Membership committee Jan. 14, 2006 Berlin Based on the results of the recent world-wide membership survey, the Membership Committee made several conclusions and put forth several proposals during the Green Week in Berlin . The next step will be that Membership Committee will make a brief programme to carry out the proposals as accepted during the executive meeting in Berlin . The conclusions and proposals are: A. About the participation on the survey: Conclusions Two-third of the organisations involved in IFAJ responded to the membership survey. We got no explanations from the associations that did not respond. The associations are: Albania , Armenia , Austria , Italy , Moldava , Nepal , Serbia & Montenegro , Uganda , Ukraine . We have to worry about the ‘discipline’ of some countries. Proposal One-third of the member associations didn’t fill in the survey. If associations fail in other IFAJ-duties/requests too, the presidium and the Membership Committee will have a meeting with the executive or the board of that association. The main subject: do you want to stay in IFAJ? If so, you have to do your duty, otherwise you better leave IFAJ. B The statistics and the answers about the national organisations: Conclusions In total the number of journalists joining IFAJ-member associations is decreasing. It differs from country to country. In some countries the number is increasing thanks to activities. In some countries the situation is stable, in others it is decreasing. Most of the organizations have PR-officers and communicators as members, in some countries half or more of the total membership. Annual membership fees range from 1,50 euro to $150 (122 euro). For some countries the IFAJ fee and the fee for congresses is – much - too high. Member-associations with less than 50 members have problems to keep their head above the water. The number of female journalists are strongly decreasing. Member-organizations organize a lot of activities. They recommend several to other countries. It is worth it to organise special activities for young journalists. Proposals Finland , Ireland , New Zealand and the Czech Republic increased their number of journalists. The Membership Committee will interview the executives of those associations asking what their key to success is. The next step will be making a guide line for our member countries. This guideline should be ready in August 2006. Associations with less than 50 members will get special attention from the Membership Committee and from the treasury. The Sponsoring/Financial Committee will have to look for a fund for supporting these associations. The presidium decides if an association is sponsored and in what way. The Membership Committee and each association together make a plan to improve the situation. If they wish so, each association can have a sparring partner from the Membership Committee to discuss strategies. This activity will start in early 2006. The Finance/Sponsoring Committee has to look for a special sponsorship. The goal is to sponsor the participation of a young delegate from associations who can’t afford to send a young journalist for financial reasons. (In the meantime there is a new sponsorship of IFAJ, which can be used for this purpose. Presidium and Membership Committee will be in contact and agree about the assignment of this sponsorship). IFAJ presents itself as an association of journalists. In fact it is an organization of journalists and communicators. The presentation isn’t correct. The Membership Committee proposes changing the constitution in two ways. Describe in article q that not only journalists but also communicators are involved, but just on behalf of agricultural and horticultural journalism (proposal carried during the meeting of the executives in Berlin 14-1-2006 ) . Second: change the J in IFAJ in Journalism or in Journalists & communicators (there was no majority for this proposal in Berlin14-1-2006) New ideas in IFAJ and fresh blood in the Executive Committee are necessary. More women should be involved. The executive committee should be a reflection of the journalists involved in IFAJ. The Membership Committee pleads for rotation. We recommend the national associations replace their executive member after a period of minimum three and maximum six years. If there is rotation woman, younger journalists and ‘fresh blood' will come in the Executive Committee. Ex-executives who are specialists on special subjects for IFAJ can be in the Committee as advisors. The Membership Committee will make two brochures: one with recommended activities and one for activities for younger journalists. The brochures - (possibly a printed version of IFAJ News) – will be ready in 2006 C. Opinion about IFAJ, opinion, benefits and preferred countries Conclusions The opinion about IFAJ is good in most of the countries. Four associations say neutral, two not interesting. The opinion depends on experience. The press card, international contacts/network and congresses are mentioned as the main member benefits. About congresses and meetings: the prices or fee are a problem in some countries. International contacts, professionals, seeing agriculture in another country, press card and freedom of press are mainly mentioned as benefits. The associations want both to enlarge and strengthening IFAJ Most mentioned preferred countries to enlarge IFAJ are India , China , Brazil/Argentina, Middle Europe/Baltic States and France . Some members want to help the MC. Proposals The presidium should put PR effort in those countries where the opinion of IFAJ is neutral or negative. The Membership Committee will work out a program with ideas before June. Executives have to encourage – more than until now – the participation in congresses. There has to be a maximum fee for congresses in the guidelines for congresses - The membership committee would like to see 500 euro for a four-day congress in Europe; 900 euro for a seven-day congress outside Europe. (Current guidelines call for 750 and 1,000 maximum fees). Less five star, more lower budget. There must be a fee-formula which counts fee and travelling costs together. They Host country liaison Committee should make a proposal for the Executive meeting in Norway . IFAJ has to organize every year at least one activity – keywords: low budget, seminar, two days – about agricultural journalism, which can be attended by individual journalists. These activities can be regional. The Presidium and the Membership Committee make a brief mission statement for IFAJ before April. For the statement they use the mentioned benefits of IFAJ. The Membership Committee will both strengthen the current IFAJ-member associations and enlarge IFAJ with new member-associations. Preferred countries are India , China (attention for freedom of press!), Brazil , Middle Europe/Baltic States and France . The help of several countries as an adopter will be used. A delegation (Jacques van Outryve, Markus Rediger and Hans Siemes) will try to get in contact with France in February/March. TOP