INSP 2009 board meeting

The board of INSP meets with the Executive Director Lisa Maclean every month by telephone conference and twice each year for a face-to-face meeting. This week, our 5 board members from Russia, USA, Canada, South Africa and Austria met with INSP staff in Glasgow for an important 4 day planning meeting. Staff and board reviewed the work and finances for 2008 - 2009; redrafted strategies on fundraising and marketing & communication; evaluated projects and partnerships; and drafted a new business plan and strategy for 2010 - 2012.

The INSP team were joined by various high profile lunch and dinner guests throughout the week, including David Schlesinger, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters and INSP Honorary President; Tom Thomson, Managing Editor of the Times and Herald Group; Roy Templeton, Head of Communications at BBC Scotland; Gillian Walsh from the Lord Provost's International Office; and Mary Lyden from the Scottish Government's 3rd Sector Division.

After 4 days of evaluating and planning, INSP is entering an exciting new phase. The Street News Service will relaunch next year with a bold public face and it's first-ever Editor; new funding will allow for greater support and capacity building for our projects in Africa; and innovative new plans for business development and marketing are underway.

At the end of the week, the board meeting finished on a very positive note, just in time for The Herald to feature the article 'The word on the street is that papers can make a difference' - about the success of the street paper model and INSP's work; and featuring interviews with Lisa and the board.

Click here for a picture gallery from the 2009 board meeting. 

[Picture courtesy of The Herald. Left to right - Joanne Zuhl, Trudy Vlok, Lisa Maclean, Serge Lareault, Michaela Gründler and Arkady Tyurin. For more about INSP's board and staff click here]