Dear ICOM Colleagues:
The Young Group proposal addresses an issue that we are facing with most
organizations. The participatory members are aging and the next generation
is less inclined to join or when they join to become actively involved. "How
many of the under-40 age group are ICOM members?" is a good question, but no
answer is provided. In fact, observation suggests that a number of under-40
colleagues attended the triennial meetings in Seoul and Barcelona.

Undoubtedly, there is a need to stimulate participation by younger members
of the museum profession, however, I believe the place to start with that
initiative is at the national level as Mario proposes. National Committees
can develop programs to attract younger members, underwrite group directed
activities, and subsidize travel to ICOM meetings. It is the role of
National Committees to represent the museums and museum professionals of the
particular nation/state.

ICOM instituted student membership to enlist those young persons entering
the profession. The authorization process for student membership is
regulated by the National Committee. Although the number of student members
has increased, it represents less than two percent of the ICOM membership.

The participation challenge is greater that one age group. We know from past
experience only about 10 to 15 percent of the ICOM membership attend the
triennial meetings and less the 40 percent of the members are active in
International Committees. People do not attend meetings for a number of
reasons, financial, logistical, political, et cetera. However, the greater
reasons are lack of interest and a sense of insecurity, and this reality
applies to all groups. The best way to attract members to both National and
International Committee meetings is to address topics relevant to the group,
invite presentation and participation by "younger" members, and involve a
representative group in the planning process.

Mentoring is another important way to impart both practical and professional
information, and it is a process that is often lost in contemporary society.
Many national and international organizations have assumed the role of
mentor in a very clinical manner. The true mentor (a human) can inform the
younger colleague about the importance of professional organization
membership and stimulate interest. This process requires no elaborate
planning or group decision and is a method that is a part of most
educational programs.

I agree with the need to invigorate younger members of ICOM, but I believe
the process must begin with individual members and the National Committees.
The action to follow will depend on need and guidance from the target
audience. What do you think?
As always,
Gary Edson


On 8/9/05 8:51 AM, "Claudia Cabouli" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Estimado Mario,
> creo que es una excelente idea. Algunos pocos museos en Argentina han
> promovido desde sus asociaciones de amigos la formación de grupos de jóvenes
> amigos de los museos cuyo objetivo precisamente es el de atraer a los
> jóvenes e incentivar su colaboración y acercamiento a los museos, desde el
> patrocinio.
> De la misma manera, entiendo que desde los comités nacionales se podría
> promover la creación de un grupo joven del ICOM que estimule a sus pares a
> formar parte de la comunidad museológica.
> Felicitaciones por la iniciativa!
> Claudia Cabouli
> Dirección Nacional de Patrimonio y Museos, Argentina
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mario Bucolo" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 1:25 PM
> Subject: ICOM Young Group proposal
> 
> 
> A proposal to create youth groups.
> 
> I¹d like to put forward the idea of creating youth groups of ICOM
> associates.
> This idea stems from the fact that many under-40 colleagues that I met all
> over the world don¹t feel part of ICOM and maybe are not enough involved in
> it, although they are very fond of museums.
> The world of museums itself needs renewing. We especially need to encourage
> young professionals and give them operational jobs/positions.
> How many young people are ICOM¹s members? How many of them do actually take
> part in the activities of the various National Committees?
> Following the path of many associations in the world, such as, primarily,
> the various club services (Rotary, Lions etc), why don¹t create youth groups
> within ICOM, with the task, among the others, of involving other young
> colleagues?
> In order to be effective, national groups (inside National Committees)
> should be implemented at least at an earlier stage, in order to promote
> co-operation on a territorial base. At a later stage, an international youth
> group or committee might be also implemented.
> I strongly believe that young people may become a vehicle for ICOM and the
> world of museums, provided that we trust them and get them truly involved.
> 
> Mario Bucolo
> 
> PS: I send this post originally on july 30 to this list but probably it was
> lost in the cyberspace. On august 5 I send the same message to the
> international museums list Museum-L and from there I receive many positive
> response about the idea, so that now we still work on a "manifesto" to
> propose at ICOM with the signature of at least 10 ICOM members to delivery
> to the General Secretary to propose the Young Professionals Committee (YPC)
> I hope that this idea will be appreciate from ICOM management and from all
> ICOM members, young...and..."not more young" ;-)
> --
> Mario Bucolo, ABIS MultiCom & Museumland CEO
> Skype user: mariobucolo
> 
> Visit http://www.museumland.net
> The WorldWide Portal to museums and cultural heritage
> 
> CulturMed Conference
> http:// www.culturmed.info
> 
> ABIS MultiCom S.r.l. - Multimedia & Communication
> Via Milano n.61 - 95127 Catania - Italy
> Ph: +39-095-38.70.92
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> 
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