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January 2008, Vol. 1, Edition 1
Executive Director Memo
Mayan Paradise - Cancun
Financial Update
Agency Profile - Fikir Merkezi
Agency News - Asia/Pacific
Agency News - Europe/Middle East
Agency News - Latin America
Agency News - North America
Agency Whitepaper - Do Numbers Trump Intuition?
2008 World Meeting Registration
ICOM Website
Have you heard the ICOM song?
Here's a problem I think we can solve

Recently I received the following email from our new Board Director, Cindy Chang, in Taiwan.

Dear Gary,
I'd like to point out an issue with information requests among ICOM members. Our partner agency in

Gary Photo
Singapore, AGI, has recently asked Taiwan to help on a certain project, however, they sent an email directly to us and it was blocked by SpamX. It was a rush request. We only had 2 days to prepare the information, but unfortunately, since the email was blocked, two days had passed and I didn't even get the email.  So, I suggest that you inform all ICOM agencies that in order to play it safe, they can send two emails out, one directly to the agency they are seeking help from; the other one to you, so that you can send it again for them because we all receive emails regularly from you so emails from you won't be blocked.
What do you think?
Cindy, Taiwan

The problem of blocked emails is certainly not unique to Cindy’s agency in our network.  Who knows how many messages are caught by spam filters?  Members ask other members for help and get no response. They get mad and frustrated and think the network doesn't work.  Not so.  Most members are responsive if they receive a request.  If you copy me on member-to-member requests (not MAR’s) I will be happy to send them on as a back up to insure delivery.
 
But there's another related problem that I think can also be easily fixed relating to communications between members.  If you have only one name and email address on your Member Directory listing that is not enough.  If that person is on holiday, on a shoot or out sick messages do not get through.  You may miss the opportunity to get help or give help.  There needs to be two contact names at each member agency to insure proper delivery and response.

To add a second name to your ICOM Member Directory listing, just send the name and email address to DeAnna Marcotte at deanna@icomagencies.com 

There, that fixes two problems.

Gary Burandt
ICOM Executive Director
burandt@icomagencies.com