BARELY three weeks after it was set up, a group formed to promote bloggers in Singapore has been left reeling after seven of its 10 founding committee members quit.
It is understood that another founding member also plans to step down.
In posts on their personal blogs, many of those who quit - including two vice-presidents and the treasurer - cited family or work commitments as reasons for stepping down.
But The Straits Times understands that another key reason is the storm of protests unleashed by the blogosphere after the group made known its plans to charge membership fees, vet potential members and impose a code of conduct.
The idea to form the group, known as the Association of Bloggers (Singapore), first came up last year, and invitations to join were sent out to various people.
On its temporary website, the founders said the group would set out to 'promote, protect and educate' its members. It did not specify what members would be protected from, but said it would organise training workshops and events and reach out to sponsors, among other things.
Registration details were submitted last December, and the Registry of Societies gave the association the go-ahead on Jan 16.
The group then put its website online, and revealed its conditions for entry.
Among them: A $50 entrance fee and $60 annual charge for members.
It added that prospective members would have to pass an 'approval process' and abide by a code of conduct. Among its rules: Singapore law 'must be respected' while 'porn and controversial sites are a definite no-no'.
The flak from the blogging community flew thick and fast.
The cost was one sticking point, especially since blogging is generally a free activity.
Others lambasted the need for an approval process, calling it 'clique-like' behaviour.
When contacted by The Straits Times, the members who quit either declined to comment or did not respond.
Yesterday, the two remaining committee members insisted the group would stay the course.
Its secretary, business analyst Wilfrid Wong, 36, who writes at WilfridWong. com, said that though the association had been criticised, it had also received many enquiries from prospective members.
Mr Wong said both he and the association's president, businesswoman Jayne Goh, who writes at EastCoastLife.
blogspot.com, were 'determined' to keep it going.
'There have been setbacks and obstacles and our top priority now is to re-group and build a stronger team to deliver, continue our effort in bringing in projects for the association, firmly establish the internal process within the association, and more,' he said.
Nothing in the association's charter will change, he said, but it would better execute its plans.
Mr Wong said that he and Ms Goh were 'bringing in new talent and manpower to take the committee and association forward'.
He said a new treasurer had been found, and that he was confident of finding office holders to replace those who are stepping down.
The office-holders who quit, meanwhile, are remaining with the group as ordinary members.
