The meaning of ICOM lies in the international committees: in them important issues are raised and debated, professional contacts maintained. Their activities are the blood of ICOM, carrying around the oxygen that makes ICOM thrive and grow and not suffocate. At least this is true in principle. And yet, I think the models upon which they are created and maintained are too stiff, too inflexible to meet the demands of current museal developments. The international committees are constructed to last, through ups and downs, through near-death conditions as well as revitalisations. Sometimes you hear members speak about "their" committee with the loyalty a sports fan speak about his/hers club. I think we are focusing too much upon the strenght and formalities and duration of the organisational framework of the international committees and too little on themes, on content, on intentions, on results. What about light, perhaps shortlasting, structures and heavy themes? Let me try to explain with examples: Museums and cultural diversity is a theme that is relevant to many committees. This is also the case with cultural tourism and museums. What is happening now is that each international committee - if they find it relevant - discuss this problem within themselves. Very often these internal discussions are hampered by the fact that there are only a few people in each committee that participates in the debate. Now: what if we had an international committee set up to last for say six years, constituted for the sole purpose of discussing cultural diversity? Or cultourism? What if we had an international committee set up for six years discussing the educational methods in modern art museums? Or a committee just for discussing the meaning in modern society of putting indigenous cultures into natural history museums, while the culture of the "whites" are found in the history museums? Or an international committee debating repatriation issues? OK, the consequences for distributing funds would have to be discussed and the criteria for being members of the advisory council may have to be changed and the whole concept of voting and non-voting members may have to be reconsidered. But we are moving towards a society more fluid than before, were people (including museum professionals) are looking for arenas that give them a chance to debate exactly the issues that are now important. Electronic communication can help us handle this fluidity organisationally much easier than before. We soon risk loosing the most valuable initiatives to other arenas. Think about it! Per B. Rekdal ICME chairperson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html