I don’t get many letters. I get a lot of mail – but it’s mostly bills and junk.
But I received a letter today, which was nice. The purpose of the letter was to invite me to be a Fellow of the RSA, in recognition of my “experience and expertise of communities in the online environment, and valuable work with New Music Strategies advising the music industry…”
To me, as a New Zealander, the RSA is the Returned and Services’ Association, a voluntary and charitable organisation to help ex-military service people. They organise the poppy appeal for ANZAC day. And they also have cheap pubs for members.
It turns out that over here, the RSA is something quite different. It stands for the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. I’m not sure why the M & the C don’t make it into the acronym.
I’ve replied saying I’m interested, and apparently it means I get to put FRSA after my name – me and 27,000 other people around the world. We’re apparently a bunch of “achievers and influencers from a wide array of backgrounds and professions” and we’re united by “a commitment to improve the prospects of our communities and build a better society.”
Not sure what that all means exactly yet, or what will be required of me, but it all sounds rather interesting. I’ve done a bit of a check though, and it doesn’t look like I’ll have to learn a secret handshake, undergo any bizarre rituals or become a Tory.
So with that in mind… always nice to get a letter, I reckon.
Tagged: RSA