De : Eva Mæhre Lauritzen [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 


We have recently been informed that there will be changes in the plans 
for EC and AC, and that Standing Committees, Work Groups and Task Forces 
have been told not to meet in Paris in June this year.

The meetings in Paris in June are extremely important days for people 
from all corners of the world coming together as representatives of ICOM 
at different levels. It is busy days with important meetings, contact 
with colleagues, discussion, exchange of ideas and inspiration, 
cooperation across committee and national borders and much more. Because 
everybody is there it is possible to do a lot to continue work processes 
and get the necessary information to finalize projects.

This new arrangement deprives us of these possibilities. I feel sorry 
for having lost this annual feeling of really being a small part in a 
big group of ICOM museum specialists where I can cooperate, discuss and 
learn more about museum issues. This is our only possibility to meet 
face to face and continue cooperation projects. Many of them have been 
on my working list since last June, during hours of volunteer work for 
ICOM performed in afternoons and weekends.

I cannot see that there is given a reason for this change. It cannot be 
caused by financial concerns, as all participants pay their own travel 
and stay with support from their home countries or by private means. For 
those committee members that are also members of the AC, this even means 
extra expenses since they have to make the trip to Paris once more. Some 
have already made air line reservations to get cheap tickets.

For months the dates for the Paris meetings have been protected on our 
calendars. Will there be scheduled new meetings? Most of us have made 
appointments for the months to come and have busy schedules. We have 
received no dates, and have heard rumours about telephone meetings. How 
can that be possible in an organization that operate with 3 languages 
and where we all try to whisper translations to help each other, when no 
translation is present?

I have always been very enthusiastic about the work of ICOM and devoted 
a lot of my time to work for ICOM, in my National Committee, an 
International Committee and a Standing Committee. My enthusiasm is 
withering and I feel sad for a decision that seems not to acknowledge 
the work of the Standing Committees, Work Groups and Task Forces and 
excludes them from the ICOM community of the June meetings.

Eva Maehre Lauritzen
Member Ethics Committee
Former Board Member CECA
Former Chair ICOM Norway

-- 
Eva Mæhre Lauritzen
Førsteamanuensis/Assoc. professor
tlf. +47 22851737, faks +47 22851790

Naturhistorisk museum/ Natural History Museum
Seksjon for Utadrettet virksomhet/ Exihibitions and Public Services
University of Oslo
Pb. 1172 Blindern
N-0318 OSLO; Norway

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