On 28 September 2012 18:40, Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Training is something the chapter is already involved
in and should
therefore ensure is done well, since it reflects on the chapter. Having
individuals contacting potential trainees directly appears unprofessional
and leads to an inefficient and inconsistent response.
I don't think it's producing bad results, but perhaps I'm biased.
I've been spending the past six months doing *exactly this*; contacting
organisations directly, usually through personal contacts, arranging
training, and (with the invaluable help of volunteers) delivering it. I
have kept the chapter informed, but the sessions are pretty much
independent of the ongoing WMUK training events, though they provide
support (laptops, printed sheets, etc). I do not believe the chapter are in
any way unhappy with this arrangement; they've had plenty of opportunity to
say if they are!
It's certainly more efficient than asking the chapter to do it - you
yourself have argued on this very mailing list that they are overworked,
and trying to do too much. To demand it be centralised is to give them yet
more work to do, on top of the existing load. It also introduces extra
inefficiencies - they won't be going through the same direct connections,
which makes the offer of a workshop less likely to be accepted, and it's
much easier to arrange a session when the person delivering it is also the
person negotiating it.
Yes, random people emailing random contacts offering training is bad. But
if we trust the person to deliver the training professionally, and we are
willing to send them out there to represent the community in doing so, I
can't imagine any reason we wouldn't trust them to reach out and organise
the sessions as well.
--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray(a)dunelm.org.uk
--
- Andrew Gray
andrew.gray(a)dunelm.org.uk