External Engagement Zone (14th March 2014)

As the funding meeting is next week we can ratify everything from today with a quaret committee.

Jenny Bortoluzzi arrived late.

Polly Osborne attended in place of Cait Percy and left after the Community Action Funding request.

Vote to approve minutes: passed

Goals won’t come here today because the agenda is quite full, this will be done in 1:1s

Alice Gray's report does include RAG total

Christopher Nash did not circulate newsletter – CN to do

Claire Gilbert to write report for the zone - this has been done

Add budget to agenda for future meeting – Christopher Nash to circulate budget by next week

Claire Gi;bert to write report by next meeting – report has been written, but Claire has some interactive sessions for RAG committee, that will be done in training on 19/3

Everyone to get 2 people involved in sport relief mile – in progress

Christopher Nash to ask committee about newsletter stories – will be later in the year

Alice Gray would like to add: Jenny Bortoluzzi has been elected as RAG officer. RAG committee are getting training about creating a thnking environment which will be on the 19/3. Skydive meeting yesterday which went well. AGM will be 1st May. Have reached over £35k which was our target by easter.

Claire Gilbert had nothing to add to written report.

Claire Gilbert noted that she rejected Jack Kanani’s report because it was late and it contained incorrect information which Claire felt was inappropriate to accept.

Fundraising committee

This is an idea that came out of ‘what is rag?’. Each charity society and RAG should put forward 1 person to create a fundraising committee which would enhance communication between RAG and charity societies. Alice Gray asked whether people liked the idea and whether it should be mandatory. Claire Gilbert asked who would lead it? Christopher Nash suggested that the committee elect its own chair in the 1st meeting. Claire asked whether it might help to have an informal meeting first. Alice thought it might be a good idea to start it after the AGMs so that new committees are getting involved.

Claire Gilbert said to make it mandatory it would need to come through the External Engagemant committee and the chair would have to work closely with RAG officer and VP Engagement.

Claire Gilbert suggested that the 1st meeting should involve more interactive sessions to see what people want out of it.

 

#The Big Give

Claire Gilbert advise that the Big Give is the last week of term.  It can be found by searching Facebook using 'Big Give'. People can volunteer or just donate money.  The target for the week is £15k.

There will be an organised series of events through the week. Claire said that there is a potential problem with going to Jesters, but Claire explained that that is just one event in a full program and isn’t the end event.

The University are more positive now. The University have allowed us to do more things.

 

 

Enterprise conference

This has been moved to 3rd & 4th May. There have been some discussion about the organisation and structure of the conference. We couldn't discuss more without Jack Kanani here.

Student Volunteering Week

We funded SVW which has now happened. Over 283 people engaged during the week. We painted 2 rooms in heartbeat house and did a litter pick. 6 volunteers did not show up to 1 activity which has slightly damaged our relationship with one group.

Conservation Volunteers raised an issue about the fact that the Little Common may not be a good conservation project.

Claire Gilbert said that it took up a lot of the committee's time, so for next year it might an idea to get volunteers to man the stalls.

 

Community Action Applications

As we can see we are getting more applications now and we would encourage even more.

 

Sport Relief

Sport Relief is being partly funded by Community Action.  We now have 11 volunteers, lots of students are signing up. Encourage all to come, live music, RAG collecting. Feel free to run if you want. We gave £2,000 from Community Action: £1000 to run the event and £1000 for promotion.

 

Welcome Brochure

Claire Gilbert showed the 1st draft of the guide.  Alice Gray asked about whether there is anything about fuse boxes / smoke alarms / (dehumidifier?)

The general feedback was good, although some people felt that the pictures could be better.

 

Residents Meetings

Claire Gilbert advised that we are looking at setting up our meeting with the heads of the Residents' Associations and wanted input for anything that we want to take to the meeting.

Alice Gray advised that we should give highlights about the Big Give.

Anjali Parshotam advised about the International Love event AISEC/international office.

 

Local & European Elections

Claire Gilbert advised that 2015 is a general election year. On 22/05/14 there are council elections and MEP elections. Currently we are represented by Nigel Farage and we have a big opportunity to engage students. There are various groups interested in doing campaign work on voter registration. From this year single registrations come in which means that halls will no longer be able to automatically register students.

The University are quite keen that if we give them a steer from SUSU they can give us the University data and can also sent it to local authority with a tick box.

The current process is to fill in a form and post it (not online) then prove you live at that address. Claire Gilbert asked for ideas:

Alice Gray advised that we could have a stall with forms and mock post box so we can send them.

Claire Gilbert advised that we are looking at doing a hustings on May 1st. The Green party candidate will come and others should. Claire Gilbert said this could cause a problem as we have to remain politically neutral which means if we give a platform to one we have to give platform to all.

General agreement that husting is a good idea as may encourage student to engage.

 

Building Bridges

This is in partnership with Highfield Residents' Association and local Police. Event on 26th Mar at 7pm in the Bridge and the whole committee are invited.- semi formal attire.

Gifts and Benefits Policy

 Claire Gilbert showed the gifts and benefits policy and told everyone to read and pass on to sub-committees.

 

Innovations Fund

Claire Gilbert explained the innovation fund. £25k to do something a little bit different. It might be worth everyone looking at what they can do with it. Claire encouraged all to apply. 1st deadline is Mar 21st, 2nd deadline 16th May.

 

EVAs

Claire Gilbert encouraged everyone to nominate people for EVAs and get others to do nominations too. Nominations close 28th March. Ceremony, 9th May.

 

Budget

This will be at the funding meeting.

We have increased the amount in groups funding so there is some left for the third round.

The next round of funding will be in time for freshers.

  

Freshers 2014

Claire Gilbert wanted people to think about ‘what freshers would look like for your group?’ Freshers in SUSU is now being run by a steering group in freshers.

Claire asked people to draw a diagram / picture / list.

Claire asked everyone to feedback 1 thing:

Alice Gray – separate mini bunfight for charity socs. (and an icecream party)

Anjali Parshotam – inter-society networking event. (social)

Ellie Cawthera – trips to zoo / theatre / laser quest / beach / paintball. With mass litter pick at end.

Christopher Nash – Coffee mornings as an alternative route into activities.

Claire Gilbert – Meet the street.

Jenny Bortoluzzi – Big night (ball / casino) that would be dedicated to RAG / charities.

 

Termly meetings – meeting with residents in April / building bridges / North Southampton agm

RAG creates relationships, for example, Heartbeat House painting.

Enterprise audit – open

Raise profile of SUSU – Student Volunteering Week, Building Bridges

Community Action - awarded £1400 of funding to spaceflight

Training – Enterprise conference / RAG training.

 

n/a

To be confirmed

Spaceflight outlined their application for science packs. 

The committee asked questions relating to the application.  Spaceflight left the room so that the committee could consider the application. 

CG said they have asked for £900 in total for this application. There is currently around £3,400 left in the fund.

VOTE: for = 3,  against = 0, abstain = 0 – to go to next meeting for ratification

 

Spaceflight outlined application for rocket activities.

The committee asked questions relating to the application.  Spaceflight left the room so that the committee could consider the application. 

The society has asked for £550 to cover 4 launches.

Claire Gilbert would like to see some evaluation from this so we can measure the inpact of Community Action funding.

VOTE: for = 3, against = 0, abstain = 0 – to go to next meeting for ratification.