Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Jackie and I enjoyed another day out – this time enjoying the delights of St Albans where we narrowly missed witnessing a bank robbery.
Monday, 26 January 2009
The Good Life
While Jackie defrosted the fridge and made gooseberry and white wine jam, I spent the day in the garden cleaning out the chickens, turning the compost, putting up a nesting box, and clearing some of the beds.
In between, and only occasionally, did I look again at WCVS's newsletter.
While Jackie defrosted the fridge and made gooseberry and white wine jam, I spent the day in the garden cleaning out the chickens, turning the compost, putting up a nesting box, and clearing some of the beds.
In between, and only occasionally, did I look again at WCVS's newsletter.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Jackie and I spent another relaxing day out together – although our poor timing meant we missed out on another visit to Hatfield Park.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Jackie and I visited some of our old haunts in North Herts, including lunch at the excellent Moon and Stars in Rushden. We visited the churches at Steeple Morden and at Ashwell - a very special church indeed for anyone interested in social history.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Finally I felt well enough to return to work properly and so I spent a busy day back in Watford. My chair of trustees, Pam Handley, came in and cheered me up a little. But after being ill all week, and have a week’s leave booked for next week, I could do little more than urgent fire-fighting. The biggest need is to finalise teh latest newsletter, at which I made a valiant attempt.
I also had a unexpected (but very pleasant) visit from Godfrey Leak and a few welcome back calls from people. My colleagues in the office were all very understanding and supportive, not burdening me too much with queries - although I suspect they kept their distance mostly from fear of any residual contagion.
I also had a unexpected (but very pleasant) visit from Godfrey Leak and a few welcome back calls from people. My colleagues in the office were all very understanding and supportive, not burdening me too much with queries - although I suspect they kept their distance mostly from fear of any residual contagion.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Finally, I felt well enough today to do a little bit of work. I stayed home, but caught up with e-mails and some urgent re-scheduling. I also surveyed the wreckage caused by three unscheduled days of sickness. In total I have missed three annual review meetings with staff, one conference, a meeting of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium, a funding meeting, three other meetings and one reporting deadline. To quote the great Ian Dury: “Am I happy? No I ain’t”.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
On the basis of no evidence whatsoever, I really thought I would feel better today. But I spent another day unable to concentrate and struggling to breathe; utterly horrid.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Again I awoke feeling absolutely wretched. I am worried about deadlines but they are all a week or two away so I thought of nothing but recovering my health. I stayed in bed until lunchtime and then camped on the sofa watching Barack Obama’s inauguration.
At work, I missed another planned staff review and the annual Safer Watford conference.
At work, I missed another planned staff review and the annual Safer Watford conference.
Monday, 19 January 2009
I awoke hoping that I might have recovered my health overnight but I felt worse than ever. I was ill five or six weeks ago and don’t think I ever properly recovered. I called in sick. I hoped I might still do some work at home, but I could focus on nothing - except the realisation that I was missing important discussions with our IT chap, a staff review, two important meetings and one deadline. Ho hum.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Rain had been forecast for this morning, but the day was bright and sunny. Jackie and I shared a quick breakfast and then got into the garden – our first proper day’s gardening since last autumn and very refreshing and relaxing. But after a day of work, my exertions finally caught up with me and I fell ill again with a heavy cold. Oh dear.
Friday, 16 January 2009
We had a staff meeting today to talk about our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre. Reactions were decidedly mixed. There were some very positive views. But there were also concerns about relocating services away from the centre of Watford, about our relationship to Watford Borough Council, about access (the site is on the very edge of Watford), and about our relationship to existing users of the Centre. There were also more practical concerns about whether Watford CVS staff could physically fit into the site and how privacy and security can be maintained. All of these points will need to be addressed.
After the staff meeting, I caught up with correspondence – sending out reports for next week’s meeting on the BME Advocacy project. I left the office exhausted at 6:00 pm: the earliest I have left all week.
After the staff meeting, I caught up with correspondence – sending out reports for next week’s meeting on the BME Advocacy project. I left the office exhausted at 6:00 pm: the earliest I have left all week.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
This morning I conducted the second of my annual staff reviews.
For me, the biggest source of stress is not knowing where to find papers - and consequently never quite being sure that I haven’t overlooked an important deadline. So when my afternoon meeting was cancelled at short notice I used my new-found free time to do some urgent filing; it took a long while and once completed I felt much more relaxed.
For me, the biggest source of stress is not knowing where to find papers - and consequently never quite being sure that I haven’t overlooked an important deadline. So when my afternoon meeting was cancelled at short notice I used my new-found free time to do some urgent filing; it took a long while and once completed I felt much more relaxed.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
I was pleased this morning to meet Jude Allen from Farming for All, a new Community Interest Company looking to work with vulnerable children and adults on farming and gardening projects.
After this, I conducted the first of thirteen Annual Reviews I need to complete with CVS staff - and also a test run for our new job evaluation scheme. One down and twelve to go!
In the evening the Community Arts Network met again. More solid progress has been made toward the delivery of an arts festival this summer. Again, I stayed on to send out a note of the meeting. To attend this meeting, I had to send my apologies to the AGM of THITA – a local translation group looking to re-launch itself.
After this, I conducted the first of thirteen Annual Reviews I need to complete with CVS staff - and also a test run for our new job evaluation scheme. One down and twelve to go!
In the evening the Community Arts Network met again. More solid progress has been made toward the delivery of an arts festival this summer. Again, I stayed on to send out a note of the meeting. To attend this meeting, I had to send my apologies to the AGM of THITA – a local translation group looking to re-launch itself.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Lasy autumn, Watford CVS did put in tender to deliver teh Hertfordshire LINks programme. We lost out to the Shaw Trust and I am still at a loss to understand why Hertfordshire County Council wanted to appoint someone from outside the County; it seems very short-sighted.
But nevertheless, the Shaw Trust is here now and we certainly can’t pick and choose who we work with. I met today with Harry Bhamrah (who was involved with the previous PPI project and is now employed on the LINks programme) to discuss future collaboration.
Monday, 12 January 2009
Today, before circulating anything more widely I sent off my two draft papers to key people at Watford Borough Council – it is important to make sure that the Council are broadly supportive!
