The Royal Commonwealth Society
October 2009 | View as a webpage
update...

Danny SriskandarajahWelcome to a new look monthly newsletter for RCS branches that will replace contact. We hope that the increased regularity will help keep you even more up-to-date with what's going on here in London and at the other branches around the Commonwealth.
I am delighted to announce to branches the appointment of our new Chairman, Peter Kellner. You can find out more about Peter below, but I’m sure that you will all join me in welcoming him into the RCS family. I believe that Peter’s appointment marks the beginning of an exciting time in the Society’s long and distinguished history and I very much look forward to working alongside him. I must also take this opportunity to thank Sir Michael McWilliam who has acted as interim RCS Chairman since March 2009. His
support, leadership and commitment have been invaluable.

Danny Sriskandarajah | Director

News
Peter Kellner

Introducing the new chair of the RCS

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Peter Kellner as the new Chairman of the RCS. Peter is the President of YouGov, a research, opinion polling and consulting organisation. Formerly the political analyst of BBC Newsnight, over the last 30 years Peter has also been a journalist with the Sunday Times, the Independent, New Statesman and Evening Standard. He was a visiting fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford and the Institute for Policy Studies. He is married to Baroness Catherine Ashton, the European Trade Commissioner.

“I am delighted that Peter Kellner is taking up this post”, says Sir Michael McWilliam, interim RCS Chairman since March 2009. “He is deeply committed to the aims of the RCS and will be an influential advocate of its cause. I am certain that the RCS will benefit greatly from his leadership.”

Peter Kellner said, “The RCS is an organisation with a proud history and a great future. I look forward to helping it become an increasingly active and important Commonwealth centre.”

Peter has sat on the RCS Council since 2007. His appointment follows an open recruitment process led by independent executive search company, Saxton Bampfylde.

 
  Newspapers

Commonwealth Conversation: latest news!

In the run-up to CHOGM, the Commonwealth Conversation is really starting to heat up. Over the next 7 weeks, nearly 30 events are taking place around the world. From Abuja to Arusha, Nairobi to New Delhi, Lilongwe to Lusaka, hundreds of people are joining in. Some fascinating results are beginning to emerge, but we still need many more people to contribute.

Join the Debate!

Many high-profile figures have already joined in the Conversation. Why not tell us if you agree with their comments?

  

events
For information on all current events coming up at RCS London, please visit the events page of our website.
 

Branch News

RCS Auckland Branch, New Zealand

The branch held a Commonwealth 60th Anniversary Lunch with former Commonwealth SG, the Rt. Hon. Sir Donald McKinnon as guest speaker. They also issued a special newsletter with its own questionnaire on the Commonwealth.

RCS Bath Branch, UK

Members were represented at a Gap Year Fair for local students.

Yaounde University Commonwealth Society, Cameroon

The Society elected a new bureau in May, made up of and chaired by students with Dr Kizitus Mpoche as President. The new university year begins on 15 October and the Society expects to be very active in the coming months.

The Society also participated in a 'Commemoration of 60 years of the Commonwealth' event organised by the Ministry of External Relations in Yaounde. Dr Kizitus Mpoche presented a paper at the event on the topic ´The Commonwealth Serving a New Generation and a New Generation Serving the Commonwealth'.

RCS Cameroon Branch

The branch are working with the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf (Sound Seekers) to facilitate the establishment of a mobile audiology clinic in Cameroon. Earlier this year, they hosted the Commonwealth Foundation’s Regional Consultation (for West and central Africa) Conference, reflecting on the theme partnering for a more sustainable future.

The branch also hosted the Yaoundé Regional Conference at which Nick Maurice of BUILD UK spoke. VSO and the British Council were conference partners. They partnered with the British Council to facilitate training on Interaction Leadership and Project Management for 100 civil society organizations in Cameroon, with additional support from the British High Commission in Yaoundé. Finally, they received three volunteers from EWB UK for a six month placement in their Kurume project water initiative.

The RCS of Canada

They held their AGM in Ottawa at the end of May. RCS Director, Danny Sriskandarajah attended and spoke about his future plans. The keynote address was given by well known economist, Gilles Paquet, who spoke about educating leaders for the Commonwealth. An Nkabom bursary recipient, Jiselle Bakker, also spoke about the importance of RCS youth sponsored programmes.

