George,
I fully understood what Henry meant, that was why i put the "smileys."
Thank you for the compliment where you stated that, "Philip and Kyle, 2 posters whose personal integrity I value quite highly, seem to say that it all comes down to the individuals ethics anyway, so it seems that conflict of interest doesn't even exist for them..."
To the contrary though, conflict of interest does exist in my universe. I, though, can't find one case where a "conflict-of-interest" situation that did not involve someone whose position didn't have a "conflict-of-interest" clause in either their contract, job description or work requirements.
Yet everyone ignored them. That is why I said that for me a code of ethics doesn't matter, because all of those in that sitaution above made choices to ignore them.
A red traffic light only works because someone stops when they see it.
Obviously, every organization should have a conflict-of-interest clause in their by-laws, the same as they should have a morals clause.
The purpose of these clauses is not to educate but rather to serve as a protection for the organization, and that is also as it should be.
The problem areas are always in, as you so very well put it, areas of "perceived conflict." Very well-meaning people put themselves in these all the time, usually as a result of simply not thinking things through.
I believe that in cases such as these, too many are in a rush to condemn rather than of a mind to understand, and it is usually these who need changing rather than castigating the perceived wrongdoer.
Especially because golf is a game of honor, and those who break this code of honor are most vilified, the game has had very, very few scandals of that sort.
I believe Ian did the right thing. His personal honor saw a potential conflict-of-interest situation that might hurt the society he chooses to support and help. How can one fault that?
I also believe that for it to be a rule where architects should not be allowed to lead an architectural association is a mistake. For me it flies in the face of the honor of the game.