The advent of COVID-19 has proved challenging for The Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) not least because, without travel, there is very little demand for the skills of travel writers. A letter sent to all members of the ASTW yesterday describes an organisation “in crisis”, but makes it clear that the crisis is not entirely the fault of COVID-19, laying blame at the feet of members who seem to be working against, rather than with, the ethos of the society.
A Caretaker Committee has now been established following a year of “Incessant – and unnecessary – internal disruption…” that has “made the job of the Committee running [the] society well-nigh impossible.”
The pulls-no-punches letter was written by the Caretaker Committee comprised of Elisa Elwin (President), Christina Pfeiffer (Treasurer/Secretary), Kylee Kay (PR Member), Philippa Macken (PR Member), Scott Podmore (Full Writer Member), David McGonigal (Full Writer Member), Lee Mylne (Full Writer Member), Lee Atkinson (Full Writer Member), John Borthwick (Full Writer Member); and the ASTW Special Advisory Committee Members Kerry Heaney (Full Writer Member), Pamela Wright (Full Writer Member), Mike Smith (PR Member), Peter Hook (PR Member).
“The actions of a few are threatening the Society’s future viability, and, quite simply, this white-anting needs to end or the Society will dissolve.
““Respect” is a key word here. These are difficult times and rather than sniping at one’s colleagues, ASTW members should be supporting each other by ensuring that the Society is well-placed to represent the best interests of members.
“As Society members, or Committee members, we might not agree with every decision the Committee makes, but it is a democratic process and the convention of a majority decision must be respected if anything is to be achieved. The Caretaker Committee will strive to operate under this basic principle, and having taken a vote then will move on. By extension, we request the same respect for those decisions from the Society’s wider membership.”
Making it clear there is no room in the ASTW for bitchy and divisive dissension, the letter continues: “Those members of the Society who do not wish to be constructive contributors should consider their future participation in the ASTW.”
The ASTW Committee will be placed in Caretaker mode until the next AGM, with the current-serving Committee members complemented by four new, temporary appointees, representing some of the Society’s most experienced, long-term members who have agreed to come back on Committee in the short-term to help the overworked President and existing committee right the ship.
They will be backed by a Special Advisory Committee who will invest their decades of experience in the industry and with the ASTW.