I also met with people wanting to set up a new group to formalise work they are doing to support people in the Ratala district of Pakistan. It is sometimes easy to overlook the amount of voluntary effort that goes into supporting overseas communities– particularly the original communities of first-, second- and third- generation migrants to Britain.
Later in the afternoon I met with our Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and with Emma Gadsby who supports the work of the One Watford local strategic partnership. I was very disappointed to learn that Emma is leaving Watford to take up a post nearer her home in Northamptonshire: she has been a brilliant source of support and her knowledge and good humour will be sorely missed. Meanwhile, though, we had a very helpful discussion on implementation plans for the latest iteration of the Community Plan (I can barely bring myself to call it a Sustainable Community Strategy). We agreed that in the first period, we simply need to focus on getting in place a series of partnerships to oversee particular areas of work.
I also met with people wanting to set up a new group to formalise work they are doing to support people in the Ratala district of Pakistan. It is sometimes easy to overlook the amount of voluntary effort that goes into supporting overseas communities– particularly the original communities of first-, second- and third- generation migrants to Britain.
Later in the afternoon I met with our Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and with Emma Gadsby who supports the work of the One Watford local strategic partnership. I was very disappointed to learn that Emma is leaving Watford to take up a post nearer her home in Northamptonshire: she has been a brilliant source of support and her knowledge and good humour will be sorely missed. Meanwhile, though, we had a very helpful discussion on implementation plans for the latest iteration of the Community Plan (I can barely bring myself to call it a Sustainable Community Strategy). We agreed that in the first period, we simply need to focus on getting in place a series of partnerships to oversee particular areas of work.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Jackie and I spent another wonderful day walking in beautiful Hatfield Park. The River Lee was frozen in places and the tree-lined avenue leading up to the house has lots and lots of mistletoe growing high up in the trees.
Back home, I worked on papers about the Watford Compact and the One Watford local strategic partnership. I am rather pleased with both papers.
Back home, I worked on papers about the Watford Compact and the One Watford local strategic partnership. I am rather pleased with both papers.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Jackie and I visited my sister in her new Cheshire Home on the edge of Hitchin. It is by far the nicest, most appropriate (and nearest) place she has lived for years. I was rather startled by her latest madcap scheme for getting rich / fighting against boredom: she is a worry.
Friday, 9 January 2009
I spent the day at home giving some time to the research project I have taken on for the local PCT. This project needs more of my time but I am flagging a little. I still feel a bit under the weather and am finding it hard to concentrate as fully as I need.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
We are trying to produce a report on our youth work but are dependent upon Youth Connexions to provide statistics. We have made a request and I hope they can deliver the stats in time.
I had a very encouraging meeting with Helen Price (our Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) and Laura Packwood (Co-ordinator of the voluntary transport scheme) about our “Good Neighbours” scheme, for which we now have a clear way forward.
At home, I did some more work drafting proposals on the Watford Compact and on a new voluntary-led body to build support the One Watford local strategic partnership.
I had a very encouraging meeting with Helen Price (our Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) and Laura Packwood (Co-ordinator of the voluntary transport scheme) about our “Good Neighbours” scheme, for which we now have a clear way forward.
At home, I did some more work drafting proposals on the Watford Compact and on a new voluntary-led body to build support the One Watford local strategic partnership.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
This morning we had a staff trip to the Holywell Community Centre – a possible new home for Watford CVS at some stage in 2010.
After this visit, I drove over to Rickmansworth (in my capacity as Chair of the Hertfordshire Compact Working Group) to meet Adam Huntley and discuss how Three Rivers District Council can catch up with ten years of Compact developments. After this, I stayed in Rickmansworth for a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Forum.
Back at the office, I learned that I had been appointed to the Regional Empowerment Network. This didn’t come completely out of the blue (I had expressed an interest) but only today did I learn that their first meeting is during my planned week’s leave at the end of January: my five day’s leave now includes three days of meetings.
I had several discussions with CVS members and supporters about our membership structure. Our new category of “affiliate” seems to be producing the desired results, but we need to put a lot more work into building up the number of affiliates and making a clearer offer to full members.
Watford’s Community Arts Network met in the evening. I am absolutely astonished at how far this network has come: it seems only two months ago that its future hung in the balance. But tonight there was a really great meeting with excellent discussions and lots of really talented people putting in their ideas and agreeing to work to move things forward. Most helpfully, Lesley Palumbo attended from Watford Borough Council and clarified what support the Council is able to provide for the festival. The meeting took some important decisions: they agreed the dates for the festival (6 June to 20 June), a working title Watford Live!, who would lead on each activity and two further meeting dates before the end of January. After the meeting, I stayed on to write up notes of the meeting; I must find some help for this!
After this visit, I drove over to Rickmansworth (in my capacity as Chair of the Hertfordshire Compact Working Group) to meet Adam Huntley and discuss how Three Rivers District Council can catch up with ten years of Compact developments. After this, I stayed in Rickmansworth for a meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Forum.
Back at the office, I learned that I had been appointed to the Regional Empowerment Network. This didn’t come completely out of the blue (I had expressed an interest) but only today did I learn that their first meeting is during my planned week’s leave at the end of January: my five day’s leave now includes three days of meetings.
I had several discussions with CVS members and supporters about our membership structure. Our new category of “affiliate” seems to be producing the desired results, but we need to put a lot more work into building up the number of affiliates and making a clearer offer to full members.
Watford’s Community Arts Network met in the evening. I am absolutely astonished at how far this network has come: it seems only two months ago that its future hung in the balance. But tonight there was a really great meeting with excellent discussions and lots of really talented people putting in their ideas and agreeing to work to move things forward. Most helpfully, Lesley Palumbo attended from Watford Borough Council and clarified what support the Council is able to provide for the festival. The meeting took some important decisions: they agreed the dates for the festival (6 June to 20 June), a working title Watford Live!, who would lead on each activity and two further meeting dates before the end of January. After the meeting, I stayed on to write up notes of the meeting; I must find some help for this!
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
I enjoyed another relatively gentle day in the office, only slightly spoiled by having to re-assign people due absences due to illness - Kerry Assell sat in on a meeting of the Watford Community Sports Partnership and did extremely well. Meanwhile, I met with Inspiral Arts about the proposed summer arts festival and later with Carina Page of the Sports Partnership.
