AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION OF: SANHS ROLE, ACTION & PERCEPTION
– DRAFT PAPER FOR GM 11 FEBRUARY.
<! SANHS ROLE
<! SANHS has been the champion of heritage matters in Somerset for 163 years. Among other things SANHS:
Owns Taunton Castle – the home of the revitalised Museum of Somerset
- Castle House; recent recipient of grants for
restoration
- Wyndham Hall: central Taunton meeting venue
Is responsible for nationally important collections related to the county and its residents
Owns the foremost library on Somerset’s heritage
Provides grants and donations for research projects
Publishes papers and books on Somerset’s heritage
Has many of the county’s foremost archaeologists and historians as members
Members enjoy:
Informative meetings related to their areas of special interest*
Seminars with nationally respected contributors*
Social events and contact with other wise and knowledgeable
members*
Participation in the running of the society
Newsletters
Involvement through an active, informed website*
Being guardians for the Castle Estate and the collections for
people of Somerset
*Also open to visitors
<! SANHS has had considerable success recently with the reopening of the Museum of Somerset, plans to refurbish Castle House, involvement in plans for the centre of Taunton, a sell-out archaeological symposium and a relaunched website and communications policy.
<! The Trustee Board is determined that SANHS pre-eminent position at the hub of Somerset heritage activity should continue and be strengthened so that more people interested in Somerset’s heritage will gain more benefits from their involvement with SANHS.
B PLAN OF ACTION
The following action plan should guide the Society during the next year:
<! 1. Engage the Society fully with significant heritage issues in the county and beyond.
Partner and initiate projects
Foster preservation
Champion good practice
<! 2. Champion heritage issues throughout the education, research, specialist society, museum, library, corporate and public authority areas of the county.
- Be directly involved in these bodies’ activities
<! 3. Develop access to its collections, estate, events, publications and deliberations (e.g. using the internet etc.)
<! 4. Support research.
<! 5. Organise the Society so that
a. a. The Trustee Board continually manages and reviews the Society’s priorities and activities
to keep it to the fore of the heritage sector.
a. a. The Trustee Board continually manages and reviews the Society’s priorities and activities
to keep it to the fore of the heritage sector.
<! b. It informs and involves members and the wider community in its activities and development.
<! c. Its specialist interest groups reflect the concerns of its members and the community.
C EXPLAINING SANHS
Proponents [including Trustee Board members (including chairmen), the office manager and the website] need to be fluent in illustrating all the points in A1 and A2 so that they can justify the assertion that “SANHS champions Somerset’s heritage” in conversation and in formal presentations. This “cause” becomes SANHS “cocktail party statement”. It answers the question “what does SANHS do?” and evokes interest. It is not intended to be a mission statement, an aim, an objective or a slogan but is a means of engaging interest and opening communication.
ACNH. 29/01/12
APPENDIX I TO “SANHS ROLE, ACTION & PERCEPTION PAPER”
This appendix is to provide support and illustration for the points of the main agenda
<! D ILLUSTRATION OF CURRENT ACTIVITIES in the areas covered by section B (that
SANHS will build on in future) are:
SANHS will build on in future) are:
B1 Engagement
Initiatives: Castle House restoration
Partnerships: Museum & Castle (SCC)
Castle House: Vivat Trust/SCC/National Lottery
Preservation: Castle House, Castle, architect selection
Good Practice: Castle House, Protection of Collections
B2 Champion heritage Issues
Involvement with Taunton Centre Redevelopment consortium
Scrutiny of applications for Listed Building Consent from CBA (HBC/D.Dawson)
B3 Develop Access to Collections etc.
Improved web publicity
Wider notice of meetings & policy of open access
Programme of General Meetings
Improved indexing of library/planned web availability
Society’s newsletter and operational meeting agendas & minutes on website
Castle House access arrangements
B4 Support for Research
Grant funding for research projects from endowment funds
B5 Society Organisation
a. Management
Trustee Board roles revised in past year
Board now supported by Finance & General Purposes Committee
Board sets up ad hoc groups to report on/action current topics e.g.
Membership Meeting, RAGWG
Ongoing dialogue with SCC on operation of partnership agreements
b. Communication
Website (see above)
Newsletter
Proceedings
General Meetings
Ordinary members on ad hoc groups
Ordinary members supported in their research
c. Topicality
SIG Chairmen have seat in Trustee Board meetings
Special interest groups (SIGs) continuously in touch with membership
Ordinary members on SIG committees
E ACCOUNTABILITY
The Trustee Board will monitor the Society’s progress towards achieving its plan of action; however it would welcome feedback from members on its performance both via the Society’s website and at general meetings such as this. In particular tell us where you consider that any aspect of Somerset’s heritage is not receiving the attention or respect it merits.
ACNH. 29/01/12
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