OK, here's some info following some searching I have done. All in one place
to save the rest of you some time (perhaps) Sorry for the length.

1. 'How cilip works'
(Full details from CILIP page are at the end of this message, from
http://www.cilip.org.uk/aboutcilip/howcilipworks.)

Information from the CILIP website states that members involvement
in 'democratic governance' is via: standing for office, voting, and raising
issues at the AGM. Which of course most of us cant attend- during a working
day, in London. And why should we without any experience of members input
at past AGMs actually leading to changes in CILIP policy? To take the
example of the (imperfect) democracy in England, we have the right to
contact our MP and expect them to listen to us and act if they agree/can.
Its not only if you are a local activist for their party. And its addition
to the elections.

There clearly needs to be some other explicit, publicised route that is
shown to work  for grassroots to feedback/be involved. Then we could use it
to send messages we felt were important to it/them, as well as to this
list.Is this via councillors?


If there is a route for views to national councillors,we need to know how
to contact them.

Tony: there is a list of councillors on the CILIP website, but not with any
contact details (we need email addresses). Maybe there should be one
generic contact email for the councillors so the work is shared. We know
the email address of 2 national councillors from their messages to this
list, but is it fair if they therefore become the ones we use to pass on
our views? Dont want to put councillors off posting to this list.

There are some emails on the CILIP site, but they are all for staff. As it
appears that this wont be a route to affect policy, its probably not much
help. The role of staff in any membership organisation/charity is to
implement policy decided by the councillors. Not to create or change it
themselves- that needs approval. But if anyone wants to cc their emails to
someone:

[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> In the past he has taken
many weeks to reply, but hopefully has speeded up.
'Policy and governance' : [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
'council and committees' :[log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>

Fiona

Webpage info:
'All Members of CILIP are encouraged to engage in democratic governance.
CILIP's work is governed by its Council, supported by Committees, Panels,
and Boards drawn from the Members of CILIP, usually through a process of
annual elections. The Honorary Officers play an important part. CILIP's
Branches and Groups also hold elections to their offices and Committees.

All Members of CILIP are encouraged to engage in democratic governance
either by standing for office (in a Branch or a Group or at national level
in CILIP itself) or - at the very least - by exercising the right to vote
in the various annual elections and other ballots and surveys which are
conducted from time to time as part of the process of consultation with the
Membership.

Members' active involvement in the governance of CILIP and its Branches and
Groups not only strengthens the democratic accountability of the
organisation; it also provides an important opportunity for personal and
professional development.

All aspects of CILIP's work are governed by its Council, supported by
Committees, Panels, and Boards drawn from the Members of CILIP, usually
through a process of annual elections. Members can also make their voice
heard through the Annual General Meeting when the annual report and
accounts of CILIP are presented for scrutiny by the Membership at large.

In this process of governance and accountability, the Honorary Officers
have an important part to play. The President of CILIP is elected annually
by the Membership at large with the President, President-Elect, and Past
President forming three of the six Honorary Officers. The Honorary
Treasurer is also elected by the Membership at large, while the Chairs of
Council and of the Executive Board are elected by the Council at the first
meeting of the year.

This process of democratic governance is mirrored by CILIP's Branches and
Groups, which also hold elections to their various offices and Committees.'