|
SIETAR Türk designs a new membership
formula
SIETAR Türk Working
Group
In Turkey, as well as in many developing counties, aspiring
interculturalists are often strapped for the finances they need to
educate themselves in the intercultural profession as well as
enable them to participate in events and afford membership in
professional groups. SIETAR-Türk has been working on a new set
of principles for developing its own SIETAR chapter. Their formula
might serve as a useful model for other developıng countrıes in
startıng new SIETAR groups.
Our vision and plan
Our region is in need of intercultural work. Our young human
resources can become part of solution for the region and
conversely for Europe if we can provide sustainable, no strings-
attached income for training programmes that develop our
members' cultural competence. To date we have begun a quiet
but very effective PR, dissemination of information about SIETAR
and have been very successful. We envision that this will continue
and encourage many companies to approach SIETAR members and
intercultural consultants for their training programmes.
The question our plan seeks to answer is,
"How can SIETAR-Türk, operating in a less developed economy,
generate funds to promote SIETAR Interculturalısts and their
work, invite SIETAR consultants, and provide translated learning
materials and ongoing traınıng for young ınterculturalısts, thus
resulting in an active and effective professional intercultural
association?"
Our answer is to structure SIETAR Türk on a project development
basis. We propose that:
-
A SIETAR Türk member will have reciprocal membership and
participation privileges with all affiliated SIETAR groups around
the world. But, in order to do so, he or she is required to have
up-to-date membership (at a minimal fee) and must actively
participate in a SIETAR Türk
intercultural project.
- Each SIETAR Türk member must be involved
in minimum 3
projects of Sietar-Turk in one-year period.
- Members of other SIETARs will be
asked to have partners and
or interns from Turkey in their organization or projects in order
to work in SIETAR Türk projects in Turkic Republics.
- Sietar-Turk will receive a certain
percentage out of a project’s
income and will transfer a certain percentage of that amount
to SIETAR Europa upon the completion of each project.
- While each SIETAR Türk member will
contribute to (create,
bring in and/or participate in) projects, SIETAR Türk itself as
an NGO will interact with other NGOs and organizations,
complementing and teaming with them to insure learning,
improvement within itself and knowledge sharing.
How might this work?
SIETAR Türk will undertake to market hands-on intercultural
services, providing and sharing information, education, and
knowledge. This may be in the form or sales of training and
consulting services to public or private sectors or acquiring grants
for projects from UN, EC or private donors. Members of other
SIETARs bringing work or invited to participate in a project in or
about Turkey would contact SIETAR Türk. SIETAR Türk will find a
partner or an intern to work with that person or firm and draw up
a working agreement. At the completion of the project, SIETAR
Türk will receive a certain agreed upon percentage as the deal-
maker/connector.
The partner(s) or intern(s) will provide their time and effort while
increasing their knowledge and competence.
SIETAR Türk thus becomes an objective and independent source
providing ongoing information about the benefits of intercultural
knowledge and work and advocating its use.
Without the win-win outcome of such a solution, volunteers will
eventually burn out, lose interest and drop from the organization.
Our plan motivates young interculturalists with the opportunities
for acquiring new skills and job opportunities. With this plan in
place, they will be motivated to invest their time, energies and
acquire very up-to-date knowledge and skills resulting in a SIETAR
Türk that is dynamic and inclusive. We are looking for the
understanding and support of other SIETARs and SIETARians for
this innovation.
|
