ULSU EGM

wnolan1992

In your student emails, but just said I'd post it here to try and spread the word as much as possible.

Attention all students,

The University of Limerick Students’ Union will be having an Extraordinary General Meeting Wednesday Week 2 (Feb 1st) at 2pm. Venue is yet to be confirmed.

It is vital that all students endeavour to attend. We need a minimum number of 200 attendees to meet quorum.

Should you wish to put forward an item for discussion at this meeting, the deadline for receipt of motions is this coming Friday (Jan 27th).

I will be in touch regarding venue later this week.

Kind Regards,

Kelly O’Brien
Communications Officer
Oifigeach Cumarsáide

Troubling times ahead me thinks...

cruizer101

Wonder what its for, seems strange to have have an EGM and ask for proposals. I always thought EGM were just to discuss one important issue that couldn't wait.

Polar Ice

There's always a time period given for other submissions for a General Meeting.

What is surprising is given the time frame they've given for submissions, the maximum amount of time between the circulation of the agenda and the meeting is very short.

wnolan1992

cruizer101 wrote: »

Wonder what its for, seems strange to have have an EGM and ask for proposals. I always thought EGM were just to discuss one important issue that couldn't wait.

I've a feeling it's going to be about the SU's finances... especially following today's announcement...

Polar Ice wrote: »

There's always a time period given for other submissions for a General Meeting.

What is surprising is given the time frame they've given for submissions, the maximum amount of time between the circulation of the agenda and the meeting is very short.

Yeah, it is very short notice, I think some serious sh1t is about to go down... like maybe the C&S working group might have a report, or else they just want to clarify the SU's standing following what's just happened.

EDIT: An extract from SU President Derek Daly's blog from earlier on:

Extraordinary General Meeting (week 2) to discuss motions on the removal of 2 sabbatical positions (Vice President Campaigns and Engagement, Vice President Communications) to refocus the Union on its core representative functions with 3 full time officers supported by a Council with a wider focus.

Removing the Comms officer and Campaigns officer seems an odd move, especially considering what the current Comms Officer has achieved in a little over six months...

Jester252

I would like to see the class reps council back

wnolan1992

Jester252 wrote: »

I would like to see the class reps council back

They're calling for motion submissions so that could be a good one. Deadline's this Friday.

wnolan1992

Date: Wednesday 1st February 2012
Time: 2:00pm
Venue: Jean Monnet Lecture Hall, Main Building

Here's the Facebook event...

A quorum of 200 is needed to hold the meeting, and seeing as how things are going at the moment, I think it's important that this one has a good turn out.

SarahBeep!

Jester252 wrote: »

I would like to see the class reps council back

Big +1 on this, if it's not broke (unlike ULSU) don't fix it!!

bazkennedy

SarahBeep! wrote: »

Big +1 on this, if it's not broke (unlike ULSU) don't fix it!!

Have to say I agree with you. The Class Rep System's was a vital link between the students and the union. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't the system's fault and there was absolutely no need to scrap it. Without it, the SU is becomes further removed from students.

SarahBeep!

bazkennedy wrote: »

Have to say I agree with you. The Class Rep System's was a vital link between the students and the union. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't the system's fault and there was absolutely no need to scrap it. Without it, the SU is becomes further removed from students.

I have a really big problem with people trying to push change. It makes you wonder is it for the good of the students or some sort structure people want their name attached to because it makes them look good.

I won't lie, I really miss seeing the 10/11 Sabbatical team around. The Union seems to have lost some of it's fluidity. This year there really is strong officers and weak officers and it shows.

reunion

SarahBeep! wrote: »

Big +1 on this, if it's not broke (unlike ULSU) don't fix it!!

Actually class reps was the most disfunctional student body on campus. It needed to be changed.

bazkennedy wrote: »

Have to say I agree with you. The Class Rep System's was a vital link between the students and the union. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't the system's fault and there was absolutely no need to scrap it. Without it, the SU is becomes further removed from students.

