What can be done about them? Frankly I regret to say, probably not a lot, unless the courageous
decision is made to take the financial hit and enforce published standards, driving most of the
undeserving out and going for a leaner, quality over quantity, membership.
The Compliant
These are far less of a problem.
The compliant will do what they are asked regarding proof of CPD. They are likely to be a
significant group within the membership and within what they consider reasonable parameters,
they will make an effort to provide evidence of post-qualification professional development.
They are unlikely to be active members, rarely if ever attending branch meetings, and making little
or no use of the added value that services and opportunities membership can provide, but can be
depended upon to retain membership and engage in CPD if asked.
The Enthusiast
These are the gold dust members every professional body wants. They are energetic, committed,
ambitious; they are the bedrock of every branch, providing committee membership and seeing
real value from active membership of their Professional Body. They are however, typically a small
minority of any branch and carry a disproportionate responsibility for the creation and maintenance
of a vibrant professional environment at local and national levels.
The enthusiasts see value in CPD and engage positively in this to a level that the undeserving find
hard to comprehend.
For a long time the enthusiasts can maintain their own energy and will to show tangible evidence
of professional development. After a time though, this can wane, so other equally enthusiastic
members tend to take their roles thus creating a self-sustaining core of essential and high value
activity.
The big problem is that there are too few enthusiasts.
The Frustrated
There are two types of these, the resentful and the disappointed.
The resentful I have covered above – leave them alone to do little or nothing and at least they will
stay as members and be an income stream, if doing nothing whatsoever for the quality of
membership.
The disappointed are a very different group. Over time they develop a growing dissatisfaction with
the perceived lack of will to enforce CPD rules and because so many undeserving sit safely doing
nothing when they, perhaps current or former enthusiasts, do so much more without differentiation
or reward.
THE CENTRE FOR RECORDING ACHIEVEMENT 104 -108 WALLGATE, WIGAN, WN3 4AB |
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