Networks, anyone?

My next invitation to say a few words is for the Inter Faith Network – UK next week.

The programme says

Networking – what is it?!  What is a ‘network’?  What is ‘networking’?  Are all networks membership bodies?  What might new forms of networking look like – both for the Inter Faith Network and more widely?

I’m intrigued by the punctuation.

I doubt I’ll focus on the techie and ‘how to’ side – maybe a handout.  I’ll avoid references to social capital but might mention Cern’s new particle.

I might ask why anyone should want to be networked; what’s the point of being (more or less) connected to other people, organisations, ideas, movements, institutions – and membership bodies.

It depends a fair bit on what you’re trying to do, I guess.

Any thoughts?