The Helsinki IT Association (HITA)

The Helsinki Information Technology Association (HITA) functions in the Helsinki
metropolitan area as the local member association of the Finnish Information Processing Association (FIPA). HITA was founded in 1971, and it has about 8 000 members of which about 320 are companies.

| Purpose | Activities | Joining | Clubs | Magazine | Office |

1. Purpose and Aim of HITA

The purpose of HITA is to function as an organisation for professionals and professional users of information technology in the Helsinki metropolitan area. HITA distributes relevant information to professionals, and provides them with opportunities for individual development and for creating contact networks. To reach these goals, HITA organises events for its members, provides funding for club activities, distributes information (mainly via its web pages and its magazine), and offers certain services for the members.

HITA participates keenly in the activities of the Finnish Information Processing Association,
aiming to promote effective utilisation of information technology while considering its economical, human and social dimensions. One of the goals for the year 2004 is to get as many companies, professionals and professional users of IT as possible to join the association. The amount of active members will be increased, committed members will be supported, and new members, especially young professionals and students, will be encouraged to become involved in the activities of HITA.

2. HITA Activities

HITA distributes information about its activities via its own magazine HETKY*, on its web pages and in the column of FIPA in the weekly newspaper ITviikko. The association and its clubs arrange 1-3 events every month (see upcoming events on the page 'tapahtumat'). Events are open to all HITA members. They are mostly free of charge and are usually held in the evening, lasting 2-3 hours.

*Hetky = HITA in Finnish

3. Joining HITA

To join the Helsinki IT Association, one should fill in a membership form and return it to FIPA, which keeps registers of members. Membership forms are available at the home pages of HITA (see the page 'jäsenyys' and click the 'liity' button) and FIPA. If you have already joined another FIPA member association, you can join HITA as an additional member by informing FIPA of the change, either via the 'muutos' page on FIPA home page or by sending e-mail to jasenasiat(ät)ttlry.fi

4. Clubs

Members interested in a particular field of IT can form a club. One can join a club by informing HITA office by e-mail. HITA, in turn, informs FIPA about club membership. Members of other FIPA member associations can also join clubs of the Helsinki IT Association, if they join the association as additional members.

The following clubs are active at the moment:

Aktiiviset vaikuttajat AKVA (active decision-makers), the oldest club of HITA

ICT Ladies, a club for women in the It field

ITU: know yourself and learn about others

It-Viisaat, a club of tacit knowledge

Global Club discusses the challenges of internationalisation, globalisation and intercultural communication for IT professionals (started activities in autumn 1999)

Tietohallintokerho

Tietoliikenne-foorumi (was founded in autumn 2001) The world of networks is a forum for events and discussions of modern and developing communications technology with professional point of view.

5. Magazine

HITA’s magazine HETKY is published four times a year and is distributed to all members. Its Editor is the current chairperson of HITA, and the board of HITA acts as the Editorial Committee. In each club there is a person responsible for informing HITA office about the club’s activities and events for the HITA magazine and for the column of FIPA in the Tietokone-magazine.

6. Office

HITA has a co-ordinating secretary and an office in Leppävaara, Espoo, at the same location as FIPA. The co-ordinating secretary is the link for members in all practical arrangements, whether these are related to membership, events, clubs, or anything else. The secretary also acts as the Managing Editor of HITA’s magazine HETKY.

Contact information for HITA office:

Lars Soncin kaari 12, 02600 Espoo

tel. +358 40 554 5552
fax. +358 20 741 9889
e-mail: hetky(ät)ttlry.fi