My burgeoning cynicism about people whose names are festooned with letters (other than those obviously earned) has received a boost, as the Daily Mail would say.
Mrs Nick is applying for a job that caught her eye, but they insist that she must be a "member of appropriate professoinal bodies".
OK. So I suggest two to her which sound impressive (you can try one of these yourself shortly)
I showed her the website of the first one and in 90 seconds filledint he online form.
Congratulations, they boomed, send us £100 and you can become a "FiL" and put that after your name.
I suggested a second.
I think six clicks on "Yes" and "No" type boxes took us to a page where she was told that a "Fellowship" was hers for just £100! Discount for online payment!! Letters after your name!
So how do you measure up (and bear in mind that no check is made on the accuracy of your answers)? On this basis next door's hamster could get letters after its name!!
http://www.i-l-m.com/join-ilm/376.aspxAnd this from an outfit which tells us that "The Institute of Leadership and Management is the UK's premier management organisation. "