Let me know what you think

We've had an amazing week of lectures.

On Monday American academic Scott Page explained the thesis of his book 'The Difference'; how the power of diversity creates better groups, firms, schools and societies.

On Tuesday the Great Room was packed and the overflow room put in use as we listened to Nassim Nicholas Taleb talk about his book the 'Black Swan'. His thesis that unpredictable events are much more important than we recognize has been widely discussed in radio programmes and newspaper columns.

On Thursday we discussed 'Who is the Zeitgeist novelist of the Blair era' with novelist Blake Morrison and dignitaries from the world of publishing.

And on Thursday evening we hosted the Mind Gym awards with the authors of the best selling Mind Gym books handing our awards for practical and innovative research into how we might be happier and more effective people.

Over the week upwards of 800 people have been here in person to be entertained and provoked, plus the thousands of others downloading lectures and subscribing to podcasts from our website.

And this is on top of the packed conference on our Opening Minds conference last week.

The RSA can be justly proud of its London lecture programme but we should do more to replicate this around the country.

Last week I met with our Regional Chairs. It was a very useful meeting with a group of committed volunteers working hard to raise the RSA's membership and profile.

It isn't easy if you are covering a huge region but I want to work with the Regional Committees to aim ever higher in the quality and content of our programme outside London.

There is a lazy, and inaccurate, perception of the RSA as being about day time visits to stately homes. But while most regions have a much richer diary of events, we need our social and cultural activities to be just the icing on the cake of an ambitious programme of speakers, debates and activities like the Coffee House Challenge.

This means we need to look to providing extra administrative back up to the regions and nations and this is something we plan to do. There is a real feeling in London circles that the RSA is going places, let's see what we can do to create that feeling across the UK.

When I first started this blog I said that it was a regular chance for me to chat to Fellows and get conversations and ideas flowing across the Fellowship. Let me know what ideas you have, what your thoughts are, or any comments you might have on the regions, the RSA, or the Fellowship.

• Liz Sewell - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Its not often that I've had the opportunity to contact the media myself. My own company has quietly gone about its business for the past 17 years serving its customers (predominently mail order and web) in what we hope is a good way. That relationship was threatened by the recent postal strike which we hope is now at the point of a resolution which will see an end to the strike and the beginning of negotiations that can take the company forward for the sake of its owners (us courtesy of the Government) and in the spirit of the newly redefined Companies Act, of its employees. It was with this end..for this good (and I do believe that a universal postal system is a "good thing")that we contacted various media channels for the purpose of highlighting the plight of small businesses such as ours. It was slightly surprising having fired off some emails to get calls from BBC2's Working Lunch and Radio 5 Live the following morning and the following week the result was a snippet on the Today program (but how could a 10 minute interview be honed into a 10 second bite?) What experience did I gain from this - the negatives ...the danger of being taken out of context, edited comments resulting in a shift of emphasis and on the positive the fact that with a cause worth fighting for our voice was heard. In my view this was public broadcasting as it should be - an issue that affected the public being brought to light but I could see how easy it could be to shift the balance of an interview to draw a pre-defined conclusion. Your point is a good one. I think the interviewers I dealt with did "do good" (I may be biased!) but I also hope they ask themselves that question often.

• Iain - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  As a recent Fellow, I blogged on the zeitgeist debate here http://www.encounterbusiness.com/index.php. My 'experience' so far? Really good email prompts / reminders, and have loved the lunchtime lectures as a way of bringing non RSA people here, and doing something very different and thought provoking from a routine business lunch. Great reception, great restaurant, great library, indifferent bar / cafe (to which Leon is prime competition now). But yes Liz, it feels like a London thing. Maybe live vodcasting of some of the debates? But no real substitute for being there I guess.

• Susan Butler - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  You echo the thoughts of many Fellows I've talked to recently and we are listening. Work has started on developing new opportunities for Fellows to engage in our work, particularly at community level. We are very keen to capture ideas from Fellows and get their response to ours. So will be in touch shortly when plans start to firm up. Thanks, Susan Susan Butler Head of Marketing & Communications RSA

• Helen Westropp - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Matthew I believe you have a very valuable resource in the Council, which could help with replicating all the great things that happen on London in the regions. Many council members are also regional members. Why not charge us with being your/RSA ambassadors into the regions? What do other Council members think? Helen Westropp RSA Council member

• Matthew Taylor - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Thanks Fenton, really interesting. I won't respond in detail to the content as I find myself broadly in agreeemnt. But please accept that I am not a reductionist. I am not advocating anything merely suggesting that we are moving into a time when how we think is given as much weight as what we think. This future contains possibilities but also perils. Neurological reductionism is one of the perils

• Lynn Broadbent - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Here in the US we are looking forward to increased support from London to enable us to optimize all available opportunities to enhance the RSA's core mission. We are committed to helping the RSA become a truly global organization. While blogging and podcasting are one way to increase the RSA's international reach, as someone said above, there is no real substitute for being there. See you soon!

• Jan Brady - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Dear Liz, Why not consider participating in the RSA's Coffeehouse Challenge this year? The Coffeehouse Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for you, as a Fellow of the RSA, to truly get involved. It is a community-based initiative designed to encourage Fellows and other individuals to come together and discuss local issues with a view to deliberating and fleshing out solutions. The conversations have value in themselves in terms of fostering networks and building community ties but we are encouraging participants this year to focus on turning their ideas into action, to make real change in their communities. You can get more information on our website - www.coffeehousechallenge.org - and see what you think? Best wishes Jan.

• Justin Souter - 05 Jun 2008 1:38pm

  Matthew I've been reading a number of posts, and I agree absolutely with your point about administrative assistance. I agree and support your drive to increase the role of Fellows as "social activists" but our experience in the NE has been that it's difficult to keep up momentum and focus when we only have a chance to meet infrequently etc. I'm concerned that any initiatives Fellows pick up will fizzle out because people can only give their time on a sporadic basis (due to other commitments etc.) speak soon, Justin

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