I spent a busy day at home preparing for Xmas and reading WCVS papers.
Culture of Fear by Frank Furedi raises two critical questions for the voluntary sector: by what right can we claim to speak for anyone and how can we ensure that our voices add to the common good? Furedi makes clear that the sector as a whole is not doing brilliantly well.
James Gleick’s Faster – the acceleration of just about everything provides a comprehensive description of the many ways in which the world is speeding up. Gleick's conculsion is that boredom is a modern condition that can exist only in the context of a wider mania or glut. Before the 20th century there was no word for "boredom" and Samuel Johnson charmingly referred merely to "the languishment of attention" - although this surely demonstrates that "boredom" did exist but simply lacked a convenient label.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
I finally returned the hire car and collected our fixed Suzuki Wagon-R. The total cost was way more than the car is probably worth. On the way home the engine warning light came on so I now have to take the car back to the garage at 8:00 am Monday morning. In the afternoon, I cleaned out our chicken coop. I appreciate that it's not everyone’s idea of fun but I find it very relaxing.
Friday, 28 November 2008
This morning I was due to have a 7:00 breakfast at Moor Park Manor. This is an historically important country house and was once the seat of Lord Anson who made his fortune capturing the Spanish treasure galleon. Lord Anson searched the Pacific Ocean for his lucrative prize; I couldn't even find his house off the A4145. Just as I was about to give up, I finally saw the postage-stamp sized road-sign. The breakfast meeting was organised by Myers Clark and those gathered enjoyed an extremely entertaining talk on the Budget. But the meeting was heavily geared toward the business sector and there was little of direct interest to charities.
I just made it back to the office for 10:00 to find that both our reserved parking spaces were taken. By the time I had parked, I was late for a training session on stress management taught by my Chair of Trustees Pam Handley (the fact that we could issue the offending vehicles with parking tickets was scant consolation).
After the training event, Pam and I met for my regular supervision meeting and this was as helpful as ever. As a CEO it is essential to work with a Chair of Trustees that you trust and respect – Pam just makes everything so easy. After this, I had a brief meeting with our Youth Connexions advisors, and then headed off to the Town Hall.
Committee Room 2 at the Town Hall was hosting a do to honour Sylvia Harvey who is leaving Watford Borough Council after 32 years of service to the local community - most notably for Watford Women's Centre. There was an excellent turn-out from CVS, the local voluntary sector and from Watford Borough Council including Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. Sylvia Harvey is not leaving Watford and will remain active in the voluntary sector, including as a CVS trustee. Events like this really form the character of Watford.
I just made it back to the office for 10:00 to find that both our reserved parking spaces were taken. By the time I had parked, I was late for a training session on stress management taught by my Chair of Trustees Pam Handley (the fact that we could issue the offending vehicles with parking tickets was scant consolation).
After the training event, Pam and I met for my regular supervision meeting and this was as helpful as ever. As a CEO it is essential to work with a Chair of Trustees that you trust and respect – Pam just makes everything so easy. After this, I had a brief meeting with our Youth Connexions advisors, and then headed off to the Town Hall.
Committee Room 2 at the Town Hall was hosting a do to honour Sylvia Harvey who is leaving Watford Borough Council after 32 years of service to the local community - most notably for Watford Women's Centre. There was an excellent turn-out from CVS, the local voluntary sector and from Watford Borough Council including Mayor Dorothy Thornhill. Sylvia Harvey is not leaving Watford and will remain active in the voluntary sector, including as a CVS trustee. Events like this really form the character of Watford.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
My work now includes regular days at home to catch up on writing and finishing off projects. Today was one such day.
At lunchtime, I met with Godfrey Leak. He is doing some research on possible futures for the Revolving Doors project which seeks to improve the police’s treatment of those with learning difficulties or mental health problems; at present, far too many end up in court and then in prison.
At lunchtime, I met with Godfrey Leak. He is doing some research on possible futures for the Revolving Doors project which seeks to improve the police’s treatment of those with learning difficulties or mental health problems; at present, far too many end up in court and then in prison.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
I started the day meeting with Alison Plant at the Watford Community Housing Trust which is now really starting to establish itself as a key local organisation.
Later, I was called by someone reviewing the ReaLM course that I undertook earlier this year in Cambridge. I referred him to entries in this blog; was that a bit self-important of me?
My workload again comprises a cast field full of various Hares that someone (usually me) has set racing. I must again don my bunny slaughtering attire or I will soon be drowning in a sea of hares. Mixing metaphors is never a good sign.
At present, one of the more attractive hares is the proposed "Good Neighbours" scheme for which we have slowly been identifying issues and exploring options. Today, Vanessa (our Development and Training Officer) introduced me to Sarah Bird (her counterpart in Three Rivers CVS) who explained to me the structure of time banking which seems to offer solutions to most (all?) of the problems we have so far identified. We shall explore further.
Later, I was called by someone reviewing the ReaLM course that I undertook earlier this year in Cambridge. I referred him to entries in this blog; was that a bit self-important of me?
My workload again comprises a cast field full of various Hares that someone (usually me) has set racing. I must again don my bunny slaughtering attire or I will soon be drowning in a sea of hares. Mixing metaphors is never a good sign.
