NEC MEETINGS
I have attended two NEC meetings, that have been very interesting! The last one was our delegation meeting for NUS conference, where we agreed that Kat Fletcher will be delegation leader and agreed a number of policy motions including one I submitted on NUS Extra, which I will blog separately for you to see.

THE BRITISH YOUTH COUNCL
I attended the British Youth Council AGM – which Flick Cox summarise in her blog. I agree with every word she said so please have a fun read: www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/flickcox/271408.aspx

I am of the view that we should disaffiliate from this organisation. I do not feel, as some people do, that we should disaffiliate because we disagree with their views on some issues but because I do not believe that the National Union of Students sits comfortably in an organisation designed to represent Girl Guides, Brownies, Boy Scouts and the St Johns Ambulance.

The BYC was established to give these groups a voice, a voice that deserves to be heard. But the NUS is fundamentally different in both its traditions and outlook to these organisations therefore I do not believe it is our place to act as wreckers within this organisation, trying to push, prod and cajole it into agreeing with our world-view. That would be imperialistic to say the least! We should disaffiliate to allow the BYC to flourish on its own and work proactively together when we agree on issues to maximise our potential and get young people and students’ voices heard.

NUS/NUSSL/AMSU SEMINAR
I attended this seminar to deliver a presentation with Matt Hyde (GM at Goldsmith’s SU). I will write a separate blog to detail the contents of that seminar.

NUSSL & NUS Extra
I have attended two meetings of the NUSSL Board of Directors. Where amongst other things NUS Extra was discussed. We have been presented with information that shown that the NUS Extra trial in the North West has been a qualified success with huge numbers of students taking up the option of a paid for card and most unions happy with the operational issues surrounding delivery of the card.

Of course there have been teething problems which some wreckers within the movement will pounce upon to denounce the card. But for my part, I have always been a passionate advocate of the Extra card and am pleased with the way NUS and NUS Service have handled the process. I’m quite sure the debate surrounding the card will drag out until next March, I look forward to it!

If any unions would like any more information about the card and the trial you really shouldn’t hesitate to contact either me at derfel.owen@nus.org.uk 07734 816307 or Joe Rukin at joe.rukin@nus.org.uk

LGBT Conference
I attended my first LGBT conference last weekend in Coventry. I must admit it was a very pleasant conference (not what I had been led to expect!!) with a lot of good debates and motions being passed. I only made one speech, as a passionate advocate of FE unions and the right of those students to be represented as well as those at University. I hope Ellie Russell was proud!!

Student Media Awards
It was a pleasure to attend the Student Media Award with other members of the NEC and so great to see so many student journalists being rewarded for their hard work and talent. Unfortunately the booze was free and flowing too – so I was a little bit sore on Sunday morning!

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