What does RSA Fellowship mean to you? Why is it important? These and other provocative questions are part of a really interesting discussion taking place on Matthew Taylor’s blog, The RSA – do you get it?
In addition to the issues raised there, I’m interested in whether the proposition is different for Fellows living outside of London and especially for Fellows living overseas.
What’s your perspective?
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June 30th, 2009 at 5:53 am
I joined because my mother is a British scientist (an alpine botanist who works at the New York Botanical Garden), and I wanted to keep up with the latest in British intellectual life. I feel honored to be part of the RSA.
http://www.scifri.org
June 30th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Excellent reason, Ann Marie! I hope others feel honored as you do. There was a comment on Matthew’s blog (referenced above) that some Fellows are not all that proud to be FRSA, and that obviously raises a raft of questions about the causes and possible solutions. This will be one of the major challenges for the new Fellowship Council to take on.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Its certainly an honor to be a Fellow of the RSA.
In the United States we have some monumental economic, social and environmental problems to deal with. These are unlikely to be “solved” during one or two presidential terms, the time frame being more like a generation or two even with an all-out effort. Achieving a far more humane balance among profits, culture, business, commerce and the environments we inhabit than has been the case for 50 years or more in the US, will take a great deal of persistent and creative efforts by many. By being a part of the RSA and leveraging its resources and world-wide reputation, I feel that I can contribute my experience and expertise more effectively to this great endeavor for this country.
Being at the policy-making tables where the debates about the quality, resilience and appropriateness of our designed and built world take place, is a key opportunity – and a natural one at that – for RSA Fellows and members. I for one look forward to connecting with other RSA Fellows and members in the US to discuss how we can pool our respective interests, talents and experiences to put our collective shoulders to positively and creatively re-shape and re-energize many of our blighted cities, neighborhoods and communities.
I’m based in the Phoenix Metro Area – a place which is in many ways a poster child of how to get city design, planning and economic infrastructure wrong. But its a place with a huge amount of talent and energy to re=shape the situation we find ourselves in here in the desert Southwest.
Phil Allsopp, RIBA, FRSA
Scottsdsale, Arizona, USA
July 1st, 2009 at 5:51 am
Hi Lynn – great discussion, and one we are also following through on the London City Network (all welcome!)
Just to clarify what I said on Matthew’s blog, in relation to branding of RSA and FRSA, was:
“On FRSA – isn’t the problem that it is even more misinterpreted that RSA … most people think it is a qualification or significant form of distinction when it isn’t. Of course FRSA’s are wonderful people, but has anyone been refused Fellowship? I’m personally embarrassed by FRSA … not because I don’t want to promote and celebrate RSA, but because it gives the wrong message”.
I added
“I’m proud to be a member of RSA, but I think FRSA is an inappropriate and misleading label for that, as Matthew has mused in the past. Google FRSA and you will find people using it among their qualifications, and I suspect for business promotion. I’ve heard people say £140 is a cheap way of getting some letters after their name”.
My key point was:
“Let’s have something that expresses what we do, not what we simply pay for”.
Anyway, the main thing is to do what we are doing in London – and here – telling stories about why we think RSA is important, and how it may help us do more good in the world. That should clarify the value of the FRSA proposition.
I was, perhaps, a little provocative because in any earlier post Matthew was enthusing about the importance of the Fellowship, but the current rebranding is being done by consultants and staff without any Fellowship involvement.
I’m really interested in how these issues appear at greater distance, geographically at least.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:38 am
David – thanks for picking this up and putting your comment in context.
On the question of what FRSA actually means, as I mentioned on Matthew’s blog, it means different things to different people. Here in the US my sense from Fellows is that FRSA means being part of an organization that has a long history of working to make a difference – it’s not about buying the FRSA badge for self promotion. In fact, US FRSAs reacted very strongly to the “cold-mailing” recruitment approach of a few years ago, perceived by some to be all about getting bums on seats and fellowship subs in the bank while diluting the overall value of Fellowship.
If it sounds like I’m bragging about RSA-US, I am a bit. For the most part, Fellows here do get it!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:11 am
Thanks Lynn – I think it would benefit us greatly in the UK to have more US input to our discussion. It certainly does sound to me if US Fellows get it. I wonder if that is in part because of a stronger tradition of volunteer service in communities? We’re all on government pay-roll over here:-)