At present, one of the more attractive hares is the proposed "Good Neighbours" scheme for which we have slowly been identifying issues and exploring options. Today, Vanessa (our Development and Training Officer) introduced me to Sarah Bird (her counterpart in Three Rivers CVS) who explained to me the structure of time banking which seems to offer solutions to most (all?) of the problems we have so far identified. We shall explore further.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
I endured a horrible journey to work and after nearly two hours’ driving I arrived to discover that we had five members of staff absent with various ailments and emergencies. Normally, we enjoy an excellent absence record – but clearly not today. I had hoped to get some urgent mails out of the way ahead of my morning meeting. But by the time I had sorted out other people’s calendars, etc I was under-prepared and a little late for WCVS's annual monitoring meeting with Susan Street of HCC.
With this project we are delivering on our targets and everything seems to be going well - but the financial environment is not so good (you may have noticed) and nothing can be taken for granted. The monitoring meeting overran (we started a bit late and we also had to talk about the Herts Compact and so on).
I emerged from the meeting to find one or two minor domestic crises awaiting and suddenly my day was in turmoil and to get things back on track I took the last-minute decision not to attend the Watford Learning Partnership meeting.
With this project we are delivering on our targets and everything seems to be going well - but the financial environment is not so good (you may have noticed) and nothing can be taken for granted. The monitoring meeting overran (we started a bit late and we also had to talk about the Herts Compact and so on).
I emerged from the meeting to find one or two minor domestic crises awaiting and suddenly my day was in turmoil and to get things back on track I took the last-minute decision not to attend the Watford Learning Partnership meeting.
Monday, 24 November 2008
I spent today urgently trying to catch up on e-mails and outstanding tasks, but by the end of the day I still have 100 jobs outstanding: my apologies to anyone waiting for a response from me.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
I spent today at home nursing Jackie: I think I successfully communicate my commitment to the task without actually being very good at anything on the practical side.
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Jackie had her re-scheduled operation today. All went smoothly this time round: Jackie home safely but very groggy.
Friday, 21 November 2008
First thing this morning I met with our WBC Grants Officer Kim Bloomfield to discuss our own performance to exchange news on local groups. Then I had a little flurry of brief meetings with local groups before we had one of our (now regular) WCVS staff meetings.
On my way home, I dropped in for a coffee with Kate Belinis at Hertfordshire CDA. Nothing has been put in writing, but HCC appear to want the Herts BME Partnership to set up a Race Equality Council service for Hertfordshire. The Herts BME Partnership is interested but has recently agreed a strategic plan with a clear focus on capacity building with BME community organisations. Kate (in her capacity as “joint lead” for the BME Partnership) has been the go-between for all communications and lately HCC are now making an offer direct to CDA.
Herts BME Partnership is not a legal entity so any contract would anyway have to be delivered through an organisation such as Herts CDA. But what about capacity building? What about HCC’s commissioning processes and competitive tendering? Where does the money come from? How can anyone run a county-wide equalities scheme on £30k? I wanted to find out what I could and Kate was of course very helpful.
On my way home, I dropped in for a coffee with Kate Belinis at Hertfordshire CDA. Nothing has been put in writing, but HCC appear to want the Herts BME Partnership to set up a Race Equality Council service for Hertfordshire. The Herts BME Partnership is interested but has recently agreed a strategic plan with a clear focus on capacity building with BME community organisations. Kate (in her capacity as “joint lead” for the BME Partnership) has been the go-between for all communications and lately HCC are now making an offer direct to CDA.
Herts BME Partnership is not a legal entity so any contract would anyway have to be delivered through an organisation such as Herts CDA. But what about capacity building? What about HCC’s commissioning processes and competitive tendering? Where does the money come from? How can anyone run a county-wide equalities scheme on £30k? I wanted to find out what I could and Kate was of course very helpful.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
My car has now been in the garage a week and has made zero progress toward being fixed as the new engine (promised for Monday) has still not been delivered. I must stay calm and relaxed.
Nationally, Compact has forced many thousands of voluntary and statutory sector managers to spend many thousand hours together negotiating thousands of Codes of Practice. This process has, arguably, been beneficial in bringing people together: jaw jaw, after all, is better than war war.
But the world has moved on: where relationships are strong they have outgrown the limited scope of Compact; where relationships flounder they require something stronger than Compact to move things forward.
In Watford, I believe relations have moved beyond the ambition of Compact. We are now discussing quite detailed strategies for community development, quality assurance, volunteering, etc. Don't misunderstand me: it’s important to still have Compact, but it needs to underpin relationships not dominate them: if we are discussing Compact, we aren’t discussing more important things.
What we are discussin in Watford is a new approach to Compact. Instead of developing new local Codes of Practice (no-one has the time) we will instead reaffirm our commitment to the "core principles" of the Compact adn to the standards of the national Compact. We will then produce a short annual statement in which statutory and voluntary sector partners will each report on how the Compact has helped shape their work in the past year – and how it will inform their work in the coming year. The Borough Council and the Chief Officers’ Information Network each seem pleased with this approach. The next stage is to identify the core Compact principles! How hard can it be?
