"We are satisfied that the Hon Treasurer's proposals represent the best
available way for CILIP to move forward, and we would urge members to
support them". Yes I am sure you do, but is this what the majority of
members want?
Bert Washington.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tim Buckley Owen
Sent: 09 November 2004 13:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CILIP's subscription proposals - statement by Hon Officers
CILIP'S SUBSCRIPTION PROPOSALS
As Honorary Officers of CILIP, we have been following the discussion on
LIS-CILIP closely. Members have raised some important - indeed fundamental
- issues, including CILIP's responsiveness as a member-led organisation, the
range of services it provides to members, the effectiveness of its advocacy,
and whether all of this represents value for money. There are some clearly
articulated criticisms here, and we take them seriously. We'll be
commenting on all of these issues very soon.
As an immediate priority, though, we feel it is important to emphasise
strongly to members just how important the subscriptions reform proposals
are for CILIP's future.
Firstly, if you have not already done so, we would urge you to view the Hon
Treasurer's PowerPoint presentation and to read the other information about
subscriptions reform that you can find on the CILIP web site at:
www.cilip.org.uk/membership/subscriptionsreform/. Included there is a set
of FAQs and a response form, so if you have any further queries you can post
them there and expect a personal response from CILIP staff.
Secondly, we would like you to know that CILIP's Executive Board voted
unanimously in favour of the Hon Treasurer's proposals for subscriptions
reform, because we believe that they represent the best way for CILIP to
grow its membership and thrive.
CILIP is being modestly successful at recruiting new members, and can expect
this success rate to improve as a result of its new proactive membership
marketing campaign. You may possibly have already seen the adverts in
'Information World Review' and 'Managing Information' and (shortly) on
FreePint. In addition CILIP is currently engaged in a large scale targeted
mailshot of workplace information services, where we are currently
under-represented. This is just the start of a range of marketing
activities that will develop further over the coming year.
However, all this good work is wasted if we have to continue to face large
numbers of lapsing memberships each year for no good reason. Why this
happens has been analysed in detail - notably in the Hon Treasurer's
presentation. It is principally because CILIP can currently renew very few
of its memberships automatically, and it is this deficiency that the
subscriptions reform is designed to address.
These proposals have been carefully modelled, costed and priced, and due
account has been taken of all risks. Most importantly, they ensure that
lower-paid members do not lose out as a result of the changes - quite the
reverse, in fact.
At present, CILIP staff are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs
with an inefficient system that does everything in its power to encourage
members not to renew their memberships. This is very far from being in
CILIP members' best interests.
We are satisfied that the Hon Treasurer's proposals represent the best
available way for CILIP to move forward, and we would urge members to
support them.
Signed off by:
Karen Blakeman (Chair of Executive Board)
Maggie Haines (President)
Andrew Wale (Hon Treasurer)
Sandra Ward (Chair of Council)
Margaret Watson (Past President)
|