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A is for apple and also for
Advice
Where do you get advice about how to be a Warden or a member of Premises or a Trustee with responsibility for buildings?
Starting off the series with a serious post.
One of the reasons for starting this blog was that this IS the most common question.
“I’ve just become a Trustee, or agreed to serve on Premises… where do I find out what I should be doing?”
Hoping that by collecting answers to such questions in a easily read and searchable format would be helpful.
I presume that they’ve spoken to other members of the committee. Plus hope that there is a mentor or similar, who can hand on advice and specific information – that corporate memory that I’ve blogged about before.
First port of call is (as in so many things) at Quaker.org.uk where there is useful advice for Trustees, members of Premises Committees both in their capacity as managers of buildings and as managers of staff or volunteers. Plus of course for Wardens. There are staff at Friends House who support Quakers working in and for local meetings:
Next I always recommend joining the Wardenship E List run by Quaker Life – where you can ask questions and get answers and views from people who have a wide range of experience in all sizes of Meeting Houses & Area Meetings all being run in slightly different ways from a team of paid staff to one very part time volunteer.
Everything from – notification of scam artists; discussions about filing contracts; storage of bulk cleaning supplies; plus serious discussions about new legislation and employment matters.
Finally there is an annual conference ‘Managing Our Meeting Houses’ run at Woodbrooke which is not only a good place for new Trustees, Premises Committee Members and Wardens but also for more experienced people. I know several very experienced Wardens who went and were pleasantly surprised to learn, as well as network and share good practice.
Plus of course there are people who are able to give professional advice – who are available on a consultancy basis or as employees. Quaker Stewardship Committee can help too – they’ve produced a useful manual about the care of Meeting Houses as well as a set of Advices and Queries on Stewardship.
Hopefully you’ll find the answers you seek – and then be able to share that knowledge on to the next round of questioners!
Finally – remembering a salutatory piece of advice I was once given –
“remember that the results of well meaning, but bumbling amateurs, may lead to more costly repairs in the long run.”
Did I forget anything?
What else would you add to this list?
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