Thanks again for all your good work

One important reason for allowing each region/nation a reasonable amount of autonomy (while recognising the need to conform to the charitable aims of the RSA) is that the political, social and economic environments can be very different. Devolved government for Scotland has created opportunities and we have responded to the desire of Fellows for the RSA and its Fellows to have an impact on Scottish Society. The new strategy, developed by the Scottish Committee after extensive consultation with Fellows, focuses on how we can have an impact within the devolved Scotland from national to local level, increasing the involvement of Fellows across Scotland, developing new partnerships and enhancing the RSA’s profile in Scotland.

We see the role of the RSA’s Scottish Committee as stimulating and facilitating change-focussed activity, which means in practice that:
• The Scottish Committee is focussing on two main project areas (Design and Sustainability and Learning and Skills) but also encouraging the activity of freestanding groups of Fellows
• A Venture Fund has been established to provide seed-corn financial support for Fellows’ projects
• We are developing partnerships with organisations relevant to social change and areas linked to our projects and activities
• We monitor public consultations in Scotland and facilitate input from RSA Scotland and individual Fellows
• We aim to offer a high quality events programme demonstrating challenge and thought leadership, linked (though not exclusively) to key themes and activities
• We are working to enhance the profile of the RSA in Scotland, working with national bodies such as the Scottish Parliament and its Futures Forum as well as more local organisations
• We continue to liaise with John Adam Street over UK-wide projects to ensure that the Scottish dimension is fully considered

The appointment of a member of RSA staff to work in Scotland as Outreach Co-ordinator and facilitate networking and developmental activity has been a major step forward and the developing networks platform clearly has the potential to engage a higher proportion of Fellows. We have redesigned our Newsletter (see http://www.thersa.org/fellowship/regions-and-worldwide/scotland/current-newsletter) and improved communications with Fellows.

In the Scottish context, because we need to be active both nationally and locally, we have not felt the need (so far) to slim down the Scottish Committee; indeed, demand has meant that all available places have been taken on it. However, we have changed the way the Committee works, with a focus on strategy rather than operational matters. I am sure that there will be further changes as things develop.

Inevitably, with the RSA headquarters being in London, those outside the London area cast envious eyes at the programme of lectures held at John Adam Street. Videocasting and podcasting is a good way to extend the reach of these stimulating lectures but I do think that it would be good to present some of the lectures outside London in order to reinforce the RSA’s reputation there – with, of course, videocasting/podcasting so that those in London and elsewhere can benefit from them!

The proposed change of the Advisory Council into a Fellowship Council with clearer objectives and function and including regional/national representation looks good and the development of the Fellows’ Charter summarising rights, responsibilities and opportunities also fits well with the changes in the RSA. It takes time to change large and venerable organisations like the RSA, but the foundations laid over the past couple of years give us a sound basis for creating an organisation and Fellowship able to make a real contribution to society, in the spirit of the original Shipley mission.

In current conditions however, an emphasis on strengthening the Fellowship network may be important, especially in the context of social progress. Increased attention to ‘mutual advocacy’ (rather than engagement) could potentially serve to further energise the RSA network beyond the Fellowship itself, at a time when social action may be compromised (due to the need to focus on keeping afloat).

The value I see emerging from the networks project are in areas of ‘shared contribution’, in addition to what Daniel describes as ‘community ownership’. There seems great opportunity for creating further ways of Fellows supporting RSA projects (education campaign, social brain, arts and ecology etc), but also for the RSA to seek ways to actively support some of the many exciting initiatives that already exist within the Fellowship. It seems that in this ‘mutual space’, that the benefits of membership, currently so debated, will find value for both the organisation and the membership.

Clay Shirky talks of members having no need of the organisation as they increasingly are able to connect without the ‘convenor’. What I haven’t seen discussed very much is how the strength of an organisation and it’s member is increased through mutual advocacy and shared aims. I am not sure that this collective strength can simply be replaced with an informal network.

Without debate between Fellows and the centre it would be hard to see how shared aims might evolve. Whatever self-governing is put in place, as you describe, in practice this needs to be genuinely influential in forming shared aims, not just a body to manage Fellows.

Visible signs of changes within the RSA indicate in many ways that the institution now offers increased enthusiasm and flexibility – as well as an openness to new thinking in the way that it manages itself. This ability to self-reflect, in an organisational sense, is often absent, and it is great to it happening at the RSA.