The International Endowment Fund will provide long-term future opportunities for the Society and the International Fisheries Section (IFS) to support international fisheries activities that support the Society's long term international goals. Currently, international members are not subsidized by American Fisheries Society (AFS) dues pass back to Divisions or Chapters. The Endowment Fund is a way to "payback" the international members who have and will continue to support the Society. AFS members have wanted for many years to provide a source of funding support for international activities. This fund will help the Society meet its Strategic Plan goals for international programs.

At the 3rd World Fisheries Congress the International Fisheries Section Executive Committee voted to contribute $1,000 to start the fund. The IFS presented the proposal and at the 2001 midterm meeting AFS governing board approved the endowment fund. We have now made the donation to establish the fund. The IFS offers this contribution as a challenge to other AFS subunits to begin building for our Society's future in international fisheries. All AFS subunits will be encouraged to participate and support the fund's activities. Donations can be made directly to AFS identified as for the International Endowment Fund.

This endowment will be managed by the AFS and when sufficient investment revenues are available, proceeds will be administered by a committee, established by IFS, and used for a variety of international programs and projects. The committee will prepare guidelines, protocols, and related administrative tasks. There will be an opportunity for voluntary assistance and input requested from subunits who have supported international projects in the past. We see proceeds from the fund being used to support activities such as international memberships, purchase books and journals, support speakers here and abroad, provide seed money for international conferences, symposia and workshops, and to help publish articles and books. We are planning on targeting students, and biologists, managers and scientists during the early stages of their career and the program.

Please contact Glen Contreras glenifsfish@aol.com if additional information is needed.