Thank you

I have been disappointed at the lack of high level response,
clarification and the full facts from the upper echelons of the Cilip
organisation.

I would not want to be in a profession that did not have  a vibrant,
secure, supportive and funded professional body. I suspect however there
is deep concern within Cilip of the declining membership, and that they
genuinely think their proposal for a flat rate will help more people to
become or retain membership. However so much is missing in this analysis
of the decline, including the way the role and training of library staff
will change in the future.

I would have thought that the response to this topic, mainly disgruntled
(and as I said in a earlier email, likely to be the tip of the iceberg),
would have elicited a major response from Cilip on why it needs, wants
and will support its members, and how it will take on board all the
points made in recent emails. This would show it WAS member led, and
appreciated the responses members have made.

As for Edward Dudley's comments, I find them rather personalised in his
understanding of what makes people get involved. People vary in their
involvement, it can be greater at different times of their lives and
careers, where they live, time available, other commitments such as
work, education, family etc., and if you are not 'IN' how do you get
'IN'., people are often backward in coming forward. Also of course the
organisation needs to do things that give the members the desire to be
involved and to think they can contribute and will have an impact, in
the same way that people are less involved in politics.

There are a lot of things Cilip need now to consider and to let members
know they have been listening and will be openly considering what they
should do. Reading the draft response Guy has made to the Public Library
Inquiry makes me feel it is more about Cilip the organisation than that
it is a membership organisation. And yes Cilip is NOT a trade Union, but
it could I feel do a lot more to push the cause of members?

I want Cilip to succeed, to recruit more members and to survive, but it
isn't just for members to ensure that it does, but for the organisation
to be one you wouldn't dream not being a member of as it gave you so
much.
f     

-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Armstrong
Sent: 05 November 2004 17:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cilip is a member led organisation is it?

As a national councillor who HAS been monitoring the list, I have just
this morning sent a message to CILIP management suggesting that there
are a number of issues that require a response from them.

And preferably, BEFORE we all vote!

Chris Armstrong
National Councillor