Young Professional Group (temporary name)

This focused discussion group is to determine how better involve joung museum professionals in ICOM

(This is not an official ICOM initiative)

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On September 1st, we are in 36 from Italy, USA, Canada, Czech republic, Brasil, Australia, UK, Denmark, Finland, Argentina, Botswana, Kenya, France

To better understand the evolution of the proposal:

Original post by Mario Bucolo:

A proposal to create youth groups.

I’d 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 don’t 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 ICOM’s 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 don’t 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.

Main evolution of the discussion about the proposal,
a big assembly work made by Mr. Guillaume Evrard:

HYPOTHESES:

ICOM membership general issues
- Different international club services such as Rotary and Lions Clubs have created youth groups.
Mario Bucolo
- All over the world, many under-40 museum colleagues don’t feel part of ICOM and may not be enough involved in it.
Mario Bucolo
- The world of museums itself needs renewing. […]
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
- ICOM participatory members are aging and the next generation is less inclined to join or when they join to become actively involved.
Gary Edson
- ICOM consists mainly of elderly individual museum professionals from the richer parts of Europe. As members we have too few young ones, too few institutions, too few from the less wealthy parts of the world, and too few from some regions of the world that constitute a bit of a world in itself.
Per Bjorn Rekdal
- An aging work force that, at least in the States, is becoming less and less able to retire and, in fact, the US government is pushing the retirement age for Social Security further and further out. […] That means there will be less management jobs in which to put "career hungry" young professionals into.
Indigo Nights
- ICOM instituted student membership to enlist those young persons entering the profession. The authorization process for student membership is regulated by the National Committees.
Gary Edson
- In particular, young professionals need to be encouraged and given them operational jobs/positions.
Mario Bucolo
- ICOM itself and its events show poor and unattractive communication and marketing.
Rachel S Cockett
- It is the role of National Committees to represent the museums and museum professionals of the particular nation/state.
Gary Edson

ICOM conferences’ participation
- One of the hardest aspects as students and new professionals is to attend conferences, not only to learn but to meet other professionals.
Jennifer Rogers
- Some ICOM meetings take place quite far from the main centres of activities, providing for nice travel impressions from all over the world. But in order to receive more participants, the fact of member or newcomers being not so well established might be kept in mind.
Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten"
- To attend ICOM meetings is very important for young members.
Damdin Tsedmaa
- Many younger people can not attend ICOM meetings because they can’t afford the cost of travelling.
Widar Halén

ICOM, beginning museum professionals and networking
- Mentoring give the solid skills it takes to lead a department or organization.
Indigo Nights
- Mentoring is another important way to impart both practical and professional information, and it is a process that is often lost in contemporary society.
Gary Edson
- Creating a strong foundation of networking and support at an early stage in our careers can only lead to better communication and diplomacy later in life between our respective institutions.
Alexandra Trumbull
- Using modern technology to be able to meet without travelling will help not only young professionals, but everyone who find it too costly to travel.
Per Bjorn Rekdal
- The Internet could play a significant role to involve - new - young ICOM members in the organisation's life.
Guillaume Evrard
- "The mission of ICTOP is: to encourage and promote relevant professional or technical education and
training, to appropriate standards, for all people working in museums and related areas, including students in museum-related pre-entry training programmes."

AIMS:

ICOM membership general issues
- To involve other young colleagues
Mario Bucolo;
-There is a need to stimulate participation by younger members of the museum profession.
Gary Edson
- National committees have a crucial role in the increasing involvement of young people in ICOM’s aims and activities.
Guillaume Evrard

ICOM conferences’ participation
- To inform graduate students of museum conferences going on nationally and internationally
Alexandra Trumbull
- To help find funding so more students can attend and be active in these conferences
Alexandra Trumbull

ICOM, beginning museum professionals and networking
- To have an open forum for discussion on professional development and experiences at this early stage in our careers.
Alexandra Trumbull
- To discuss issues relevant to new professionals such as job searching, training programs, communication strategies, etc.
Carrie Farrell
- To be a relevant way (lobby if you want) to create more jobs for young professional, and to dedicate more attention and trust to young professional in charge in a particular position.
Mario Bucolo

OBJECTIVES:

ICOM membership general issues
- To implement national groups (inside National Committees), at least at an earlier stage, in order to promote co-operation on a territorial basis
Mario Bucolo
- At a later stage, possible implementation of an international youth group or committee
Mario Bucolo
- To achieve easy and low membership for students and encouragement (including searching for grants) of the young generation to participate in ongoing activities.
Steven de Clercq
- ICOM may develop a more efficient communication and marketing strategy, in partnership with and implemented by the National Committees.
Guillaume Evrard

ICOM conferences’ participation
- National Committees can develop programs to attract younger members, underwrite group directed activities,
and subsidize travel to ICOM meetings.
Gary Edson
- Here is a challenge to the national committees.
Per Bjorn Rekdal

ICOM, beginning museum professionals and networking
- 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.
Gary Edson
- Certainly a support mechanism for those recently trained or commencing work in the sector would be of use.
Hugh Maguire

Alternative propositions:

- Introducing a student membership for all students that study Museology and/or use museums for their education
Steven de Clercq
- Stimulating (PhD) students to participate in annual conferences and present their research.
Steven de Clercq