Merger of Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre and Pacific Islands Society Complete

Charleston, SC, April 29, 2016 --(PR.com)-- The Boards of Directors of the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre and Pacific Islands Society are proud to announce that the merger of the two nonprofit organizations is now complete. Renamed the Islands Society, the surviving nonprofit organization aims to inspire and empower islanders around the world to improve the quality of life in their local communities by participating in international affairs.

“Prior to the merger, the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre and Pacific Islands Society were already partnering on a number of programs for women, young people, and minorities in island communities,” points out Laurent Ajdnik, Vice President of the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre. “These programs included the Pacific Security Scholars and Pacific Young Leaders on Disarmament.”

“Through these partnerships, the Board of Directors of the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre recognized that our non-profit organization was more effective at fulfilling our mission to help women, young people, and minorities realize the full potential of emerging science and technologies while respecting ethical and societal needs when we focused our programs on women, young people, and minorities in island communities,” adds Ajdnik.

“Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Islands Society realized that our organization was far more effective at inspiring and empowering Pacific Islanders to improve the quality of life in their local communities by participating in public diplomacy when we centered our programs on specific demographic groups, including policymakers and technologists,” says Keiko Ono, Vice President of the Pacific Islands Society. “Over the past few years, our partnerships with the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre made that possible.”

“From the perspective of their Boards of Directors, the merger therefore enables the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre and Pacific Islands Society to provide the people that they serve with meaningful access to more current and future benefits than could be delivered by the nonprofit organizations operating in partnership,” explains Eddie Walsh, President of the Islands Society. “Furthermore, the merger provides a valuable opportunity to restate their vision, mission, and values in a way that better reflects their shared commitment to helping individuals and sub-national organizations in island communities realize their full potential.”

“Now, we are not only working to inspire and empower Pacific Islanders to improve the quality of life of Pacific communities by participating in public diplomacy. Nor are we limiting ourselves to helping women, young people, and minorities realize the full potential of emerging science and technologies,” argues Ono. “Instead, we are working to inspire and empower islanders everywhere to improve the quality of life in their island communities by participating in international affairs. This includes cross-cultural programs for policymakers, scientists, and technologists.”

About the Merger
In September of 2015, the Boards of Directors of the Emerging Science and Technology Policy Centre and Pacific Islands Society unanimously approved the merger of their respective organizations, the renaming of the surviving organization, and the restatement of its mission. On 24 September 2015, the merger and renaming were officially approved by the Secretary of State of South Carolina. On 8 February 2016, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the Islands Society qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)3.

About the Islands Society
The Islands Society is a “Top-Rated” American 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to respect, inspire, and empower islanders around the world. These projects are currently organized around two main themes: community projects and next generation leaders. The community projects center on ten issue areas, including charity, conservation, democracy, disaster relief, education, equality, health, innovation, security, and sustainability. Meanwhile, the next generation leader projects support artists, athletes, chefs, incubators, musicians, policymakers, storytellers, and technologists.

Website: www.islandssociety.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/The-Islands-Society/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/islandssociety
Contact
Islands Society
Cheryl Walsh
724-290-9293
http://www.islandssociety.org
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