I agree scrapping it was extreme and I think a reform of the class reps would have been more beneficial.

It's odd that class reps have been scrapped yet they are still on the ULSU website.

SarahBeep! wrote: »

I have a really big problem with people trying to push change. It makes you wonder is it for the good of the students or some sort structure people want their name attached to because it makes them look good.

I won't lie, I really miss seeing the 10/11 Sabbatical team around. The Union seems to have lost some of it's fluidity. This year there really is strong officers and weak officers and it shows.

Well if students vote it in, then they think it's good for students. If it's only for people to get their name attached to then it can be rejected.

There are weak and strong officers but that happens every year. The strongest officer is by far Aoife Kenny. Derek seems to not really care anymore (or well at least not care as much as he did when he started in the SU) which kinda highlights why change is a good thing.

wnolan1992

SarahBeep! wrote: »

I have a really big problem with people trying to push change. It makes you wonder is it for the good of the students or some sort structure people want their name attached to because it makes them look good.

I won't lie, I really miss seeing the 10/11 Sabbatical team around. The Union seems to have lost some of it's fluidity. This year there really is strong officers and weak officers and it shows.

And now they want to get rid of 2 more sabbat positions...

I found the justification of getting rid of the CO's position in An Focal issue 7 to be a little perplexing. They say that it is felt a current student could carry out the duties more efficiently... how?! What student has the time to juggle that amount of work? What student would have had the time to set up and run a radio station, edit and get An Focal printed on time and set up an online An Focal site along with all their course work?

It's definitely true about strong/weak members, but you're going to get that no matter what.

And as reunion says, it's us that have the decision in the end. If the majority of the people that show up to EGM want to get rid of more sabbat positions in order to save money then there's nothing we can do.

reunion

wnolan1992 wrote: »

And now they want to get rid of 2 more sabbat positions...

I found the justification of getting rid of the CO's position in An Focal issue 7 to be a little perplexing. They say that it is felt a current student could carry out the duties more efficiently... how?! What student has the time to juggle that amount of work? What student would have had the time to set up and run a radio station, edit and get An Focal printed on time and set up an online An Focal site along with all their course work?

It's definitely true about strong/weak members, but you're going to get that no matter what.

And as reunion says, it's us that have the decision in the end. If the majority of the people that show up to EGM want to get rid of more sabbat positions in order to save money then there's nothing we can do.

I think they may have meant a coop student.

In fairness if you read this, the history of the SU (they need to update that page as some of it is out of date) they created education in 2000 and in 2006 added CSO. CSO definetly needs to be scrapped it's a waste of student money and I think education actually has a purpose so that should be kept.

Communications in reality doesn't need a full time employee. An focal should focus using the internet as the primary source of information with the paper version steadily being decreased in frequency from two weeks to 3 weeks to a month.

The radio has more presenters then listeners which clearly isn't a SU service for students anymore but something someone wants to put their name to. It should be made as a student run society instead of a service offered by the SU.

The general manager (or whatever it's called now) could look for sponsorship/advertising to finance the union and paper (would also create a more stable contact point for companies to the SU and would be able to negotiate better deals year on year).

The unpaid coop student I imagine would take over ensuring the paper got published and sourcing advertising instead of increasing work load on other sabbats or paid staff.

wnolan1992

reunion wrote: »

I think they may have meant a coop student.

In fairness if you read this, the history of the SU (they need to update that page as some of it is out of date) they created education in 2000 and in 2006 added CSO. [1] CSO definetly needs to be scrapped it's a waste of student money and I think education actually has a purpose so that should be kept.

[2]Communications in reality doesn't need a full time employee. An focal should focus using the internet as the primary source of information with the paper version steadily being decreased in frequency from two weeks to 3 weeks to a month.

