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Beginning
in 2002, GRA's membership renewal notices included an optional
package membership plan, for either renewing or new GRA members,
of a one-time discounted rate for new members of the International
Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). Due to
the success of this program, GRA is continuing to offer the
Joint Membership Option for 2004. The joint membership plan
is attractive because of the slightly lower cost to join both
organizations and because GRA members are exposed to IAH,
a global hydrogeological organization of 3,500 members in
135 countries with a growing membership in the US. Membership
in the IAH US National Chapter is currently about 400.
Value
of the Joint Membership
GRA and
IAH have compatible missions and objectives. IAH is a scientific
and educational organization whose aims are to promote research
into and understanding of the proper management and protection
of groundwater for the common good throughout the world. IAH
provides a valuable forum for scientists and engineers working
in the fields of hydrogeology and groundwater resource planning,
management, and protection who have a broad interest in and
an international or global perspective on groundwater resources
and hydrogeological issues. To accomplish its goals, IAH:
- Publishes
a peer-reviewed, growing journal (Hydrogeology Journal)
six times a year;
 subscriptions
are included with membership. As of August 2003, members
also receive online access to the full contents of the Journal.
Some issues of the HJ have themes. The 2004 and 2005 theme
issues will include: "Towards Sustainable Groundwater
Management," Guest Editor: Dr. Karin Kemper, World
Bank and "Future of Hydrogeology," Guest Editor:
Dr. Clifford Voss, U.S. Geological Survey. For more information
on the Hydrogeology Journal go to - http://www.iah.org/journal.htm
Hydrogeology Journal publishes peer-reviewed papers
in both theoretical and applied aspects of hydrogeological
science, including:
- Theoretical
and field studies ranging in scale from local areas
and short time periods to regional or global problems
and geological time.
- Techniques
and innovative instrumentation in the laboratory and
field (for example, hydrogeologic, geochemical, geophysical,
and mathematical methods).
- Water-resource
and related mineral-resource evaluations.
- Reports
of observed hydrogeologic phenomena.
- Overviews
of hydrogeologic systems of interest in various regions.
- State-of-the-art-reviews.
- Philosophy
of scientific methods in hydrogeology.
- Interaction
between populations and hydrogeologic systems.
- Economics
of hydrogeologic systems.
- Applications
of hydrogeology for both environmental protection and
optimal use of natural resources.
- History
of hydrogeology and biographies of eminent hydrogeologists.
- Publishes
a book series, and a newsletter (e-newsletter for the US
Chapter is distributed about two to three times a year,
and there is a global e-newsletter with bimonthly distribution);
- Promotes
international cooperation among hydrogeologists and others
with an interest in groundwater;
- Encourages
worldwide application of hydrogeological skills through
education and technology transfer programs. IAH Commissions
and Working Groups on special interest topics include: Hydrogeological
Maps, Hardrock Hydrology, Managed Artificial Recharge, Groundwater
Protection, Groundwater in Urban Areas, Transboundary Aquifers,
Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping, Early Detection of Groundwater
Quality Problems, Education and Training, and others;
- Sponsors
international meetings, including an annual Congress; and
- Cooperates
with national and international scientific organizations.
(Because of common interests and goals among IAH and GRA
members, the U.S. National Chapter of IAH has been collaborating
with GRA since 2001 by being a cooperating organization
and publicizing GRA conferences and short courses.)
Description
of the Joint Membership
- Joint
Membership Menu Options.
For individual GRA members, GRA offers a dual organization
membership for new IAH members at a fee of $135 (this is
based on GRA's regular rate of $75 plus membership in IAH
at a first-time discounted member rate of $60. The regular
IAH rate is $70 (this can vary slightly due to currency
factors). The reduced rate offered by IAH allows for the
administrative function offered by GRA and is an enticement
by IAH to attract new members in the US Chapter. For GRA
corporate members, GRA offers the primary corporate contact
a membership in IAH; the fee for GRA corporate membership
plus the single IAH membership is $260.
- One-Time
Discount. This option is a one-time discount and the
joint membership is not necessarily a continuing arrangement.
When the joint member option is selected, then the responsibility
for providing GRA and IAH member services falls immediately
to the respective organizations. At the end of the year
of joint membership, renewals are separately sent by each
organization, and renewing IAH members then pay the regular
IAH fee. The discounted rate only applies to new members
of IAH (i.e., those who have not been a member of IAH for
at least two years).
- Membership
Data.
If GRA new or renewing members select the joint membership
option, then IAH receives the member contact information
electronically. The contact information is provided as quickly
as possible, but at a minimum on a monthly basis. GRA's
database manager provides the contact information simultaneously
to the IAH National US Chapter and to the UK IAH office.
- Member
Services. Once
the member submits the fee for the joint membership, and
GRA transfers contact information and/or funds to IAH, then
each organization is responsible for providing the member
with the typically expected benefits (newsletters, journal
(IAH), announcements, etc.). As is understood to be the
case for persons joining IAH after the Journal has been
distributed on one or more occasions, IAH ensures that the
new joint member will receive past 2004 Journal issues.
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