DISQUS

Donna Papacosta · 2 years ago

That's a shame, Lee. I would hate for the IABC to lose you. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd jump over backwards to accommodate your change to "student" status? Requiring you to make phone calls to San Francisco to do this -- just ridiculous!

Rockin' Ronnie · 2 years ago

By the gods of barbecue, thou shalt be avenged! I'm so sorry this situation has transpired, Lee. Don't give up yet -- or at least hold on while others don't give up for you!

And we MUST see each other in August. I'm a huge fan of your stuff on FIR and can't wait to raise a glass with you.

As for IABC, stay tuned...

Julie Freeman, IABC President · 2 years ago

Lee--We never want to lose a member and I am sorry that you experienced problems in trying to change your status from a professonal member to a student member. As I type this message, Lee Anne Snedeker, Sr VP of membership, is researching what happened and how we can help you renew.

There is a reason that IABC requires some proof that members claiming to be students actually are. And it is not that we want to make your life miserable. Frankly, getting a PHD is misery enough, I would think.

I am sorry to say this but in the past some individuals claimed to be students when they were actually not students. OUr student membership program is designed to offer a benefit to students who admittedly have less income, not to offer a steep discount to individuals who could affort the dues but prefer not to pay them.

We can take a look at making the process of providing the documentation less burdensome. Maybe you could share some ideas with Lee Anne when she contacts you.

I hope you will give us another chance. We would like to see the number of Adelaide members grow, not shrink!

Lee Hopkins · 2 years ago

G'day Julie! Thanks for coming to the rescue! I would love to rejoin and look forward to Lee Anne getting in touch.

Cheers - and thanks, Ron. Let's definitely hook up -- I'll nip over to Melbourne to catch up with you. I'm on Skype (leehopkins-adelaide) so send me a text with your hotel details, dates. etc.

Don't bother emailing as I'm shutting down my email -- see http://snipurl.com/1nxda

Allan Jenkins · 2 years ago

Lee, was sorry to hear you were leaving, and I hope Julie can get it fixed up.

I have been a member-at-large --- no local chapter etc -- for years... but that hasn't mattered. Literally, the amount of professional knowledge I've gained from IABCs network and conferences (of which I have attended just a few in the last few years) has always outweighed the dues.

Were I joining today, I might weigh IABC more carefully... to a large extent, the IABC network is available online, bypassing IABC entirely. And yet... it's a fine organzation that pays back far more than the dues you put in.

Allan