Whilst I appreciate the points raised by people currently undertaking the
registration scheme that many people attained this by sending off £10
after three years. I qualified in 1994 and remember being given only very vague
ideas about what was required for registration along the lines of "doing
something for the Society" or "speaking at conference". At least the current
scheme gives newly qualified archivists more to go on in terms of developing
skills to prepare them for professional life.
I can only speak for myself about why I think it is worthwhile to be a member
of the Society: we are a small profession and the Society is made up of all of
us as individuals. Many people undertake work, often in their own time to
provide existing benefits such as the newsletter, conference and training
events. For me the 'benefits' of membership come from sharing information and
ideals, helping to develop professional standards and making a contribution and
(hopefully) a difference together with professional colleagues. As well as this
I find it rewarding and fun - its amazing what you can find out in post-meeting
trips to the pub! Of course improvements are needed in many areas and it is up
to all of us to bring these about - what kind of benefits are we looking for in
a professional body? If we want it to be more political and proactive as
Christopher Reed seems to suggest now seems the ideal time to say so with the
Society's strategic review.
Of course the Society should provide value for money and benefits to individual
members but it is also up to us as professional archivists to make it into the
kind of organisation we want. People who want to derive benefits without making
contributions are largely taking advantage of the work others have put in -
perhsps we should be asking not what the Society can do for us but what we can
do for the Society!
Jenny Moran
Nottinghamshire Archives
(Please assume all the usual disclaimers about these not being the
views of my employer)
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