ICARE: Change of Name?

["Harvey, John T." <j.harvey@xxxxxxxx>]

Dear ICARE Colleagues,

As I mentioned in my e-mail last month, one of the issues raised at the
January board meeting was a change in the name of our organization.  I
wrote there,

 "The argument was made that the word "reform" in "International
Confederation of Associations for the Reform of Economics" does not
properly characterize the nature or purpose of our organization.  It
suggests that we are not economics; that economics is something external
to us and that our goal is to fix it.  This not only dismisses ICARE's
importance as a separate organization, but obscures the fact that our
primary goal is to provide resources to those economists who are united
in the belief that methodological pluralism and intellectual progress
are complements, not to convert non-believers!  It was therefore
suggested that we rename ourselves the "International Confederation of
Associations for Pluralism in Economics."  The board felt that not only
did such a title constitute a more accurate description, but that it was
more constructive and positive than the original.  It represents a new
era for ICARE (ICAPE?)  in which we are setting our own agenda, rather
than reacting to someone else's."

The support for this move on the board was unanimous.  However, board
members were reluctant to make a change to such a visible part of our
entity without consulting their memberships first.  We therefore
deferred the official vote until later.

For a number of administrative reasons, I would like to see this
decision made (or not made) by the end of April.  I am therefore
reminding everyone that such a change is on the table, and that if you
have any opinions to please express them now to either me or your
association's ICARE representative (I am already in receipt of a number
of comments).  I am also writing to remind the representatives to
solicit their memberships.  Hopefully, we can take care of this before
the summer begins.

Thanks very much.   I apologize for the volume of e-mails today?I am
trying to catch up!

Sincerely,

John

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