Création de l’Association Anthropologie sans frontières (ASF, Anthropologos Sem Fronteiras) dans l’Etat de Bahia.

Dear Anthropologists We are very happy to announce the conclusion of the last legal step for establishing ASF, Antropologos Sem Fronteiras, with a legal address in the City of Itaparica, State of Bahia, just across the Bay of Todos of Santos from Salvador. Establishing ASF has been a long process of discussion and maturing that began at World Council of Anthropological Associations meeting in Maynooth, Ireland in 2010. After Virginia Dominguez’s initial proposal, she took the lead on a Task Force, which elaborated our organizational Bylaws. After comprehensive discussion with all Task Force members, we decided to found the organization in Brazil. Naming it “Antropologos Sem Fronteiras” in Portuguese, with the initials “ASF” attended to our aim of being more inclusive (the same initials standing for the French, Spanish, Italian, and other translations) and avoiding confusion with AWB, a pro-apartheid organization in South Africa. The various steps for legally establishing ASF in Brazil required adjusting the Bylaws to Brazilian regulations for the legal status of an NGO and the participation of non-residents in their directorate. With the objective of complying with these regulations, a group of seven local anthropologists elaborated the Estatuto of ASF, adapting the Bylaws discussed and written by the Task Force members. The group held a founding meeting in Itaparica on October 19, 2012 where they formally approved the Estatuto and elected a temporary four-member directorate and a three-member financial council. Following the Brazilian legal classifications, ASF is defined as an entity of mediation and arbitration. On February 27, 2013, the Estatuto was certified and filed in the Public Notary Office. Yesterday, ASF received its Tax Payer Number from the Federal Revenue Service, which enables us to make financial transactions of any type, including establishing a bank account. I want to thank the members of the Task Force and OC for the continued trust, especially Virginia Dominguez for the efficient leadership of the TF. In my understanding, our job of making ASF operational starts now. Soon we will announce ASF through the WCAA website. Best regards to all of you and many thanks for the continued enthusiasm and support, Carlos Caroso