Later still I made the rather distressing discovery (or perhaps re-discovery) that some people do actually respond well to being shouted at.
Later still I made the rather distressing discovery (or perhaps re-discovery) that some people do actually respond well to being shouted at.
Monday, 5 January 2009
The familiar drive back to Watford was very pleasant and almost perfectly clear – lots of people must be taking an extra day or two of leave. Ridiculously, nearly four weeks after suffering with a heavy cold, my health still feels fragile. But like all sensible people, I have kept clear my first few working days of the year so I had a relatively gentle first day back in the office. One of my trustees, the charming and resourceful Ian Stageman, has won agreement from the Watford Observer that they will carry regular features on the voluntary sector. Well done, Ian!
Sunday, 4 January 2009
In the morning, my attention was drawn by recent statements from two of our religious leaders. First of all, John Sentamu the Archbishop of York has said that we should see the current financial crisis as an opportunity to rethink our values. He is right. In an economy facing financial bankruptcy, the government’s drive for ever-greater borrowing to feed instant gratification is morally bankrupt. Before John Sentamu’s sage remarks, the Pope has declared that “saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour” is as important as saving the world from global warming. These two statements usefully illustrate the two sides of religion.
I tried to spend today resting and nursing my squished fingers. But it was too great an effort and instead I spent most of the evening easing my way back into work by reviewing calendar commitments and preparing some thoughts on the re-draft of our Community Development Strategy.
I also have to consider some funding issues. The Compact is now ten years old. We have three statutory funding streams (funding seven members of staff) that end at the end of March 2009. With less than three months to go, how many have been renewed? None.
I tried to spend today resting and nursing my squished fingers. But it was too great an effort and instead I spent most of the evening easing my way back into work by reviewing calendar commitments and preparing some thoughts on the re-draft of our Community Development Strategy.
I also have to consider some funding issues. The Compact is now ten years old. We have three statutory funding streams (funding seven members of staff) that end at the end of March 2009. With less than three months to go, how many have been renewed? None.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Ouch!
Jackie and I planned a quick trip into town and parked in her staff car-park. I don’t know what possessed me to put my fingers in the jam of the car’s rear door, nor why I then asked Jackie to close the door for me. A remember very clearly a searing agonising pain. I couldn’t reach the door handle to release myself and for a moment Jackie didn’t know what I had done - I remember that my fingers looked absolutely crushed as in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. As soon as I was released, I grasped my fingers and swore loudly and longly. Just then, two of Jackie’s colleagues appeared and must have thought that I had lost my mind – which I suppose I had.
Poor Jackie was shaken too but she had to drive me to A&E where the nurse warned of broken fingers and lost finger nails. I was x-rayed and checked and 2-3 hours later we were back home and the pain had substantially gone. We were certainly shaken a little, but otherwise were none the worse for our ordeal. It is surprising how well the human body (even mine) can recover from horrible ordeals.
Jackie and I planned a quick trip into town and parked in her staff car-park. I don’t know what possessed me to put my fingers in the jam of the car’s rear door, nor why I then asked Jackie to close the door for me. A remember very clearly a searing agonising pain. I couldn’t reach the door handle to release myself and for a moment Jackie didn’t know what I had done - I remember that my fingers looked absolutely crushed as in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. As soon as I was released, I grasped my fingers and swore loudly and longly. Just then, two of Jackie’s colleagues appeared and must have thought that I had lost my mind – which I suppose I had.
Poor Jackie was shaken too but she had to drive me to A&E where the nurse warned of broken fingers and lost finger nails. I was x-rayed and checked and 2-3 hours later we were back home and the pain had substantially gone. We were certainly shaken a little, but otherwise were none the worse for our ordeal. It is surprising how well the human body (even mine) can recover from horrible ordeals.
Friday, 2 January 2009
Jackie and I took advantage of our new annual season tickets and went for a long walk around Hatfield Park. Some of the trees are truly magnificent - it is easy to understand how primitive Britons believed they were sacred. The River Lee was frozen in places. We didn't see any Kingfishers but we did see a Heron and a beautiful flock of long-tailed tits busying themselves around an oak tree like a coven of friendly faeries.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Today is the official launch of the Government's Change 4 Life initiative: eat well, move more, live longer. I have received personal (although unsolicited) e-mails on this from that nice Mr Alan Johnson at the Department of Health.
January will certainly be an extremely busy month for me: I have a large consultancy project to complete for the PCT, annual reviews to complete with staff, a community festival to help organise, three consultancies to co-ordinate around our possible relocation, a Community Development Strategy to re-write, a Trustees meeting to organise and new staff arrangements to oversee. I would love to "move more" get a start on some of the work I need to do.
But I have spent weeks trying to shake off a cold and I still don't feel particularly well. Should I spend my final few days of leave getting a head start on the work or ignoring everything and catching up on some much-needed R&R? I simply daren’t risk any unplanned absences from work so I plan to devote the next few days relaxing and sleeping as much as possible.
January will certainly be an extremely busy month for me: I have a large consultancy project to complete for the PCT, annual reviews to complete with staff, a community festival to help organise, three consultancies to co-ordinate around our possible relocation, a Community Development Strategy to re-write, a Trustees meeting to organise and new staff arrangements to oversee. I would love to "move more" get a start on some of the work I need to do.
But I have spent weeks trying to shake off a cold and I still don't feel particularly well. Should I spend my final few days of leave getting a head start on the work or ignoring everything and catching up on some much-needed R&R? I simply daren’t risk any unplanned absences from work so I plan to devote the next few days relaxing and sleeping as much as possible.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
While Jackie went to work, I drove to Ampthill to see my sister there for the last time before she moves to the new Cheshire Home in Hitchin. Caroline and I went out together and bought a new Breezy Moonlight wheelchair; I was astonished at how light this new chair felt compared to the horrid (c1950) wheelchair she was abandoning.
Jackie and I thought of spending the evening at our folk dancing club but tiredness took over and instead we spent a quiet evening together at home.
Jackie and I thought of spending the evening at our folk dancing club but tiredness took over and instead we spent a quiet evening together at home.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Jackie was still at work and I spent the day on mywatford.net business – including another trip down to Walthamstow to talk over some CRM issues with Angelo.
