increase international as well as interdisciplinary participation. Only extensive individual participation will ensure the future growth of the INS in this direction. Such commitment can be expressed effectively through contributions to the newsletter. It is most gratifying for me to participate in the initiation of "Newsletter II." Join me in supporting this important international initiative.

Letter from the ILC Chair

By Lydia Artiola, Ph.D., Chairperson

In September 1994, the INS board asked if I would head the Liaison Committee. The first task was to put together a steering committee to start working towards establishing regional representation. While the committee is essentially in place, there is still a great deal of work ahead in order to establish a fully functional networking operation. Some of the committee members represent vast geographic areas and the logistics of establishing subcommittees is quite complex. We communicate with each other through the Internet. This expedites dialogue considerably. However, we all have very busy lives. We have commitments that take us away from our home base at different times, making coordinating committee activities (along with all other professional obligations) quite a challenge. However, I am optimistic that given time, we will be able to establish a functioning network.

While having a committee in place lays the foundation for international liaising, my sense is that efforts from individuals will be the most important in making liaison projects work. The committee can be of help in coordinating and providing information- based support. During the past few months I have been approached by a number of people who have brought forth wonderful suggestions. There are numerous projects which can only be completed if individuals (or small groups) chose to nurture them and see them grow. Most projects are relatively simple requiring straightforward 'liaising' and can be initiated immediately. These include, for example, putting together a roster of volunteers to assist with manuscript preparation (this was accomplished, the task required one person). More complex tasks require the involvement of several people. Establishing an outreach program for book/journal/reprint collection and redistribution to needy parties is in progress but has not taken off as yet for want of sufficient donations.

There are other tasks that cannot be resolved immediately because they involve more complicated decisions and planning. Examples are, the distribution of scholarship funds, establishment of links with other psychological and neuropsychological organizations. These projects necessitate a fair amount of proposal preparation, consulting, and processing by the Liaison Commiittee and the INS Board.

As I see it, there are roughly two types of issues faring the INS Liaison Committee:

1. Promoting communication between scientists/practitioners with comparable budgets, who are doing similar work in different areas of the world. This entails organizational work: connecting with neuropsychological and psychological societies world-wide and putting people in contact with each other. In developed areas, this tends to happen automatically to some degree. People have access to journals and up-to-date information, they know who is who, and can request post-doctoral or visiting scientist position availability with relative ease. In this particular case, the Liaison Committee serves merely as an information gatherer and distributor. Increasingly, we are responding to requests for information on who is doing what in research. For example, the committee assembled a list of individuals from various parts of the world who expressed interest in gathering normative information (a common request). This list has been sent to all interested parties. Obviously, it will be up to these colleagues to take the next step.

2. Increasing the availability of neuropsychological information to underprivileged areas of the world is the second issue to be addressed. This is, of course, quite a different story. Here, the major impediments are lack of ftmds and lack of experience--many cultures have no tradition of studying and quantifying behavior. It boils down to very poor availability to information: books and journals are hard to come by, so scientists and practitioners have to make do with whatever happens to be around, which is often outdated. If the gap between the haves (of information and funds) and the have nots is to be narrowed, then we have no choice but to lend a hand. Economic assistance is of the essence, but INS resources are limited. What we can offer, with relatively little monetary expenditure, is a wealth of information. Clearly, some expense is involved in sending donated books and journals overseas, but this is minimal. A second way we can help in the age of cyberspace is by using the Internet. As of September 1995, it is estimated that in excess of 90 % of countries in the world are on the Internet (although the actual spread of the service within each country varies). I realize that for some of us, subscribing to listservers can be annoying (all those messages to be screened every morning!). However, consider that for someone sitting in, say, Romania, with no up-to-date library available, such messages can be manna from heaven. I submit that this is a reasonable way to begin: education is, after all, the great (but not the only) equalizer. The use of the Internet, where available, is essential.

While many of us who have become involved in international liaising are deeply committed to the development of international neuropsychology this commitment cannot be demanded of everyone. That is, we recognize that a large proportion of the INS membership, and indeed of neuropsychologists in general, choose to fulfill their professional roles within the boundaries of their own country, town, or village. International involvement is entirely a matter of choice and it probably hinges upon the individual's past exposure to life outside