In the evening, Jackie and I returned to our folk dancing - such fun.
Nationally, Compact has forced many thousands of voluntary and statutory sector managers to spend many thousand hours together negotiating thousands of Codes of Practice. This process has, arguably, been beneficial in bringing people together: jaw jaw, after all, is better than war war.
But the world has moved on: where relationships are strong they have outgrown the limited scope of Compact; where relationships flounder they require something stronger than Compact to move things forward.
In Watford, I believe relations have moved beyond the ambition of Compact. We are now discussing quite detailed strategies for community development, quality assurance, volunteering, etc. Don't misunderstand me: it’s important to still have Compact, but it needs to underpin relationships not dominate them: if we are discussing Compact, we aren’t discussing more important things.
What we are discussin in Watford is a new approach to Compact. Instead of developing new local Codes of Practice (no-one has the time) we will instead reaffirm our commitment to the "core principles" of the Compact adn to the standards of the national Compact. We will then produce a short annual statement in which statutory and voluntary sector partners will each report on how the Compact has helped shape their work in the past year – and how it will inform their work in the coming year. The Borough Council and the Chief Officers’ Information Network each seem pleased with this approach. The next stage is to identify the core Compact principles! How hard can it be?
In the evening, Jackie and I returned to our folk dancing - such fun.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
This morning I received a glossy certificate telling me that I have passed the ReaLM course that caused me such grief during the early part of this year. I can’t work up any sense of achievement from this.
The Herts CVS group met this morning in Hertsmere. We were joined by HCC Cllr Richard Roberts, who has a keen interest in the voluntary sector, to discuss Hertfordshire’s Sustainable Community Strategy. He did a good job of explaining funding constraints and our discussions focused on the quality of relationships. Inevitably in only an hour, the discussion barely rose above the anecdotal but it was a good start to the dialogue.
Otherwise, the CVS group had very discussions on volunteering, fundraising, the Children’s Trust Partnership, Compact, social inclusion, health inequalities, LAA reward monies, and the Herts CVS Chairs’ network.
Hertsmere CVS is in the process of merging with the Hertsmere Community Partnership. The HCP operate a “Community Shop” in Borehamwood and it was here that we met. Too often, charity mergers are about reducing costs rather than long-term sustainability, but this merger is based on a sound analysis of local options and I hope it works well.
Back at Watford, I held discussions about WCVS’s own foray into community buildings: our engagement with the Holywell Centre. There is so much work to undertake and I am talking to people who I think can help us gather together sufficient information and views in order to take some decisions.
In the evening I perused the BNP members list that has mysteriously appeared on the internet and saw maybe 250 members from across Hertfordshire. The membership comprises a predictable mixture of the uniform-obsessed, delusional new age fantasists, thugs, the lost and the lonely. Some commentators have said you need a heart of stone not to laugh. It is difficult to predict the long-term impact this leak might have on far-right organisations: is it possible that the BNP’s middle-class membership will follow Max Moseley and stand resolute perhaps turning the BNP into a “respectable” party under the mantel of martyrdom? I suspect it is more likely that the middle-class membership will leave in droves – but what then for those left behind?
But there are also important questions for the rest of us: how should we react if we learn that our local teacher / school governor / scout master / priest / Green Party candidate is a member of a racist political organisation?
The Herts CVS group met this morning in Hertsmere. We were joined by HCC Cllr Richard Roberts, who has a keen interest in the voluntary sector, to discuss Hertfordshire’s Sustainable Community Strategy. He did a good job of explaining funding constraints and our discussions focused on the quality of relationships. Inevitably in only an hour, the discussion barely rose above the anecdotal but it was a good start to the dialogue.
Otherwise, the CVS group had very discussions on volunteering, fundraising, the Children’s Trust Partnership, Compact, social inclusion, health inequalities, LAA reward monies, and the Herts CVS Chairs’ network.
Hertsmere CVS is in the process of merging with the Hertsmere Community Partnership. The HCP operate a “Community Shop” in Borehamwood and it was here that we met. Too often, charity mergers are about reducing costs rather than long-term sustainability, but this merger is based on a sound analysis of local options and I hope it works well.
Back at Watford, I held discussions about WCVS’s own foray into community buildings: our engagement with the Holywell Centre. There is so much work to undertake and I am talking to people who I think can help us gather together sufficient information and views in order to take some decisions.
In the evening I perused the BNP members list that has mysteriously appeared on the internet and saw maybe 250 members from across Hertfordshire. The membership comprises a predictable mixture of the uniform-obsessed, delusional new age fantasists, thugs, the lost and the lonely. Some commentators have said you need a heart of stone not to laugh. It is difficult to predict the long-term impact this leak might have on far-right organisations: is it possible that the BNP’s middle-class membership will follow Max Moseley and stand resolute perhaps turning the BNP into a “respectable” party under the mantel of martyrdom? I suspect it is more likely that the middle-class membership will leave in droves – but what then for those left behind?
But there are also important questions for the rest of us: how should we react if we learn that our local teacher / school governor / scout master / priest / Green Party candidate is a member of a racist political organisation?
