I am very puzzled, indeed alarmed, by this message on at least two counts.

First, the dates proposed will be almost impossible for anyone going to
the ICOM General Conference in Melbourne (during which the representatives
of the almost 1,000 members of the International Committee for Museology
(ICOFOM) will be having their triennial conference, assembly and
elections).  Holding the inaugural meeting of the proposed new
Association at a time when very many prospective members will be unable to
attend sems a very bad idea, surely (unless the intention is to exclude
ICOM members for the discussion?!!).

Second, I am surprised to see so many details about the new association
(seat in Leipzig, details of its meetings and the proposed journal etc.)
seem to have been fixed before it has been created and without the consent
of its proposed members.

Surely such important matters must be decided democratically by those who
join the proposed new association at the inaugural meeting, not 4 months
in advance of any decision to create it?

Also, though museology certainly "has deep roots in Germany", there are
many other countries - not least France - which can make the same claim.

Patrick Boylan

==========================================


On Wed, 27 May 1998, Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten wrote:

>
> FOUNDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSEOLOGISTS (IAM)
> ________________________________________________________________
>
> INFO 1
> During the symposion "New collection strategies - from analysis to new models",
> held Oct. 6th and 7th, 1998, at Lake Starnberg, near Munich, Germany, there will
> be the founding of the IAM at 19.00 h. The symposion will be organized by the
> UNESCO financed International Summer School of Museology (ISSOM) and the Masaryk
> University, Brno, Tchech Republic. Conference language will English and German.
>
> Meeting place is Evangelische Academy, Tutzing, directly at the lake. Tutzing
> can be reached by suburban trains from Munich main station ending in Tutzing.
>
> The IAM
> The IAM will not only be an organisation of scientists, but also of all
> interested in museology, of museum workers, volonteers, students in museology as
> well as museology grounded firms. ICOM-membership is not needed.
> IAM will not only develop and promote museological thinking as a useful science,
> but also care for the vested interests of people interested in museology.
> As Museology has deep roots in Germany, the seat of the IAM will be in Leipzig,
> Germany.
> The IAM will have an annual meeting and will organize conferences.
> The IAM will have its own publishing organ, named WUNDERKAMMER. 1-2 issues a
> year are included in the membership fee.
> Three kinds of membership will be possible:
> - persons with vested interests in museology (full members)
> - students and members of the first group out of work (additional members)
> - supporting firms.
>
> For further informations see upcoming eMails.
>
> Dr. C. Mueller-Straten
>