Dear Ian,
Like many others I was surprised by this sudden announcement and the lack of discussion beforehand but I know the financial position has been difficult for some time. It would be a shame for all the hard work put in over the years by everyone were to disappear so I hope that some sort of successor can be devised.
The similar interests and aims of EUDUG present possibilities and the overlap with the eurodoc list could also perhaps help. Although the free membership of eurodoc is at the moment restricted to those in charge of EU documentation units this can always be broadened.
Since I'm sure everyone is in the same position of having to fit EU work in with increasing workloads in other areas which are considered more important by our employers it may be difficult to find a way of providing a similar service.
On a related note, I regret that I will be unable to continue with info-europa, my weekly newsletter, as the European Commission has just re-designed its website http://www.europe.org.uk/ and is no longer prepared to host it.
Best wishes
Patrick
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for EU information specialists. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Mayfield
Sent: 23 February 2012 12:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Do you still need an EIA?
> Dear fellow EIA member
>
> As you know, at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the EIA on 5 March a proposal will be put forward that the Association should be dissolved. The Committee feels that there is very little option about this since membership has steadily declined over a number of years and income is no longer enough to support costs, particularly the fees paid to Eric Davies, the Co-Ordinator.
>
> But does this mean that there is no longer any need for the work which the EIA does? Over many years the Association, and before it the Association of EDC Librarians, has provided support for professionals working with EU information, in the form of a journal, newsletter, discussion list and training events. Is EU information now so much easier to find that this support is no longer needed, or is there still value in a support network? If so, what would you want from it?
>
> Although the Committee feels bound to propose dissolution, we would very much like to see something 'rise from the ashes' to continue the work. Although, as Eric's recent email explained, there will be little money left if we continue until the end of this year, there will be a legacy in the form of a set of online learning materials on which Eric is currently working. One possibility might be to combine resources with the EU Databases User Group (EUDUG) which has similar interests (and some members in common) but which has also seen membership decline in recent years.
>
> Any successor organisation would of course need to be organised on a different footing, with lower membership subscription costs and no paid worker; much like many other professional associations which depend on work contributed freely by members. Over the past few years the Association has relied heavily on Eric with support from key members of the Committee; without him, success could only be achieved if there were sufficient committed members willing to make a real contribution.
>
> So over to you, colleagues: are you ready to see the EIA's work come to an end? If you are unable to come to the meeting, please let us know your views via Eurotalk.
Best wishes
Ian
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