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
After a horrid journey into work, I hurried off to the Community Housing Trust for a meeting of the Chief Officers' Information Network. This network offers senior charity sector staff an opportunity to contribute to local policy-making. We were joined by Emma Gadsby (who supports the One Watford LSP) and we had a very helpful and positive meeting.
Then I headed straight off to “Apsley 2” (Orwellian in name and design) where I met with the community panel supporting and advising on our BME Advocacy contract. This was another very productive and well-natured meeting. In two days I have now enjoyed four very productive and helpful meetings. What other delights might this week hold?
After previous references to my road accident near St Albans, I have today received an insurance claim from a third person claiming to be suffering from whiplash after the accident - but I was only travelling at about 15 miles an hour and there were only two people in the other car. Sometimes the world is very depressing.
Then I headed straight off to “Apsley 2” (Orwellian in name and design) where I met with the community panel supporting and advising on our BME Advocacy contract. This was another very productive and well-natured meeting. In two days I have now enjoyed four very productive and helpful meetings. What other delights might this week hold?
After previous references to my road accident near St Albans, I have today received an insurance claim from a third person claiming to be suffering from whiplash after the accident - but I was only travelling at about 15 miles an hour and there were only two people in the other car. Sometimes the world is very depressing.
Monday, 17 November 2008
While I should really have been attending the Annual Conference of the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, I was instead hosting a first meeting of the Watford Community Fund panel. What’s this? This is a new group we have set up to oversee allocations from the Grassroots Grants programme, solicit contributions to the Endowment Challenge, and improve the co-ordination of local grant programmes.
The panel comprises two representatives each from the voluntary sector elected at our AGM (the delightful Althea McLean OBE and Rukhsana Butt); two private sector representatives (chosen by the LSP: Jo Undrell from the John Lewis Partnership and Nicola Ferriday from Myers Clark); and two statutory sector (also chosen by the LSP: Peter Wright from the PCT and Dorothy Thornhill, Mayor of Watford - or as I wrote on the agenda: Major of Watford).
It was an excellent meeting: I think this panel will be a great asset for Watford's future.
After the meeting, Mayor Dorothy stayed on to meet with myself and Lesley Palumbo (WBC’s new Head of Community Services) about our Basis programme and future co-operation and collaboration. It was another extremely fruitful discussion.
Watford: centre of the world?
Through the day, I had three calls asking is it true that Barack Obama was coming to Watford. Late in October, a well-known London-based Obama campaigner was supposed to come to Watford to talk to our One World forum. The date agreed clashed with the last televised debate between Obama and McCain and our speaker had to cancel to attend a fundraising dinner in London. She was very gracious and I said I would forgive her if she got President Obama to visit Watford. Naturally, I wrote here about this invitation.
Leap forward one month and ... Barack Obama has been elected, Britain is taking over as Chair of the G20 group and the next G20 meeting is announced to be at ... The Grove in Watford. Some people think that I might have had a hand in this. Naturally I have declined to comment.
The panel comprises two representatives each from the voluntary sector elected at our AGM (the delightful Althea McLean OBE and Rukhsana Butt); two private sector representatives (chosen by the LSP: Jo Undrell from the John Lewis Partnership and Nicola Ferriday from Myers Clark); and two statutory sector (also chosen by the LSP: Peter Wright from the PCT and Dorothy Thornhill, Mayor of Watford - or as I wrote on the agenda: Major of Watford).
It was an excellent meeting: I think this panel will be a great asset for Watford's future.
After the meeting, Mayor Dorothy stayed on to meet with myself and Lesley Palumbo (WBC’s new Head of Community Services) about our Basis programme and future co-operation and collaboration. It was another extremely fruitful discussion.
Watford: centre of the world?
Through the day, I had three calls asking is it true that Barack Obama was coming to Watford. Late in October, a well-known London-based Obama campaigner was supposed to come to Watford to talk to our One World forum. The date agreed clashed with the last televised debate between Obama and McCain and our speaker had to cancel to attend a fundraising dinner in London. She was very gracious and I said I would forgive her if she got President Obama to visit Watford. Naturally, I wrote here about this invitation.
Leap forward one month and ... Barack Obama has been elected, Britain is taking over as Chair of the G20 group and the next G20 meeting is announced to be at ... The Grove in Watford. Some people think that I might have had a hand in this. Naturally I have declined to comment.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Jackie and I enjoyed a quiet day with family.
The G20 communiqué on the recession from the world’s leaders is a predictably nebulous self-serving crock of ...
Recent reading (I know you’re interested)
Tars – the Men who made Britain Rule the Waves tells the story of the eighteenth century seamen who helped establish Britain’s naval supremacy. Tim Clayton offers a brilliantly researched and masterful account of the Seven Years War and particularly the little-known (by me, anyway) 1762 siege of Havana.
Freakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner was rather less impressive. It purports to uncover “the hidden side of everything” but does no such thing. The book relies on statistics rather than economics and offers little insight. The book began as six articles in the New York Times magazine and it shows.
CounterKnowledge by Damian Thompson was an analysis of when and how it again became possible to believe in blatant untruths such as creationism or that the CIA destroyed the twin towers. Thompson blames the internet for the re-emergence of conspiracy theories. But this is only part of the story: somewhere along the line it also became acceptable to tell blatant lies and many people now habitually and consistently lie for financial gain, to jump a queue, to gain preferential treatment, or to escape censure.
