3. Minutes 22/02/10

Fellowship Council Charter Working Group

22 February 2010

Membership: Gerry Acher, Kevin Cahill, Andrew Chidgey, Jackie Elliman, Ann Packard, Bob Porrer, Stephen Elliott-Hunter, Ned Thistlethwaite (staff) Laura Billings (Staff Lead)
Note: Avril Baigent and Rosie Ferguson have resigned from the group

Present
Bob Porrer
Ned Thistlethwaite (RSA Staff)
Laura Billings (RSA Staff)

1.      Welcome and catch up (LB)
Fellowship transformation working group
·       One of several cross departmental working groups at the RSA
·       Working to ensure Fellowship is integrated through the organisation and that we continue to support the current transformation in Fellowship (remit tbc but looking at charter, seed fund, projects integration and others)

Roadshow events (details tbc)
·       Series of bigger events across UK,Europe and USA

·       Opportunity for Fellows to meet and experience RSA and new developments (Council, charter, projects etc), and for staff to meet and learn more about Fellows
·       Space for charter development / consultation / presentation as required

Branding
·       Starting to use new strapline and messages (see new logo on main website www.theRSA.org)  
·       Will need to remain consistent with this

2.      Admin
Appointing a Council convenor
·       Particularly important to fill this role
·       ACTION LB and Ned to discuss with Tessy Britton, Chair of Fellowship Council and sound out with members of group to see who interested and best time for meetings
·       Hard to get group together. Agreed important to have a face to face to get the ball rolling
·       Suggested meeting before main Council meeting on 23 March 2010
·       ACTION LB check agenda with Tessy, and send round meeting request to group

3.      Group Objectives
1.      Clarify purpose of ‘Charter’ and engage wider Fellowship in its development and the current transformation of Fellowship
2.      Produce amended ‘Charter’ (vision and values statement) and ‘how to’ guide (support structures, opportunities, parameters)

·       Conversations so far on Ning and by email useful to confirm we need a values statement and an accompanying ‘how to’ guide
·       ACTION LB to confirm this in email update to group

4.      Methods
·       Iterative consultation process - groups of Fellows providing feedback and ideas in response to last group to avoid repetition
·       Kickstart the process with 3 meetings in March - London, East
England and Scotland suggested
– perhaps capitalising on a regional/network meetings already planned
·       Take a step back from current version and elicit responses around values,
opportunities and responsibilities already collated, plus feedback on missing
ideas
·       Record and package results, frame the next set of questions and share internationally and regionally for the next round of development
·       Can use roadshow events, monthly networks events, newsletter, Journal, other Council members and regional networks to take this forward
·       Important to define the type of feedback we want to receive to avoid circular discussion – focus on bigger principles: what being FRSA is about and how to achieve it, not detailed wording or visual presentation
·       Won’t be writing a new version like this, that’s the job of the working group once the ideas are collected
·       ACTION LB to update group by email

·       ACTION LB and Ned to talk to Networks team and contact group members to explain plan and see if they are willing to get involved in their area
·       ACTION LB and Ned to produce new summary of information a step back from current version  and a draft of questions to be asked (including name for the statement – is it a Charter or Contract or what?)
·       ACTION Those leading or attending first 3 events in March to work together to frame questions / feedback and agree method of capturing and sharing the results