RCS Branch Questionnaires

Earlier this month, all RCS branches and Honrary Representatives should have received two questionnaires from us - one to be filled out by a single Officer per Branch and one to be completed by Branch members.

These questionnaires form part of an important review process which we hope will ensure that the relationship between the RCS in London and our branches and societies worldwide is as mutually beneficial as possible.

The Questionnaire for Branch Members can be completed online by clicking here.

If you did not receive your surveys, or if you have any queries, please email John Sutherland at john@thercs.org or call him on +44 207 766 9215.

We would be most grateful if you could return the completed surveys to us by Friday 25 June 2010.

From Oxford to Australia, Danny meets RCS branches

"In my first 15 months as Director of the RCS, I have been trying hard to get to know all our branches.

As well as a trip to the Oxford Branch here in the UK, I recently took advantage of my family holidays to Australia to visit representatives from three of our branches in Canberra, Perth and Sydney.

While all four of these branches face some challenges, for example around attracting new members, I am delighted that there are dynamic and energetic people at their healm. All of them remain very much committed to the values of the Commonwealth and to the role of the RCS in promoting these values today.

Mrs Joan Tonkin and colleagues in Perth are particularly looking forward to welcoming the Commonwealth family to the November 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting."

Commonwealth team observe UK Elections

The RCS and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK are delighted to announce the arrival of their Observation Team to the UK General Election.

The 11 Observers, all from Commonwealth countries, are taking part in the first Commonwealth observation of an election in a developed country. They will be taking advantage of a recent change in UK law which will allow them into polling stations for the very first time.

The Observers include young Parliamentarians from 7 Commonwealth countries, plus civil society democracy activists.

Their programme will include briefings from key political organisations, several days shadowing prospective candidates in constituencies around England and Scotland, observing polling stations and the count, and submitting a final report.

Visit the News section of the website to find out more and to see video blogs and updates from the delegates.

New research published by the RCS also suggests that over 1 million Commonwealth citizens living in the UK could vote in this week's General Election. Click here to see our Press Release.

Butterfly Release

On 22 April, the RCS helped to organise the simultaneous release of 54 live butterflies by school children from Westminster School. The event took place in the picturesque College Gardens, in the shadow of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Director of the RCS, explained that each of the butterflies symbolised one of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth before they were released by the group of eager school children.

In keeping with this year's Commonwealth theme - Science, Technology and Society - the butterfly release was followed by a lecture on 'Why is Science Important?' by Alom Shaha, a physics teacher, broadcaster and science writer.

You can see stunning photos from the day in the 'What's New?' section of our Youth website.