MIDAS CONSORTIUM

PREAMBLE

On January 11-12, 1990, representatives from several countries met
in Barbados to discuss the need for a coordinated effort to address
seismologic issues relevant to the Caribbean and Middle America regions.
Participants at the meeting agreed to form an international consortium
of seismological institutions from the Caribbean and Middle America
region to be governed by the following statutes:

Article 1. Definitions

1. The Consortium is named "MIDAS".

2. The Consortium shall provide an international framework for
scientific and technical cooperation between seismological institutions
in Middle America and the Caribbean.  Seismological institutions refers
to institutes, observatories, or other groups engaged in the recording,
transmission, and/or analysis of ground motion information produced
by earthquake sources.

Article 2. Objectives

The principal objective of the Consortium is to promote scientific
interaction between participating institutions and to facilitate
the rapid, efficient, and widespread utilization of earthquake data
by Middle American and Caribbean countries in routine observatory
operations and in more advanced seismologic research.  To this end,
the Consortium shall pursue the following specific objectives:

1. Improve the quality of the recorded earthquake data by promoting
the increase in seismograph station coverage throughout the region,
particularly through the advancement of broadband instrumentation
and high dynamic-range digital recording.

2. Coordinate the exchange of earthquake information including,
but not limited to, arrival-time, amplitude, and full-waveform data
throughout the region by using existing telecommunications channels
and by incorporating new techniques for rapid data transmittal as
these become available.

3. Increase the technical and scientific capabilities of personnel
from the member institutions through the coordination of regional
courses and/or workshops.

4. Provide a forum for scientific investigation conducted by member
institutions and assist in the dissemination of this work beyond
the region.

Article 3. Eligibility

1. Participation is open to all institutions with an active interest
in achieving the stipulated objectives of the Consortium.  Official
membership is granted following signed acceptance of these statutes.

2. Voting members shall consist exclusively of institutions in the
Middle America and Caribbean region.  Voting privileges shall be
attained upon official membership to the Consortium and will consist
of a single vote per institution.

Article 4. Administration

1. The Consortium shall be fully administered by an Executive
Committee consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Technical Secretary,
and General Secretary.

2. The Chair of the Consortium shall be elected from all Consortium
participants by a simple majority of the voting members.  The term
of office shall be 2 years, with possible reelection to an additional
consecutive term for a total maximum tenure of 4 years.

3. The Chair, with the consent of the voting members, shall appoint
the Vice-Chair and Technical and General Secretaries, with appointments
being held for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years.

4. The Consortium is represented by the Chair, or by the Vice-Chair
and General Secretary acting together.

Article 5. Meetings

The Consortium shall meet when deemed necessary by the Executive
Committee, with time and place determined with the advice and consent
of Consortium members.

Article 6. Bylaws

The Executive Committee is authorized to alter these statutes provided
that such a decision has been reached by a simple majority of the
voting members. Member institutions shall indicate their adoption
of these bylaws and their agreement to pursue the stated objectives
by affixing the signature of an individual authorized to represent
the member institution. A copy of the signed document shall be
returned to the General Secretary upon acceptance.




ACCEPTANCE


	Accepted by: ___________________________ Date: ____________
		      Authorized Representative




		for: ____________________________ 
		      Institution