Campaign For Courtesy

	'We simply want to draw attention to the value of courtesy.
	That is, to be able to listen, to smile, and to take time in our dealings with each other'
	Ian Gregory June 2001

Campaign offers training in courtesy

A training session on customer relations was well received by staff at Salop Leisure, Shrewsbury, when founder Ian Gregory visited the company`s spacious new headquarters. Some 60 members of the staff heard about the importance of good working relations in the company, the value of good personal preparation for the day`s work, and how to deal with occaisional difficult customers.

Company chairman Tony Bywater welcomed Ian, who was assisted by CfC member Caroline Rushton. He was also able to meet the Mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Roger Evans, who was paying a civic visit. Mr Bywater said: ` I think the whole day was a tremendous success and all of us gained so much benefit from the comments Ian and Caroline made to us. It made us realise that we can be far more courteous to our customers but also more importantly to each other.`

Aims of the Campaign
The campaign exists to encourage those who value good manners and to assess continually what courtesy means in a rapidly changing world. We believe that even a small advance in courtesy would make society more productive, healthier, happier and less at the mercy of anti-social elements. It is not an arbiter of morals and does not pass easy judgement on anybody or anything.

Our main function is to emphasise the importance of courtesy in all our relationships, as a vital ingredient of good health and a successful lifestyle. We believe it to be fundamental to every religious creed, and all men and women of goodwill, religious or not

Origins of the Campaign
Ian Gregory, a Congregational minister founded the Polite Society in 1986. To mark the tenth anniversary, we relaunched ourselves as the Campaign For Courtesy, as we felt the word 'polite' had become somewhat devalued, and 'Courtesy' was thought to be more purposeful.

About the Campaign
We present awards to institutions, firms, schools and individuals as recommended by our members. Each year we call the UK to a 'day of courtesy' on the first Friday in October. An annual meeting takes place in May. The media frequently approaches us for comment on current events and invites our officers to appear on radio and TV, and we now are regarded as an authority in good manners, although we avoid questions of etiquette, which is not necessarily the same subject. We now have over 800 members in 24 countries. A newsletter ,'Courtesy Call' is sent out to all the members 3 to 4 times a year. The latest edition of the newsletter is available now from the address below.

To read a selection of articles from `Courtesy Call` click on the banner below.

National Day of Courtesy 2006 "Traffic is People"

AGM 2005 Press Release

Ian Gregory talks about the founding of the campaign

Recent BBC website article

To join our Campaign
People who care about courtesy can now join the Campaign to value and encourage it. A year's membership can also be an imaginative gift for someone who appreciates our principles.

• The fee is £15 a year, or £5 a year for pensioners and students

• Overseas members are warmly welcome, but we ask them to remit in sterling, as costs in the UK of banking other currencies are prohibitive.

• Schools are also welcome as members.

• Corporate membership is available by arrangement

To join, please send a completed membership form to the address below. Forms can be obtained from the address below.

We can be contacted at:-

Campaign for Courtesy, 16 Grice Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7PJ. Email: ian@congist.fsnet.co.uk

Gift Aid Declaration:
A quick reminder that tax relief is available on donations received from UK taxpayers. By completing and returning the Gift Aid Declaration that came with the current newsletter, you can add almost 30% to the value of your donation.