Held at 19:00 on 6th March in The Big Bang.
Beth
Philip Alderton
Elizabeth Horne (Annual Dinner Organiser)
Nicholas Scroxton (Annual Dinner Organiser)
Christopher Wood (Easter Activity Organiser)
Hayley Thompson (PostScript Distributor)
Jonathan Harvey (Sofa)
Gillian Bradley (Sofa)
Jacqueline Bradley
Roger Cotes
Luke Cartey (Treasurer, PostScript Editor and Internet Officer)
Caroline Berry (Scout & Guide Liaison Officer)
Hannah Mycock (Chair-Elect)
Andrew Freer (Lunchtime Meeting Organiser and SSAGO Representative)
Erik (Mascot)
Michael Ramsden
Alistair Green (Secretary)
Gavin Williams (Senior Member)
Timothy Driscoll
Sarah Berman (Membership Secretary)
Keith Crothers
The minutes of the Trinity 2005 TGM were never found. Neither Roger nor Hayley has them.
Luke has investigated the possibility of getting box files to hold the PostScript archive, but has not yet been able to find any that were suitable.
Alistair has not yet got around to disposing of the outdated paperwork in the Secretary's file.
Andrew says that he has not had the chance to do a minibus course this term.
The minutes were unanimously approved.
One objection: Gillian says it's miles away.
Votes for: 15
Votes against: 1
Abstentions: 0
Nicholas Scroxton and Christopher Wood are duly elected.
Gillian is considering the Isle of Wight, but Jonathan thinks this would be quite expensive: the ferry crossing alone would cost £50. Gillian will investigate costs further and consult her friend who lives there.
Votes for: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Gillian Bradley is duly elected.
We've had a term; it's gone fairly well. Nobody's died.
There will be a term next term; I've got half of it so far. My excuse is doors and things - and, ooh, I have traumatic labyrinthitis (officially) - the labyrinth being the balance organ. Activities planned are: croquet, TGM, improvised comedy at some point when I have worked out when it is. And a bat walk, probably in 4th Week, in the rain if necessary - do bats fly in the rain? (Probably, since they have to get food at some point and they are waterproof.) Also Aunt Sally within the first couple of weeks, once I get round to phoning up, which I'll do next week. There will be a term, things will happen, and the pipeline is still purple with green embellishments.
Current account: £719.36, of which the equipment fund is £186.43.
Events account: £86.74
If people still have unclaimed expenses then they should download a claim form from the web site and fill it in.
There are two main issues that could be a problem next year:
(Andrew and Jonathan said that they will try to do a minibus course.)
I went to the rally, for the first time ever, and spent a fair proportion of it in meetings - some of which were quite useful, and quite a lot of which I kind of blathered on about in PostScript. There are more minutes available on the SSAGO web site if anyone is interested and can find out where they are on it.
SSAGO have got new powers to discipline clubs and individual members if they don't behave themseleves, and the rules have changed on activities. This will affect the summer trip - we are supposed to fill in a "nights away" form. Also we only need to follow POR now, not Guiding rules - with the exception that any activities that are banned by one group are banned by both. For instance we cannot go paintballing or visit Laserquest.
The membership secretary made the point that all the groups are supposed to send in a report every term to show that we are still alive, and possibly say what we are doing. I assume this is my job. (They did say that "We're still a group" will do.)
Other stuff is in my long and rambling PostScript article.
All groups should send in a report everyterm to prove we still exist.
No report received.
I haven't got the file, I haven't done anything and I haven't been contacted by anyone.
It turns out that low fat crisps are not very good. Other than that it has been a fairly good term. We actually had surprisingly few of the things you would expect to find in the NnN box, with the obvious exception of chocolate.
The spaghetti should be eaten at the Easter Activity or possibly a safari supper.
Sainsbury's Basics Jaffa Cakes should be eaten quickly, and we still have two tubes left.
"Flying Saucers" are popular, except with Gillian.
Quartermaster:
I have still got two Vango tents in my room because I have not got down to Stores again. It is a long way to walk, so I do not go there very often.
