At the annual meeting of the Governing Council in Baltimore in 2017, the question was raised about the possibility of holding the ISA convention outside North America. The question was raised most forcefully in the context of the “travel ban” then recently proposed by the U.S. Government, which might prevent some ISA members from traveling to the United States to participate in the annual meeting. This concern was – and remains – real. Coupled with increasing non-North American participation in our meetings, this concern prompted a lively and important discussion.

The ad hoc committee was approved at the annual meeting of the ISA Governing Council in 2018, and we were invited to serve on an ad hoc committee in July by Incoming ISA President Patrick James. Our remit was to evaluate and recommend possible alternative models for the annual convention that will help maximize access and perhaps even expand international participation.