Meeting of informal Council of Members KIVI
Report discussion meeting Council of Members
Date: 9 November in The Hague
Present: Mario van der Borst, Gijs Breedveld, Pieter Dijkshoorn, Peter Florijn, Arjan van Krimpen, Job Kruyswijk, Hans van der Velden, Jan Wind
Absent: Raymond Godderij, Jan Weerts, Johan Riezebos, Koos Mulder, Marc Lambriks, Eelco Schrik, Antoinette Vietsch, Gert Jan Luijendijk, Wim de Boom, Bob van de Graaf
Report:
On 9 November, the members' council committee held a discussion meeting for the members' council. During this "informal" members' council, a very large number of concerns about the state of affairs and the future of the association were discussed. In broad terms, the discussion had the following outcome.
It is still felt that KIVI is an association with standing. The status of KIVI is still undisputed. KIVI still has very many members, especially for these times when people no longer become and stay members of an association as a matter of course. Not only do a large number of members do a lot of voluntary work for the association but they are also strongly emotionally involved. The influx of new main board members is good. The office staff, almost without exception, are putting in a tremendous effort for the departments and members.
However, the outflow of members is accelerating with net between 500 and 1,000 per year and there is no effective policy to stop it. There were only 17782 members as of October 1.
KIVI is a true engineering society with all its advantages and disadvantages. Engineers are strong in analysis and focused on solutions. However, they are often less good at communication, expressing appreciation, giving compliments and creating support. Pieces that are meant to be positive are too often worded in a way that makes it seem critical and invites a defensive attitude rather than helping those involved move forward. These are points for improvement at all levels of the association.
KIVI is an association of engineers supported by a professional office. Because KIVI is an association, members are not passive customers and purchasers of services, but proactive and strongly involved in the organisation. It is precisely the amount of voluntary work done by members that characterises KIVI and gives it its undisputed status. The members want KIVI to remain an association and not become a (kind of) foundation. They participate from a strong identification with the association's objectives and activities and a corresponding sense of belonging.
The members present were of the opinion that their voluntary work at the central KIVI level is valued only to a limited extent and is made increasingly difficult rather than stimulated.
An association should have a governance model: members' council, (main) board, possibly supported by an office. Many members feel that the main board has too little time for the required activities and, as a result, a number of issues remain unresolved.
Also, many members feel that another governance model is being anticipated in which the main board acts as the Supervisory Board and the director as the Executive Board. These feelings may partly stem from clumsy and misinterpreted communication by the various stakeholders.
As a result of these results, the membership council committee has contacted the main board to discuss the problems identified.
Description
Topics:
Informal members' council on 9 November at KIVI from 18:00-21:00
Topics for informal members' council
Are the problems surrounding the letter about board members moving on well resolved
We held an "informal members' council" in April and agreed then that there would be a next meeting on 12 October. Unfortunately, this one cannot take place. However, we think it is important to discuss developments in the association among ourselves twice a year. Therefore, we have reserved a room for a discussion meeting on Thursday 9 November from 18:00-21:00 at KIVI.
No topics from the previous members' council have reached the point where we can discuss or assess plans. Therefore, we are asking you if there are any topics that need to be addressed. What bothers you in the association and how should it be changed. Please let us know which topic you would like to discuss by 8 October at the latest. Then there will be enough preparation time to make the discussion as effective as possible.
We would like to have your reaction to one topic right now. In May, the Main Board and the Director sent a letter about the flow of board members. That letter went down badly with many departments and at the June members' council, the president promised to give everyone an appropriate response. Question is whether the discontent among your wards has now been resolved, or are there still ambiguities about the letter and the demand contained therein for too-long-serving board members to leave. We look forward to hearing from you.
Location
Organiser
Members' Council
Name and contact details for information
Member Council Committee KIVI