The G20 communiqué on the recession from the world’s leaders is a predictably nebulous self-serving crock of ...
Recent reading (I know you’re interested)
Tars – the Men who made Britain Rule the Waves tells the story of the eighteenth century seamen who helped establish Britain’s naval supremacy. Tim Clayton offers a brilliantly researched and masterful account of the Seven Years War and particularly the little-known (by me, anyway) 1762 siege of Havana.
Freakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner was rather less impressive. It purports to uncover “the hidden side of everything” but does no such thing. The book relies on statistics rather than economics and offers little insight. The book began as six articles in the New York Times magazine and it shows.
CounterKnowledge by Damian Thompson was an analysis of when and how it again became possible to believe in blatant untruths such as creationism or that the CIA destroyed the twin towers. Thompson blames the internet for the re-emergence of conspiracy theories. But this is only part of the story: somewhere along the line it also became acceptable to tell blatant lies and many people now habitually and consistently lie for financial gain, to jump a queue, to gain preferential treatment, or to escape censure.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
A week after my first attempt, I drove to Brighton to help my son Bobby move back to London. After the summer, he plans to abandon Blighty for a year or two and live in New York. With the exciting prospect of a change of city and a Barack Obama Presidency, who can blame him?
Friday, 14 November 2008
I spent this morning working at home and at lunchtime journeyed into London for a meeting at the Disability Law Centre. Linda and I agreed to exchange policies: our one on whistleblowing for DLS’s on conflicts of interest.
Back in Hertfordshire, Jackie and I went to the Watford Palace Theatre to see their centenary Milestones production which uses exclusively volunteer performers (including Anne and Vanessa from CVS) to celebrate Watford’s history and diversity. I don’t want to be a craven lovey but the production was absolutely marvellous. Unfortunately, this week’s edition of the Watford Observer brings news that the Palace Theatre faces financial difficulties. But the Theatre seems to be responding positively to the challenge and strengthening its links to the community. Let’s hope the community rallies round.
Back in Hertfordshire, Jackie and I went to the Watford Palace Theatre to see their centenary Milestones production which uses exclusively volunteer performers (including Anne and Vanessa from CVS) to celebrate Watford’s history and diversity. I don’t want to be a craven lovey but the production was absolutely marvellous. Unfortunately, this week’s edition of the Watford Observer brings news that the Palace Theatre faces financial difficulties. But the Theatre seems to be responding positively to the challenge and strengthening its links to the community. Let’s hope the community rallies round.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
At Hatfield’s Fielder Centre this morning, there was a first meeting to establish a statutory-voluntary group to help co-ordinate county-wide activity on National Indicators 4, 6 and 7. But after a week’s absence I had to give priority to returning to Watford and it was good to be back: everything is moving forward but at slightly different speeds and things needed a little tweaking to ensure they don’t start diverging and conflicting.
That old potato
My trustees’ meeting went well. Most helpfully, Phil Willerton of the YMCA was co-opted back onto the Board. We also discussed board development, strategic planning, partnership with other CVSs, fundraising, our engagement with the Holywell Centre, and membership. The notion of membership must cause groans throughout every CVS in the land. It’s not that we don’t like members; we love them. It is just that there are an infinite number of policy options, few of which seem to make much difference to the number of actual members. This time we have tackled the issue by drawing a distinction between “members” (this has a very specific meaning for a limited company) and affiliates. We shall see ...
That old potato
My trustees’ meeting went well. Most helpfully, Phil Willerton of the YMCA was co-opted back onto the Board. We also discussed board development, strategic planning, partnership with other CVSs, fundraising, our engagement with the Holywell Centre, and membership. The notion of membership must cause groans throughout every CVS in the land. It’s not that we don’t like members; we love them. It is just that there are an infinite number of policy options, few of which seem to make much difference to the number of actual members. This time we have tackled the issue by drawing a distinction between “members” (this has a very specific meaning for a limited company) and affiliates. We shall see ...
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
I spent a last day at home collecting a hire car and researching health, public engagement and communications theory.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
My own private hell
With no means of transport, I spent a miserable day at home researching options for buying a car. This was my own private hell: I have no knowledge about cars, no preferences, no interest and no money. In desperation I spoke again to the garage and it appears after all that there may be some way of fixing my current Wagon-R. Thank goodness; now I can stop looking at hateful car adverts.
Instead, I prepared papers for Thursday’s trustees meeting. I have meanwhile heard positive reports from last night’s meeting of the Community Arts Network where there was general support for the idea of a community arts event next summer. But if any event is to take place, this general support quickly needs to resolve itself into a plan of action.
With no means of transport, I spent a miserable day at home researching options for buying a car. This was my own private hell: I have no knowledge about cars, no preferences, no interest and no money. In desperation I spoke again to the garage and it appears after all that there may be some way of fixing my current Wagon-R. Thank goodness; now I can stop looking at hateful car adverts.
