Australian Computer Society Members Fight Corporate "Hijack"

jb writes:

A group of senior members of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) have launched a campaign to oppose what they describe as a corporate "hijack" of their society.

Best coverage so far is in Innovation Aus:

Proposed changes to the governance structure at the Australian Computer Society are headed for a rough ride as senior members launch a campaign against the corporatisation [of] a professional society, in favour of its executive and at the expense of its members.

A group being headed by Australian National University visiting professor Roger Clarke - a long-time privacy advocate in Australia and an ACS member since 1974 - says the proposed changes strip away the rights of the members in favour of the society's executive.

Mr Clarke also complains that recent take-over of the Association for Data-Driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) - among a series of acquisitions of other industry groups - was incompatible with the values and goals of the society.

Also covered in ITWire:

He claimed that the ACS would aim to pass a new constitution at a general body meeting on 25 October in Sydney which, if adopted, would:

• centralise all power in the board;
• extinguish all meaningful member involvement;
• replace member-driven branches with subservient divisions; and
• enable continuity of power by a clique.

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