The International Association of Lichenology (I.A.L.) promotes the study and conservation of lichens. It organizes symposia, field trips, and distributes a biannual newsletter. There is a listserver which enables on-line discussion of topics of interest. Webpages devoted to lichenology are also maintained by members of the Association. People wishing to renew their membership in or become members of I.A.L. are requested to send their subscription ($20 for the biennium 1997-1998, $ 40 until 2000) to the Treasurers.

IAL affairs are directed by an Executive Council elected during the last General Meeting. Council members elected at the IAL 3 Symposium (Salzburg, Austria, 1996) are listed below, and will serve until 2000.

• President: Hans-Martin Jahns, Botanical Institute, Universitätsgasse 1, D - 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
• Vice President: Dianne Fahselt, Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
• Secretary: Dagmar Triebel, Botanische Staatssammlung, Menzinger Strasse 67, D-80638 München, Germany.
• Treasurer: Edit Farkas, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-2163 Vácrátót, Hungary.
• Deputy treasurer: Francois Lutzoni, Dept. of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall 142, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
• Editor: Pier Luigi Nimis, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
• Members-at-Large: Paula DePriest (Washington, USA), Gitaras Kantvilas (Hobart, Australia), Hiroyuki Kashiwadani (Tsukuba, Japan), Xavier Llimona (Barcelona, Spain), Bruce McCune (Corvallis, USA), Wendy Nelson (Wellington, New Zealand), Sieglinde Ott (Düsseldorf, Germany), Tiina Randlane (Tartu, Estonia), Leopoldo Sancho (Madrid, Spain), Gernot Vobis (Bariloche, Argentina), Dirk Wessels (Pietersburg, South Africa).