You’re not interested but ...
For some years I have intended to read Francis Wheen’s How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World. It wasn’t quite what I expected: he starts by attacking several apparently dissociated targets to no great purpose. Just as disappointment was setting in, he delivered a very clever attack on the shabby travesty known as post-modernism, even evidencing its impact on the world’s stock exchanges: I would love to read a new edition updated to take account of the current credit crunch.
You’re not interested but ...
For some years I have intended to read Francis Wheen’s How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World. It wasn’t quite what I expected: he starts by attacking several apparently dissociated targets to no great purpose. Just as disappointment was setting in, he delivered a very clever attack on the shabby travesty known as post-modernism, even evidencing its impact on the world’s stock exchanges: I would love to read a new edition updated to take account of the current credit crunch.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Jackie returned to work today despite still feeling poorly. I spent the day getting the house straight and cleaning out the chickens. I even went for a walk through the town, intrigued by news stories of fire sales in the major stores: the biggest discount I saw was 50% off Christmas decorations which (given the date) didn’t seem particularly generous. In the evening, Bobby and I went to Letchworth for a meal with the Joneses while Jackie had an early night.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Today, Jackie and I felt worse than ever. I managed to drive to Barnet to collect son Bobby who has returned from Tennessee via Docklands. Jackie and I did our best to welcome Bobby - and then we both slept soundly.
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Jackie is feeling better but I still feel awful: the remains of my early December cold rather than the result of Christmas excesses. Before I gave up smoking, I never caught more than one cold a year. Since I gave up smoking, I seem to have regular colds and am grateful just to survive the winter. Has anyone ever researched the health-giving properties of cigarettes?
Friday, 26 December 2008
Jackie and I spent a day with the Jones family in Letchworth: neither of us felt 100% so we made our excuses and left a bit early.
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Today, we played host to a host of Murrays (Jackie’s family) and it all went swimmingly. The food was magnificent: brother-in-law Steve brought along a cooked Turkey, Jackie's daughter Rhiannon brought along a selection of home-made sweets, and Jackie herself produced stunning vegetables and home-made Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding (using nearly all local ingredients). And it was wonderful to have our granddaughter Bethany here for the day!
Jackie and I treated ourselves to annual season tickets for Hatfield Park – allowing us to walk there all year round. I thoroughly resent having to pay the Lord of the Manor for the pleasure of walking on what was common land until the forced enclosures of the 16th Century. Perhaps this is an ancient folk memory from the Hertfordshire peasant genes bubbling away inside me – I will treasure them always. But it has been more than 400 years and I am sure they need money to maintain the woodlands so maybe it's time to let bygones be bygones.
Jackie and I treated ourselves to annual season tickets for Hatfield Park – allowing us to walk there all year round. I thoroughly resent having to pay the Lord of the Manor for the pleasure of walking on what was common land until the forced enclosures of the 16th Century. Perhaps this is an ancient folk memory from the Hertfordshire peasant genes bubbling away inside me – I will treasure them always. But it has been more than 400 years and I am sure they need money to maintain the woodlands so maybe it's time to let bygones be bygones.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
I started my Christmas break by driving over to Walthamstow to meet with our techie chap Angelo at Technology for Business Goals. We had a few database issues to discuss but were frustrated as the server in Watford needed rebooting. Fortunately, the wonderful Farzana was in the office and was able to sort our problem out.
Today, Desmond Tutu gave a powerful speech urging South Africa to do more to resolve the humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe. Tutu has a strong moral compass. Not so the Pope who today said saving humanity from homosexuality was as important as saving the rainforests. No-one seriously expects commonsense from the Pope. But instead of satirising his ridiculous ravings or keeping a dignified silence, BBC Radio 4 held a serious studio discussion about what the “Holy Father” really meant!
Today, Desmond Tutu gave a powerful speech urging South Africa to do more to resolve the humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe. Tutu has a strong moral compass. Not so the Pope who today said saving humanity from homosexuality was as important as saving the rainforests. No-one seriously expects commonsense from the Pope. But instead of satirising his ridiculous ravings or keeping a dignified silence, BBC Radio 4 held a serious studio discussion about what the “Holy Father” really meant!
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
This first day of my Christmas break was mostly devoted to Christmas shopping. Fortunately there were very few presents still left to buy, but it was interesting to see how many people were out madly shopping and looking for bargains. I can’t help feeling that there is something fundamentally wrong about the Government’s approach to the “Credit Crisis”: they seem to think that the crisis arose not because banks lent too much, but because they ran out of money to lend. Surely that’s not right?
I am very concerned about my workload in the New Year. I have a large consultancy project to complete for the PCTs, twelve annual reviews to complete with staff, a community festival to help organise, a possible relocation to consider, a Community Development Strategy to re-write, a Trustees meeting to organise and new staff arrangements to oversee.
I am very concerned about my workload in the New Year. I have a large consultancy project to complete for the PCTs, twelve annual reviews to complete with staff, a community festival to help organise, a possible relocation to consider, a Community Development Strategy to re-write, a Trustees meeting to organise and new staff arrangements to oversee.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Along with a last flurry of Christmas cards, today’s post bought a letter from Deborah Cadman OBE (Chief Executive at the East of England Development Agency) reporting that EEDA’s funding for 2009-10 would be lower than anticipated so some projects would likely be cancelled or curtailed – I suspect this will include the Regional Empowerment Partnership.
At one point during the day I agreed to be interviewed by Mercury Radio as vice-chair of the One Watford LSP. A nice lady asked me some very simple questions and I rambled my way through some rather complicated answers and the nice lady assured me that I would be edited down to sound coherent but I suspect she was just being polite.
I left the office at about 7:00 pm hoping not to have to return until 5 January 2009. We shall see.
At one point during the day I agreed to be interviewed by Mercury Radio as vice-chair of the One Watford LSP. A nice lady asked me some very simple questions and I rambled my way through some rather complicated answers and the nice lady assured me that I would be edited down to sound coherent but I suspect she was just being polite.
