The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham – venue for Branch Connection Day 2014
This year the annual Branch Connection Day took place in Birmingham on 5 November, with volunteer Branch representatives invited to a free review and update on IHBC membership application processes and support, including the Associate membership category, with the day also offering opportunities for networking and continuing professional development.
IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘The IHBC’s Branch Connection Days are one of the most important ways for IHBC volunteers from across the UK to get together, explore developments and hear about developments.’
‘This year the topic was especially important as it covered our new accreditation programme for Associates. While this huge programme is still being rolled out – the dedicated Associate application forms should become available over the next few weeks – it’s critical we introduce our volunteers to these developments as early as we can. This Connection Day offered a perfect opportunity for just that’.
Paul Butler, IHBC’s Membership Secretary, and Fiona Newton IHBC’s Projects Officer, explored with delegates the new category of IHBC accreditation for Associates, as well as summarising how the membership application process worked.
Fiona Newton said ‘The people in your local IHBC branch who are most involved in membership will now know more about Associate status and how to apply for it. If this seems like the accreditation category for you, they will be better be able to help you through the process.’
Kate Kendall, IHBC’s LETS Officer, for ‘Learning Education Training and Standards’, talked about how she had been meeting Branch volunteers since her recent appointment, and finding out about how they worked, as well as exploring the opportunities her role brought in supporting the applications process, including the new category of Associate.
Kate said ‘Our new Associate Membership category could be the route for you, whether you? want to use it as a stepping stone to full membership or feel that it is sufficient in itself?. And do get in touch with your local Branch. Colleagues will be able to provide some helpful advice and guidance about what would best suit your requirements.’
Alison McCandlish, IHBC’s NewsBlog consultant author and social media adviser, outlined some possibilities for using social media in Branches. If your branch would like to discuss opportunities for training or support with this please get in touch with Alison via newsblog@ihbc.co.uk.
For individual queries on membership see the range of helpful guidance notes which are available online and contact your local Branch or the IHBC’s national office.
Find out about your local IHBC branch and upcoming events on the Branches pages
View the IHBC membership guides on the new associate category on the IHBC website
View the Derby membership support day on Storify (summarising the day using digital storytelling) and the video blog of the day.
