CIPR Executive Board Minutes – 30 June 2011 Public Relations Centre, 52-53 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HP Attendance: Adrian Gill Dandy Jane Wilson Jay O’Connor Keith Johnston Lionel Zetter Paul Mylrea Rob Brown Sally Sykes
Apologies: Imelda Topping Jenifer Stirton
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Minutes of the April board meeting was approved.
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Verbal update on UKPAC
The board discussed UKPAC current status and our plans in response to the situation. Phil Morgan was called in to provide not only an update on UKPAC but to deliver feedback from the previous evening’s CIPR Public Affairs Committee meeting. Phil updated the board on UKPAC technology issue The Board discussed the options available to CIPR and the other UKPAC founding bodies. Lionel Zetter suggested that Phil Morgan, Keith Johnston, Iain Anderson and himself will discuss this further by email. Action Points: 1. Lionel Zetter, Phil Morgan, Keith Johnston and Iain Anderson to discuss and update the board 2. Update on Relations with other organisations Jane Wilson reported that from her recent conversation with Francis Ingham from PRCA. CIPR and PRCA have agreed to work on Diversity. The board supported this action. 3. 2011Forecast and Review of CIPR Structure and Operations for 2011/2012 The minutes from this session have been redacted due to commercial sensitivities. Jane Wilson reported that after taking all the planned savings into consideration, the current forecasted surplus for 2011 is £160k. Close attention being paid to qualifications and Training. Jay O’Connor stressed that we need to ensure the quality of products. Jane agreed and said she already instructed staff to work on improving the products while giving them space to think more strategically rather than just focus on immediate sales. Jane said that we need to simplify the business, identify immediate priorities and long term goals.
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The board agreed that membership is the driving force of the CIPR business and identified that the “associate” grade of membership may be a barrier for potential customers joining the CIPR. Rob Brown suggested considering that we abolish “associate” membership grade; the board supported this idea and suggested a proposal based on this. The board also discussed the structure of the CIPR.
Adrian Wheeler questioned why the CIPR is only attracting minority, but not the majority of the professionals in the industry. The board discussed the reasons for this and agreed that the two main reasons for this are that: our products need improvement and no one is focused purely on selling the products. The board discussed how to drive up membership in next six months. Paul Mylrea summarised the actions board agreed which will need Council endorsement as strategic direction: 1) Review membership grades with the starting point of considering abolishing associate memberships as it is possibly a barrier; 2) Have membership drive target; 3)Target employers; 4) explore sponsored student membership Jane updated the board on the recent personnel changes within the organisation. The board also discussed what to do with the Professional Development and Membership Director’s role and agreed someone who additionally has marketing and sales skills would be best suitable for the job. The board supported it could be helpful to have a freelancer based in the Northern regions driving up membership and qualifications. The board gave the authority to Jane to speak with other organisations about shared services. Paul Mylrea added that the Governance Working Group had been asked to review the relationship between Council and board and the size of the Council. Various proposals had been raised in terms of the nature of Council, frequency of Council meetings, voting for the board etc. Paul suggested that at the end of this year, the board would ask the Governance Working Group to continue its work into 2012, reviewing some further issues related to Council. The board will propose to Council to have a longer (half day) meeting session when next due to meet (20 October) to discuss strategies going forward.
Action Points: 1. 1) Present a proposal based around discussions on abolition of associate memberships as it is potentially a barrier; 2) Have membership drive target; 3)Target employers/HR; 4) Offer sponsored student membership 2. Reviw future Council meetings to possibly have a longer (half day) meeting session
Next board meeting is at 13:00 on 28 July.
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