I left the office at about 7:00 pm hoping not to have to return until 5 January 2009. We shall see.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Along with a last flurry of Christmas cards, today’s post bought a letter from Deborah Cadman OBE (Chief Executive at the East of England Development Agency) reporting that EEDA’s funding for 2009-10 would be lower than anticipated so some projects would likely be cancelled or curtailed – I suspect this will include the Regional Empowerment Partnership.
At one point during the day I agreed to be interviewed by Mercury Radio as vice-chair of the One Watford LSP. A nice lady asked me some very simple questions and I rambled my way through some rather complicated answers and the nice lady assured me that I would be edited down to sound coherent but I suspect she was just being polite.
I left the office at about 7:00 pm hoping not to have to return until 5 January 2009. We shall see.
At one point during the day I agreed to be interviewed by Mercury Radio as vice-chair of the One Watford LSP. A nice lady asked me some very simple questions and I rambled my way through some rather complicated answers and the nice lady assured me that I would be edited down to sound coherent but I suspect she was just being polite.
I left the office at about 7:00 pm hoping not to have to return until 5 January 2009. We shall see.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
I thought I had shaken off my cold from two weeks ago, but today it returned with a vengeance and I spent most of the day on the couch again. Later I felt sufficiently recovered to sort out a new website for the Chief Officers’ Information Network and sending out welcome e-mails to all local CEOs.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
My day was devoted to final pre-Christmas preparations: garden, chickens and recycling centre. I also did some last minute shopping: ten years ago, it used to be possible sometimes to buy jokey books as presents but now it is difficult to buy anything else. The book stores are awash with titles like “Do ants have arseholes” or “Fat Pets” or “The Book of Animal Ignorance”, but just try asking for a copy of Captain Cook’s Journal or Southey’s Life of Nelson. What is the point of a bookshop that only sells joke books and the ghoul-written autobiographies of so-called “celebrities”? Arghhh!
Friday, 19 December 2008
We held our final Staff Meeting of the year (all very positive) and afterwards Maria returned to the office for some baby gifts. It did bring home to me just how much I am going to miss her. Ho hum.
After, I had a good meeting with Marv Renshaw about the Community Arts Network. A planned meeting about the Community Sports Partnership was cancelled due to illness; there are so many people off ill right now!
In the evening, I returned to Welwyn Rugby Club where I spent 2-3 years as a stalwart (or at least a prop) in one of the youth teams. This time I was there for the Christmas dinner of Jackie’s office.
After, I had a good meeting with Marv Renshaw about the Community Arts Network. A planned meeting about the Community Sports Partnership was cancelled due to illness; there are so many people off ill right now!
In the evening, I returned to Welwyn Rugby Club where I spent 2-3 years as a stalwart (or at least a prop) in one of the youth teams. This time I was there for the Christmas dinner of Jackie’s office.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
I took a day off as leave, and spent most of it returning my car to the garage for the umpteenth time. Why do some garages expect their customers to accept such an appallingly low level of service?
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
I had expected to meet this morning with someone from Out and About – a charity that is starting to work in Watford – but no-one materialised and I was too busy with other things to enquire further.
I had a brief meeting with staff on the Herts BME Advocacy service, then met with Messers Khan and Azam from the Muslim Welfare Association, and then put in a brief appearance at the Disability Forum’s Christmas lunch. Then I met with Syed Ahmed, our Community Accountant.
This was officially Maria's last day in the office before she uses up her leave and then goes on maternity leave; I try not to acknowledge this fact for fear I will become maudlin.
In the evening, all WCVS staff met for an evening meal at the local Tapas bar. It is very difficult to get these things absolutely right. I don’t want to sound like an old curmudgeon but the lighting was poor and there was a lot of noise so I spent most of the evening peering through the gloom and straining to hear people. Our vegetarian, Muslim and Hindu colleagues struggled to find anything to eat. And it was all very crowded. Next year, I think we will have our annual dinner earlier (perhaps at Eid or Divali or Hanukkah) and in a well-lit Indian or Asian restaurant with vegetarian options. But as I say I don’t want to sound grumpy.
I had a brief meeting with staff on the Herts BME Advocacy service, then met with Messers Khan and Azam from the Muslim Welfare Association, and then put in a brief appearance at the Disability Forum’s Christmas lunch. Then I met with Syed Ahmed, our Community Accountant.
This was officially Maria's last day in the office before she uses up her leave and then goes on maternity leave; I try not to acknowledge this fact for fear I will become maudlin.
In the evening, all WCVS staff met for an evening meal at the local Tapas bar. It is very difficult to get these things absolutely right. I don’t want to sound like an old curmudgeon but the lighting was poor and there was a lot of noise so I spent most of the evening peering through the gloom and straining to hear people. Our vegetarian, Muslim and Hindu colleagues struggled to find anything to eat. And it was all very crowded. Next year, I think we will have our annual dinner earlier (perhaps at Eid or Divali or Hanukkah) and in a well-lit Indian or Asian restaurant with vegetarian options. But as I say I don’t want to sound grumpy.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
I met with Leigh Hutchings about linking the Disability Forum more directly into the One Watford LSP – talking over the discussions I had last Friday with Lesley Palumbo and Emma Gadsby. I met with Sarah Mathieson of Roundabout Transport and agreed to try and convene a meeting of local voluntary sector transport providers. I met with Alison Plant and Sarah Askey of the Community Housing Trust about our Community Development strategy and about their Community Options study in the Holywell area. And I met with Jamie Fewery of DIY-WOMP about their Grassroots Grants application.
I am beginning to panic ever so slightly about workload. I had hoped to get one or two projects completed before Christmas but it won’t now happen.
I am beginning to panic ever so slightly about workload. I had hoped to get one or two projects completed before Christmas but it won’t now happen.
Monday, 15 December 2008
After attending (part of) a meeting on Grassroots Grants at the Herts Community Foundation, I hurried off to the annual Volunteers’ Lunch at WCVS. This was well attended and Pam’s "few words" were as perfectly judged as ever. I resisted the urge to say something as I think all our volunteers know how much their efforts are appreciated by all the staff here. But maybe I shouldn’t have made such an assumption? Anyway, my homemade Christmas Cake was well received.
After lunch, I met with Des Reid on REACH, with Mary Green on the Holywell Community Centre, and with Marv Renshaw on Inspiral Arts.
I had an interesting e-mail from a local firm offering to advertise our volunteering opportunities at a “reduced rate”. Curious.