[3]The radio has more presenters then listeners which clearly isn't a SU service for students anymore but something someone wants to put their name to. It should be made as a student run society instead of a service offered by the SU.

The unpaid coop student I imagine would take over ensuring the paper got published and sourcing advertising instead of increasing work load on other sabbats or paid staff.

[1.] Totally agree. The CSO position really seems to serve no purpose that couldn't be carried out by either a committee of students or the Sabbat team themselves as part of their day to day work.

[2.] Would agree that the print run of An Focal should reduce. And a co-op student makes more sense, sorry I misunderstood that the first time. One reservation I'd have is would there be enough candidates each semester for an unpaid position like that to ensure a high quality of person...

[3.] I can't give an unbiased opinion here. I will say that the service aspect is improving.

reunion

wnolan1992 wrote: »

[1.] Totally agree. The CSO position really seems to serve no purpose that couldn't be carried out by either a committee of students or the Sabbat team themselves as part of their day to day work.

[2.] Would agree that the print run of An Focal should reduce. And a co-op student makes more sense, sorry I misunderstood that the first time. One reservation I'd have is would there be enough candidates each semester for an unpaid position like that to ensure a high quality of person...

[3.] I can't give an unbiased opinion here. I will say that the service aspect is improving.

You can get a high quality person for a year or low quality person for a year currently, with the new system they can interview people and still get low quality people but it would only be for one semester as a new coop student would be there the semester after.

Honestly, it's not the service that needs to improve, the demand for it needs to grow. While I don't want this to turn into another ULFM thread, as a service I can't think of a logical reason to keep it under ULSU services. I've been told it's great for the presenters but as the radio society it just makes sense. It would still operate as it currently does but would be students running and maintaining it (would be little to no cost since the equipment is already purchased). I also realise you can't be unbiased here but I would like to hear other peoples opinions on a radio society.

wnolan1992

reunion wrote: »

You can get a high quality person for a year or low quality person for a year currently, with the new system they can interview people and still get low quality people but it would only be for one semester as a new coop student would be there the semester after.

You make a good point here... I'm starting to reconsider my stance on it, the only thing is, if you get a good co-op student, they're only there for what, six months as opposed to 12, so you'd struggle to make any long term changes unless the person after you was willing to carry it on. But I suppose that's true of the current set up as well, just slightly better.

Honestly, it's not the service that needs to improve, the demand for it needs to grow. While I don't want this to turn into another ULFM thread, as a service I can't think of a logical reason to keep it under ULSU services. I've been told it's great for the presenters but as the radio society it just makes sense. It would still operate as it currently does but would be students running and maintaining it (would be little to no cost since the equipment is already purchased). I also realise you can't be unbiased here but I would like to hear other peoples opinions on a radio society.

We're treading dangerous waters here given the history of discussions on this topic on this forum, but I think you make a valid point. As it is, only one member of the board is sabbat, the rest are current students, and if the motion to scrap CO is passed next Wednesday it would mean the entire board would probably be current students next year.

Skyrim

Very honest blog by Paddy Rockett today. Will be on co-op during agm, no doubt i'll hear all the gossip about it.

reunion

Skyrim wrote: »

Very honest blog by Paddy Rockett today. Will be on co-op during agm, no doubt i'll hear all the gossip about it.

I just noticed on derek's blog (found here) it says

I was joined at this meeting by VP Educaiton Aoife Kenny as the second sabbatical nominee following Paddy Rockett's resignation.

Has Paddy resigned? Like it even states that aoife and Tara have been running campaigns.

Mental Health Week and I-Grade Awareness have been run to Tara and Aoife's best efforts showing that campaigns do not need money to be successful.

Paddy's blog is located here (haven't read it yet)

wnolan1992

reunion wrote: »

I just noticed on derek's blog (found here) it says
Has Paddy resigned? Like it even states that aoife and Tara have been running campaigns.



Paddy's blog is located here (haven't read it yet)

I think Paddy resigned from the board to do with the SU shops because of them not consulting him over decision made in the summer.

