“There is no place where a man (or woman) can occupy himself more intensively or usefully, and no place where he can hold down his job by doing so little”
Nigel Nicolson. Former Conservative MP for Bournemouth.
(Paxman, J. 2002. pg 157)

Welcome to my first blog. I plan to write about two every month. One will be factual in terms of what I’ve been up to, where I’ve been, what I’m going to do. The other will be more random with streams of consciousness, ideas and useful (hopefully) information. This ones going to be a bit longer as it’s got some contact details and such like in it.

Where I’ve been…

27th - 28th June: NEC handover for two days. Blackpool.
4th - 5th July: SW manifesto to action for two days. Weymouth.
8th July: Last day as President at Bournemouth Uni SU.
10th July: Drive home to Devon.
11th July: NEC meeting priority campaigns. London.
18th - 20th July: Sorting out admin and planning. Home.

Other things I’ve done…

1. Sorted out my e-mails. It’s taken ages to get in.
2. I’ve written a five page essay about democracy in NUS and how we transfer campaign policy into action. Once it’s a bit further down the line I’ll blog it although it’s one for the hacks.
3. I’ve bulleted everything I plan to do this year and I’ve started to translate it into plans.
4. Organised trip to London HQ for next week (25th - 27th July). I’ll be meeting Flick Cox, meeting Christian Aid and sorting out some filing as I can imagine it’s in a state.

My responsibilities…

I will be co-convening the NUS Environment + ethics campaign this year so contact me if you’re interested in that. Flick Cox is the other conveyor and Suzie Wylie is on the committee.

What I’m going to do…

As well as the E+E campaign I will be working strongly on my democracy and reform agenda. I will spend most of my time in the South West as that is where I’m living. I hope to visit most of the NUS regions in the course of carrying out regional reform roundtables (rrr!) to give you guys a chance to input into the reform discussions but with the financial pressures on NUS I will stick to the SW most of the time I’m afraid.

I will produce more detailed plans of what I’ll be up to once I’ve had a chance to discuss them with the rest of the NEC.

Contacting me…

If you want to contact me call 07792871449 or e-mail will.page@nus.org.uk However I can’t get mobile reception where I live so your best bet is to e-mail me although I will endeavour to check my messages regularly.

Things I can help you with…

Also I think I can just about claim a degree of experience in the following areas in students’ unions and I’m proud of some of the things that I did on them so if any of the following are issues in your union and you want a brain to pick (but not in Hannibal Lecteresque fashion obviously) give me a bell.

Democracy - Referendums, General Meetings and exec.

Communication - in general, student surveys and paperless communication.

Block Grants - getting more money.

Accommodation - winning for your students.

NUS democracy - writing motions and getting them passed. Over the last two years I wrote policy (since passed by a variety of conferences) which most notably the NEC to write blogs, publish a summary of NEC expenses, to introduce a big screen at national conference and to write a student friendly guide to NUS democracy. It’s really not hard to get policy through.

Anonymous Marking.

Smoking Bans. (1754 students voted to in a referendum for a total ban in the bars. The greatest ever democratic participation in the union !)

Academic Representation & Course Reps.

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