Cayman Islands

Following the launch of the Commonwealth Conversation, The Hon. Justice Charles Quin, the RCS Honorary Representative, has initiated a discussion on the Commonwealth.

The Round Table of Commonwealth Countries in the Dominican Republic

The Roundtable offered a farewell luncheon to Ronald Bullen who is acting Ambassador of the United States in the Dominican Republic on 25 August 2009.

RCS Fiji Branch

Despite Fiji’s suspension from the Commonwealth, the branch plan to promote the pan-Commonwealth competitions run by the RCS, such as the Essay Competition and Vision Awards; to celebrate Commonwealth Day each year; to hold a Gala Dinner to raise funds for local schoolchildren; to host an art exhibition and auction of paintings to raise funds for branch activities and to promote emerging Commonwealth artists; and to seek the issue of an RCS stamp.

They plan to hold regular branch meetings and special welcome meetings for new arrivals. Partnership events with Commonwealth High Commissioners and other Non Governmental Organisations are also planned.

The Gambia

The RCS's representative in The Gambia, a journalist at present living in exile in Senegal, wrote a fascinating piece for the Commonwealth Conversation website about media freedoms. Click here to read the article.

The Commonwealth Students Welfare Group of India

The group plan to run youth CHOGMS in local schools; hold a schools' Commonwealth quiz; run inter-school debates; and hold poster making and essay writing competitions on Commonwealth themes. They plan to work in collaboration with a registered Educational Society in Rajasthan to build an English Medium School - Rajkamal International school - to provide education to children living in rural areas.

RCS Jersey Branch

Jersey branch are planning a Commonwealth Conversation event for 22 October. They will also hold a black tie dinner to celebrate the 60th anniversary year of the Commonwealth on 15 October.

RCS Montreal Branch, Canada

The branch are supporting the Vutikalulu Centre for Sustainable Technology in Fiji. They were also represented at D-Day Anniversary Ceremonies in Normandy.

Commonwealth Peoples’ Association of Uganda

Together with the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the association organised a public lecture on what was gained by Uganda hosting CHOGM 2007. They are planning a national consultation on the Commonwealth Conversation and supporting a Water for Education Project in Karamaja.

RCS Vancouver Island Branch, Canada

The branch plan to engage with local youth programmes; hold public debates on issues that young people are passionate about; organise a welcome reception for Commonwealth students at local universities and colleges; introduce the Commonwealth into schools through the curriculum or clubs; encourage high schools to recognise Commonwealth Day with exhibitions or celebrations; and run a competition for the best school celebration of Commonwealth Day.

RCS Victoria Branch, Australia

The branch continue to support Popendetta Hospital and Eroro School in Papua New Guinea.

RCS Wales Branch, UK

The branch had a place on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association stand at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. They are working with the University of Wales and have a voluntary network of 40 students in South Wales. They are promoting the Commonwealth Essay Competition and have donated free software in local schools. They have established an electronic newsletter called “Pendragon”

Wellington Commonwealth Trust, New Zealand

A highly successful Student CHOGM was held at Parliament on 17-18 August. The branch are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British High Commission to take part in the Commonwealth Conversation project. At least one Conversation event will be held in October. The Governor General as National Patron will honour RCS Wellington at a dinner on 30 November. This event will have 3 themes running through it: a celebration of CHOGM which will just have finished, the Commonwealth Conversation and the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
All contributions to this section of the e-newsletter are welcome. Please write to us with your latest branch news so that it can be shared with the RCS network.
 

Branch Benefits
Commonwealth Club

If RCS branch members are travelling to London and would like to have access to the facilities at the Commonwealth Club, this can be arranged at either £5 per day or £45 for three months. For more information please contact the Membership Department on +44 (0) 20 7766 9231.
 
Citadines

If you require accommodation whilst in London then the Citadines Trafalgar, located next door to the Club, offers RCS Branch Members approximately 20% discount off the standard rates. Please contact them directly by emailing trafalgar@citadines.com or calling +44 (0) 20 7269 1680.