Given that BUSU is now advertising their AGM's, do you think quorum will be reached? What will this mean for the future of BUSU/BUSAC?
Quorum will likely not be so readily achieved. But I believe that the implementation of Facebeook events is a big step in the right direction. I hope that a lack of Quorum will not dissuade BUSU from continuing to try.
Instrumental to improving the AGM tradition at BUSU will be a) educating on the power of the meeting b) encouraging using the AGM for policy development.
As I said in council I believe that setting an agenda for the meeting will make it much more likely that people will attend. This could be a huge opportunity for BUSU to engage in positive public relations: Come up with a policy to be debated and possibly passed. The suggestion I made was a Safe Space policy, but that was merely an example. The alternative to BUSU setting the agenda, of course, is that the agenda is set by mobilized students outside of BUSU.
Entirely outside of BUSU's influence, members of BUSU could organize their supporters and push their objectives through the AGM. I'm working now to get confirmation from BUSU on the real powers of AGM. We know now that only a Referendum can achieve Funding, but the power of AGM could initiate a referendum, install a political policy, or, I'm told, impeach an executive or Board of Directors member.
Here's last year's reports
http://www.brockbug.com/busus-best-kept-secret-is-the-members-power-to-convene-and-make-changes-at-general-meetings/
http://www.brockbug.com/forgotten-again-the-busu-annual-general-meeting-is-oct-8/
As well, More than 2 years ago, this sort of manifesto that set me along the path I'm on today:
"How I learned to stop worrying and love the AGM"
http://busuleaks.tumblr.com/post/17944475264/dr-busuleaks-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and
"A new BUSU political bloc could be built from the grassroots by advocating and enforcing a healthy and robust AGM tradition. This is a built-in mechanism to give “power to the people” and it should be a top priority for students, student media, and the student union.
Achieving this would be an exercise, and accomplishment, in a living democratic society. Not because any particular goal must be achieved, but because participating in the AGM is essential to what it means to be a member of the union. Even if quorum is not readily achieved, the meaningful attempt to achieve quorum provides benefits to the culture that will heal the injuries of apathy."
Instrumental to improving the AGM tradition at BUSU will be a) educating on the power of the meeting b) encouraging using the AGM for policy development.
As I said in council I believe that setting an agenda for the meeting will make it much more likely that people will attend. This could be a huge opportunity for BUSU to engage in positive public relations: Come up with a policy to be debated and possibly passed. The suggestion I made was a Safe Space policy, but that was merely an example. The alternative to BUSU setting the agenda, of course, is that the agenda is set by mobilized students outside of BUSU.
Entirely outside of BUSU's influence, members of BUSU could organize their supporters and push their objectives through the AGM. I'm working now to get confirmation from BUSU on the real powers of AGM. We know now that only a Referendum can achieve Funding, but the power of AGM could initiate a referendum, install a political policy, or, I'm told, impeach an executive or Board of Directors member.
Here's last year's reports
http://www.brockbug.com/busus-best-kept-secret-is-the-members-power-to-convene-and-make-changes-at-general-meetings/
http://www.brockbug.com/forgotten-again-the-busu-annual-general-meeting-is-oct-8/
As well, More than 2 years ago, this sort of manifesto that set me along the path I'm on today:
"How I learned to stop worrying and love the AGM"
http://busuleaks.tumblr.com/post/17944475264/dr-busuleaks-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and
"A new BUSU political bloc could be built from the grassroots by advocating and enforcing a healthy and robust AGM tradition. This is a built-in mechanism to give “power to the people” and it should be a top priority for students, student media, and the student union.
Achieving this would be an exercise, and accomplishment, in a living democratic society. Not because any particular goal must be achieved, but because participating in the AGM is essential to what it means to be a member of the union. Even if quorum is not readily achieved, the meaningful attempt to achieve quorum provides benefits to the culture that will heal the injuries of apathy."