Reorganisation of the Beaumont Executive Committee to strengthen support for members
Discussions (Serious, Trans in the Media) 12 replies 0 likes 0 votes 9 viewsHello all x
These proposals will be put forward to be voted upon at the AGM. We need to update and modernise, to provide continual improvement to our support model to members and provide the best support for the wider Trans community in an ever changing world,
We have had a Regional Organiser model dating back to 1966 when it was illegal to be gay and if you wanted to join the Beaumont Society you had to have a face to face interview to ensure you were suitable.
Because of very valid reasons RO's can no longer dedicate time to Organise outing / events or support members in their areas. This because people have busy lives, work and family commitments or due to other commitments. With the exception of Karen C no RO Organises anything in their Region on a regular basis because of the above very valid reasons, as an example Kay Holmes works 5 days a week, has 2 or 3 music rehearsals a week, takes 2 music lessons for students 2 evenings a week, then plays at a Gig, sometimes Friday and Saturday. !!!
Recently all RO's sent out emails to all their members and the number of replies was not good. In the South West for example Paula had one reply from her members, and that was a lady who wanted to leave the Beaumont ! Not much better in all other Regions.
We currently have 5 RO vacancies and these vacancies will NEVER EVER be filled. we have tried over the past 5 years to fill them, to no avail.
268 Members are in regions where there has been a long-term R.O. vacancy for 5 years or more. These vacancies will never be filled
319 Members are in regions where there has been an R.O. but there has been little or no activity
My proposal, working with Rachel our President, is to scrap the RO model, RO's would become Regional contacts, so if a member wanted to know where there is a social group, a wig shop or other facility for example in the Southern region, then Andrea would answer that query. This makes the RO's job much less time consuming, plus the pressure to organise Regional outings and events is taken away from the RO.
Members would be encouraged to organise Coffee mornings, trips to National Trust properties and the like in their local area, with no pressure to become an RO. To help members any reasonable spend would either be able to be expensed or certainly the Beaumont would subsidise an outing expenses. Recently {Samantha, organised a picnic at Rutland Water, the Beaumont paid for the boat trip for all members on the outing that day.
The latest events, Bath, Severn Valley Railway and Sibson have been organised by members. Given the opportunity members will take an active role, we have some amazing, awesome and fabulous members xxx
The RO team have some fantastic strengths and I am proposing that we implement new roles for the RO's and play to those strengths, to give all our members better support, see below.
New Roles:
These new roles would provide a broader support for our members and ensure we modernise and keep pace with changes in the Trans Community.
Janine will become Recruitment Officer; Janine has already recruited over 25 new members plus in Central, Janine should do this role Nationally.
We need to follow up with Social Groups and other Trans Organisations with the One Voice initiative. Janine will work with Andrea and Karen C with the One Voice program.
Andrea will be our Pride Events and Political Liaison Officer. Andrea has done a sterling job in this area for many years, plus this gives her time with her busy life to contribute, without it being overbearing. Andrea will also be part of the One Voice team, to progress our collaboration with other Trans organisations.
Karen C does a great job in Scotland with Social Groups, Hotel Karen/Carol and other social meetings. So please continue with that role. Karen will be part of the One Voice team, to progress our collaboration with other Trans organisations.
Karen C will lead a Sub-Committee to look at organising a Members group weekend event, in line with other organisations events. Build on our successes of Liverpool and Sibson. She has already started on this task.
Because of their substantial experience I would suggest Fiona and Paula be our Health and Well Being Officers, where members need assistance and help, they can arrange a phone call / conference call / emails and with our new website platform they can talk with members in need via online chat or videoconferencing. Plus, also be involved in Pop up Support calls. Fiona will also assist with Beaumont Members Golf days. Paula will continue with to manage the phone system.
Kay Holmes has helped a significant number of members with Mentoring help and will continue in this valuable role as our Mentor Program Lead on a National basis.
Jane Hamlin will continue to be her Press Officer role, plus campaign and promote transgender issues in the Mainstream Media.
Michelle will continue as Treasurer
Karen B will be the Membership secretary. It’s important in this role to welcome new members and guide them to where they need to be, i.e. Mentoring, Wellbeing help and support. Karen B will work closely with Michelle with new and existing member admin. Karen B has significant energy and enthusiasm and she will bring this to the Membership secretary's role.
All other Roles will remain the same
Additional roles may be agreed by the Executive Committee.
There is also an opportunity to improve membership numbers by actively advertising our presence and what we do, in other organisations magazines / overlap with the One Voice program, should we have a Promotions Manager, working alongside the Press Officer ?
We need to get active on Instagram and TikTok to reach out to promote The Beaumont Society to tell them who we are, what we do and attract younger members, to get the lost souls to have somewhere to turn to, THAT’S US ! We are too inward looking; we need an outward presence and strategy. The One Voice goes somewhat towards this, but we need to do more.
We have 3 options:
Option 1 – Keep with the current RO model and try get the vacancies filled. The vacancies will never be filled, we have tried for 5 years!!!
Option 2 - Streamline the Executive Committee and have a model of encouraging members to take a more active role via Incentives•( the Beaumont will pay for any reasonable spend, boat trips, afternoon teas, Makeup Demo’s), support and subsidies. •Plus enable current RO’s to contribute to the Beaumont Society with a more meaningful and productive role•. Plus take Trans related courses. GIRES has a selection, have regional contacts, not RO’s.
- Option 3 - Do nothing, the Beaumont Society would continue to fade and drop down the “table” of Trans Organisations our community turn to for help and support plus it would have a shelf life of about 5 to 10 years.
I look forward to presenting the above proposal to you at the AGM meeting
Much Love Lynne xxx