Thanks for posting here and sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. It's like Christmas eve- you know what I mean!!
Anyhow
Room bookings. At the moment these ae administered by the secretaies, under the control of the DoES. Next year, should we both be elected tomorrow (today) Graeme and I agree that these should be transfered to the DoSDA. Therefore, the system for booking them will come under my responisbility. While I will not be changing the process greatly, I will be making some modifications. For example, rooms will be allocated in terms of need. If you are having a rehearsal for 5 people, the TV Roo is suitable. If you are having a meeting for 50 people, then the Salad Bowl of Venue 2. I will also be lobbying Kendra Scott (Estates) to allow the booking of rooms in the Buchanan which the university has made available for student use, to be transfered to the Student's Association, as well as asking for more varied romms to be made available.
Equipment. This falls into both the remit of the DoSDA and DoES. I promise to ensue that everything is tested before it is hired out next year. Other than that, I can only ask the DoES to ensure that there will be technical support on hand when it is being used. As for the cost of it, that's down to the DoES. I will definately stand against any charges I see as excessive, and try to get student societies the best possible deal, but I cannot promise to get you if for free.
Wine and Cheese. I've heard things about this before, mainly from my flatmate who is president of AHA Soc. Due to Health and Safety policy, cheese being a daiy product is a problem. I know this sounds weird, and it is H&S gone mad, but it is so much better to be safe than sorry. I want student societies to use the union as much as possible, but if it is not possible, then i will help you find alternate, appropriate space. In this case, the Mansfield building for example.
I hope this answers your question, and sets any fears at rest. Please do post again if you would like anything made clearer, but as it is now 6am and I've about to get a couple of hours sleep before the carnival really begins, I pobably won't be able to reply until after the elected. Sorry!!
Lee Kane
Nominated for Association Director of Student Development and Activities
Quoting the Empress from 11:54, 16th Mar 2006
Ok here is the post from Kat's thread:
is there any way the following will be addressed:
Room bookings (these have been made several times and are persistently messed up by the Union);
Equipment (TVs don't appear to work, the projector never seems to work at the start of [every!] semester - even when you've paid for it) This has a major impact on societies - you're plans for the first meetings are destroyed, and it doesn't make a good impression on newbies.
Also any chance of societies who actually need TV access getting preference over drama goups for the TV room/salad bowl - I know it's first come first serve, but it's pretty stressful (for the salad bowl last semester Sciffy, Filmsoc and Anime had to come to an arrangement between ourselves to make it work)! Plus, it seems strange to me that societies are supposed to pay for TV/projector hire (although hehe, no one seems to chase this up! And I dutifully paid it the last 3 semesters). It seems a bit pointless as the Association gives you a grant which you then pay back in equipment hire. I also think it should be made clear, with plenty of advance notice, that the TV must be booked seperately from the TV room. Conflicting roombooking information is given by different people, including the General Office. This is made worse by sudden society presidency changeovers where no guidance has been given. Also catering - we tried once last year to have a wine & cheese night, but were told we had to use Beatons. Then we were told that cheese would be too expensive to refrigerate overnight - in short the whole arrangement was an expensive disaster. Are you concerned that societies are encouraged to use Union venues and services which are inefficient?
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Better to win by admitting my sin, then to lose with a halo