A New Chapter is Born
After more than a year of discussions at different IMAPS conferences worldwide, a new IMAPS Chapter was formed on November 22, 2000, in Zelenograd, outside Moscow!
Some 25 re- searchers from all over Russia listened to their activist Vlad Krivoshapko telling about his experience from IMAPS activities and the need to move IMAPS Europe east of Poland and the other existing chapters and to form IMAPS Russia. At least, this is what I guessed he was saying, as the meeting was conducted in Russian except for my greetings from IMAPS Europe. When two enthusiastic votings had taken place I had to break the conversation and ask what they had voted for. "We formed the Chapter," was the enthusiastic answer!
The meeting continued naming some key persons for the organization: Yuri Chapligin, Rector & Professor of MIET, The Moscow State Institute of Electronic Technology had agreed to become President of the chapter. Yakov Kozev-nikov [yacov@windoms.sitek.net] accepted to become Secretary. The other signed up activists include Alex Taran, Vlad Krivoshapko and Viktor Pustovit.
A member registration list circulated and my understanding is that the individuals will elect a full Board by email and that will work out all documents needed for the organization.
IMAPS Europe informed the meeting via Peter Barnwell (fax) and me that the organization can apply for membership in IMAPS Europe when it is fully settled. Individuals from the new Chapter are participating already now in IMAPS activities worldwide.
In the same week the Chapter was formed, it had their Web-site up; see http://www.chat.ru/~imaps/ . The text is of course mainly in Russian.
With this I want personally to thank Vladimir for bringing the process this far and wish him and the Chapter all success in the next important steps!
Paul Collander
IMAPS Nordic President
