Hi Friends and Colleagues,

Dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, I formerly launch my blog. My understanding is that Blogging is a bit like writing a Diary, but allowing other people to peek in – so:

• It has to be interesting
• I’m not allowed slander or libel!
• It might (or might not) encourage response
• If really successful it gets converted into a book or a TV series

My only guarantee is to fulfil one of these criteria – and I’ll let you be the Judge.

Here goes –

I formally proclaim one of my key personal objectives in my work with SAVO and beyond: I want to help release the latent potential of Suffolk ’s people. By this I mean, I’d like more of us to take on more of the joys and responsibilities of shaping the County. This means more people wanting to contribute rather than take, valuing their community and recognising they have a responsibility to help it grow and develop. It is too obvious to state that volunteering is one litmus test for this, and I think for some this all encompassing phrase is off putting. It sounds a terrific commitment, it sounds very worthy, it sounds time-consuming and it sounds as though it will cost money. And I guess volunteering is both all this – and none of this. Therefore, my focus shifts to Citizenship – but stays only a moment as this sounds even worse! It sounds a bit too Govenmenty (Yes, I do invent words!) , maybe even too American. The next option, Neighbourly, is warm, cuddly but also could have overtones of sticking a nose in where it isn’t wanted.

No, scrub that last thought, let me go for it: Suffolk ’s people ought to be more neighbourly. There, I’ve nailed my first Blog flag to the mast!

As diaries are often short, I suppose my Blog ought to be as well. So I’ll finish with a question for you, my reader: What ought we to do about this?

E-mail me at Jonathan.moore@savo.co.uk .

Best wishes

Jonathan