For me today it's game over. I'm at the end of my sabbatical year as Vice President of Sport and I just wanted to say thank you.
Please see my leaving speeches for my final farewells and thank you's. It's been a pleasure :)
Lots of love
Fordy xx
My main aims for the year
Sports Ball 2010
VPS' at the first annual University Sports Awards
Friday, 30 July 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Guild Council leaving speech
It got emotional!
**********************************************************************************
Good evening Guild Council. I guess in this arena, I’ll be one of the less well-known sabbs, but hopefully you’ll recognise my efforts and achievements this year and will be willing to listen to my farewell speech from what can only be described as an epic year.
Personally I think I’ve experienced a great transformation over the last year and I finally feel settled and content with who I am and what I’ve achieved. As I mentioned in my Sports Ball speech on Wednesday evening, I’ve enjoyed every minute of the rollercoaster and I feel privileged to have been elected for such a prestigious role. From the very beginning, it became evident that I’d be the newbie of the group, who’d had much less involvement in the Guild than the rest of the team but now, I truly feel a part of it.
The depth of knowledge and experience I’ve received over the last year has been phenomenal. This job has given me more confidence in my own ability than I could ever imagine, although the journey I’ve taken to get where I am today has been far from perfect. This position could be described as ultimate limbo between the life of a student and the working world and even though it has been a once in a lifetime opportunity I’d be lying if I’d said it had been an easy ride. I for one am far from being a political busy body and I certainly have struggled with the politic nature of juggling my Guild loyalties and UBS obligations, as most of the sabbs and SMT will know, but I’ve powered through. In doing so, I’d like to start with a review of my year in office.
**********************************************************************************
Good evening Guild Council. I guess in this arena, I’ll be one of the less well-known sabbs, but hopefully you’ll recognise my efforts and achievements this year and will be willing to listen to my farewell speech from what can only be described as an epic year.
Personally I think I’ve experienced a great transformation over the last year and I finally feel settled and content with who I am and what I’ve achieved. As I mentioned in my Sports Ball speech on Wednesday evening, I’ve enjoyed every minute of the rollercoaster and I feel privileged to have been elected for such a prestigious role. From the very beginning, it became evident that I’d be the newbie of the group, who’d had much less involvement in the Guild than the rest of the team but now, I truly feel a part of it.
The depth of knowledge and experience I’ve received over the last year has been phenomenal. This job has given me more confidence in my own ability than I could ever imagine, although the journey I’ve taken to get where I am today has been far from perfect. This position could be described as ultimate limbo between the life of a student and the working world and even though it has been a once in a lifetime opportunity I’d be lying if I’d said it had been an easy ride. I for one am far from being a political busy body and I certainly have struggled with the politic nature of juggling my Guild loyalties and UBS obligations, as most of the sabbs and SMT will know, but I’ve powered through. In doing so, I’d like to start with a review of my year in office.
SPORTS BALL SPEECH
What an amazing night, thank you to everyone who was a part of it.
************************************************************************************
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Sports Ball 2010.
I am delighted that tonight we have over 400 students, celebrating university sport and the successes of the 2009/2010 season and boy, do you lot scrub up well. Every one of you is integral to the budding successes of UB Sport and I’ve been lucky enough to witness the hard work, dedication, commitment, pride and the sense of unity amongst Athletic Union clubs and Guild Sport societies. So please give yourselves a round of applause!
After taking office, many months ago, it became evident that the value of the student experience had become significantly more important than ever before in an ever exhausted economic climate. A graduate’s employability is often heavily dependent on extra-curricular activities and I believe that university sport fundamentally shapes one’s identity, moulding necessary life skills. Whether you see yourself as a leader, or simply a part of the team, you ARE UB Sport and your involvement will have helped set your future.
For this reason alone, I took it upon myself to revamp the previous AU Dinner and bring to you, an event specifically recognising, celebrating and focusing on you, the students. No smoosing sponsors and no VIPS, this is your time to shine, celebrate with team mates and party before the summer break.
************************************************************************************
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Sports Ball 2010.
I am delighted that tonight we have over 400 students, celebrating university sport and the successes of the 2009/2010 season and boy, do you lot scrub up well. Every one of you is integral to the budding successes of UB Sport and I’ve been lucky enough to witness the hard work, dedication, commitment, pride and the sense of unity amongst Athletic Union clubs and Guild Sport societies. So please give yourselves a round of applause!
After taking office, many months ago, it became evident that the value of the student experience had become significantly more important than ever before in an ever exhausted economic climate. A graduate’s employability is often heavily dependent on extra-curricular activities and I believe that university sport fundamentally shapes one’s identity, moulding necessary life skills. Whether you see yourself as a leader, or simply a part of the team, you ARE UB Sport and your involvement will have helped set your future.
