Over the past 3 weeks I have been travelling the country visiting Women’s Officers, Sabbs, and actual students on the ground. First I had my Regional Women’s Networking Events, then I was at every day of Regional Conferences (West side = best side), and I am writing this on a train on my way round the country once more – campaigning in the Sussex Affiliation referenda, speaking at the Sussex Women’s Group abortion debate, campaigning in the Lancaster Women’s Officer referenda, speaking at Sheffield Hallam’s Women’s Forum!

It is all go. And my conference is getting ever closer! So what have I been up to and what is there to come?

Women’s Conference:

Women’s Conf is coming along nicely! Me and the Women’s Unit and Events are all over it. We are booking speakers, workshops, ents etc etc. And there are loads of motions in so far.

I have organised a ring around of all Unions – well, that’s the idea – so that we can achieve Committee’s aim of doubling conference size this year.

So make sure you register and submit amendments by the 16th February 2007!!!!!!

Gender Duty:

This week, my Gender Duty…Are you Ready flyer goes out to all Unions in the country, and the detailed Gender Duty Briefing goes up online at www.officeronline.co.uk/women

The Gender Duty is a brand new piece of legislation that means that Uni’s and Colleges will have to take ‘active steps’ to combat sexism in their institutions. This is a REALLY MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY that SU’s should definitely not miss out on to make sure you represent your women students to your institution!

NUS Women’s Campaign are encouraging all Women’s Officers, and Sabbs to take part in the National Lobby of VCs and College Principles. Set up a meeting with the top dog at your institution and make sure that you tell them what you want them to do as a result of the Gender Duty!

If you have a meeting set up and would like a member of Women’s Committee, including me, to accompany you please email kat.stark@nus.org.uk (cc womens@nus.org.uk) and we will sort you out!

Women at Work:

The campaign is so nearly ready it’s not funny. We are planning on launching it properly at Women’s Conference. The Trade Union Amicus are supporting us to run the campaign and have donated a significant sum of money.

There are going to be a range of posters, a detailed briefing on various issues, fun materials, info for your Women Students and much much more. If that alone isn’t a reason to go to Women’s Conference then I don’t know what is!

Lancaster Referenda:

I’ll update with the result of the referenda when I have it. It’s so disappointing though that Women’s Officers too often spend most of their time defending their role, rather than fulfilling it. All my support has gone out to Cat Smith, the full time Women’s Officer at Lancaster, as she fights to keep her position in the Union.

And I have been overwhelmed at the amount of support that has come from students, women and men, from across the country.

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