Recent reading ...
Stephen Jay Gould’s The Hedgehog, the Fox and the Magister’s Pox was (predictably!) well referenced and built on his earlier work Rocks of Ages and his theory of “Non Overlapping Magisteria”: the idea that religion, sciences and the humanities occupy entirely separate spheres that never overlap or come into conflict. If only ...
Tim Moore’s Frost on my Moustache describes his recreation of the 1856 journey of Lord Dufferin to Iceland and the far north of Norway: very amusing.
After lunch, I met with Des Reid on REACH, with Mary Green on the Holywell Community Centre, and with Marv Renshaw on Inspiral Arts.
I had an interesting e-mail from a local firm offering to advertise our volunteering opportunities at a “reduced rate”. Curious.
Recent reading ...
Stephen Jay Gould’s The Hedgehog, the Fox and the Magister’s Pox was (predictably!) well referenced and built on his earlier work Rocks of Ages and his theory of “Non Overlapping Magisteria”: the idea that religion, sciences and the humanities occupy entirely separate spheres that never overlap or come into conflict. If only ...
Tim Moore’s Frost on my Moustache describes his recreation of the 1856 journey of Lord Dufferin to Iceland and the far north of Norway: very amusing.
Sunday, 14 December 2008
I cleared out the chickens today – good exercise and very relaxing. They seem to be on some sort of dirty protest at the moment: as soon as they are given food, they scratch it all out over the floor and then complain they have no food in their tray.
Friday, 12 December 2008
Yesterday, I asked why the statutory sector didn’t engage with the voluntary sector’s agenda. But of course in Watford, the borough council do make a great effort to learn and address our concerns. This morning I talked with Leslie Palumbo and Emma Gadsby about exactly this: how to make sure that all groups and all communities have a clear route for communicating with the One Watford LSP, and how to co-ordinate the delivery of the local target to create “a well informed community where everyone can contribute”.
I spent more time talking to people about the Herts BME partnership, which seems to be stabilising a little.
The greetings card industry uses mass-produced sentimentality to assuage people’s social insecurities and underline that common people are incapable of expressing their own sentiments. I dislike sending out greetings cards. But today we mailed out a few from WCVS and were also very pleased to put on a display produced by children at Watford Central Primary School.
I spent more time talking to people about the Herts BME partnership, which seems to be stabilising a little.
The greetings card industry uses mass-produced sentimentality to assuage people’s social insecurities and underline that common people are incapable of expressing their own sentiments. I dislike sending out greetings cards. But today we mailed out a few from WCVS and were also very pleased to put on a display produced by children at Watford Central Primary School.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
This morning I went to the very pretty town of Ware for a Community Cohesion conference organised by HCC for Hertfordshire Forward. Having had rather low expectations, I conference was excellent and there were some very good presentations from ICOCO (one of my favourite acronyms), the Suffolk LSP, and the HCC Community Information Unit.
I have two concerns about this morning's event. First, there were only 100 of us present and many of us attended a very similar event last year in WGC. Where is the broader engagement in these issues? Secondly, “community engagement” seems to be a very limited tool. Of course we want everyone to be engaged but what if an individual or an organisation or a community choose not to engage? The response is a shrug and an almost audible “oh well, at least we tried” – after all, there are plenty of other individuals / organisations / communities. And why does everyone need to engage only with the statutory sector’s agenda? What about the statutory sector engaging with the voluntary sector’s agenda? Now that would be something!
In the evening, Jackie and I put our recent ailments behind us and went dancing: great fun!
I have two concerns about this morning's event. First, there were only 100 of us present and many of us attended a very similar event last year in WGC. Where is the broader engagement in these issues? Secondly, “community engagement” seems to be a very limited tool. Of course we want everyone to be engaged but what if an individual or an organisation or a community choose not to engage? The response is a shrug and an almost audible “oh well, at least we tried” – after all, there are plenty of other individuals / organisations / communities. And why does everyone need to engage only with the statutory sector’s agenda? What about the statutory sector engaging with the voluntary sector’s agenda? Now that would be something!
In the evening, Jackie and I put our recent ailments behind us and went dancing: great fun!
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Today’s meeting of the Herts Compact Working Group was cancelled and the group may not meet again in its current guise. It is critical that the Compact operates in the context of National Indicator 7: "creating the environment for a thriving third sector". We started organising the abandoned 29 October conference with this in mind. Andrew Burt is leading on NI7 for Hertfordshire Forward (the county-wide strategic partnership) and he will prepare proposals shortly. Meanwhile, everyone welcomes the latest proposals from the Compact Commission to focus on compact principles – which exactly echoes the work going on in Watford.
We had a further meeting today on WCVS’s Job Evaluation scheme. Due to other work pressures, it has taken longer than I anticipated, but our scheme is now ready for launch. The scheme has arisen through discussions between me and the trustees – several of whom made specific proposals for improvements. In the New Year I will start talking with staff and hopefully things will go well.
Elsewhere today, I reported back to Herts CVS on yesterday’s HEVEC meeting, arranged for WCVS staff to visit the Holywell Centre in the New Year, volunteered to join the new Regional Empowerment Network, had more discussions about a possible community arts festival next year, and continued to make arrangements for Maria’s impending maternity leave.
We had a further meeting today on WCVS’s Job Evaluation scheme. Due to other work pressures, it has taken longer than I anticipated, but our scheme is now ready for launch. The scheme has arisen through discussions between me and the trustees – several of whom made specific proposals for improvements. In the New Year I will start talking with staff and hopefully things will go well.
Elsewhere today, I reported back to Herts CVS on yesterday’s HEVEC meeting, arranged for WCVS staff to visit the Holywell Centre in the New Year, volunteered to join the new Regional Empowerment Network, had more discussions about a possible community arts festival next year, and continued to make arrangements for Maria’s impending maternity leave.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
The Herts Voluntary Emergency Committee (part of Hertfordshire Resilience) met today at County Hall. Each member is asked to sign a “Memorandum of Understanding” saying what services they could offer in the event of some undefined civic emergency. Should it be necessary to establish a Humanitarian Aid Centre in the aftermath of an emergency, then the local CVSs should be central to running such a centre. This is something I need to take back to my colleagues at the Herts CVS group.
