I just received a polite reminder to renew my dues with ASTD. Apparently they *really* are not listening... This was my response:
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Thank you for the reminder, but I will not be renewing with ASTD (national or local).
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I have found ASTD to become irrelevant in the past few years -- your focus seems to be on large to very large corporations. Take a look at who is advertising in your publications -- who is the target audience? Not a medium to small shop for sure.
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Also, ASTD started selling certifications. A good revenue stream to be sure! I was actually part of the pilot program for the certification. I provided significant feedback with next to no response at all. I say "next to no" because fellow pilot participants did communicate via the online discussion forum, but nobody from ASTD. I passed the exam with flying colors and failed the work product. In one area. Project Management. Oddly enough, I'm a certified project manager with the Project Management Institute and even one of the Project Management Institute's instructors. I teach and *do* project management -- formally -- for a living -- for the past 20 years. When I questioned my failing the project management portion of the work product, I received no response. Nothing. I also questioned the criteria used and *how* I failed so that if I chose to re-submit I would know what to fix. No response.
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Good luck on selling more certifications with secret criteria for passing.
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For an organization that talks so much about open communication and feedback, it looks like the dollar signs of selling certification have blinded them.
