This year has been especially difficult for the ACS president. The society has been branded "sluggish" in tackling crucial issues such as offshore outsourcing and disappearing domestic job opportunities.
His replacement, Edward Mandla -- who has served for the past two years as NSW branch chair and has been an ACS member for 18 years -- will have an equally tough time when he takes office on January 1, 2004.
In a statement yesterday, Hogg ended with an encomium about Mandla's "dedication and commitment to his profession" and expressed confidence "the ACS will enjoy continued growth under his presidency." Growth? What growth?
Under Hogg's predecessor John Ridge, ACS membership grew by 16 percent to over 16,000 by the end of 2001. Since then, however, this figure hasn't changed so I'm a little confused about the growth Hogg is referring to.
At the ACS, strategic decisions are made by volunteers. There are many like Hogg who sacrifice their time for the benefit of the society and their efforts are truly appreciated. But for a professional body, offering your services alone, unfortunately, isn't enough -- members pay for more action and less talk.
Hogg has previously stated that the organisation's priorities and areas of focus are set by members so I was left dumbfounded reading Mandla's main action items.
In the same statement, Mandla vowed to "raise the profile of the Society and enhance its effectiveness in the public arena."
"I am committed to growing the ACS by making it a household name. There is no shortage of IT issues out there like Telstra, women in IT, camera phones, IT literacy for school leavers, gambling, pornography, digital television and video security monitoring. It's my job to drive the ACS view to the community and politicians with passion, conviction and dedication.
"As the figurehead of what needs to be a relevant and influential organisation, I will lead outwardly to ensure the ACS raises the standing of ICT in the community attracting more members and business opportunities," Mandla said.
Do issues like gambling, pornography and digital TV keep ACS members awake at night? And a figurehead is someone who has no real power despite being the leader of an organisation. Has Mandla reduced himself to a puppet before even starting?
The values that the Society preaches are second to none but as it prepares to forge on under new leadership, the ACS has to remember that office bearers who shout slogans from their cubicles while computer professionals lose their livelihoods is totally unacceptable.
If you have any suggestions for the ACS, please write in to itmanager@zdnet.com.au and we will forward them to the Society.
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