From County Hall I drove to Stevenage for a meeting on the Herts BME Advocacy service. We finally agreed the protocol governing referrals between ourselves and HCC’s Minority Ethnic Curriculum Support Services. But so far we have received only one referral from MECSS so we also need to work with many other sources too.
Afterwards, I applied to the NCVO for a free governance review and made arrangements for our trustees’ review day in January corresponding with our facilitator Helen Marini. On the issue of governance I also talked to different members of the Herts BME Partnership which has huge potential as a major force for good in the county but which is going through some hard times.
From County Hall I drove to Stevenage for a meeting on the Herts BME Advocacy service. We finally agreed the protocol governing referrals between ourselves and HCC’s Minority Ethnic Curriculum Support Services. But so far we have received only one referral from MECSS so we also need to work with many other sources too.
Afterwards, I applied to the NCVO for a free governance review and made arrangements for our trustees’ review day in January corresponding with our facilitator Helen Marini. On the issue of governance I also talked to different members of the Herts BME Partnership which has huge potential as a major force for good in the county but which is going through some hard times.
Monday, 8 December 2008
Today there was the second of the “summit” meetings for Hertfordshire’s community transport. I knew that Laura Packwood (co-ordinator of our voluntary transport scheme) was off ill, so I went along despite feeling pretty rotten myself. Despite my fuggy head, two things came across pretty clearly. First, voluntary transport schemes should work together a lot more to co-ordinate and promote their activities – and to make it easier for our statutory partners to work with us. Secondly, many of our statutory partners have an astonishingly poor understanding of the voluntary sector (possibly gained for watching Dads’ Army) and seem to think that there are thousands of simpletons waiting around for their elders and betters to tell them what to do. Work is needed on both fronts.
After this, I met with Angelo to talk about technical possibilities at the Holywell Community Centre, and then attended a meeting to help scope WBC’s review of its work on domestic violence.
At 6:00, there was another well attended meeting to consider putting on a community arts festival in Watford next summer. This really looks to be gathering some momentum.
I returned home about 9:30 feeling awful.
After this, I met with Angelo to talk about technical possibilities at the Holywell Community Centre, and then attended a meeting to help scope WBC’s review of its work on domestic violence.
At 6:00, there was another well attended meeting to consider putting on a community arts festival in Watford next summer. This really looks to be gathering some momentum.
I returned home about 9:30 feeling awful.
Sunday, 7 December 2008
I spent another day feeling pathetic and too ill to move. Was "Hole in the Wall" real or just some awful dream?
Saturday, 6 December 2008
I woke this morning feeling absolutely awful. I spent the day lying on the sofa being nursed by Jackie, my lovely personal angel. In the early evening I saw something on television called “The Hole in the Wall”. In my time, I have seen some rubbish on television: the truly awful Bonekickers comes easily to mind. But Hole in the Wall really shocked me: who could possibly have made this up? how on earth did they pitch it to the BBC? who at the BBC thought it was a good use of licence money?
Friday, 5 December 2008
I drove this morning to Letchworth for a meeting of the Trustees Together group. Jonathan Moore of SAVO has done some excellent work drafting a paper on regional issues. In discussion, we identified the damage done to Trusteeship by the concept of “the Third Sector”; until this Frankenstein creation, trustees had to act in the best interests of their group, use their commonsense and not derive personal benefits from the charity. Things were relatively straightforward. But now, many trustees think they can be employees of their charities, and some even want to pay themselves retainers or “dividends” for acting as directors. The waters are now hopelessly muddied and the concept of altruism has been sullied for a whole generation. It was difficult enough to swallow “the Third Way” but I will probably never forgive the Labour Party for foisting on us “the Third Sector”.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
I spent today at home working on our report on the Herts BME Advocacy service, further preparations for our consultancy on the PCT’s community engagement, and reviewing and refining the CVS’s membership documentation to encourage local groups to affiliate.
Having got my new internet connection to work long enough to e-mail out the BME advocacy report, I then learned that some HCC recipients can’t yet read Word 2007 documents (!) so I had to spend another hour or two toying with connections to send out the same report on Word 2003 and PDF formats. Oh the joys of IT - or should that be HCC?
Having got my new internet connection to work long enough to e-mail out the BME advocacy report, I then learned that some HCC recipients can’t yet read Word 2007 documents (!) so I had to spend another hour or two toying with connections to send out the same report on Word 2003 and PDF formats. Oh the joys of IT - or should that be HCC?
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
One of those days
Fortunately as things turned out, my day started with a cancelled meeting, allowing me to catch up on a few things. Mostly, I caught up on organising cover for staff absences. We have a good absence record at CVS, but just one or two absences can create real pressures and we have had two members of staff absent for two weeks and the pressures are building – especially with the first signs of winter colds among the rest of us.
I then met with Hema re: the activity report for the Herts BME Advocacy Project and with Farzana over her Youth Connexions work. In the afternoon, I met with several of my trustees on our Job Evaluation scheme – now really beginning to take shape. I also talked briefly with neighbouring Three Rivers District Council in my role as Chair of the Herts Compact Group and booked myself onto one of NAVCA’s Empowering the Voluntary Sector events. NAVCA’s EVS initiative is extremely worthwhile and I highly recommend their workshops to anyone working in the sector. I also spoke with the new CEO at the Herts Society for the Blind who tells me that they may soon be relocating to Watford.
In the evening, I wandered down to the Moon Over Water Wetherspoons pub to meet with Leigh Hutchings (chair of the Watford Disability Forum). I first read George Orwell’s description of the perfect English pub way back in the 1970s. Googling “Moon over water” I now find many sites devoted to the “true path of meditation”; I wonder if George Orwell would have approved? Leigh took me to Vicarage Road to see his beloved Watford play my beloved Spurs in the League Cup – Spurs won 1-2 but it was not a classic encounter.
After the match, knowing that Jackie would be safely tucked up in bed, I popped back into the office to finish drafting the December issue of WCVS News – this time taking the obvious precaution of mailing it to Maria for proof-reading before its distribution.
