This EBME site has an awful lot going for it not only for the likes of us in England where much of the "action' is centered, but also, of course, in the rest of the world, where English is spoken. We have already had contact from as far a field as Chile this year.
This is about challenging our public image presentation, which I feel (as a good thing) should be quietly re-evaluated , as is being done, every now and then. Even though I love the informality that the WWW and Site brings, I feel too that we can and should develop into a (modestly?) professionally presented technical "body' to be reckoned with (should the occasion occur). Not only can we give good value-for-money in technical help, as is regularly seen, but we could also contribute in technical matters that may be of world-wide significance in our own "Maintenance' field, leading to effective technical (or structural as in management) changes, small or large.
As an example, recently John, who is obviously a devoted Ambassador for the site, has posted quite a few challenging topics, most recently a Maintenance Management issue and prior to this his questioning the way we might deal with the commissioning of equipment that is not constructed to facilitate our normal code of practice and procedures. If we took this a step further and presented (or better still were noted for) our discussions and findings to say an international professional body responsible for making major changes in our field, and should they come to evaluate the original material by visiting our site, then in my opinion (and whilst still all for maintaining author-anonymity if desired) finding "colourful and moving' (Icons and) pseudonyms as we have, could perhaps be misconstrued, if by no others than, by our more "advanced' in age (such as myself) visitors. This might work to our disadvantage i.e EBME not taken seriously enough by "influential' people when we might need them most.
I am not normally one for "keeping up appearances', and firmly believe that what really counts is what is done not necessarily what is said and how it looks. But if we are to continue to be running such excellent things as technical day-symposiums for training etc.etc. as extras to the benefits already presented on the site, we should pay attention to our professional presentation in all areas. Whereas I enjoy informality and have enjoyed seeing the originality and variety, my vote has to be to tone-down in this area of individuality and would suggest that additionally in the Icon arena perhaps only personal portraits are presented by those wishing so to do.
I, for one, would wish very much to see this be the very best, by far, "professionally' presented and run Medical Engineering world-wide web-site.
