Society for Information Display

Sustaining Membership Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of sustaining members, click here.

1. What is the Society for Information Display (SID)?

SID is an international, non-profit, professional organization. SID was founded in 1962 and incorporated in California in 1963. The Society is comprised primarily of design engineers and scientists involved in the display community. SID currently as 18 chapters.

Bay Area          France                   Mid-Europe
Beijing           Japan                    Minneapolis/St. Paul
Belarus           Korea                    New England
Canada            Los Angeles              San Diego
Greater Dayton    Metropolitan Detroit     Taipei
Delaware Valley   Mid-Atlantic             United Kingdom/Ireland
The Society publishes proceedings and technical journals, conducts local chapter workshops and meetings, sponsors field trips and tutorial seminars and holds international symposia. Symposia papers are published in the quarterly Journal of the SID.

2. What are the aims and purposes of SID?

To encourage and contribute to the scientific advancement of information display; to promote the use of information display; to maintain a central file of display information for use by members; to provide forums for the exchange and dissemination of ideas and knowledge relating to information display; to promulgate definitions and standards relating to the field of information display; to stimulate new ideas in information display and foster their development; and to conduct tutorial seminars, often in cooperation with local universities, for the membership and the engineering community at large.

3. Describe the areas of interest to the members of SID.

The members are concerned with virtually the entire spectrum of scientific and engineering problems. Their interests range from the psychological problems raised by the man-machine interface through information theory to operations research analysis, systems design, the physics of display components, optics, electro-optics, storage media, electronic circuit design and information processing. Information display is a highly interdisciplinary field intimately concerned with the processing, dissemination and presentation of intelligence to man, through the application of scientific and engineering principles, inventions, machines and systems.

The advertisements in Information Display Magazine and the exhibits at the symposia are an important part of the educational activities of the Society and complement the technical articles and presentations. Sustaining members are allowed to distribute product literature (at no charge to the sustaining member) at the international technical meetings where there normally are no exhibitors.

5. What types of organizations are eligible for sustaining membership?

Corporations or other business organizations interested in contributing to the advancement of display technology are invited to apply.

6. How will my company's sustaining membership contribute to the advancement of information display?

The support of the Society by your company will enhance the prestige of SID throughout the technical community and identify your company as one at the forefront of display technology.

7. Who will know of our supporting role?

Sustaining companies are listed in the Information Display Magazine which is mailed to a directed audience of 10,000 individuals. The quarterly Journal of the SID, the annual Membership Directory and other Society publications also list the names of all SID sustaining members.

8. What information will the company receive?

Five individuals or locations within the company may be designated to automatically receive Information Display Magazine, Journal of the SID, the Membership Directory, news of international and local activities and discounts on other Society publications. Among those designated might be management, sales, marketing, technical personnel or company libraries.

We urge that you also consider as a beneficial recipient, one of your local colleges, high schools or public libraries. In such instances, a simple request with your sustaining membership application will be sufficient to assure suitable notification of the designated recipient of your benefaction, with a copy to you.

9. What is the cost of sustaining membership?

$700.00 per year. Membership may begin at anytime within the membership year to which it applies - - - from May 1 to April 30. New members joining after November 1 may join for $350.00.

10. How are dues utilized?

The dues from our sustaining members and our individual members (plus the miscellaneous income from our symposia and publications), are used to carry on the Society's work. Expenses include a full-time staff of three employees: an Executive Director, a membership Coordinator and a Publications Manager. Other expenses include maintaining our international headquarters in California, printing publications, producing technical meetings, providing financial allotments to our chapters and other miscellaneous operating costs.

11. How may firms contribute to the educational functions of SID?

By providing programs for local chapters, such as speakers or field trips. Articles are needed for Information Display Magazine as well as papers for international technical meetings and symposia.

12. How will individuals within the company benefit from the activities of the Society?

They may first have benefited as student members of the Society. For professionals in the field of information display, the Society helps in establishing a display-oriented identity and in improving rapport. Individuals gain recognition for themselves and their employees when they are accorded honors or awards by the Society.

13. How does a company become a sustaining member?

Complete and mail an application form. .

14. Is the fee for sustaining membership a deductible business expense for tax purposes?

In the past, professional membership dues were tax deductible. Since our tax laws are ever-changing, we advise you to consult with your accountant regarding the latest tax rulings

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15. Where may I obtain more information about SID?

Address your inquiries to:

Mrs. Lauren K. Kinsey, Executive Director

SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY
1526 Brookhollow Drive, Suite 82
Santa Ana, California 92705-5421
(TEL) 714/545-1526 - (FAX) 714/545-1547
(E-MAIL) socforinfodisplay@mcimail.com