I expect there will now be an election which will conclude at the end of January. Inevitably for many – if not the majority of fellows – the importance of the ballot will get lost in Christmas cards. In contrast, I will be doing everything I can to convince people that humble little me, with 30 years experience, can make a valuable contribution to an organisation that boasts Benjamin Franklin as a former fellow. I’ve written a statement in support which will be accompanied with my CV.

I’d like to use social media in three respects:

• talking about my experiences of the RSA and with its fellows – events I’ve attended, projects that I’ve been involved with and fellows who are making a difference
• making transparent the role of a trustee
• relating the role of trustees to the roles of fellows, particularly outside London

I’m assuming that in an election of this sort, there’s no need to set out a campaign approach / principles per se.

However, in each of the three areas I’m sure I’ll learn more by doing it than by thinking about it. And in each there will be tensions: how do I do the first to best complement and support the RSA’s excellent existing channels; how do I make the role of a trustee transparent without breaking confidential conversations or undermining collective decisions? To what extent do fellows want to deal with trustees and how is that bests done within the constraints and formal processes of the RSA?

I’ve written previously about why membership organisations are so compelling. I’ve given a lot of thought to how to use social media to promote campaigns and organisations. Now is the chance to do some of it myself. Hopefully, without sounding pompous.

Related posts:

1. Statement for RSA trustee election

As with any new project, we learnt a considerable amount about what the RSA can do best and I’d like to make the most of this experience  in my work as a trustee.

2. My career history

I founded Trufflenet five years ago and the company now provides business insights from digital media to some of Britain’s largest and most high profile private and public sector organisations. Building the company in the current economic climate has been an extraordinary experience. It has taught me the importance of collaboration and learning from investors, colleagues and clients; the creativity and flexibility needed to fashion an attractive offer and the need for focus and energy to make the most of opportunities. I believe this experience –both the successes and failures that I’ve had along the way – will be of considerable benefit to the RSA as it seeks to become a
more entrepreneurial organisation.

I have experience of leading influential research projects, most recently devising the Media Standards Trust’s recommendations for reform of press self-regulation, many of which have won considerable support in politics and the media post phone-hacking. At IPPR I led the research on the state funding of political parties. The high profile
recommendations, which had a broad constituency of support, have been echoed in subsequent public inquiries.

3. An effective trustee

As vice chair of a primary school governing body in Southwark and a non executive director of a community development organisation in Hackney I have experience of working with a range of different organisations. Within
the necessary constraints, I will use digital media to make my experience of the RSA as a trustee visible to the fellowship, helping ensure that the regular work of the trustees is open and accountable.

Given the power of the regional networks within the RSA, I will also be available for visits around the nations and regions of the UK to attend meetings with fellows to ensure that the RSA provides a rewarding experience to its fellows.

If you’d like to talk to me further, please get in touch. Just get in touch with me.

Related posts:

1. RSA trustee blogging

the Daily Telegraph features the winners and shortlisted photographs in a Lanscape Photograph of the Year competition.

They are all great photos – far better than I take – and a number of things lept out:

1.    they aren’t of the traditional landscapes that you’d expect to see of the UK; no Herefordshire farms, Lakes and valleys of the Lakes, industrial grime of Sheffield, rolling fields of Hampshire. And they are much stronger for it

2.    most of the images seem to be in the north of England which is far more lovely and far more dramatic than so much of the south (Bristol excepted)

3.    too many look so digitally enhanced as to make Katie Price look authentic. And they are much poorer for it

Check them out yourself: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/8085758/Landscape-Photographer-of-the-Year-2010-winning-pictures.html

http://matthewcain.posterous.com/landscape-photography the Daily Telegraph features the winners and shortlisted photographs in a Lanscape Photograph of the Year competition. They are all great photos – far better than I take – and a number of things lept out: 1. they aren’t of the traditional landscapes that you’d expect to see of the UK; no Heref …

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1. The Beatles 1. Album is the best selling in the US this century

2. In the 10 years to 2008, Asia’s energy use grew by 70%

Source: 24 July

http://matthewcain.posterous.com/what-ive-learnt-from-the-economist 1. The Beatles 1. Album is the best selling in the US this century 2. In the 10 years to 2008, Asia’s energy use grew by 70% Source: 24 July …

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1. Lessons from the Economist

1. America’s prison population has risen from 1 in 400 in the 1970s to 1 in 100 now – and 1 in 19 of black men

2. Scientists are studying ants to make computers more efficient (sort of)

3. Offices that have a dog during a brainstorm are found to be more collaborative

4. Georgia is a race to watch for the Palin effect in November

5. The number of coups in Africa has fallen from 20 every 10 years (1980-89) to just over 5 (2000-09)

6. Only 40% of South Africans of working age have a job

http://matthewcain.posterous.com/lessons-from-the-economist 1. America’s prison population has risen from 1 in 400 in the 1970s to 1 in 100 now – and 1 in 19 of black men 2. Scientists are studying ants to make computers more efficient (sort of) 3. Offices that have a dog during a brainstorm are found to be more collaborative 4. Georgia is a race to watch …

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1. What I’ve learnt from the Economist