A major objective of the IGS is to grow the geosynthetic industry. The formation of active chapters is a primary tool used by the IGS to promote industry growth as chapters can involve academia, commerce and all components of the industry in chapter activities. In support of chapter activities to foster industry growth, the IGS provides financial incentives to the chapter and materials and tools to those chapter members who teach geosynthetics.

Financial support of the chapters: IGS dues are US$45.00 per year. Active chapters that assist the IGS in administering the IGS programs to the membership retain US$15.00 per member to offset expenses. The IGS requires a minimum of 20 members to form a chapter. These 20 members generate US$300.00 per year for the chapter.

The IGS also provides to the chapters a small financial support for each corporate member based in the home country of the chapter. This incentive can be used for chapter activities. It is expected that the activities will benefit both the chapter and the corporate members. In addition, the chapter may receive a larger sum for each new corporate member in the first year of corporate membership from their country. Please note that these programs apply only to IGS corporate members and do not apply to companies that belong to or support the chapter directly.

The following table summarizes the potential financial benefits to chapters and chapter members of the IGS.

            Chapters

•   US$15.00 per member minimum US$300.00
•   Financial incentive for each IGS Corporate Member (established by the council)
•   Financial incentive for each new IGS Corporate Member (established by the council)

•    US$300.00 in videos
  1.    Geosynthetic in Landfills
  2.    Geosynthetic in Transportation Applications
  3.    Geosynthetic in Soil Reinforced Structures
•   US$40.00 in CDs
  1.   Geosynthetics and  Environmental Engineering
  2.   Retaining Structures with Geosynthetics
•   US$50.00 in the 19 IGS Mini Lecture Series
•   Various educational publications

• US$1000.00 every four years to a student nominated by the chapter to attend a regional IGS conference. This student award is typically earned as the result of a competition.

Hopefully, it is to the economic advantage of the membership to form and grow national chapters. For details and information on the process of chapter formation please contact IGS Vice President Jorge G. Zornberg. Additional helpful contacts are IGS President Fumio Tatsuoka, IGS Past President Daniele Cazzuffi, or IGS Secretary Peter Stevenson. The IGS secretariat will provide you with information and guidelines on chapter formation and bylaws.

IGS Secretariat(IGSSec@aol.com)