General Committee Minutes
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Minutes of the General Committee Meeting
Of the Durham Union Society
On the 15/02/2012 at 2.30pm
In the Debating Chamber, Palace Green
Welcome
Mr Freeman welcomed members to General Committee
Mr Wells waved in greeting
Apologies were read out
Minutes & Matters Arising
Mr Moran noted that further to his Durham Schools announcement of last meeting there was now a sign-up sheet for hoodies in the office for 2 weeks. There was also the ICC in a few weeks so if you wished to compete, email durhamdebate@gmail.com or you could talk to himself or Mr Tunnicliffe
Mr Lewis Mk 2 asked if there would be crash for first years who were getting chucked out of their accommodation
Mr Moran said it could be arranged informally but not to worry, he would have somewhere to sleep even if it with Mr Tunnicliffe
The Minutes were taken on a General Aye
Questions of Officers
Mr Freeman ceded the chair to Mr Mellis, Mr Upton minuting
Mr Mellis invited Mr Freeman to propose a motion
Mr Freeman noted that there had been several issues with socials recently which had caused problems. This was inexcusable and so he felt it was important it was dealt with but in a constructive manner so that we could move forward. Issues include the Ball, yakka bins left out weeks after socials and failures with the social for this Thursday. He felt obliged to propose a motion of censure of Mr Hauschild
Mr Ball seconded the motion
Mr Mellis noted Mr Hauschild had a prepared statement to read prior to any call for formal opposition
Mr Hauschild read his prepared statement A copy is to be found in the minute book
Mr Mellis asked if there was any Formal Opposition. There was none so he asked for the motion to be taken on a General Aye.
Motion taken on a general aye
Mr Mellis ceded the Chair back to Mr Freeman
Mr Freeman noted once more that this was supposed to be a positive measure designed to ensure that people do take their positions seriously for the good of the Union.
Mr Wells inquired why the gavel was cling-filmed
Mr Mellis noted the sense of humour of his Assistant Secretary who thought it was funny
Membership Levy
Mr Mellis noted that due to inflation and the state of the Union finances plus the fact that the levy had not gone up for a couple of years now was the time to do so. Standing had proposed to raise it to £55 for next year for Life membership, Annual Membership remaining the same at £35
Mr Lewis Mk 2 asked that we advertise any rise in advance
Mr Mellis replied that it was designed to come into effect only at the end of the year on 1st July
Mr Upton inquired whether further cost cutting was better as the £50+ price was a large psychological change
Mr Freeman noted that the change had been coming for a while and that we had to strike a balance between attracting members and having the money to put on activities in order to attract them
Mr Ball noted that in his time the levy had gone up from £39 to £44 to £49 and the dreaded effect on membership numbers had never occurred. Debates cost more to put and this is a fact we cannot escape from
Mr Hauschild noted that more members equalled more cash and that the £55 mark was unlikely to make a difference. It was less about the cost and more about advertisement
Miss Ansell noted that even though we may not lose membership we may not increase on this year’s new intake
Mr Tunnicliffe doubted we would increase on this year’s intake if we left it at £49
Mr Freeman noted that we had the benefits we just had to make people realised it was worth the cost
Mr Lloyd thought people didn’t all join for intellectual debate but for free socials so further cost cutting could threaten this side of the membership numbers
Mr Freeman agreed noting the vast amount of cost cutting from last term but that we were still £1k down and that other measures needed to be taken. The Trustees were also happy
Mr Evans noted that we tried to sign people up on the back of the price increase
Mr Freeman asked if there was any formal opposition
There was none
The levy increase to £55 was taken on a general aye
Elections
Custodian
Mr Lewis noted that there were two valid nominations received
Miss Livesey proposed by Mr Dory
RON proposed by RON P. ROPOSER
Mr Lewis asked Miss Livesey to hust in her own name
Miss Livesey without tripping over like she had at the last General Committee meeting noted she’d keep it short. She would talk about dedication, experience and future. Since Freshers she’d been involved every week including being in the bar pretty much every night anyway. She was around a lot of the time, was living in 24NBC next year so was literally living in the building and so it was in her interest to keep it night. She had been involved in Bar Committee so knew the rescue strategy which she wished to keep going and improve upon. For instance advertising was important to make sure people actually knew we existed. She was co-convening the Open which showed she was willing to do the fun jobs and the bad jobs that these events required. She wished to increase the cocktails and make it a re-branding exercise
RON lost their AAA rating once but that didn’t do them any damage, they were often invested in by Chinese investors
Mr Lewis asked for questions for the candidates
Mr Hauschild noted the Custodian was the landlord of 24NBC so would the candidates fix the shower if it broke
Miss Livesey noted that she would probably make Mr Hauschild drink it all or failing that she was certain there were people to join
RON doesn’t care about showers, they always smell like freshly baked fruit bread
Mr Ball asked if the candidate promised 24 different cocktails for 24
Mr Wells noted Mr Ball was a git who stole his question
Miss Livesey difficult to get enough alcohol for that but would try and get a set menu then try new things
RON reckoned they could make 24 different types of alcohol if someone would get them 24 bath tubs, piping, fruits and a source of heating...but nobody tell the Feds
Mr Wells stated that it was inevitable 24NBC would break at some point so how good were the candidates at DIY
Miss Livesey noted that although she is blonde...