Fortunately as things turned out, my day started with a cancelled meeting, allowing me to catch up on a few things. Mostly, I caught up on organising cover for staff absences. We have a good absence record at CVS, but just one or two absences can create real pressures and we have had two members of staff absent for two weeks and the pressures are building – especially with the first signs of winter colds among the rest of us.
I then met with Hema re: the activity report for the Herts BME Advocacy Project and with Farzana over her Youth Connexions work. In the afternoon, I met with several of my trustees on our Job Evaluation scheme – now really beginning to take shape. I also talked briefly with neighbouring Three Rivers District Council in my role as Chair of the Herts Compact Group and booked myself onto one of NAVCA’s Empowering the Voluntary Sector events. NAVCA’s EVS initiative is extremely worthwhile and I highly recommend their workshops to anyone working in the sector. I also spoke with the new CEO at the Herts Society for the Blind who tells me that they may soon be relocating to Watford.
In the evening, I wandered down to the Moon Over Water Wetherspoons pub to meet with Leigh Hutchings (chair of the Watford Disability Forum). I first read George Orwell’s description of the perfect English pub way back in the 1970s. Googling “Moon over water” I now find many sites devoted to the “true path of meditation”; I wonder if George Orwell would have approved? Leigh took me to Vicarage Road to see his beloved Watford play my beloved Spurs in the League Cup – Spurs won 1-2 but it was not a classic encounter.
After the match, knowing that Jackie would be safely tucked up in bed, I popped back into the office to finish drafting the December issue of WCVS News – this time taking the obvious precaution of mailing it to Maria for proof-reading before its distribution.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
In the two and a half years I have been at Watford CVS, our annual staff turnover rate has been around 5%. I hope this reflects a reasonably content staff team and I am certainly pleased that we are retaining skilled, talented and experienced individuals. The loss of natural turnover has been more than compensated for by people’s keenness to develop new skills and their willingness to work flexibly. Nevertheless, stability inevitably restricts opportunities for change.
But now we face the prospect of Maria Waszkis being off on maternity leave. Maria’s good humour and her “can-do” approach to everything mean she has been a delight to work with and I will miss her terribly. While I am delighted for Maria of course, her impending absence on maternity leave is not a prospect I face with any enthusiasm.
But even a temporary absence offers an opportunity for some natural growth in roles and responsibilities and today I addressed how these gentle shifts might work.
Later, I attended a meeting of the One Watford Local Strategic Partnership. Given my comments of yesterday, I am pleased to report that this was a good natured and business-like meeting.
Later still, I sent off the draft contracts for three independent bits of work to explore options for our possible future engagement with the Holywell Community Centre. One bit of work will focus on identifying the needs and expectations of groups that currently make use of the centre. Another bit of work will consult with CVS members about their concerns and aspirations. A third bit of work will ask local residents about their wishes. And a fourth bit of work will be to see if / how CVS services can be relocated to the site. And then at some point we will need to bring these things together to see if they are compatible. And then see if the any balanced solution is physically and financially viable. Hopefully we will have a pretty clear idea of options by the end of February next year.
But now we face the prospect of Maria Waszkis being off on maternity leave. Maria’s good humour and her “can-do” approach to everything mean she has been a delight to work with and I will miss her terribly. While I am delighted for Maria of course, her impending absence on maternity leave is not a prospect I face with any enthusiasm.
But even a temporary absence offers an opportunity for some natural growth in roles and responsibilities and today I addressed how these gentle shifts might work.
Later, I attended a meeting of the One Watford Local Strategic Partnership. Given my comments of yesterday, I am pleased to report that this was a good natured and business-like meeting.
Later still, I sent off the draft contracts for three independent bits of work to explore options for our possible future engagement with the Holywell Community Centre. One bit of work will focus on identifying the needs and expectations of groups that currently make use of the centre. Another bit of work will consult with CVS members about their concerns and aspirations. A third bit of work will ask local residents about their wishes. And a fourth bit of work will be to see if / how CVS services can be relocated to the site. And then at some point we will need to bring these things together to see if they are compatible. And then see if the any balanced solution is physically and financially viable. Hopefully we will have a pretty clear idea of options by the end of February next year.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Informal meetings are the most enjoyable and the most productive - communication flows freely and genuine relationships develop. When meetings are too formal or too hierarchical, communication falters and no true relationships develop.
One benefit of working in Watford is that all meetings are relaxed and honest and open. Of course there is more formality at a meeting of the Local Strategic partnership than at a meeting with a community group, but the degree of formality rarely restricts communication or hinders the growth of relationships.
I do not want to come across as a dewy-eyed utopian, but on the whole Watford is a town that goes about its business with a simple honest purpose and this is something to be encouraged and valued.
Today, for example, I spoke with Mary Dodgson (of various local community initiatives) about some work we need doing on our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre, Sarah Pinnock (of Watford Borough Council) to keep each other informed of our mutual work, the Community Engagement Project for mental health services and Marv Renshaw (of Inspiral Arts) about a community arts festival in 2009. All these meetings had the potential to be inconsequential or to get bogged down in detail, yet each discussion had a healthy mixture of purpose and jollity and each discussion ended on schedule and with positive agreements (note how I resisted using the word "outcomes").
To complete a day on meetings, I finished drafting the minutes of our recent Trustees’ meeting and of the recent Community Fund Panel.
One benefit of working in Watford is that all meetings are relaxed and honest and open. Of course there is more formality at a meeting of the Local Strategic partnership than at a meeting with a community group, but the degree of formality rarely restricts communication or hinders the growth of relationships.
I do not want to come across as a dewy-eyed utopian, but on the whole Watford is a town that goes about its business with a simple honest purpose and this is something to be encouraged and valued.
Today, for example, I spoke with Mary Dodgson (of various local community initiatives) about some work we need doing on our possible relocation to the Holywell Community Centre, Sarah Pinnock (of Watford Borough Council) to keep each other informed of our mutual work, the Community Engagement Project for mental health services and Marv Renshaw (of Inspiral Arts) about a community arts festival in 2009. All these meetings had the potential to be inconsequential or to get bogged down in detail, yet each discussion had a healthy mixture of purpose and jollity and each discussion ended on schedule and with positive agreements (note how I resisted using the word "outcomes").
To complete a day on meetings, I finished drafting the minutes of our recent Trustees’ meeting and of the recent Community Fund Panel.
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