in the foundation of the IIW, primarily, it may be assumed, to broaden the base of their country's delegation. At the first meeting of the Governing Council, held on l l June l 948, two days after the foundation of the IIW, the draft constitution was further amended and adopted. Its main provisions were as follows: Objectives - To promote and encourage the development of welding and provide for the exchange of scientific and technical information relating to welding research and education · - To assist in the formulation of international standards for welding in collaboration with ISO - To organise periodical congresses Membership - Non-profit making bodies concerned with the scientific and tech- nical aspects of welding and allied processes Finance - Subscriptions payable by member countries not member societies Management - By the Governing Council, consisting of up to three delegates per country and meeting at least once a year Commissions - Appointed by the Governing Council which determines their terms of reference. Each national delegation entitled to appoint a rep– resentative on each Commission. Meetings on the occasion of THE CONSTITUTION