Commonwealth Day Celebrations

Commonwealth Day was a colourful occasion in London. You can flick through a gallery of our photos from the day on our website.

From the number of reports and pictures that have been pouring in from around the world, it would seem that many RCS branches also celebrated in style.

From dinners and music, to trade agreements and mock Commonwealth Summits, we have been fascinated to hear how you celebrated Commonwealth Day.

If you're interested in finding what some of your fellow branch members did, click here. This page will be kept updated as more news comes in.

Please send any details of how your branch celebrated Commonwealth Day to John Sutherland at john@thercs.org.

To find out more about the 'Science, Technology and Society' theme, visit: www.sci-tech-soc.org.

Council Nominations

The Annual General Meeting of the RCS will be held on Thursday 24 June 2010 at 6pm in the Commonwealth Club.

There are four vacancies for Councillors to be elected from the membership of the RCS. Two Council members whose first three-year term is coming to an end may seek re-election for a second term.

Nominations are invited and need to be forwarded in writing or via email to Elaine Crisp (E: elaine.crisp@thercs.org T: 020 7766 9257) by 1st May 2010.

Valid nominations will need to show that:

a) the nominee is a Member of the RCS in London (with a valid membership number)

b) the nominee is supported by not fewer than ten fellow members

c) the nominee has given consent to nomination in writing or by email

Can you help with our Competitions?

The deadline for the Essay Competition is fast approaching with only one month left for entries to be submitted before 1st May.

As always, branches can help by spreading the word, but you may also be able to help in other ways...

We are looking for writers, filmmakers or photographers to contibute to workshops for some of our young competition entrants. These are taking place all over the world - they need not to be London-based. On 9th and 12th April, authors shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize are running workshops in new Delhi for young people at four of our local essay competition schools.

If you think you could help, or if you could put us in touch with someone who can, please email Competitions Manager, Catherine Clark or call on 020 7766 9204 for an informal chat.

Find out more: www.thercs.org/youth/competitons

Nkabom Youth Leadership Programme

Our Commonwealth Youth Leadership programme will take place in Rwanda from 5th to 15th September. This pioneering project brings together young people from all over the world to learn peacebuilding, conflict resolution and leadership skills.

Interested in being involved with this project? If you are...

• a Commonwealth citizen aged between 18 and 25, you can apply now to take part in Nkabom 2010. Click here.
• a Commonwealth citizen aged between 18 and 25 based in the UK, you could become a member of the Youth Steering Committee who will plan and deliver the project. Click here.
• part of an organisation which might be interested in offering financial or in kind support to Nkabom 2010, we would love to hear from you. Click here.

Find out more: www.thercs.org/youth/nkabom