I-Grade's would come under education and mental health would come under welfare. At least that's what I think it is anyway.

Skyrim

Really should go, have co-op, maybe if i'm really nice they'll let me off :P

wnolan1992

Skyrim wrote: »

Really should go, have co-op, maybe if i'm really nice they'll let me off :P

I'll be cutting it tight to get there on time... presenting on ULFM until 2... so I'll have to find a 5 minute song to end the show with to make it on time. :pac:

Jester252

I wonder if they will get 200 students needed

Skyrim

Jester252 wrote: »

I wonder if they will get 200 students needed

I'd say they will. Judging by students talking about it and lot of people talking about it, there will be 200 there. Don't know as much of the affairs of the union, but there is a clique feeling there which i'm put off by.

Jester252

Skyrim wrote: »

Jester252 wrote: »

I wonder if they will get 200 students needed

I'd say they will. Judging by students talking about it and lot of people talking about it, there will be 200 there. Don't know as much of the affairs of the union, but there is a clique feeling there which i'm put off by.

They were lucky to get the magic number for the AGM i know because I was pull in by paddy rocket and it was the 1st time in a long while.
what you say about the union been clique is what putting some students off from been involved and most students just could not care about the SU at all

SarahBeep!

Jester252 wrote: »

I wonder if they will get 200 students needed

I really hope so, when was the last time there was a quorate meeting??

wnolan1992

Jester252 wrote: »

I wonder if they will get 200 students needed

I think(and hope) they will. I think it was touch and go last time. But the shops closing and continued rumours about how bollixed the SU's finances are I think more people will make the effort.

SarahBeep! wrote: »

I really hope so, when was the last time there was a quorate meeting??

Whenever the AGM was, probably a few months ago. I couldn't go because I'd lectures but I remember them posting saying that they'd just barely made quorum.... IIRC.

SarahBeep!

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Whenever the AGM was, probably a few months ago. I couldn't go because I'd lectures but I remember them posting saying that they'd just barely made quorum.... IIRC.

Hadnt heard about last semester! Before that it was like 08 as far as I know...

Skyrim

The cliqueness annoys me quite a bit. Only go into the su if i need something from the reception desk. Don't know if this has any relevance, but what i dislike a bit, in the clubs and socs, is when a person is an officer in several different clubs and socs, just think you should be focused on the one and try and do it well. There rant over :P:D

reunion

Skyrim wrote: »

The cliqueness annoys me quite a bit. Only go into the su if i need something from the reception desk. Don't know if this has any relevance, but what i dislike a bit, in the clubs and socs, is when a person is an officer in several different clubs and socs, just think you should be focused on the one and try and do it well. There rant over :P:D

Being on more then one club or soc has its perks and negatives. Perks: insights from other clubs and socs and could also allow better fundraising and promotion by some clubs and socs working together. Negatives: you have less time or you do a bad job (which effects everyone in the club or soc).

I do agree there is a cliqueness with quite a few clubs and societies and the su in general. Not all of su and clubs and socs are a clique, a few are quite open. It's also impossible to cater for those who just want to go to some lectures and want to just stay at home...

wnolan1992

Skyrim wrote: »

The cliqueness annoys me quite a bit. Only go into the su if i need something from the reception desk. Don't know if this has any relevance, but what i dislike a bit, in the clubs and socs, is when a person is an officer in several different clubs and socs, just think you should be focused on the one and try and do it well. There rant over :P:D

Don't just rant on boards about it. Submit it as a motion for discussion. To paraphrase from Paddy's blog: "There's no good bitching on boards, unless you make your voice heard it's pointless." <- terrible paraphrase but you get the point.

It's that type of suggestion that could help break up the clique in the SU, a motion similar to "You can only be on the committee of one soc" or something.

