International Association of Facilitators (IAF)

The International Association of Facilitators was formed by a group of professionals desiring an avenue for interchange, professional development, trend analysis and peer networking. A formal association was proposed and adopted at a networking conference in Alexandria, Virginia, in January, 1994. More than 70 people signed on as charter members. Since then, the IAF has grown to over 1300 members in more than 20 countries.

The IAF encourages and supports the formation of local groups of facilitators to network and provide professional development opportunities for their members. Regional groups from around the world are invited to become affiliated with the IAF to help promote the profession of facilitation as a critical set of skills in the global society of the 21st century.

Mission

The mission of the IAF is to promote, support and advance the art and practice of professional facilitation through methods exchange, professional growth, practical research, collegial networking and support services. This is accomplished through peer-to-peer networking, professional development and annual conferences which are critical means for fulfilling the mission and reflecting our core values.

Values

Inclusiveness - Including the full spectrum of personal, professional and cultural diversity in our membership and in the field of facilitation
Global Scope - Connecting and serving facilitators locally, nationally and internationally
Participation - Advocating participative methodologies that generate ownership of decisions and actions
Celebration - Celebrating life through spirit filled quality interchange, activities and events
Innovative Form - Modeling a participative and flexible organizational structure that promotes growth, change and learning
Social Responsibility - Supporting socially responsible change within private, public and voluntary organizations

Vision

By 2005 IAF intends:
To be a leading influence in the art and mastery of facilitation
To be a worldwide connection between diverse members and partners
To provide ongoing global exchange of facilitation expertise
To be the premier provider of resources in support of the professional facilitator
To be a strong, evolving organization focused on inclusive and participatory practices
To provide relevant information grounded in applied research to meet customer needs and respond to social trends

Now is a Great Time to Join the IAF

To encourage facilitators to become members of our international association, the AFN 2004 Conference is providing 25% discount to IAF members. This saves IAF members NZ$90 if you register by August 20.

Another of the many IAF benefits is a 30% discount on the soon to be released IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation, published by Jossey Bass. This prestigious book, edited by Sandor Schuman, includes chapters by more than 30 leading authors in the field of facilitation, including Roger Schwarz, Sam Kaner, John Epps, Jon Jenkins, Christine Hogan, Dale Hunter and Stephen Thorpe. To find out more from Jossey-Bass on the IAF Handbook click here.

The IAF annual membership fee is US$125.

To find out more or join the IAF visit: www.iaf-world.org