Instead, I prepared papers for Thursday’s trustees meeting. I have meanwhile heard positive reports from last night’s meeting of the Community Arts Network where there was general support for the idea of a community arts event next summer. But if any event is to take place, this general support quickly needs to resolve itself into a plan of action.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Instead of driving to Watford, I am stuck at home trying to sort out car problems. After two hours on the telephone to insurers and the AA and garages, the car is delivered into the tender care of mechanics and I get some work done catching up on nearly a week’s e-mails.
At 5:30 pm I received a call from a mechanic who told me that my beautiful Wagon-R is “beyond economic repair”. His brief explanation involved something about an engine block and a drive shaft. There is some small glimmer of hope, but basically it seems as if I will be looking for a new car. Again. Since starting this blog eighteen months ago, I have killed three cars including two in the last month. Is it me?
At 5:30 pm I received a call from a mechanic who told me that my beautiful Wagon-R is “beyond economic repair”. His brief explanation involved something about an engine block and a drive shaft. There is some small glimmer of hope, but basically it seems as if I will be looking for a new car. Again. Since starting this blog eighteen months ago, I have killed three cars including two in the last month. Is it me?
Sunday, 9 November 2008
We are visited by family and friends, who all offer their sympathy for the car that sits uselessly outside our house.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
After an early breakfast, I left Jackie at home and drove to Walthamstow for Angelo’s wedding. It was good to see him without talking about computers.
I excused myself at 12:00 noon as I had to drive to Brighton to pick up Bobby who is moving back to London. Escaping from London is easier said than done and I encountered multiple road works, torrential down pours, flash floods (or very large puddles – where do you draw the line?) and the William Morris Gallery. By 3:30 pm, I was safely on my way down the M23 toward Brighton.
A little while later, the engine cut out. I really don’t have a good history with cars. By 5:00 pm the AA had blamed the problem on a faulty oil pressure switch and offered me a lift home to Hertfordshire. I got home about 7:00 pm having wasted the best part of another day with no benefit. Bobby was very understanding and Jackie tried her best to soothe me but if truth be told I was frustrated and pretty cross.
Then we watched the Festival of Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall. It was so beautiful and moving and soon helped put things back in perspective. Only toward the end did I remember that my Mum was at the festival proudly wearing my Dad’s campaign medals.
I excused myself at 12:00 noon as I had to drive to Brighton to pick up Bobby who is moving back to London. Escaping from London is easier said than done and I encountered multiple road works, torrential down pours, flash floods (or very large puddles – where do you draw the line?) and the William Morris Gallery. By 3:30 pm, I was safely on my way down the M23 toward Brighton.
A little while later, the engine cut out. I really don’t have a good history with cars. By 5:00 pm the AA had blamed the problem on a faulty oil pressure switch and offered me a lift home to Hertfordshire. I got home about 7:00 pm having wasted the best part of another day with no benefit. Bobby was very understanding and Jackie tried her best to soothe me but if truth be told I was frustrated and pretty cross.
Then we watched the Festival of Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall. It was so beautiful and moving and soon helped put things back in perspective. Only toward the end did I remember that my Mum was at the festival proudly wearing my Dad’s campaign medals.
Friday, 7 November 2008
I spent this morning at Hatfield’s Fielder Centre for the Hertfordshire Forward annual conference. This was all very good.
I spent the afternoon at home working on further papers and policy proposals.
I spent the afternoon at home working on further papers and policy proposals.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Jackie was scheduled to have an operation today and as she wasn’t supposed to eat after 7:00 we rose at 6:00 for breakfast. We arrived at the hospital at 9:00 after which time Jackie was not allowed to drink. At 11:00 she was asked to change into one of those stupid gowns. At 1:00 she was asked to don surgical stockings (very fetching). At 6:00 in the evening we were told the operation was cancelled. Jackie took it remarkably well.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
After the excitement of the US election, David Fitzpatrick arrived at this morning’s meeting with celebratory coffee and cakes. Good chap.
There are also some good people at Capacitybuilders and the ChangeUp programme has some laudable aims. But it is hard to think of a recent government policy initiative where implementation has been more comprehensively botched. New CEO Matt Leach will certainly have his work cut out.
Large sums of money were initially made available with little time to think through sustainable strategies. In Hertfordshire, we had overcome these problems and up to six months ago our consortium was broad, inclusive, growing and beginning to make genuine gains: the step change in quality support that ChangeUp envisaged. But then Capacitybuilders arbitrarily (and as far as I know without consultation) reduced core funding for the Consortium. Then they pooh-poohed our carefully planned programme proposals. The Consortium has been reduced to a shadow of its former self – a barebones consortium comprising a core of groups with a strong commitment to joined-up working and the wherewithal to sustain their engagement. Jacquie Hime (of N Herts CVS, the Lead Body for funding) and Ian Richardson (Consortium Chair) are doing an excellent job try to hold the centre. Capacitybuilders agreed to fund just one project in Hertfordshire – and this transformed from our original proposals. Of course we did bid for the revised project and any funding has to be good, but it is hard to escape the feeling that Capacitybuilders somehow foisted the project on us.
