I have written before about a tremendous organization for photographers called ASMP. No group is better at providing the business information photographers need to compete in this field. This is a letter I've sent to ASMP board members, calling for more transparency about payments made for board members conducting seminars and providing other services. I criticize in the most constructive sense to hopefully improve a fine, durable institution.
"I've been a member of ASMP since 1989, and have just gone online to pay my dues for 2010. But along with that dues payment I need to also pass along concerns about our organization and its operation.
I've followed the debate over the past months about payments going to board members who conduct seminars, write and edit materials, and perform other functions for ASMP. I tend to be a fairly even-handed and tolerant person, and I do listen to all sides of an issue, as I have in this case. At the end of the day I am feeling uneasy about the increasing amount of payments and seeming lack of transparency around this issue. I've been around ASMP long enough to know that most of the work needing to be done has traditionally been done on a volunteer basis, apart from those jobs done by paid staff. And that volunteer setup has felt right.
What I'm advocating comes down to the word transparency. For members and potential members to feel sure of the integrity of ASMP proceedings, they need to see everything done in an open manner, fully exposing the machinery and inner workings. If there's any whiff of a feeling that insiders are at work, and that those with connections are using the organization for their own benefit, then the effectiveness of ASMP suffers, and a pall starts to settle over everything.
These are concerns of a longtime and fairly non-vocal member. I've also communicated these concerns by phone to a board member. I very much want ASMP to remain an effective voice for photographers, and as membership grows and increasing amounts of money are available, I think it's critical that all of us feel comfortable that our elected board and staff are acting with a scrupulous fairness. I'm not saying anything improper has happened, but as one of the many photographers who has just struggled through a horrendous year in business, I want attention paid to this issue of transparency.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration."
"I've been a member of ASMP since 1989, and have just gone online to pay my dues for 2010. But along with that dues payment I need to also pass along concerns about our organization and its operation.
I've followed the debate over the past months about payments going to board members who conduct seminars, write and edit materials, and perform other functions for ASMP. I tend to be a fairly even-handed and tolerant person, and I do listen to all sides of an issue, as I have in this case. At the end of the day I am feeling uneasy about the increasing amount of payments and seeming lack of transparency around this issue. I've been around ASMP long enough to know that most of the work needing to be done has traditionally been done on a volunteer basis, apart from those jobs done by paid staff. And that volunteer setup has felt right.
What I'm advocating comes down to the word transparency. For members and potential members to feel sure of the integrity of ASMP proceedings, they need to see everything done in an open manner, fully exposing the machinery and inner workings. If there's any whiff of a feeling that insiders are at work, and that those with connections are using the organization for their own benefit, then the effectiveness of ASMP suffers, and a pall starts to settle over everything.
These are concerns of a longtime and fairly non-vocal member. I've also communicated these concerns by phone to a board member. I very much want ASMP to remain an effective voice for photographers, and as membership grows and increasing amounts of money are available, I think it's critical that all of us feel comfortable that our elected board and staff are acting with a scrupulous fairness. I'm not saying anything improper has happened, but as one of the many photographers who has just struggled through a horrendous year in business, I want attention paid to this issue of transparency.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration."
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