Skyrim

Can you write it down on a piece of paper and give it in to the SU? Just in case, i can't get off coop.

reunion

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Don't just rant on boards about it. Submit it as a motion for discussion. To paraphrase from Paddy's blog: "There's no good bitching on boards, unless you make your voice heard it's pointless." <- terrible paraphrase but you get the point.

It's that type of suggestion that could help break up the clique in the SU, a motion similar to "You can only be on the committee of one soc" or something.

Actually boards has gotten quite a bit done, in particular relating to ULFM. You can certainly purpose such a motion, but the first question would be why? it could serve to hurt some clubs and societies particularly when every AGM/EGM are held at different times.

For clubs and socs councel you are required to have unique committee members there anyway (can't sign in for 2 clubs or societies). It is an interesting thought to limit the number of clubs and societies a person can be on the committee of. Above a certain number and that individual could be hurting themselves academicly.

reunion

Skyrim wrote: »

Can you write it down on a piece of paper and give it in to the SU? Just in case, i can't get off coop.

You can submit it to the clubs and societies exec and they will review it and come up with a proposal to councel or else you can email paul lee or liz gabbett and ask for it to be put on the agenda.

However if it's just a one liner and nobody can fully explain the thinking behind it, it unlikely to go anywhere.

Skyrim

I have no problem submitting a proposal, may even do it tomorrow, but i hope there isn't some long winded approach to submitting it.

wnolan1992

reunion wrote: »

Actually boards has gotten quite a bit done, in particular relating to ULFM. You can certainly purpose such a motion, but the first question would be why? it could serve to hurt some clubs and societies particularly when every AGM/EGM are held at different times.

For clubs and socs councel you are required to have unique committee members there anyway (can't sign in for 2 clubs or societies). It is an interesting thought to limit the number of clubs and societies a person can be on the committee of. Above a certain number and that individual could be hurting themselves academicly.

I wasn't knocking boards, but given the short notice of the EGM, talking about something here probably won't get it raised at the EGM for discussion.

Polar Ice

reunion wrote: »

hurting themselves academicly.

Spelling the word academically wrong might also harm academically :pac:

reunion

wnolan1992 wrote: »

I wasn't knocking boards, but given the short notice of the EGM, talking about something here probably won't get it raised at the EGM for discussion.

Well if it's clubs and societies related it has to go to clubs and societies councel.

The SU EGM is only appropriate for non-clubs and societies related SU activities.

For clubs and socs councel you can submit a one liner if you want but it would be struck down near instantly. If you can't attend, you would need some explanation for the reasoning behind it.

Polar Ice wrote: »

Spelling the word academically wrong might also harm academically :pac:

I'm hopefully highlighting the need for a spellchecker on boards

Reiver

Just read Paddy's blog there, only been on it once before but very impressed with his honesty. Feel a bit guilty for being on co-op now and not to be around for this EGM, it looks like it could affect stuff for a good few years to come!

canned_ulkc

I was going to have a launch at the clique perception but I'll hold back and only say that to label the SU as a clique is to dismiss the entire set-up and devalue the work that does get done.....

To the EGM.... Whether the 2 positions being proposed to be abolished are to go or not, information should be out there NOW about where the duties of these positions will be distributed in a clear and concise manner. That simply doesn't seem to be out there yet.....

Fishooks12

canned_ulkc wrote: »

I was going to have a launch at the clique perception but I'll hold back and only say that to label the SU as a clique is to dismiss the entire set-up and devalue the work that does get done.....

This may be true but I no plenty of students who have little or no dealing with the SU because of this clique perception which, lets face it, exists to an extent.

wnolan1992

Fishooks12 wrote: »

This may be true but I no plenty of students who have little or no dealing with the SU because of this clique perception which, lets face it, exists to an extent.

Well I know tonnes of students like this. There're what... 10,000 UL students? And I bet there'll be a struggle to meet the quorum of 200 on Wednesday...

