let's get off the round about

[Carol Thorogood]

Dear all   I'm trying to be quiet but... I know that there is nothing about consumers in the ACMI or ICM  Constitution. Therefore it'll take a bit of pushing and shoving to move it.  NZ did it, stirred up all and sundry, and grossly offended some  but there is nothing wrong with that surely? If those from the Long White Cloud can think laterally why can't we? But, if the members want it (and we don't know if they do, cause no-one has asked them), then please let's get on with the negotiations. It will take some time and at this rate I'll be at the crematorium and we will still be debating the rights and wrongs of it all, not that those on the list seem to be arguing the wrongs much.  I think this issue has been circulating since the ACMI was formed. I know that Jill Thompson and I spent ages talking about it in the early to mid eighties.  And we are still being wishy washy about it!  It is either good for the profession and we should get on with it or leave it be.  This indecision is paralysing us.  Good people put up ideas, they get shelved and they get fed up and go. The next generation have good ideas (often the same) and these are shelved and they go as well  and this goes on ad infinitum.    If the members want consumers in  the ACMI, then we must tell the Executive to please do what we ask ASAP. But it has to come from us. I think actually that it is on the agenda in Hobart.  What is more we should make sure that our elected members represent the members' views. And there is only one way to do that - tell 'em, cause they may not know.   Now I'm going back into hibernation! Carol