Late Membership Cards - Taking Stock

I see that the ongoing discussion about late membership cards has not only been raised at Council, but has also featured in Accountancy Age.

As per an article published yesterday:

"IT'S SOMETIMES SAID that the littlest things that can infuriate ICAEW members about their institute. Well this time, it seems that not receiving their annual membership cards is leaving a gaping hole in their wallets, as such.

The cards were due to hit members' doormats at the start of the year, but the ICAEW rejected the initial proofs "due to quality issues, which took time to be resolved and therefore were sent out later".

Arch institute agitator Ken Frost, among others, have voiced their displeasure at proceedings on the ICAEW LinkedIn group. In turn, the discussion has morphed into one giving the ICAEW a bit of a kicking around their ‘communication and social media strategy'.

In fairness, council member Malcolm Bacchus has used the discussion thread to try and answer some the questions raised.

Still, interesting for TS to see a moan about little white pieces of plastic transform into another institute rant."

At face value TS may have a point about the "littlest of things". However, "trivial" issues such as late membership cards, that do not bear the phrase "chartered accountant", sometimes highlight deeper problems/issues.

The fact that so many people have made an effort to post their views indicates that they too have concerns about how the ICAEW manages itself and uses our subscriptions, and have used the Linkedin thread as means to raise them.

Sometimes the best way to elicit a discussion and response is to poke at something, even its soft underbelly.