This morning I travelled to Letchworth to discuss how this one project can best be delivered. The project is to support twenty front-line organisations to develop ICT strategies plus a few additional outcomes, and for this we receive £50k pa and Capacitybuilders want this to be sustainable through a new social enterprise. Is it sustainable to expect front-line voluntary organisations to spend £2,500 getting advice on their ICT strategies? We will see.
There are also some good people at Capacitybuilders and the ChangeUp programme has some laudable aims. But it is hard to think of a recent government policy initiative where implementation has been more comprehensively botched. New CEO Matt Leach will certainly have his work cut out.
Large sums of money were initially made available with little time to think through sustainable strategies. In Hertfordshire, we had overcome these problems and up to six months ago our consortium was broad, inclusive, growing and beginning to make genuine gains: the step change in quality support that ChangeUp envisaged. But then Capacitybuilders arbitrarily (and as far as I know without consultation) reduced core funding for the Consortium. Then they pooh-poohed our carefully planned programme proposals. The Consortium has been reduced to a shadow of its former self – a barebones consortium comprising a core of groups with a strong commitment to joined-up working and the wherewithal to sustain their engagement. Jacquie Hime (of N Herts CVS, the Lead Body for funding) and Ian Richardson (Consortium Chair) are doing an excellent job try to hold the centre. Capacitybuilders agreed to fund just one project in Hertfordshire – and this transformed from our original proposals. Of course we did bid for the revised project and any funding has to be good, but it is hard to escape the feeling that Capacitybuilders somehow foisted the project on us.
This morning I travelled to Letchworth to discuss how this one project can best be delivered. The project is to support twenty front-line organisations to develop ICT strategies plus a few additional outcomes, and for this we receive £50k pa and Capacitybuilders want this to be sustainable through a new social enterprise. Is it sustainable to expect front-line voluntary organisations to spend £2,500 getting advice on their ICT strategies? We will see.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
I earmarked today to compile and mail papers for next week’s trustee meeting. In the morning I met with my Treasurer and then I had to deal with various domestic WCVS matters and only really began compiling the papers late in the afternoon. I finally e-mailed papers off at about 10:30 pm and arrived home in time to watch coverage of the US Presidential election.
Elections have always fascinated me – not least as they are the one time when We The People can hold our political masters to account. It is true that an election is a blunt and heavy weapon rather than a surgically precise instrument. But tonight it was thoroughly exhilarating to see The Will Of The People asserted in such a plain and positive and powerful way.
What next, I wonder?
Elections have always fascinated me – not least as they are the one time when We The People can hold our political masters to account. It is true that an election is a blunt and heavy weapon rather than a surgically precise instrument. But tonight it was thoroughly exhilarating to see The Will Of The People asserted in such a plain and positive and powerful way.
What next, I wonder?
Monday, 3 November 2008
Today was full of bits and pieces: a flurry of meetings and telephone calls and e-mails and discussions and enquiries.
I received a copy of What Makes a Successful Local Compact which includes lots of references to Hertfordshire. I met with the PCT to discuss a project which we are undertaking for them. I wrote to other Herts CVSs forestalling any slight drift toward co-ordinating certain employment terms and conditions: once we start going down that route I know very well where it will end!
I talked with a local group currently beset by conflict. The voluntary sector is indeed a many splendoured thing. But we are human and so occasionally disputes arise; these are very often easily resolved but people have to be ready to resolve them - and sometimes people aren’t quite ready.
I received a copy of What Makes a Successful Local Compact which includes lots of references to Hertfordshire. I met with the PCT to discuss a project which we are undertaking for them. I wrote to other Herts CVSs forestalling any slight drift toward co-ordinating certain employment terms and conditions: once we start going down that route I know very well where it will end!
I talked with a local group currently beset by conflict. The voluntary sector is indeed a many splendoured thing. But we are human and so occasionally disputes arise; these are very often easily resolved but people have to be ready to resolve them - and sometimes people aren’t quite ready.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Jackie and I spent enjoyed another day devoted to pre-Christmas baking - and tasting our Sloe Gin. On television we watched Night Train to Munich with the very funny Charters and Caldicott.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Jackie and I spent the morning gardening and the afternoon baking together. This was great fun. In the evening, we drove to the Red House (at Longstowe near Wimpole Hall) to hear a friend of ours singing – she still has a lovely and distinctive voice but she needed different backing musicians.
Friday, 31 October 2008
I met this morning with my Chair of Trustees, Pam Handley. CEOs face lots of difficult situations / choices and everyone falters occasionally so it is invaluable to talk things through with someone whose judgment you trust. Today we talked through job evaluations, volunteering, accommodation, membership, funding, networks and governance. Pam listened, considered and advised in perfect proportion – like all good Chairpeople, she is the steady hand on her CEO's occasionally wayward tiller.
In the evening, Jackie and I played Scrabble, enjoyed Have I Got News For You and agreed that Ian Hislop is the Greatest Living Englishman.
In the evening, Jackie and I played Scrabble, enjoyed Have I Got News For You and agreed that Ian Hislop is the Greatest Living Englishman.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
I met with Lyn Telford and Phil Willerton about the forthcoming meeting of the Watford Learning Partnership - we particularly discussed the need to link WLP’s activities more clearly to the LSP.
