With regard to point one - the sector's full of them. The CEO of a previous charity I worked for did little but attend society lunches, (fruitlessly, for the charity he was representing I might add) and prattle on incessantly about his CMG which was largely the result of years of lobbying the 'right kind of people'.

I'm not accusing Mr Bubb of having such a self serving streak though!

Don't shoot the messenger

I have no personal reason to dislike or object to Stephen Bubb (I've met him once or twice, he seemed pleasant enough) but I am not sure that the charity sector needs Stephen Bubb more than he needs it, nor ACEVO. Bubb has been incredibly successful at getting his voice heard, or as he might say "the voice of the voluntary sector" at high government levels, and perhaps because of this success, one shouldn't begrudge his odd glass of Claret or two. I have much more concern, however, that in reality Bubb/ACEVO have done little more than actually meld in with existing government policy and ensure that the voluntary sector is led more and more down a service delivery, commissioning-led path, to the disadvantage of the sector, the public who pay for and receive services, and local democracy, as less and less services are being delivered by accountable bodies.

Just a thought.

Whatever you think, Bubb's blog is great reading, and there are gems amongst all the frippery. He's sticking well to the blogging 'rules' (honesty, directness, passion, continuity, authority etc) and I'm really impressed by it so far. It would be far worse if he was trying to be someone he's not, or trying to spin things. You got more truth about his view of Futurebuilders, for example, than you would ever have got through normal media channels.

And I like the fact that he's unashamedly bringing the whole of himself to it. Would that more CEOs in the sector were as open and honest about their life and work.