Dear members and friends,
Of course all of life is a process of breaking down – but sometimes it’s just more obvious. This week the door of my washing machine jammed shut (£42) – I burned the omelette pan (bucket) – a crack appeared in my bedroom window (sellotape) – my computer keeps crashing (unresolved). This relentless deterioration of the physical world is inherent – the law of entropy. Peter’s knee – Carol’s shoulder – Pauline’s chemo – my biopsy; “the thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to.” Even our adventures are not immune. “Enterprises of great pith and moment – their currents turn awry – and lose the name of action.”
But entropy only applies to the physical world – your brain is vulnerable but not your spirit. Morale – the movement of hope and discouragement in the human soul – obeys different laws. There is no necessary link between hard times and low morale. Spent two hours recently with a self help group in Glasgow – 7 single mothers who know life’s harsh realities – the air was blue with sweary words, but I was sore with laughter. Someone should invent a word which means the opposite to entropy – which denotes human compassion and resilience – as perennial as the grass.
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The Voice 09 social enterprise jamboree in Birmingham this week heard an extraordinary speech from Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, in which he predicted that social enterprise will be at the heart of the new economy. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7865 Measures for the `aggressive growth` of the social enterprise sector will be drawn up at a special SE summit co-hosted by Peter Mandelson. In a week when the Welsh Govt launched its bespoke Social Enterprise Strategy, it is fitting to ask why the Scottish Govt has rescinded its differentiated status up here. As our movement continues to build momentum – why is our Govt travelling in the opposite direction to everyone else. Read Senscot `one pager` called `A Distinct Movement`. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7867 `We shall not be moved`.
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The Welsh Govt outlines its new Social Enterprise Strategy. https://senscot.net/?viewid=7866
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For a few years – before Harvard – Barack Obama was a community worker like me – and I believe he really understands the impact of mobilising local people to tackle problems – build social capital. This article suggests that he is poised to make a major investment in unleashing the social entrepreneurs in US communities. https://senscot.net/?viewid=7863
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I don’t know how seriously you take George Galloway but he’s certainly good entertainment value – and he’s willing to say things which many of us think privately. Good interview which illustrates his candour – and indefatigability. He feels strongly about the betrayal of Old Labour https://senscot.net/?viewid=7857
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Colin has been sounding out individuals in Scotland’s social enterprise community about the pros and cons of adopting the social enterprise `mark` up here. It’s interesting that the English Social Enterprise Coalition seems reluctant to support it. Must be politics. Voice 09 saw one of my favourite English social enterprises – the Sunlight Trust (http://www.socialenterprisemark.co.uk/news ) – being awarded the `mark` by David Cameron. We’ll be hosting a discussion shortly – meantime comments welcome to colin@senscot.net
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I have accepted an invitation to join a forum discussing `Global Values – Global Spirituality – Global Consciousness`. It’s part of the Middle East Festival – 3rd March in Edinburgh. It will be chaired by Ian McWhirter – the new Rector of Edinburgh Uni. More next week, https://senscot.net/view_event.php?viewid=7868
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This Bulletin is a free service but until the end of February (2 more weeks), Senscot will continue to invite subscriptions and donations. The attachment gives details and lists our supporters for 2009. See http://www.senscot.net/members.php
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NOTICES: We can’t flag all notices here, but submit jobs and events and we’ll post them on our site. See http://www.senscot.net/jobsevents.php. This week:
JOBS: incl. posts with Evaluation Support Scotland, Global Xchange (VSO/British Council), Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, CBS Network, Printability Scotland Ltd, Central Scotland Forest Trust, Firstport, Gigha Renewable Energy Limited
EVENTS: HISEZ Annual Conference 2009, HISEZ, 5 Mar; CRNS 4TH Annual Conference & Awards, CRNS, 10 Mar; Stress Awareness at Work, Fife Employment Access Trust, 13 Mar; Financial Management, Social Enterprise Academy, Several in March;
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NETWORKS 1st News: Colin writes: Down in Birmingham at Voice ’09 this week. Shortly after arriving, we bumped into David Cameron, surrounded by cameras, presenting Peter Holbrook (Sunlight Development Trust) with the Social Enterprise Mark – the first enterprise outside of the South West to be awarded the Mark. Some good speakers and important announcements – the Social Enterprise Summit and Obama’s Social Entrepreneurship Agency. Seems the world is beginning to take interest! For more Networks News, see http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=72
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Last week’s item promoting the government’s child voucher scheme prompted this response from a reader questioning how the initiative benefits less well-off families. See letter, http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7860
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The Community Recycling Network Scotland’s (CRNS) annual conference takes place in Perth on 10th March. Keynote speaker is Dr Leila Iskander (Director of Community and Institutional Development, Egypt) – recent recipient of Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year. See full programme and booking details, http://www.senscot.net/view_event.php?viewid=7708
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Many of the networks that Senscot touches know the name Gerry Hassan – a social entrepreneur and an associate of the Demos think-tank. You’ll want to know about this series of lectures he’s promoting in Glasgow around arts and democracy. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_event.php?viewid=7862
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With much talk of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, Bulletin reader, John Hancox, writes in this week’s Herald calling for grassroots, home-grown games that will leave a true legacy for the people of Glasgow rather than a big corporate one. Having set up the Commonwealth Orchard project, John is keen to hear from local communities with ideas that could make the legacy stronger. See John`s article http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7859
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This week’s bulletin profiles the well-known Jeely Piece Club in Castlemilk. Set up to serve the community, the Jeely provides a range of services for local youngsters and adults as well for community groups and small businesses. They generate additional income through their café and room hire facility. Recently, they launched their brand new website. For more, see http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=7869
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`White Dog` by Charles Bukowski
“I went for a walk on Hollywood Boulevard. I looked down and there was a large white dog walking beside me. His pace was exactly the same as mine. We stopped at traffic signals together. A woman smiled at us. He must have walked 8 blocks with me. Then I went into a grocery store and when I came out he was gone. Or she was gone. The wonderful white dog with a trace of yellow in its fur. The large blue eyes were gone. The grinning mouth was gone. The lolling tongue was gone.
Things are so easily lost. Things just can’t be kept forever. I got the blues. I got the blues. That dog loved and trusted me and I let it walk away.”
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
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