For this reason alone, I took it upon myself to revamp the previous AU Dinner and bring to you, an event specifically recognising, celebrating and focusing on you, the students. No smoosing sponsors and no VIPS, this is your time to shine, celebrate with team mates and party before the summer break.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Why the mybham sports tab is unfortunately not possible in my term in office
The overarching plan is to simultaniously lobby for both a Guild tab and a Sports tab on the student portal. As we have decided to take this approach, Fabian (our Guild President) has taken the lead on this for me and after many discussions with senior members of University staff, it has been decided that the University will 1) restructure the website 2) then take these tabs into consideration. It is however, on their radar and they do see the importance of it.
Fingers crossed for the mybham sports tab next academic year 2010/2011.
Fingers crossed for the mybham sports tab next academic year 2010/2011.
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Term 2 Report
Vice President of Sport Term 2 Report (January-March 09’)
Content:
• Campaigns/main projects
• Other projects
• Remit specific meetings
• Vice President specific meetings
• Training
• Miscellaneous
Abbreviations; UBS (University Birmingham Sport), BUCS (Birmingham Universities and Colleges Sport)
Campaigns/Main Projects
• Healthy Living Campaign (cooking demonstrations)-I organised for a nutritionist from ‘can’t cook will cook’ cookery school to provide cooking demonstrations at Shackleton Hall on 27th & 28th January. She rustled up 3 dishes within an hour, showing hall residents that cooking healthy, quick, easy and cheap dishes isn’t out of anyone’s reach! In association with the Mentors, we awarded one lucky student a free cookery lesson for their flat, just for simply filling out a questionnaire. Thanks to the Mentors for this joint campaign and if you need any more information please visit http://www.cantcookwillcook.co.uk/
• The Lion-Redbrick Sport Supplement- Edition 2; the BUCS commemorative edition, was inserted in the week 10 edition of Redbrick. 6 pages were dedicated to coverage of 15 different teams at the BUCS Championships held in Sheffield. I acted as editor in chief of this publication and to date this is the best coverage of the event we have ever had. Also I arranged for the photographers and reporters to attend the four day event so we didn’t have to heavily rely on captains submitting reports.
• Transition of BUCS Guild Sport Societies-Throughout the term I’ve had numerous meetings with both the societies and University staff to decide upon the fate of the 21 Guild Sports identified for the transition to UBS; in order to ultimately achieve ‘Sport Under one Banner’. It had been decided that there will be a 3 phased approach to this transition; phase 1-BUCS sports, phase 2-competitive sport, phase 3-recreational sport. Phase 1 will be implemented as of September 2010 and the 7 BUCS sports will either make a full transition over to UBS (so derecognised as a Guild Society) or a part transition (i.e. remaining part of the Guild in addition to UBS). Ultimate Frisbee, Gaelic Football, Pool & Snooker, and Rifle will become sole UBS clubs and BrumSurf, Mountaineering and Ten-Pin Bowling will hold a joint membership (as Brumski and Lifesaving). These clubs will be able to tap into UBS resource and service provisions and will be able to use UBS branding. For Transitions 2 & 3, the trial of phase 1 will have to be reassessed in a year’s time and UBS will have to assess the feasibility of housing more clubs. Realistically this process is long term and will hopefully be aided by new facilities.
• Sports Ball-The changed venue, Aston Villa football ground, has been booked and tickets have gone on general sale, available from Joe’s Bar. This term required advanced planning for the new event to accommodate 492 students rather than the 300 previously. The menu has been decided, entertainment booked, new awards added (Guild Sport Society of the Year and Intra-League Team of the Year) and planning will continue until the night of the event 9th June 2010. If you would still like to purchase a ticket please contact s.thomson@guild.bham.ac.uk
• Sports Relief-In conjunction with Kukri and UBS I organised a mile walk around campus for Sports Relief on 19th March. Starting just outside Chancellor’s Court, the course was marked out using Kukri inflatable sofas and cones and the officer election candidates willingly offered to help map out the course whilst campaigning. The route was similar to that of the Corporate Relay and we had hundreds of staff and students take part. We raised nearly £300 in 25 minutes and the statue in Chancellor’s Court received a Kukri makeover, whilst I was let loose with a mega-phone! Many thanks to Ross Armstrong (Athletics Captain) who led the route, Kukri for donating the sofas and the Lion for making an infamous appearance.
