Reply interwoven with original for context.
On 07 March 2005 10:06, R2i wrote:
ICF: 1,129 members of whom 615 are professional and 172
fellows; membership declined by 40 between 2003 and 2004 and
by 420 in 10 years and in only one
year in the last 10 did they see a year on year rise in membership;
all signs of an institution in decline and unable to change to
reflect the conditions of the 21 C whilst there is huge amounts of
activity in the countryside, rural development, tree planting
AA: 1,958 members at end of 2004, an increase of 156 on 2003;
Should these two bodies with similar interests and
memberships be talking to
each other?
Undoubtedly, and I suspect they do. But talking about merging - I'm not
so sure.
An immediate issue is that they have different constituencies. As a
chartered body the ICF represents 'professionals' and is bound by its
charter to work to maintain professional standards. It sets down
standards that must be achieved in order to gain membership and most
members are expected to be degree holders.
The AA has a broader constituency and to some extent acts a trade
organisation.
These differences may not be insurmountable. Indeed, it is notable that
RICS has a Technician level membership category, and a defined route for
progressing from Technician member to Professional member. But a merger
between the ICF and AA would, I think, require a good close look at the
AA's various membership routes and how these would fit into a chartered
body.
Since it's already chartered, the IOB may offer an alternative. But
there's part of me saying that that still waters down tree care, and if
we're going to get lost in a bigger organisation, we might as well make
it a really big one. And RICS is huge.
But as Jeremy has pointed out, there's a list especially for this sort
of discussion over at http://lists.tree-care.info/wws/info/icf.future
--
Chris Hastie
Strategy Officer (Arboriculture)
Warwick District Council
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