Mr Mellis had been under the impression Miss Livesey wasn’t actually blonde?
...ok so she may look blonde but she made a bathhouse for DT
Mr Tunicliffe exclaimed wow
There were also many males in the house
RON built the Seven Wonders of the World with a toothpick, piece of string, chewing gum and 17 staples in six days before resting on the 7th day, could they do DIY indeed?!?!?!?!
Mr Lambert asked how the candidates proposed to attract bar crawls
Mr Moran suggested personally
Miss Livesey thought it was an issue of advertising to make clear that we were there
RON is one of the most attractive concepts in the world but did not have sexual relations with that woman
Mr Goenka wondered exactly how the candidates proposed to improve 24NBC
Miss Livesey proposed drawing on the experience and thoughts of more people particularly Bar Comm, the staff, Gordon and the office staff
RON proposed knocking it down, pouring a lot of concrete into the space and describing it as brutalism and failing to see that it is in fact a horrible, horrible building that doesn’t fit in at all with Durham then remembered this was an idea he may have tried before and it may not have worked
Mr Hauschild asked if the Electric Pornstar cocktail would make a return
Miss Livesey rejected the idea
RON once had a successful career as a pornstar but had gone into politics to remove the joking around such a serious issue
Mr Freeman noted rebranding 24NBC as the ‘Bailey cocktail bar’ was an idea often discussed but how did the candidates propose to achieve this
Miss Livesey noted that there were some crazy cocktails and what we needed was a normal menu people were comfortable with which we could then extend outwards
RON suggested the questioner look to their book the ‘Little Red Book: The Bloody Mary and Beyond’ co-authored with their good friend RON P ROPOSER which suggested a Five Point Plan to Victory
Mr Lewis Mk 2 asked for a pinkie-promise the candidates would put the bar ahead of their debating career
Miss Livesey noted she was always in the bar after debating and whilst she loved debating also loved the social experience this provided, of which 24NBC was an important part
RON offered Mr Lewis MK 2 their pinkie anytime Mr Lewis Mk 2 wished
Mr Evans asked if the candidates would commit to making cocktails with him at the cocktail social
Miss Livesey did so
RON raised a conceptual eyebrow in an amused manner at the suggestion
Mr Lewis invited Miss Livesey to leave and Mr Dory to propose her
Mr Dory noted that Miss Livesey did have some friends until he killed them all to propose her. She had shown she was willing to take on as much responsibility as possible being on Bar Comm, having ideas and being Open Co-Convenor. She would be a fine member of Standing. She had agreed last minute to fly to the other side of the world in Manila for Worlds as a judge which had involved being chased by lust Pilipino men. She was often in the bar with her ½ pint of cider and despite her looks was old enough to run the bar as Mr Dory had checked her ID already as he wasn’t sure himself. She would be living in the house, knows it well after spending some nights in the President’s room
Mr Freeman pointed out that this did not mean his room
Mr Dory hastily agreed and urged people to vote for Miss Livesey
Mr Lewis invited questions
Mr Evans inquired what alcoholic spirit the proposers thought their candidates would be
Mr Dory thought a Jelly-baby cocktail
Mr Freeman noted that there were IDP and ADP meeting but getting people to the bar after was difficult so could the proposers suggest how their candidates proposed to bring in a more structured way of encouraging people to the bar after debating
Mr Dory noted he would be happy, as would Mr Tunnicliffe, to help his candidate address this issue. Possibly opening the Reading Room was a way forward
Mr Lewis asked if the candidates would keep his favourite tipple
Mr Dory thought not
Mr Hauschild was still obsessed with the Electric Pornstar
Mr Dory didn’t care just like his candidate
The Committee voted
Reports of Officers
Secretary
Mr Mellis noted the increase in membership, that he’d had to fire three college secs but the rest were doing well and that he had a Consultative Committee meeting arranged for after Gen Com
Treasurer
Mr Plygawko after skipping to the front noted ABANDON SHIP! Actually this wasn’t yet needed. They’d pretty much finalised Mr Richards’ term and this was a £1k in profit. Mr Freeman had done alot for his term’s finances to bring them under check though it would make a loss, although he had two budgets to reconcile. Budgets are generally pessimistic so dealt with a worst case scenario so hopefully the situation would be better than envisaged. Mr Ball helpfully promised neutral costing or profit making socials which was wonderful. 24NBC was £3k up on last year which we hoped to continue whilst Durham Schools would come out with a profit which was great news.
