ASA Connect

Dear colleagues, 

It is my pleasure to announce a proposed Privacy and Confidentiality Interest Group (PCIG) of the American Statistical Association (ASA). Discussions at Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) 2022 and the National Institute of Statistical Science IOF Forum on Advancing Demographic Equity with Privacy-Preserving Methodologies indicated broad support for a formal professional association as well as the need for additional forums for communication and collaboration. 

Along with the steering committee, we would like to invite you to petition the Council of Sections to form the ASA Privacy and Confidentiality Interest Group. The petition, along with a link to the Charter, can be found here: https://forms.gle/3Xe5opmfX46v2qtS7. Note ASA membership is not required. 

What is an ASA Interest Group?

An ASA Interest Group (IG) is an informal group of both members and non-members of the ASA who are interested in a particular statistical theory, methodology, or application that is sufficiently broad to represent active professional interests within the scope of the ASA. According to the Council of Sections Charter, "an IG may be chartered by a majority vote of the Council of Sections Governing Board based on the petition of at least 25 individuals, including at least one full member to serve as Chair, and a proposed charter."  

Note that IG are similar but different from ASA sections. An IG may request a topic contributed session each year at the JSM and may compete for invited sessions. IG may receive some administrative support from the ASA, such as communication vehicles and coordination at the Association's annual meeting, but ASA does not manage IG elections, membership rosters, or budgets. Up to $1000 is made available annually to each IG to support certain types of activities. IG may have a single non-voting representative to the Council of Sections. There are no membership dues to join.

Saki Kinney and Claire Bowen