Task Force on International Committees

Dear ICOM members,

In December 2000 the Executive Council (EC) set up a Task Force on
International Committees (ICTF) on the recommendation of the ICOM Reform
Task Force (1998-2001 triennium), passed at the General Assembly in
Barcelona 2001. Its mission is to make concrete recommendations on any and
all aspects of the role and responsibilities of International Committees
(ICs) within ICOM, including also related Affiliated Organisations. 

The members of the ICTF are: Claudia Balk (SIBMAS), Nelly Decarolis
(ICOFOM-LAM), David Elliott (CIMAM), David Grattan (ICOM-CC), Jean-Marcel
Humbert (AVICOM), Sandra Lorimer (ICEE), Bernice Murphy (EC), Ganga Rautela
(CECA), Per Rekdal (ICME), Keletso Setlhabi (CIDOC), and Martin R.Schärer
(EC, coordinator). 

Our work started in November 2001 and included intense e-mail discussion,
two meetings, and two ICOM-L discussions. We are very pleased to present our
recommendations now to the whole ICOM membership for a general discussion.
Afterwards, a final document will be established for consideration in the
June 2003 meeting of the Advisory Committee (AC). 

The International Committees constitute the principal instruments for the
work of ICOM and for the realisation of its programmes of activity. They are
a channel of communication for members of ICOM with similar professional
interests.

The ICTF is well aware of the many organisational, financial and legal
problems occurring in the daily life of International Committees. We don't
have any miracles to offer. Neither can we breathe life into the
International Committees, it is up to them to create visions. But we can try
to facilitate their work by creating a better general framework, even if it
may sound very technical and sober. We decided that our suggestions for
reform should remain within the present statutes, at least in the first
instance. 
Please keep in mind that the ICOM statutes will be completely revised during
the coming years. 

We accepted some basic principles for our reforms: As much autonomy as
possible for individual approaches and solutions, acceptance of a plurality
of working models (there are very big and extremely small Committees!), as
well as a flexible and demand-oriented approach for the creation of new
International Committees. Such basic principles  need clear definitions. We
will put them into four documents. They will enumerate the important points,
without extended formulations. Such an approach should facilitate feedback.

The discussion is open until 25 April 2003.

We thank your warmly for your participation

Martin R.Schärer
Member of the Executive Council
Coordinator of ICTF

Our proposals concern the following four documents:
A   Principles for the creation, operation and evaluation if ICs 
B   Framework agreement between ICOM and ICs
C   Rules for ICs
D   Terms of Reference for the new Standing Committee of the Executive
Council on International Committees [this will be the 4th Standing Committee
of the EC alongside the Ethics, Finance, and Legal Committees]

All decisions are under the authority of the Executive Council which will
consider the advice of the new Standing Committee as well as of the Advisory
Committee.


A   Principles for the creation, operation and evaluation if ICs 

Creation

1.   ICOM fosters a demand-oriented approach for the creation of new ICs
2.   Proposition made by at least 50 ICOM members from at least 10 countries
from more than 1 continent
3.   Professionally-oriented theme of global and long-lasting interest
compatible with ICOM's core mission and statement of values
4.   Conformity with the Statutes of ICOM
5.   Conformity with the Code of Ethics for Museums
6.   Establishment of Rules for the Ics' operation according to regular
procedures
7.   Signature of the Framework Agreement between ICOM and the office
holders of the IC
8.   A new IC is accepted after a three-year probationary period after which
it joins the other ICs for periodical review and evaluation

Operation

1.   Act according to the documents cited in points 3, 4, 5 and 6 above 
2.   Special bank account in the name of the IC, with more than one
signature

Evaluation (regularly, at least once every 6 years)

1.      Act according to the documents cited in points 3, 4, 5 and 6 above 
2.   Having relevant activities
3.   Fiscal accountability 
4.   Minimum membership size of 50
5.   Regular form of communication with members
6.   Regular meetings, including requirement to convene a meeting at the
time of the General Conference and Assembly of ICOM


B   Framework Agreement between ICOM and ICs (signed by the president of
ICOM and by any IC officer on taking up the function)

1.      Reciprocal responsibilities, confidence and collaboration
2.   Support of ICOM values and missions
3.   Acceptance of  Principles for the creation, operation and evaluation of
ICs
4.   Conduct of the IC complies with ICOM's Statutes, Code of Ethics, Core
Mission and Value statements and adopted Rules governing the Committee's
operation
5.   Accept all ICOM members (in good standing) as IC members (the IC has
access to membership lists for internal use only), which includes the right
to create groups with restricted membership for special purposes
6.   Deliver a yearly activity and financial report to ICOM, including the
results of elections
7.   Legal autonomy in conformity with international and national law 
8.   Financial autonomy, including the right to accept sponsorship and to
request fees for special activities and services (the basic membership and
receipt of general information must be free in one IC for all ICOM members)
9.   General financial behavior of IC should not compromise ICOM
10.  Subsidies granted by ICOM according to the number of members formally
recorded by ICOM on each IC list


C   Rules for ICs

These must be in conformity with the ICOM Statutes in general and  article
17 in particular, and with the Code of Ethics, the Principles for the
creation, operation and evaluation of ICs,  and the Framework Agreement
between ICOM and ICs. As a minimum requirement, the following items must be
mentioned: 
1.   Name
2.   Applicability of the ICOM Statutes, the Code of Ethics, Values and
Mission of ICOM, the Principles for the creation, operation and evaluation
of ICs, and the    Framework Agreement with ICOM
2.   Mission statement of the IC
4.   Membership including, if desired, the right to co-opt non-ICOM members
5.   Elections held regularly and reported to members and to ICOM
6.   Financial management clearly and accountably presented annually
7.   Procedure for amending the Rules as required, in a formal manner


D   Terms of Reference for the new Standing Committee of the Executive
Council on International Committees 

1.   The Committee is to be established and its chairperson and members are
to be designated by the EC
2.   9 members (2 of EC, 5 with IC experience elected by AC, 2 co-opted)
3.   Advise the EC in all matters concerning the ICs, especially with
respect to their creation, running and dissolution
4.   Advise the ICs in difficulty and foster sharing of experience among ICs
5.   Identify emerging issues and new initiatives to advance the work of
ICOM through  ICs

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