🚀 go-pugleaf

To the Anonymous Sender (and any others who care to read this)

At 10:05 AM 96/04/14 -0300, you wrote:
>--
>A consortium of elites in this society will eventually succeed in imposing
>"professional" membership on those of us who practise in some area of
>computer technology: this particular nonsense is one of the rising tides
>in this country. Nevertheless, I think one is morally obliged to
>question many of the articles of faith of those who would do this to us,
>with or without our consent.

I don't know about any "consortium of elites" who are "doing" anything to
any of us.  What I do know of, is a group of very dedicated I.T.
professionals who are investing a lot of their own time in shaping a future
for our profession!  We are very serious about forming a profession in our
particular field of endeavor BEFORE it is forced upon us by outside sources.
If you think this couldn't happen just take a look at how the Engineering
and Accounting societies were legislated into existence after "their" major
disasters.  I for one would prefer to take a hand in shaping my own future
rather than (for example) becoming a subordinate offshoot to the
Professional Engineers of this country.

By all means question what you refer to as "articles of faith" or better yet
join your local group working towards professionalism and take control of
the direction.

>
>Let me comment concerning just one of these articles of faith here.
>
>The CIPS President speaks of taking individual, personal responsibility
>for one's own continuing education and training. Admittedly this is very
>difficult, or at least I find it to be so.

To quote an old saying "Even if you are on the right track you will get run
over if you just sit there!"  That's why I have always taken an "active"
role in my own education.  When my employers have seen fit to assist me in
that endeavor then it was/is frosting on the cake.

> However, when "professionalism"
>is imposed this aspect of our lives will not be made easier. In fact, in
>order to maintain one's "professional" certification one will be required
>to complete formal courses regularly, and to pay for them. One will not be
>taking individual, personal responsibility. That will actually devolve to
>the so-called professional organisation which will compile a list of
>"acceptable" courses. Each of us will have about as
>much say as to the direction that is taken as we now have when it comes
>to, say, school boards--none.
>
>Thinks about it.
>


Finally I would like to say that nobody is "imposing" professionalism on
anyone.  There will always be professional levels of activity and associated
levels of activity in this industry.  That is no different than the medical,
accounting or any other profession.  But this country (and a lot of others)
needs to be able to state what is professional I.T. activity and what is the
measure of someone who can competently practice it!

Think about that!

Respectfully,
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Ron Baugh, ISP                                  Phone (403) 343 - 3927
Superior Systems Consulting              Fax     (403) 343 - 0135
5824 - 44 Avenue                               E-mail: rbaugh@ccinet.ab.ca
Red Deer, Alberta  Canada   T4N 3J5
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