Some are put off by the clique nature, which can seem overbearing at first, but once you get that first step in the door (which isn't that hard) you don't notice it anymore.

Some on the other hand, just don't give a fuck, and will only take notice of what the SU does when it affects their drinking time. [/cynicism]

Fishooks12

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Well I know tonnes of students like this. There're what... 10,000 UL students? And I bet there'll be a struggle to meet the quorum of 200 on Wednesday...

Some are put off by the clique nature, which can seem overbearing at first, but once you get that first step in the door (which isn't that hard) you don't notice it anymore.

Some on the other hand, just don't give a fuck, and will only take notice of what the SU does when it affects their drinking time. [/cynicism]

If the SU can't get 200 Wednesday does not speak volumes in itself?

The student body as a whole can't take all the blame. The SU should make a real attempt to reconnect with the whole student body next year.

wnolan1992

Fishooks12 wrote: »

If the SU can't get 200 Wednesday does not speak volumes in itself?

The student body as a whole can't take all the blame. The SU should make a real attempt to reconnect with the whole student body next year.

True I guess... but what exactly can they do to "reconnect"? You can't force people to talk to the sabbats like.

---

Wow. Just wow.

Kelly O'Brien(CO) Facebook wrote:

So it turns out that Paddy Rockett deemed it necessary to delete myself and all other sabbats as friends on facebook. Great to see the maturity of a work colleague aint it? Thats right little child, stamp your feet, see if anyone even notices.

Wow.

and for good measure ->

Skyrim

wnolan1992 wrote: »

True I guess... but what exactly can they do to "reconnect"? You can't force people to talk to the sabbats like.

---

Wow. Just wow.



Wow.

and for good measure ->

Why put something like that public? Seriously, it should be kept between themselves. I don't know what's going on internally but that is strange. Feel sorry for Paddy tbh.

wnolan1992

Skyrim wrote: »

Why put something like that public? Seriously, it should be kept between themselves. I don't know what's going on internally but that is strange. Feel sorry for Paddy tbh.

The whole thing seems to just be getting messier and messier...

Childish behaviour on all sides here imho.

Skyrim

Sad to hear. Could they just call a truce? Don't know anything about what happened but it's childish. Would put you more off the su in general. I was impressed with Paddy's latest blog. Has me yearning for last year's team.

joey12

Absolute childish behavior from the lot of them, facebook is a private matter they have not elected to talk about they're facebook's.

The SU's reputation has been destroyed in my opinion and I'll only be delighted to see the end of this fiasco. But saying that Paddy's blog did seem very honest and it put things in perspective.

Skyrim

Do my best to head to the egm, even if the cliqueness grates me at times, do all the sabbats have to go to that?

wnolan1992

joey12 wrote: »

Absolute childish behavior from the lot of them, facebook is a private matter they have not elected to talk about they're facebook's.

The SU's reputation has been destroyed in my opinion and I'll only be delighted to see the end of this fiasco. But saying that Paddy's blog did seem very honest and it put things in perspective.

To be fair, it was posted on her personal page, and she's entitled to give her opinion on anything on that page, just like Derek promotes FF events. Their Facebook's are their own and have nothing to do with their official work.

Skyrim wrote: »

Do my best to head to the egm, even if the cliqueness grates me at times, do all the sabbats have to go to that?

I'm assuming they all have to, yes.

A pretty sparse agenda, only two motions up for discussion.

J_E

This whole thing has only alienated the student body even more, which can't be a good thing given the generally indifferent attitude of a lot of students towards the SU.

mayo_lad

wnolan1992 wrote: »

To be fair, it was posted on her personal page, and she's entitled to give her opinion on anything on that page, just like Derek promotes FF events. Their Facebook's are their own and have nothing to do with their official work.



I'm assuming they all have to, yes.

A pretty sparse agenda, only two motions up for discussion.

yes all sabatical officers have to attend the EGM . if they do not go they will be deamed to have resinged there postition