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
6 300 members of which about 280 are companies. The association celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2011.

| 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 infor2ation technology while considering its economical, human and social dimensions. One of the goals for the year 2011 is to get more young professionals and professional users of IT 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 on its web pages, in email and in the column of FIPA in the magazine Tietokone. The association and its networks arrange 1-3 events every month (see upcoming events on the home page "Hetkyn tapahtumia"). Events are open to all HITA members and are mostly free of charge. The events 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: http://www.ttlry.fi/liity. 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. Networks

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

The following networks are active at the moment:

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

ICT Ladies, a club for women in the It field

ITU: know yourself and learn about others. ITU will celebrate its 30th anniversary in March.

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

ICT Leaders

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, networks  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. +358 400 832 698
fax. +358 20 741 9889
e-mail: hetky(ät)ttlry.fi