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Board Matters
by
Mary Fee, Honorary Secretary
From its launch in 1991,
Letslink UK continued without external support until
1997, when it was funded for two years by the Community
Fund, allowing a modest salary for the founder-coordinator,with
formal office space and some clerical and technical
input. In the process, Letslink UK, which had been an
independent agency staffed by a partnership-team carrying
out research, publishing and consultancy, adopted the
usual format for membership bodies, ie a company limited
by guarantee with charitable aims, thereby acquiring
a Board of Trustees supervising the founder-director
as sole employee.
Curiously, whilst recommending
a cooperative structure for LETS groups in order to
share out the considerable workload of running a LETS
scheme, whilst the best available advice had been taken,
LETSlink seemed to have overlooked any analysis of what
structure was needed for the tasks of (a) supporting
the development of some 450 independent member-groups
(b) conducting negotiations at the parliamentary level
on the Benefits issue, and (c) continuing publishing,
teaching and consultancy. Thus there was no teamwork
nor steps taken to obtain the additional funding which
would have enabled a viable group of staff to be appointed.
The mismatch of need and
provision took its toll and trustee resignations ensued,
followed by the appointments of new individuals with
even less clarity on what contribution they should be
making. Thus, staffing support at the appropriate level
was not in place by the time the inevitable health problems
caused by an excessive and unremitting workload over
a ten-year period forced the coordinator to take a much-needed
sabbatical break, in August 2000, resulting in a regrettable
discontinuity of service to members.
The interim solution has
now emerged of running the organisation from the offices
of Letslink London, one of a number of existing regional
networks, currently wokring on a voluntary basis. Individual
members, LETS organisers and regional coordinators are
working with Letslink London to evolve a structure which
will enable us all to more effectively promote the development
of LETS in the UK.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
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