BAPCA on Facebook

From: personcentredtherapy@hotmail.com
To: cg@bapca.org.uk; cb@bapca.org.uk
Subject: BAPCA Facebook Group...
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:33:05 񨾰

Hello there all,

I've taken a bit of a rogue move, and have created a BAPCA Group on Facebook. Panic not, I'm not about to swamp BAPCA with floods of rubbish, nor to direct BAPCA into a position of world domination (even if it might use such a position very well!)

I've written this email to explain my motivations and intention about actioning this. I do want to make it clear that in creating this group, I am NOT appointing myself a spokesperson for BAPCA. I've merely done this to facilitate a space for BAPCA to grow and develop.

SO WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT THEN?
I attended the recent EGM, like many of your good selves, and was hearing SO much enthusiasm for the association. I noticed that there seems to be a shortfall in communication between the members and the CG/CB. Hence I was reminded of the idea to form this group to foster communication between us.

WHY NOW?
We floated this idea at the last National Local Groups meeting in 2008, and Dave Crossley said the CG would need to get onside before we go anywhere with it. Well, we all know that the CG have been at full capacity dealing with all kinds of other things, so the timing never really came about. At that time, I set up the BAPCA Local Groups Group on Facebook and in this time, we've been using this to create a national network of Local Group coordinators. I don't think we've used the group a lot so far, but it's got loads of potential, and has been useful until now as a means of communication or community, which we didn't really have before.

I didn't know how long it would be before the CG meets again, and I would imagine they've got LOTS to work out. That's why I've gone about organising this now.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Well, it doesn't have to mean a whole lot, besides that fact that the group exists.

I've made it a closed group, which means that no one can join it until an administrator permits it. I'm up for a discussion about what we can do with this resource. Some groups on Facebook anyone can join, and I don't think that's necessarily a good idea for us.

For the moment, I've invited Mark Harrison, Allan Turner, Sarah & Dave McCartney to join, and would be happy to get all of the CG/CB members on to test-drive how we can use this tool.

One idea I have (and I'd be happy to work with Di English on this) is to invite the membership of BAPCA to join the group. Once we've done that and people have joined, we can have one group where all of the people in it are paid-up members of BAPCA, so we'll quick way of getting things out to the membership e.g. we can send reminders about membership dues, meetings, conferences, calls for PCQ submissions etc. etc.

WHAT NOW?
This is where you can find the Facebook group:

THAT'S IT!
Let the discussion begin!

I also want to say well done all of you for stepping up to do something for BAPCA, and for those who continue to support the association. I'm looking forward to being more connected with all of you!

Very best,

James-Paul Kelly
07905 592 107