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Posted By David A Jones
As part of our IOSH membership we all get free membership of one of the specialist groups - I think we used to have to pay for this as an extra.
However, there are plenty of industries or group of industries where the available specialist groups are of limited, if any, value.
Ok, we could start our own specialist group, but in some cases this may not be any more than an exercise in finding a group more alligned to our area of business rather than having any particular benefit.
So, are we subsidising specialist groups for the benefit of others?
Your comments / views would be appreciated.
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Posted By George Wedgwood
David, we always got a choice of SG Membership and the first was free - taken up by all by around 6000 Members. One of my aims was to find ways of encouraging some of those 6000 to join a SG or even create a new one, if several hoops can be jumped through. Even so, many, like you, feel that existing SGs are not for them in terms of a 'specialism' and this includes me! Of course, we can get a lot from existing Groups and I am encouraging all the dispense with the term "Specialist", as that tends to put some off. In fact most SGs are generalist and very accommodating in nature, and broad in acceptance of other minorities.
So how do we reach Members like you? I have appealed for ideas but few have offered them. Can you suggest how we could, short of forming SGs along the lines of the HSE SICs? Even then, the HSE codes do not accurately reflect business alignments and need to be interpreted. Perhaps we need a 'general' SG where Members like you can discuss a ramnge of topics - like safety management for example, and I for one would welcome that. However, it is for Members to stimulate the need and perhaps you can - just let me have your views and we can discuss them in the SGMC at our next meeting.
Regards, George (Chair SGMC)
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Posted By Aidan Toner
Slightly lost on this one.?
A group comes together because it has a commonality which can be serviced by terms of (group) association-ok?
If this commonality does not exist and a group cannot be readily formulated -Is this generalist need not best served through the existing local(Branch) and national(Committee) association terms? Remember these 'terms of association' pre existed Group arrangements and dealt with generalist problems.If one feels left out, it may be that they are not availing of these arrangements to get the best out of them?The only alternative might be that the original association terms of branch and national committee are severly faulted and dont serve the needs of the generalist anymore.-I dont go along with the latter proposal.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By David A Jones
I agree with Aidan that any general 'specialist' group is in practice no different to the local branch.
My point was whether those of us for which the specialist groups serve no purpose as they are not relevant are in effect subsidising the other members who are in specialist groups?
If we are not subsidising them, then why are charges made if IOSH memebers wish to be a member of more than one specialist group?
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By George Wedgwood
Both very good points and thanks for bringing in the Branches! I also don't see a major difference - it's all about giving the Member a service through different channels - indeed, why should the Member pay extra for membership of a SG when he gets the Branch free? All of these points will be considered once the CSC embarks on its planned study of SGs and Branches - but, we need to be fuelled by membership ideas - hence the reason for me trying to stimulate interest.
In reality, there is little extra cost for a Member in joining all SGs and a Branch, as one can only do so much - and anyway, why should any Member be denied a SG Newsletter just because they are not actually a Member of that SG? Let's have all the benefits for all who want them at no extra cost. Funding the changes? Well, I am sure IOSH can continue to improve its revenue streams to make up any additional operating costs needed to administer those extra Members who actually want to avail themselves of additional information, networking or affiliation. The IEE offers a lot of Professional Networking Groups and Membership is free for all, as many as you like!
Keep the comments coming!
Regards, George
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