News
Landscape Institute sticks with its name
31st October 2006
Members at the Annual General Meeting of the Landscape Institute on 30 October voted overwhelmingly to keep the organisation’s name.
Two AGM motions from members had sparked a debate on the Institute’s website discussion forum on whether words such as ‘Royal’, ‘British’ and ‘Architecture’ should be in the Institute’s title.
The Landscape Institute was awarded a Royal Charter in 1997 carrying with it an obligation to serve the public as well as members. In 1978 it had changed its name from the Institute of Landscape Architects to the Landscape Institute when membership was broadened to encompass landscape managers and scientists as well as designers.
A motion to consult widely with the membership to consider a change of name was defeated by 23 votes to 4 with 8 abstentions.
A second motion to amend the Royal Charter to change the Institute’s name to the Royal Institute of British Landscape Architects was ruled out of order.
Director General Marion Bowman said: "From the discussion and vote at the AGM and other evidence, such as our recent consultation with the membership on the Institute’s new development plan 2007–12 and a major research project we commissioned this autumn, it is clear that the majority of members are content with the Landscape Institute as the organisation’s name.
"Most members acknowledge that the Institute has made great strides in recent years in raising its profile and that of the profession. Our membership is growing in numbers and becoming more diverse, the number of practices registering with us is also increasing, we are regular collaborators at all levels with the other built environment professions, and we consult frequently with government and public bodies.
"We are naturally proud of the Royal Charter and take very seriously our obligation to work in the public interest. It’s interesting that we held our AGM on the day the Stern report on the economics of climate change was published. As the environment and design profession the time is ripe for landscape architects of all hues to make an important contribution to meeting contemporary challenges. With this issue of the Institute’s name settled now we can redouble our efforts to ensure that people everywhere understand the importance of landscape in shaping our environment."
Source:LI
