Giovanni Pinna has raised the question of how to involve ICOM's members in
the preparation of important decisions. He mentions a new museum
definition, changes in the Code of Ethics and the Statutes as eventual
examples.
This question is important.
In the "old days" such issues were discussed first in the appropriate
committee, the committee made a proposal discussed in the Advisory, then
in the Executive (where a decision was made if no change of Statutes was
involved, but finally at the General Assembly if a change of Statutes was
involved). (Please correct me, if I got something wrong)
The new element is ICOM-L. A fantastic medium it is, enabling us to
exchange "letters" swiftly and (mostly) cheaply. ICOM's experiences over
the last 3-4 years show that important issues put onto ICOM-L create
involvement from members, create stimulating processes (the
definition-discussion is exciting in itself) and give better end-products.
So how can ICOM's routines still be improved?
1) ICOM-L has only about a thousand subscribers, while I am sure at least
two thirds of ICOM's 18.000(?) members have an e-mail address. ICOM-L have
not been well marketed among ICOM's members (ICOM is - to be honest - not
particularly professional in marketing in general).
Why not advertise ICOM-L solidly on the front page of ICOM News?
Are there other ways to increase the number of subscribers?
2 Communication by ordinary mail is and will still be important.
Giovanni's suggestion to publish debated issues in the ICOM News is
therefore a good one.
Why not establish a permanent page/column in ICOM News called something
like "Debated Issues"? And invite comments?
Admittedly, ICOM News is not published very often (and distribution costs
are high), so those learning about debated issues in the ICOM News and
responding will not have the benefit of a dialogue like on ICOM-L.
But it is better than being left out.
3) Giovanni also mentions the need to have translations into all ICOM
official languages (and vice versa). In ICOM News this will be handled in
the different language versions.
But should separate English, French and Spanish ICOM-Ls be established?
Kind regards
Per
Per B. Rekdal
ICME President
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Giovanni Pinna [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sendt: 30. november 2003 18:00
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: Museum Definition
The discussion on the definition of museum, started by
Gery Edson on september 18th, has seen the
partecipation of 50 among ICOM members: they have
sent around more than one hundred email messages.
The topic of discussion is extremely important and I
do not believe that a solution to this matter can be
found easily, as I do not believe that we can achieve
a new definition of museum through a discussion taking
place only via email and only in English.
Moreover all the members who have not subscribed ICOM
List have been excluded by the discussion, as well all
those members who have not access to the internet and
email, and all those members who are not fluent in
English.
I believe that, once the discussion via email has
ended, the Secreteriat (through its personnel or
perhaps throght stagiaires) should prepare a summary
of the discussion via email and should translate it
into the three official languages in order to
circulate it to all ICOM members via ordinary mail or via ICOM News.
All this should be
accomplished so that the new definition of museum can
be adopted during the General Conferenc with wide
approval.
I also believe that these procedures (summary,
translation and circulation or publication) should be adopted by the
Secretariat for all the email discussions consisting
on a certain amount of messages and concerning crucial
topics for the life of the organization (for ex. a
possible discussion on the Statutes and on the Code of
Ethics).
Giovanni Pinna
-- Giovanni Pinna -----------------------
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
web page: http://giovanni.pinna.cx
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