I've become bored of blogspot, I really don't like it so I've moved over to wordpress.
I'm stopping all the comments on this blog - don't be scared - I'd just rather the debate take place in one place rather than two. I'll leave this blog up here so that people who end up on this blog know where to go for up to date information.
My new home is http://www.tomguisevpdr.wordpress.com
Wednesday 2 September 2009
10:10 revealed!
"All great causes involve a tension between collective belief and individual action."
Read The Guardian leader yesterday before the official launch of 10:10. The word 'campaign' is thrown about too often for things that are little more than a press release. 10:10 isn't a campaign - it's a movement. A collective of like minded individuals and organisations - frustrated with broken promises and rhetoric - passionate to make a real and tangible difference.
Fabian, Brigid and myself attended the launch yesterday at the Tate Modern in London. Many celebrities were spotted, but among them was a distinct lack of other student unions. It is early days yet for this, but I was dissapointed not to be joined by many more of our colleagues. We were joined though by the likes of Liverpool Guild, Newcastle, Reading, LSE and UEA. Good times were had by the student contingent who were moved from the bar area by the event organisers with great haste.
The idea is simple, the Guild is committing to make efforts to cut its CO2 emissions by 10% by the end of 2010. I myself am making that same pledge and I urge all of our members to do the same by signing up at http://www.1010uk.org where you'll find lots of tips to help you on your way.
Over the next couple of months the Guild will be planning and working out what concrete things we can do to achieve the cut. I think it'll be hard work but if, through our efforts, we can inspire a significant number of our members to do the same then I will be extremely happy indeed.
Please, any ideas that you have to cut our CO2 feel free to post them here or email me at vpdr@guild.bham.ac.uk. "No idea is too stupid", a favourite mantra of mine, especially being a lifelong holder of stupid ideas.
Monday 31 August 2009
Friday 21 August 2009
My goings on
I would like to thank BBC Radio 6, K-Jah radio and Test Match Special for successfully taking me through the week.
The week started off with a very busy Monday. I sorted out the nomination forms for Guild Councillor and Guild Officer elections which will be happening when term resumes. Stay tuned for details about becoming a candidate. Also had a meeting about the e-ticketing website to make it usable for student groups and RAs. Took part in some media law training (no one likes being sued) and had the health and safety committee meeting. Also took photos with the team for the guild handbook - remind me about a hilarious photo that we want to come out at the end of our year.
Later in the week I had a meeting with the Finance Manager and our Auditors Baker Tilly, regarding the Audit of all things which is happening in September. Also had a meeting about the building progress - there is no asbestos where they thought there was (phew).
Yesterday went down to the Building Site to check it out, didn't have a camera unfortunately but it's look great. The new bar is unbelievably massive!! New colours in the underground look snazzy and the new reception/ticket booth is nearly done, looking amazing. Spar is due to move in to fit their shop on bank holiday monday so everything we want ready for Freshers is looking like it's going to be ready!
This morning had a meeting about the Democratic Structures Review. Myself, Ed, Fabian, Johnny and Katie are working with some staff to get some concrete ideas down which we will then take to a series of student consultations in October and November with a view to have a final approval from December by Guild Council. Last year a Guild Council review was started and with a need to have a review of the officer team as well it makes sense to link all the processes together. If we start from the understanding that our democracy needs to work in favour of the needs of students and that those needs should be our focus in this union then we must surely agree that the system does not work at the moment. This is a really good time to look at all aspects of our democracy and it will be a challenge but it will also be incredibly exciting!
Email me for more information on any of my activities this week.
The week started off with a very busy Monday. I sorted out the nomination forms for Guild Councillor and Guild Officer elections which will be happening when term resumes. Stay tuned for details about becoming a candidate. Also had a meeting about the e-ticketing website to make it usable for student groups and RAs. Took part in some media law training (no one likes being sued) and had the health and safety committee meeting. Also took photos with the team for the guild handbook - remind me about a hilarious photo that we want to come out at the end of our year.
Later in the week I had a meeting with the Finance Manager and our Auditors Baker Tilly, regarding the Audit of all things which is happening in September. Also had a meeting about the building progress - there is no asbestos where they thought there was (phew).
Yesterday went down to the Building Site to check it out, didn't have a camera unfortunately but it's look great. The new bar is unbelievably massive!! New colours in the underground look snazzy and the new reception/ticket booth is nearly done, looking amazing. Spar is due to move in to fit their shop on bank holiday monday so everything we want ready for Freshers is looking like it's going to be ready!
This morning had a meeting about the Democratic Structures Review. Myself, Ed, Fabian, Johnny and Katie are working with some staff to get some concrete ideas down which we will then take to a series of student consultations in October and November with a view to have a final approval from December by Guild Council. Last year a Guild Council review was started and with a need to have a review of the officer team as well it makes sense to link all the processes together. If we start from the understanding that our democracy needs to work in favour of the needs of students and that those needs should be our focus in this union then we must surely agree that the system does not work at the moment. This is a really good time to look at all aspects of our democracy and it will be a challenge but it will also be incredibly exciting!
Email me for more information on any of my activities this week.
Tuesday 18 August 2009
The Students' Union Evaluation Initiative
I have returned from Sheffield safe and sound and pleased to see the office intact. No thanks to the efforts of certain "team-members".
I was thrust back in to work yesterday with great speed and wanted to update you on something me and Mr. Sparkes are going to be working on this year. That is getting the Guild accredited by SUEI!
SUEI might sound a bit boring but it's a really useful tool to help student unions evaluate themselves and assess how they compliment the student experience. So Ed and I will be working to help the Guild get a really good award, but more importantly, it will give the Guild a clear direction of where to go forward! You should be bored of us talking about it very soon!
Also went to Health and Safety Committee yesterday which was very interesting!
Friday 7 August 2009
End of week one...
The Guild is still intact! Indeed, I attended a Site Progress meeting with people from all the contractors on site at the moment. I hear a rumour that some of the executive offices are being held up by a couple of plimphs - haven't had time to investigate just yet! No major issues with the building at the moment and everything seems to be running on time! More info on Guild Build can be found here or just drop me an email!
I tried some of the pizza that might be served when the new opens, very tasty!
We're also in discussions with an IT company to bring them into the Guild, campus no longer has any IT shop so should be a good opportunity for us.
Other than that there's a few other projects that I'll hopefully be able to talk more about soon!
I'm off to NUS training next week with our President and VP Education and Access, but I'm still in touch with that blackberry gizmo - will hopefully improve my blogging from it!
I tried some of the pizza that might be served when the new opens, very tasty!
We're also in discussions with an IT company to bring them into the Guild, campus no longer has any IT shop so should be a good opportunity for us.
Other than that there's a few other projects that I'll hopefully be able to talk more about soon!
I'm off to NUS training next week with our President and VP Education and Access, but I'm still in touch with that blackberry gizmo - will hopefully improve my blogging from it!
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Testing 1...2
Ok so this is my first blog with the new blackberry, I'm gonna get better but I'm very pleased I can actually use it to blog! Impressed?
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