Miss Livesey was elected the new Custodian
AOB
Mr Hauschild noted the Wine and Cheese social tomorrow, £6 members & £8 non-members. There would be 20 different types of cheeses and ½ a bottle of wine
Mr Goenka inquired if this was the Godfather Ball wine
Mr Freeman replied that it was and that even if Mr Goenka couldn’t remember the Ball Mr Freeman could assure him he’d enjoyed himself
Mr Mellis reminded Consultative Committee to stay behind for a meeting
Mr Upton asked the new Custodian when the 24 contracts would be ready
Miss Livesey promised to do it ASAP
END
Minutes of the General Committee Meeting
Of the Durham Union Society
On the 01/02/2012 at 2.30pm
In the Debating Chamber, Palace Green
Welcome
Mr Freeman welcomed everyone to the first Gen Com if Epiphany 2012 (Cheers) A special welcome to the new people. Gen Com is of course the primary body of the Union and makes sure it is run properly. Afterwards we will have a free Cake and Yakka social.
Present & Apologies Mr Mellis read out the apologies, remarking that these included Miss Livesey who was also down as in attendance. See Register attached to written minutes
Minutes & Matters Arising
Taken on a general aye
Questions of Officers
Mr Lewis asked the Custodian Mr Ashton how many Gen Coms he had attended
Mr Ashton had sent his apologies with Miss Cosslett
Reports of Officers
President
Mr Freeman noted that the term was going well so far. The John Micklethwait address had seen a packed Chamber, fuller than many had seen it in recent years. The membership figures were going up and they were now at 28 which we hoped to continue to improve as that is the aim of this term. Mr Freeman urged Gen Com to encourage their friends to join or come to events even if non-members. There was the Lord Winston address at 9pm tonight which should be wonderful. The President’s personally favourite event was coming up this Friday in the form of the Facebook debate which had a full panel of speakers. Debates so far had gone well; the Ban the Burqua debate had been very passionate, Dr Hargey being particularly angry. Thankfully no press had picked up on the use of ‘Ninjas’ to describe Burqua clad women.
Sponsorship
Mr Freeman asked Mr Dory to report on Sponsorship.
Mr Dory began (to ‘whoops’) by stating that things were going well, if only because no-one had tried to re-possess Mr Freeman yet. We were on £20k from 20 different sponsors which was good and we were keeping them happy as well so that they wished to stay involved and do more events. This was particularly good since it improved our chances of long-term stability with sponsorship into future terms already being secured. If a recession hit tomorrow we have agreements in place guaranteeing we still get money. Any further questions just ask me.
Social
Mr Freeman asked Mr Hauschild to give the Social report
Mr Mellis noted there was silence as Mr Hauschild was called to give his report
Mr Hauschild pointed out that he hadn’t done a report at all so he would also cover Michaelmas term. This was largely a success, although the rugby social for the World Cup Final had to be cancelled. The Ball had actually happened and was quite good, the Halloween social had seen Miss Trewick dressed as a scary vampire bride and Mr Dory argued with the pizza man for cost-price pizza. The Christmas social had gone well, with thanks to Mr Mellis. Mr Wells and Mr Lewis for ensuring it continued to run as Mr Hauschild changed into a Man-kini.
The Godfather Ball was progressing well and he would have a meeting with Capriccio’s and secure the Fun-Casino this week. The string quartet, venue and wine were all ready. The cocktail social was on schedule and well done to Mr Evans for being the only member of Social committee to organise his assigned social
Miss Trewick pointed out hers had been cancelled
Mr Hauschild conceded the point. He noted a meeting for Social Committee next week so advance warning for those members. Easter term was already being planned and was looking good so far.
Mr Miscampbell asked why Miss Trewick was the butt of Mr Hauschild’s jokes
