I think this is a marker for all membership organisations faced with the task of re-inventing themselves, in an age when people can simply leave and form their own groups and networks online. We can also use this capability more positively to add some push from the outside.
Malcolm Forbes has done this by following through from our RSA and social media event on Monday and set up a Facebook group called Open RSA, which you can find here if you have joined Facebook (it's free).
Open RSA London is a group for all those interested in the RSA, its people, its projects, its aims, its challenges, its vision. This is an open group, anyone can join, not just 'fellows' or staff of the RSA, but we would like as many of them as possible to join in.
This is exploratory - seeing what value can emerge from the use of social networking software such as Facebook.
We have started as a London group but again you can still be a member if you are not in London. We want to encourage discussion, ideas, action, meetings and linkages to other networks and groups. Maybe other Open RSA groups set up in other areas.
The RSA by the way is the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and 'works to remove the barriers to social progress'. Lets see what happens and also have some fun!
I'm pleased that a previous blog post of mine helped promote the idea. However, the really interesting thing for me was the way that once messages started circulating within Facebook it was possible to organise a meeting (thanks to Ian Delaney), follow up the discussion, check out with people what they felt about a group, and then move forward, all in a couple of weeks.
I hope that Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the RSA, will welcome the idea. He wrote on his own blog about Very many networks following an event in Manchester, saying:
Between now and the start of our new engagement strategy we need to have a substantial and clear headed dialogue across the RSA about how Fellows working together really can make a difference.
Anne Johnson, in response, asked if there was a Facebook group for Fellows. Matthew's reply: "No, but there soon will be - watch this space".
I hope the RSA does set up an "official" group. Meanwhile we can get started in our space.
Previously:
Why bother with "membership" in future?
Other items here on the RSA
I don't think I have seen you refer to Ning.com, which offers the chance to create a dedicated social networking site very easily.
http://www.ning.com/
It is clearly a lot smaller than facebook, but gains by not being associated with a particular age group in the way that facebook and myspace appear to be.
Posted by: ian | July 12, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Thanks Ian
I have used Ning, and agree it is great for a dedicated networking site. The advantage in Facebook, for some things, is that there are already lots of people/friends there - so you don't have to recruit, or help people understand how to use the system.
Posted by: David Wilcox | July 12, 2007 at 05:36 PM
My problem with Facebook is that it doesn't seem to have any members over about 25, so I was surprised to see it being used in the context of the RSA. I have no problems with that per se, but it seems to be a disadvantage for more 'serious' applications which need to attract a wide range of people.
I suppose however it is like sites like flickr, big enough to hold lots of discrete groups that never need to overlap.
Posted by: ian | July 12, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Ian - Facebook has changed a lot. I'm definitely over 25, and so are almost all my friends there. Worth taking another look.
Posted by: David Wilcox | July 12, 2007 at 06:08 PM
I'm 51 and partner's 50! But anyway, the really interesting (alarming) thing is how quickly hoards of people move from one system to another. Our children (aged between 21 and 25) enticed us onto MySpace but then, in a matter of weeks they (and all their friends) had moved to FaceBook. It all feels very trascient. I'm looking forward to the day when we can all stay where we are and somehow still collaborate and work together without having to gather somewhere else . . .
Posted by: Simon Berry | July 12, 2007 at 10:28 PM
i am writing in just to connect and show support at this point. i entirely believe that RSA official and unofficial is wonderful eg full of wonder and for such an old entity that is gorgeous...i have become more fully myself through meeting fellows at the RSA and slowly i am shuffling towards my goals through such mutual reinforcement ... i welcome interaction in all its many forms all the very best Sarah
Posted by: sarah farrugia | July 13, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Dumb question .. What is the RSA and why is it so important? (Royal Society for the Arts). I've seen it mentioned in many places recently, and I don't understand why. Is it simply because I'm not from England?
Posted by: Jack Vinson | July 15, 2007 at 04:50 AM
Jack - some dumb questions are the best ones. Why is the RSA important? It's where old-style conversation and policy development, started 250 years ago in a coffee shop, is meeting new-style aided by social media. That push is being led by CEO Matthew Taylor, a former policy adviser to Tony Blair now promoting a non-party agenda of social action. New media types are interested in exploring the possible mix of f2f and online. And 26,000 people are members. Good networking opportunities. I've sent you an invite to our Open RSA group in Facebook. Do ask the question again there!
Posted by: David Wilcox | July 15, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Thanks Sarah - membership of Open RSA has grown to 98 in a few days. Do join us!
Posted by: David Wilcox | July 15, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Have I missed something? The Facebook group is a group with a discussion board (very 1997), a "Wall", the ability to post events ("Calendar") and not much else. How is this revolutionary?
Posted by: Mike Butcher | July 17, 2007 at 05:30 PM