Content:
• Campaigns/main projects
• Other projects
• Remit specific meetings
• Vice President specific meetings
• Training
• Miscellaneous
Abbreviations; UBS (University Birmingham Sport), BUCS (Birmingham Universities and Colleges Sport)
Campaigns/Main Projects
• Healthy Living Campaign (cooking demonstrations)-I organised for a nutritionist from ‘can’t cook will cook’ cookery school to provide cooking demonstrations at Shackleton Hall on 27th & 28th January. She rustled up 3 dishes within an hour, showing hall residents that cooking healthy, quick, easy and cheap dishes isn’t out of anyone’s reach! In association with the Mentors, we awarded one lucky student a free cookery lesson for their flat, just for simply filling out a questionnaire. Thanks to the Mentors for this joint campaign and if you need any more information please visit http://www.cantcookwillcook.co.uk/
• The Lion-Redbrick Sport Supplement- Edition 2; the BUCS commemorative edition, was inserted in the week 10 edition of Redbrick. 6 pages were dedicated to coverage of 15 different teams at the BUCS Championships held in Sheffield. I acted as editor in chief of this publication and to date this is the best coverage of the event we have ever had. Also I arranged for the photographers and reporters to attend the four day event so we didn’t have to heavily rely on captains submitting reports.
• Transition of BUCS Guild Sport Societies-Throughout the term I’ve had numerous meetings with both the societies and University staff to decide upon the fate of the 21 Guild Sports identified for the transition to UBS; in order to ultimately achieve ‘Sport Under one Banner’. It had been decided that there will be a 3 phased approach to this transition; phase 1-BUCS sports, phase 2-competitive sport, phase 3-recreational sport. Phase 1 will be implemented as of September 2010 and the 7 BUCS sports will either make a full transition over to UBS (so derecognised as a Guild Society) or a part transition (i.e. remaining part of the Guild in addition to UBS). Ultimate Frisbee, Gaelic Football, Pool & Snooker, and Rifle will become sole UBS clubs and BrumSurf, Mountaineering and Ten-Pin Bowling will hold a joint membership (as Brumski and Lifesaving). These clubs will be able to tap into UBS resource and service provisions and will be able to use UBS branding. For Transitions 2 & 3, the trial of phase 1 will have to be reassessed in a year’s time and UBS will have to assess the feasibility of housing more clubs. Realistically this process is long term and will hopefully be aided by new facilities.
• Sports Ball-The changed venue, Aston Villa football ground, has been booked and tickets have gone on general sale, available from Joe’s Bar. This term required advanced planning for the new event to accommodate 492 students rather than the 300 previously. The menu has been decided, entertainment booked, new awards added (Guild Sport Society of the Year and Intra-League Team of the Year) and planning will continue until the night of the event 9th June 2010. If you would still like to purchase a ticket please contact s.thomson@guild.bham.ac.uk
• Sports Relief-In conjunction with Kukri and UBS I organised a mile walk around campus for Sports Relief on 19th March. Starting just outside Chancellor’s Court, the course was marked out using Kukri inflatable sofas and cones and the officer election candidates willingly offered to help map out the course whilst campaigning. The route was similar to that of the Corporate Relay and we had hundreds of staff and students take part. We raised nearly £300 in 25 minutes and the statue in Chancellor’s Court received a Kukri makeover, whilst I was let loose with a mega-phone! Many thanks to Ross Armstrong (Athletics Captain) who led the route, Kukri for donating the sofas and the Lion for making an infamous appearance.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Redbrick deliver 2 outstanding editions of 'The Lion' and are voted Outstanding Society at Guild Awards!
Manifesto pledge DONE.
Redbrick brought my vision to life with 2 supplements of the Lion; edition 1 in December and edition 2 in March. I want to take this opportunity to thank Redbrick Sport, especially Ben, Tom, James and Simon for all their hard work over the last few months. I never envisioned such a professional and representative sample of University Sport journalism and all I can say is good luck topping it next year! Fingers crossed for a continuation rather than change. Hopefully we will see the Lion return in December 2010.
I can say in all honesty that working with Redbrick Sport has definitely been one of the main highlights for me this year and I can't thank them enough for letting me have such an involvement in the process, including the removal of a very embarrassing and revealing photo of myself and the waterpolo team post match!
I hope that the relationship I have now embedded with the flourishing society remains next year and that it only develops further.
http://www.redbrickonline.co.uk/
Redbrick brought my vision to life with 2 supplements of the Lion; edition 1 in December and edition 2 in March. I want to take this opportunity to thank Redbrick Sport, especially Ben, Tom, James and Simon for all their hard work over the last few months. I never envisioned such a professional and representative sample of University Sport journalism and all I can say is good luck topping it next year! Fingers crossed for a continuation rather than change. Hopefully we will see the Lion return in December 2010.
I can say in all honesty that working with Redbrick Sport has definitely been one of the main highlights for me this year and I can't thank them enough for letting me have such an involvement in the process, including the removal of a very embarrassing and revealing photo of myself and the waterpolo team post match!
I hope that the relationship I have now embedded with the flourishing society remains next year and that it only develops further.
http://www.redbrickonline.co.uk/
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Transport Services and their relationship with societies and sport teams
Transport Services-below are general tips and information resulting from a meeting with the Guild and Transport Services
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
New Joe's!
Previous VPS', Zena & I
UBS BIG EVENTS
A nice hello from your new VPS
