Current Forum Discussion
On 1 November 2011 the
Stamford Forum conducted its AGM in Stamford, Lincs as part of a 2-day
meeting of members. At the meeting we agreed:
AGM
- To
approve the accounts for 2009-2010
- To
appoint Peter Brown & Co as our auditors
- To
reappoint the officers:
- Pete
Mann – Chairman
- Ritchard
Brazil – Secretary
- Annie
Medcalf – Treasurer
Meeting
- We
contributed to the judging of the 2011 David Singer Millennium
Prize, the subject being, “In some Western countries, right-wing
populism has been able to channel much of the anger caused by the
financial crisis and its effect. Why has the Left been
marginalized? How can this be overcome?”
- We
updated each other on our recent activities (see the What we do
page)
- We
discussed and set up a new Stamford Forum Initiative called
“Getting Better Value” which is aimed at starting a dialogue
within and across the private, public and voluntary sectors and is
based on the following 5 platforms:
- Orchestrating
private, public and third sectors for mutual benefit
- Balancing
community value and shareholder value to generate growth
- Improving
public services whilst reducing their costs
- Motivating
people and improving performance during the “Great Depression”
- Developing
a strong green economy which has individual and community benefit
through changing consumption
- A
series of planned and emerging developments on this Initiative will
be posted on this web-site
- We
agreed a 2012 diary of meetings in February, June/July (AGM) and
October. Confirmed dates will also be posted on this web-site
‘Stamfordtown’
– An introduction
“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to
conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the
introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies
all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders
in those who may do well under the new."
Machiavelli, “The Prince”
‘Stamfordtown’
is a series of very short essays (500-800 words) written by members of the
Stamford Forum (and hopefully in time, others). It was conceived earlier in
2009 as an attempt to address the key and unspoken issues of the day. It
tackles some of the perceived deficits in modern politics and society. It
represents, so far, a cry from the heart.
‘Stamfordtown’ is an ongoing dialogue. We range across a wide
variety of linked topics including; “Who needs a moral compass when there
is serious money to be made?” (Essay
1); the questions that need to be answered (Essay
2); a new framework for thinking about society (Diagram
2); the impact of recession on public services (Essay
3); a challenge to democracy (Essay
4); ‘7 Steps to moral
coherence’ (Essay
5); ‘The view from the girls’, (Essay
6); The ‘crisis’ and a ‘post Fordist state’ (Essay
7) and, ‘From paralysis to
possibility: some hard questions for health and social care leaders’ (Essay
8). ‘Our thinking so far……’ (Essay
9).
There will be more.
Each of the essays stands alone. However they can also be read in
conjunction with each other. They are designed to challenge, perhaps they
might even offend, but hopefully they will interest and stimulate. Join us in
the debate. Essay 9 is unfinished. It needs your contributions. Comment to
any one of us or send us your own essay to add to the emerging story.
Why ‘Stamfordtown’? No good reason really. Perhaps its about
creating a viable alternative – a place where we all want to be.
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