THE BOTSWANA SOCIETY
Members present:
Sandy Grant, Bob Matthews, Felicity Leburu-Sianga, Rahim Khan, Quill Hermans, James Honold, Neil Parsons, Derek Jones, Jill Jones, Derek Hudson, Richard Jones, Alec Campbell, Rusette Auton, Kerstin Jackson, Mike Main
Apologies:
Trevor Burnett, Ignatius Ndzinge
1. To promote research for the dissemination of knowledge on Botswana
Promoting new research on important issues. Reinforcing existing research. N.B. research of relevance to Botswana (and using new media for dissemination)
2. To preserve the heritage of Botswana
Museum collaboration. Heritage sites. Recording cultural & other developments. Promotion of Botswana and historic tourism.
3.To make Botswana better known to itself and the world
Disseminating scientific information. Stimulating public debate on issues of national importance. Conducting a programme of large and small workshops, seminars, and symposia on issues relevant to Botswana. Strengthen publishing programme.
Members.Intelligent non-specialist public and readership.
General public in Botswana.Future generations: tomorrow’s Batswana. Retired old people!
Special interest groups.Business community. Corporates. Government (nb Home Affairs).
Interested international community.Tourists.
1. Administration
Sites & buildings: Move the office to a better location for public accessibility? Management focus. Recruit volunteers?
2. Fund raising:
Membership recruitment drives? Raising funds for projects? Positive corporate membership campaign? Re-consider our committee composition? Mobilise a major sponsor? Promotional products? Annual Ball? Professional marketing of Society and seminars? Solicit advertising? Publicity/information stand at conferences and exhibitions?
3. Debates, lecture series, symposia:
Programme for seminars/workshops? Public speakers programme?
4. Make better use of modern technology:
Develop our website? Make the whole of BN&R available on the Website? Organise relevant TV presentations? TV shows for exposure? TV chat shows? Regular BTV programmes?
5. Assist museums within Botswana
Support a major museum project? Offer help to NMAG? Join museum committees?
6. Networking with other similar organisations
Create international links? Closer links with United Kingdom-Botswana (Friendship) Society? Gaborone destination committee?
7. Funding book publication.
Commissioning and funding research?
8. Botswana Notes and Records.
Certainly continue. Create a Publications Trust. Produce & distribute fliers. Regular newspaper column? Produce a popular magazine version of BN&R? Other publications?
9. Organise Tours:
Adventure visits. Children’s activities. Quizzes/ essay competitions
1. Management
What is the office function? : Storage, selling publications, answer general enquiries, organise volunteers, administration, web site, supervise staff, generate project plans, organising functions/fund raisers.
Recruit volunteers (Ask in embassies? Big corporations? Women’s associations). Find a marketing sponsor. Review our constitution: Remove National Museum connection (i.e. inherit our property)? Committee to look at co-opting expertise
2. Premises
Talk to Kalahari Conservation Society about sharing premises with them. What chances of co-operation/synergy with other societies/associations?
Types of funds: endowment. Recurrent funds. Face to face selling. Identify foreign donor agencies. Corporate nurturing. Seek major (overall) sponsor.
Events. Develop fund-raising sub-committee. Promotional products (depends on location). Lunches (networking).Government support (Heritage/ preservation levy). Vision 2016 projects we could earn a fee on?
Form a sub-committee and get on with it.
5. Web-Site
Expand. Two free articles as a ‘taster’ from each new BN&R. Better colour. Display selected articles of issues of current interest. Change ‘BotSoc’: name back to 'Botswana Society'. Domain name issues: org, com, bw
Use of <www.Thuto.org> material? Selling Botswana Society products
Regular newsletter. Message from President. Links to other sites
6. Public Programme
Request half-hour monthly T.V. programme. Brains trust panel discussion? “100 word” clips including logo: press/radio/magazines etc
Lectures: need to be opportunistic taking up current issues and current visitors, alternatively a regular programme of lectures: need to be well advertised/ marketed. Possibly shared with partner organisations with similar aims. School lectures (eg BN&R authors on tour)
7. Marketing
Bookmarks. Fliers
8. Botswana Notes and Records
(Action Plan for 2004 omitted here)
Last updated 26 November 2006. Converted from MS Word by OpenOffice 2.0.