Is the big Schism coming upon us?
I also agree that chapter members should be national members. We had
this discussion before. As I remember, we also agreed that for example
students would be able to join a chapter for 1 or 2 years without
joining the national organisation and then become a national member.
Why the rush without asking and consulting with the chapters? Is it
because the overall ARLIS/NA membership is again declining and this is
seen as a solution? If so, there might be other ways to address this
issue.
Ursula Kolmstetter
Ursula Kolmstetter
Head Librarian, Stout Library
Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46208-3326
USA
Tel.: 317-920-2662, ext. 225
Fax: 317-926-8931
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ima-art.org
>>> Joan Benedetti <[log in to unmask]> 06/28 2:42 PM >>>
Hi Kay:
I've been trying to formulate an opinion about this matter to post on
ARLIS-L and have little or no time to do the necessary reading of all
the
documents and thinking about it. You have expressed the issues so
clearly--as did Genie Candau (so glad to hear from Genie after all
these
years--she is apparently still active in the chapter even though she
has not
been attending the national conference since she retired) and Judy
Hoffberg.
I personally think that all chapter members should pay for national
membership. (The retired/unemployed membership category is only $45.)
ARLIS/NA is a national organization and the dues for other national
organizations are generally a lot higher. ARLIS/NA is the body, the
heart,
of the organization. But the chapters are the arms and legs, the
everyday
experience of the organization, and the vehicle through which one
usually
begins to be active as an officer or in project work. Both are
essential.
It is good to be having this discussion very intensively now, even
though it
is a topic that has been around for many years. But as the options
have
been laid out by headquarters, I don't believe that the chapters have
enough
information to make an informed decision and I don't believe that they
should be forced to without knowing exactly what the consequences will
be,
both for signing now or not signing now. Back to the drawing board,
Executive Board. This is a hard one and all chapters need to be heard
from--and listened to.
Joan Benedetti
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kay Teel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: ARLIS/NA Chapter Affiliation
>I have had the chance to read the documents. My sketchy thoughts are:
>
> * It is premature and untenable to ask the chapters to sign an
agreement
> that will change the way chapter dues are collected when the details
are
> not "fleshed out" -- would you sign an agreement with a financial
> institution that can't tell you how you'll receive your money?
>
> * The idea that all chapter dues would be collected by HQ and
dispersed
> back to the chapters seems in logical conflict with the agreement's
> assertion that chapters are independent contractors. How can an
entity
> financially dependent upon the Society be "independent"?
>
> * Nothing in the agreement states what ARLIS/NA will do for its
chapters,
> and because of that, I found myself highly skeptical of Elizabeth
Clarke's
> statement that "The ARLIS/NA Executive Board and the ARLIS/NA Head
> Quarters are committed to supporting the ongoing success of each
chapter."
>
> * We do not know what the ramifications will be if a chapter does not
sign
> the agreement -- yet another reason why I feel it is premature for
the
> chapters to be asked to do this.
>
> * A big question in my mind is whether this or any other chapter
would or
> could continue on its own if ARLIS/NA dissolves the Society-chapter
> relationship if a chapter doesn't sign the agreement. (Not that we
even
> know this would happen!)
>
> * I get the feeling that the Board, despite leaning on its chapters
to
> host conferences, thinks the chapters are unimportant and do not
> contribute to the health of the Society as a whole. I couldn't
disagree
> more. I would never in a million years have become more active in NA
had I
> not become active in my first local chapter. But despite the
enthusiasm,
> interest, and welcoming nature of even the most vital chapter, I'm
not
> sure if they can survive without some affiliation "to hang our hat
on" as
> it were.
>
> * I get a lot out of NA and am active on a NA committee. I don't
dislike
> or have problems with the Society itself. But I think this chapter
> agreement is being pushed through quickly, without a lot of
information to
> put it into context, and I am cynical enough to wonder why the rush
and
> why the reluctance to explain.
>
> In my heart, I would vote for the chapter not to sign this agreement
> because we simply have not been given either a voice or enough
information
> to make an informed decision. However, I fear the consequences of not
> signing, and *if* the choice is between signing or dissolving the
chapter,
> I would rather sign than lose the chapter.
>
> Kay Teel
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
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Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
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ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
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