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Dear ,
Metaphorum is entering an exciting new phase of its development.
As well as the monthly webinars and yearly conference, we are now certifying graduates of courses run by Metaphorum certified trainers. In the past two years we have certified more than a hundred VSM practitioners. We welcome applications to become a certifier VSM trainer.
We have also created a Special Interest Group (SIG) on VSM and Artificial Intelligence, continue to be involved in the VSM Application Research Group, and are planning to start other SIGs of interest to our members.
We have started a Research Team, which will contribute to refine our research resources, coordinate Special Issues and other publications, and design research projects. We are considering setting up a Metaphorum journal, which will only charge the costs of production (if any) and involve mentoring rather than the usual review process.
Our intention is to create a vibrant community of Metaphorum researchers and practitioners who will share expertise and ensure the quality of VSM education and consultancy is preserved.
As we are charging fees for the certificates presented to graduates, we needed to become a limited business as Metaphorum will have to present yearly tax and company returns. So we have now registered as a co-operative.
We chose to become a co-operative as we believe it resonates with the fundamental principles of Stafford’s work. A co-operative is a democratically structured organisation which is owned and controlled by its members, which seems far more in tune with basic VSM principles like autonomy and cohesion. In a co-operative, the constitution ensures that System 5 must always reflect the “will of the people”.
So what happens now ?
Everyone currently associated with Metaphorum is invited to join as a member of Metaphorum Cooperative Ltd.
Membership is open to everyone who agrees to support the aims and objectives of the cooperative. This costs £30 per year, which covers administrative costs.
Each year we will hold an on-line Annual General Meeting to which all members are invited and at which decisions are made on the basis of “one member, one vote”.
· The AGM has ultimate authority and ensures that the cooperative is controlled democratically by its members.
· At the AGM, members elect the Council, who are mandated to run the organisation for the following 12 months.
· All members can put themselves forward to become members of the council.
· We will also invite all members to planning days where we will decide upon the future of Metaphorum.
· A member who wants to join the council must write a short description of their background, their interest in Metaphorum, and how they think it should develop. These will be circulated by email to all members before the AGM, who will vote accordingly. Results will be announced at the AGM.
· Any member can present a resolution to the AGM which will be discussed and voted upon. If it passes, the council will be required to put the resolution into practice.
· At the AGM we will present the financial accounts of the previous year, a summary of the work we have done and our plans for the following year.
We appreciate that not everyone will wish to have this level of involvement and so we will be introducing the following:
1. Member (£30 per year)
Members will be invited to the AGM, appoint the council, create and modify the System 5 of Metaphorum, attend planning days and have full access to all its resources. As a member you can engage with our community, set up forums, join Special Interest Groups (SIG), and become involved in all new initiatives we establish.
Members must agree to support the aims and objectives of Metaphorum.
A year’s free membership is given to everyone who attends one of our certified courses or comes to an annual conference.
2. Associate (no charge)
Anyone can join as an Associates as long as they agree to support the aims and objectives of Metaphorum.
They will receive all the emails, be invited to the monthly webinars, and have access to several resources on the website.
Associates cannot however engage with the community. To join a discussion forum or a SIG, or take part in a Metaphorum research or development project, they need to sign up as a member. Associates are not invited to the AGM or to the planning days, and cannot stand for Council.
As an existing member, you will automatically become an Associate of the Metaphorum Cooperative, continue to get all our emails, and have access to all resources.
In the near future, we will also set up a forum to answer queries from Associates.
The new Metaphorum as a democratically run cooperative organisation opens up more opportunities for us to apply, promote and develop Stafford’s work.
If you wish to become involved, please sign up here:
Metaphorum registration
To register, choose between the associate and member registration links. If you choose to register as a member it will take you to the payment link. After you have registered you will start receiving our newsletter and have access to our resources as described above.
We hope you will join us !
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