@mcquegardens @paulhensey Not heard anything. Looks like a crisis situation for SGD @landscapejuice
— Janine Pattison (@janinepattison) September 15, 2012
The Society of Garden Designers starts the new week in crisis after the shock resignation of its chairman Charles Rutherfoord.
Rutherfoord quit last Wednesday after just eight months into the job, informing members via a 'curt' email late at night.
The reason, or reasons, why Rutherfoord has left the job remain unclear but he is quoted as saying he cannot represent 'this council' any longer.
At this point one can only speculate but one issue which appears to be causing consternation is the change of SGD membership titles.
A proposal has been put forward to change Member to Master; therefore a full member will become Master Society Garden Designers (MSGD).
Perhaps it's best explained by council member Sean Butler:
Dear MembersI would like to set out the reason that “Master” was put forward for the change of title from “Member”.
There has been much confusion by the general public as to what level of garden designer they are engaging professional services. When asked what does the name stand for and the reply is member clients have been known to say “well isn’t everyone a member?”
Therefore I suggested at one of our council meetings that we propose a change to the name, but still being able to use the same Acronym “MSGD”. The reason for this was that it would firstly not incur any additional cost for members and that the name had a strong presence about it meaning “Master of garden Designers” carries weight with the title inferring that the person using it must be of a high level within our design industry.
The word “Master” is also not gender biased and is used in other professions such as, “Master of Horticulture”, “Master of Science”, “Master of Arts” and “Master of Wine” to name but a few. The latter being such a high honour within the world of wine that it is held only by a few hundred world wide, it carries great prestige.
If there is anyone that would like to offer a positive alternative then it would be welcomed by council to consider it.
SGD members previously known as Pre-registered would become Associate Society Garden Designers. They cannot however refer to themselves using the acronym ASGD, unlike a member - or Master if the proposal is ratified - who may refer to themselves using MSGD.
Under the existing membership categories, Pre-registered, who are still members and can tell their clients that they are a member of the SGD, cannot refer to themselves as Member Society Garden Designers.
Confusing isn't it?
The SGD took advice from their lawyers to ask whether their proposal to change the name may be decided online via a forum so that all members can debate and vote rather than attend an AGM.
Whilst there is much support for a name change it appears a change to Master may be dead before any vote can take place with many members believing that the word Master is sexist. It's a good job Misogynist doesn't have a 'D in it!
One member says "Why does there need to be any other title ?
In all other professional bodies I believe the title is only conferred when professional status has been awarded."
Another member, opposed to the change said: " I really strongly object as a female to being called a master in this day and age. How archaic! How long have we been fighting against even the term chairMAN"
Here is a sample of other replies:-
Jason said: "I do not agree with the change – personally I think the word Master is rather pompous – Perhaps more time and energy should be devoted to raising awareness with the public than internal politics of who should be called what.
"It is perhaps simple – you are either a Registered Designer or not. What is the point of the adjudication process if the distinction between those that have been through and those that have not are constantly being blurred.
Please re-focus on gaining public awareness rather than wasting time on the perennial “what shall we call ourselves this year!”
Jonathan said: "I think the idea of changing from Member to Master is a good idea. I sometimes get asked what Member actually means.When I explain,they don't always listen and I wonder if they think it just means I pay a annual sub."
Ruth said "It is just 3 years since the present categories of membership and titles were changed. On that occasion in June 2009, the proposed changes were notified to members and an EGM held to discuss further and vote on the matter.
"Why is this issue under discussion again now? If there is a “lack of clarity” Council should have communicated this to all SGD members. Placing proposed changes on the second page of a letter that is sent out when many are away on holiday is not an acceptable way to ask for “feedback” and it does not constitute proper consultation either. It is unconstitutional for Council to ask for a vote to be taken without full discussion and answering the many questions that members have.
"I have no confidence in a Council that deems this to be an acceptable or professional way to act as it clearly not in accordance with the procedure set out in the SGD's Articles."
Ruth continues: "I am not in favour of replacing the title of Registered Member with Master. Master is a title associated with trades and crafts – Master Builder, Master Craftsman – rather than designers and architects.
"If Pre Registered is deemed “confusing”, Associate implies a degree of accreditation process has been successfully passed. This happens in other professional bodies, such as RIBA. Will this be the case if the proposed name change goes ahead?
"Will Pre Registered/Associate members be required to pass an initial selection process – that is, make Adjudication a two–step process – to ensure that professional standards are retained? If a logo is to be made available for Associate members to use, then this has to be the case, if the Society wishes to remain a credible, professional body."
Comment
Anyone who has followed me on Landscape Juice will know how opposed to closed associations I am.
I am not opposed to high standards or even a vetting procedure: we must all strive to reach the very best of our capabilities.
What I am opposed to is when small groups attempt to adopt the use of subliminal messaging - whether that be by means of a website, printed literature or email, for example - to imply or infer that a non-member is not good enough.
I can see that the SGD is trying to undo a wrong from three years ago when a confusing name change led to the title for non-full members to Pre-registered.
In my view is (and this has been said in previous comments by SGD members) if the true spirit of the SGD ethos is applied then you are either a member (by which I mean jumped through all of the hoops and attained the qualifying standard required) or you are not.
The problem for the SGD is that with only 166 full members there would not be sufficient income - SGD turns over about £470,000 - to pay the circa £45,000 per month running costs with the inclusion of the pre-registered members.
The reason there are so few full members of the SGD is because there public profile is so low. The RIBA is known by countless members of the public, the only persons who have ever heard of the SGD are within the profession. Why would you bother to go through the time consuming entrance criteria if you are not reaching your target audience by being a member?
Annie Chapman
Posted by: annie Chapman | Sep 24, 2012 at 02:12 PM