In the afternoon, I travelled to Apsley to meet with Mohamed Fawzi and Tim Edwards to discuss our Youth Connexions contract. Our previous contract manager left Connexions in the summer since when we have lacked support and direction. This meeting helped nudge us back into the mainstream.
Back at home, Jackie’s delicate ankle meant we had to cancel our evening folk dancing.
In the afternoon, I travelled to Apsley to meet with Mohamed Fawzi and Tim Edwards to discuss our Youth Connexions contract. Our previous contract manager left Connexions in the summer since when we have lacked support and direction. This meeting helped nudge us back into the mainstream.
Back at home, Jackie’s delicate ankle meant we had to cancel our evening folk dancing.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Last night’s weather left our street covered in thick frozen snow. First I saw Jackie in her nightgown and my hat going to scape snow off the chicken coop and feed the chickens before bringing me breakfast in bed. I am horribly spoilt. Then I saw cars slipping and sliding and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to drive to work. But beyond the icy micro-climate of our immediate neighbourhood the roads weren’t so bad.
But nowadays, many people automatically return to bed when they see snow and had today’s county-wide conference not been cancelled, I am sure it would have been a disaster. Perhaps the cancellation was for the best after all. In any event, the cancellation left me with a free day and I spent this with Angelo talking about our current and future IT needs.
World gone mad
On returning home about 8:00 pm, I heard from the passenger of the car I bumped into at about 12 mph last Wednesday. His solicitor claims that his client is suffering from serious stress and whiplash and has accordingly lost substantial earnings. How can people debase and humiliate themselves in this way? I forward everything to my insurance company in the sure knowledge that they will do a deal. One day, people will look back wonder why we let it all happen.
The world faces a huge crisis and trillions of dollars are set aside for banks now become charities while at CABs across the country funding for specialist debt advisors has been cut. Economic orthodoxy is turned on its head and Labour is reluctantly nationalising the commanding heights of the economy. There’s a war in the Middle East, a continuing humanitarian crisis in Africa, and an election in America. Yet politicians and the media focus (solely and gleefully) on the far greater crisis surrounding Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. Is it me?
But nowadays, many people automatically return to bed when they see snow and had today’s county-wide conference not been cancelled, I am sure it would have been a disaster. Perhaps the cancellation was for the best after all. In any event, the cancellation left me with a free day and I spent this with Angelo talking about our current and future IT needs.
World gone mad
On returning home about 8:00 pm, I heard from the passenger of the car I bumped into at about 12 mph last Wednesday. His solicitor claims that his client is suffering from serious stress and whiplash and has accordingly lost substantial earnings. How can people debase and humiliate themselves in this way? I forward everything to my insurance company in the sure knowledge that they will do a deal. One day, people will look back wonder why we let it all happen.
The world faces a huge crisis and trillions of dollars are set aside for banks now become charities while at CABs across the country funding for specialist debt advisors has been cut. Economic orthodoxy is turned on its head and Labour is reluctantly nationalising the commanding heights of the economy. There’s a war in the Middle East, a continuing humanitarian crisis in Africa, and an election in America. Yet politicians and the media focus (solely and gleefully) on the far greater crisis surrounding Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. Is it me?
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
I met this morning with the Carers in Herts users group and CEO Sue Reeves to discuss user involvement in quality assurance, governance, etc. The meeting was very well organised and there was a high level of understanding and engagement. It was a real pleasure to be involved and I hope I helped ease things along.
After an afternoon at WCVS, I arrived home in Welwyn Garden City as heavy snow started to fall. Poor Aged Ken (our decrepit white cat) already has navigating his way around the garden. Tonight, he looked utterly dejected having to go out in the snow despite being perfectly camouflaged. One look from him said that he found it very undignified and that he held me personally responsible.
After an afternoon at WCVS, I arrived home in Welwyn Garden City as heavy snow started to fall. Poor Aged Ken (our decrepit white cat) already has navigating his way around the garden. Tonight, he looked utterly dejected having to go out in the snow despite being perfectly camouflaged. One look from him said that he found it very undignified and that he held me personally responsible.
Monday, 27 October 2008
This morning, I had a brief discussion with Maria and Sha-Lee about WCVS's marketing and promotion. One of our trustees, the admirable Ian Stageman, has offered to help us think things through and this is an offer we intend to accept with enthusiasm.
Gayle Williams was buried today in Afghanistan. I hold no candle for any religion (interesting choice of words) but it doesn’t matter to me what Gayle believed or what she preached: that some people will kill for the sake of religion seems to me utterly bizarre. In this, and too many other instances around the world and across all faiths, I simply cannot construct a coherent rational model of what the killers thought or believed. This set me thinking about the relationship between fundamentalist faith and mental well-being: someone should do some research.
Gayle Williams was buried today in Afghanistan. I hold no candle for any religion (interesting choice of words) but it doesn’t matter to me what Gayle believed or what she preached: that some people will kill for the sake of religion seems to me utterly bizarre. In this, and too many other instances around the world and across all faiths, I simply cannot construct a coherent rational model of what the killers thought or believed. This set me thinking about the relationship between fundamentalist faith and mental well-being: someone should do some research.
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