Social Network for RSA Fellows
Time to Get to Work!
Wednesday was special because it was the first meeting of the new RSA Fellowship Council. The new council has been created with the intention of adding a new dynamic to the Fellowship, separate from (although working with) the governance duties of the Trustees or the network of Regional Committees.
The full draft terms of reference can be read here, but some of the key points, for me at least, are:
• identify, encourage and support best practice Fellow network development, projects and activities.
• engage Fellows in the development of, and ensure Fellow understanding and endorsement of, RSA
programmes, projects and activities.
• underpin and give additional credibility to the work of the Fellowship.
After a talk by Matthew Taylor, and a discussion that followed, it seems that there are very clear enthusiasms and commitment for progression from both the RSA itself and from the members of the council. Lets get more support for the RSA and Fellows, lets try and encourage more activity, more conversations, more Fellows, more events, more connections, more Fellow led projects. More of everything!!
Jemina Gibbons live blogged the meeting and it is available here.
However, for anyone who has ever spent time on a committee, these types of big thinking ideals are hard to translate into practical activity. The council is currently made up of 40 people, 20 elected and 20 trustee appointed. We are due to meet twice a year. Every single member is enthusiastic, creative and excited!
The agenda has been created, very loosely. How do we:
- Organise ourselves quickly and strategically enough in order to make a difference in the short and long term?
- Get to know the Fellows better?
- Understand what Fellows want from the Fellowship Council?
- Shake off the formality and start some light, productive conversations?
- How do we effectively serve the interests of Fellows and the wider strategic aims of the RSA?
- What sort of support can the Fellows offer the RSA project teams? How could the council knit this goodwill together?
- How do we do things differently?
- Could the Council have a role in encouraging more diversity in the Fellowship: a younger, more gender and culturally balanced Fellowship?
- What can the Council add that isn't already being done?
- How can the Fellowship use the wonderful RSA networks team, and how can they use the Council, to achieve our collective aims?
- How can we bring as many Fellows into this conversation as possible?
- How we learn from each other?
- Be outward looking, supporting not just the Fellowship, but social initiatives more widely?
The image at the top of this post is of someone wearing an apron (available from Toast) - to symbolise *work*. The beautiful new RSA exhibition, made to coincide with the AGM on Wednesday, reminded us all, the RSA comes from a history of rolling up its sleeves and doing things.
We meet again in December.... What new ideas can we take into that meeting?
Views: 20
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Cahill on -
Hi David
Useful and practical suggestions like yours should be acted on by everyone, especially the Council. Right now however, the Council can do nothing as it was not formally convened, did not elect even the minimum number of officers required by the bye laws (two) and is effectively non operational. This is not a whinge but a call to action to the Council Fellows to get organised and start doing things for the Fellowship, things like David is talking about.
Kevin
David Wilcox said:Just checking in on the discussion ... since I'm mentioned by Kevin ... and recapping as a non-council member.
I've pledged on the Charter page to do some social reporting to help join up conversations, tell stories of good projects, and help people use social media if there is a clear framework within which to do this.
I raised some questions earlier, because I thought that a Q and A sheet could be a good way of clarifying where things are - and what is hoped for. This could provide the framework that I (and I think others) are looking for.
Tessy mentioned OpenRSA as a space for conversations, stories, and I'm sure others involved would be glad to help.
Council has a responsibility to "identify, encourage and support best practice Fellow network development, projects and activities."
Is there anything that non-council members can usefully do, or is it now over to council and staff?
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Permalink Reply by Tessy Britton on -
@ David Wilcox Kevin is absolutely right - the Council is still in development and would be unable to make any helpful collective decisions at the moment.
I can't help wondering if the time between now and our December meeting (when hopefully we will structure ourselves into some sort of effective order) couldn't be used to collect opinion and support for your ideas and suggestions. For example, you could form an informal group for 'social reporting' on this ning and see how many Fellows might be prepared to volunteer for manual/deliberate networking weaving and event/project reporting amongst Fellows? There may be some ideas you would like to put to paper with others, particularly around benefits/roles/working practices that you envision might work well?
If there was some preparation done, then when the Council was in a position to support or perhaps formalise some processes, together with the RSA networks team, then there would be some good information available on which to discuss the suggestions?
Really great that you have offered your time and expertise so generously David, and agree completely with Kevin when he says that the enthusiasm and ideas you put forward 'should be acted on by everyone'!
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