Tristam and Angharad still have the library.
The Internet is still there.
The bold bits are missing from Chris' article in the current issue, but you can see them in the on-line version if you want to.
[Chris says that they should have spelt out "Teddy, Teddy, Teddy! Hall! Hall! Hall!"]
I have the current issue with me tonight.
[Alistair was instructed to write this at the last F&GPC.]
To 4 f. vi. 1 (Scout and Guide Liaison Officer) add the following:
"b) If no candidate is found for the position of Scout and Guide Liaison Officer by the Michaelmas Term TGM (AGM) then the duties of Scout and Guide Liaison Officer shall be carried out by the Membership Secretary. In this case, the position will be re-presented for election in Hilary and, if necessary, Trinity Term with the officer then elected to serve until the end of the following Michaelmas Term."
(Proposed by Sarah Berman, seconded by Andrew Freer.)
The idea behind this is that, if no volunteer can be found, then no-one will feel put-upon because they have been coerced into doing it.
The amendment was passed unanimously.
(Proposed by Alistair Green)
The basic point is just that it's driving everybody mad. Half of our conversation now consists of the words "I've lost!" followed by "Damn you!"
Chris: I just think it's ridiculous, partly because it's a waste of time, but also because the point of "The Game" is that if you lose you have to declare. Banning it is over the top; perhaps we should go with a veto similar to the Taff veto.
Caroline: I think it's reasonable to expect people not to mention "The Game" all the time, especially during meetings, if they can help it. Occasionally, yes, but they should exercise discretion.
Andrew objects to being fined for something you can't help as well - you are honour-bound to declare that you have lost.
Jonathan thinks that Alistair was just trying to make a point.
Votes for:0
Votes against: 13
Abstentions: 3
Motion defeated.
Caroline added that anything cliquey (including "The Game") could scare away freshers and so discretion is needed.
Earlier this term the Clubs committee sent Alistair a letter warning that the stores are due to close in September:
"I am sorry to have to inform tenants that the Clubs Committee has decided to vacate its accomodation in Suite 8, Littlegate House with effect from 30 September 2006 and will no longer be able to offer rooms, desk-space or storage facilities to registered clubs and societies.
The reason for this is that the cost of the facilities provided in Littlegate House is proving to be too expensive (at least twice as much as the former 13 Bevington Road premises from which the Committee re-located in October 2004). As a result, the Committee is in effect hiring out facilities to a small number of clubs and societies at a highly subsidised rate and cannot balance its books. The University is unable to provide alternative accommodation of a kind more suitable for student organisations' use. With regret, therefore, the Clubs Committee has decided to relinquish the Littlegate House suite and to scale down its premises by moving its administrative activities to shared staff offices at the Sports Centre.
The Committee recognises that this decision will cause considerable difficulties particularly for those clubs and societies which have had their annual tenancies renewed over several previous years. When the financial position has been re-assessed, the Committee hopes to be able to make modest accommodation support funds available on a competitive basis to assist registered clubs and societies. The Committee will discuss with OUSU whether any alternative facilities can be provided at its premises in Thomas Hull House and will also consider whether it can help to make meeting-room facilities available for clubs to hire. However, beyond this the Committee does not expect to be able to assist clubs and societies to identify suitable office or storage accommodation.
Please note therefore that your club or society will have to vacate Littlegate House before its current agreement with the Clubs Committee expires at 5pm on 30 September 2006 (making its own arrangements for the removal of its property). Any property not removed by this date will be disposed of by the Clubs Committee.
I shall be glad to discuss the situation with you if that would be helpful. Please let me know as soon as possible your club's plans for vacating Littlegate House.
Yours sincerely,
Dr B.F. Gasser
Clerk to the Proctors."
Next year Nick and Chris will have a house with a basement, which could be used on a temporary basis if nothing else turns up.
Phil's brother is willing to keep OUSGG's stores in his garage, on the Group's insurance, on a temporary basis.
Jacqui suggests asking Peter Lund, a former Senior Member of the group (now retired and living in Binsey). This is not a permanent solution since he will probably no longer be alive in twenty years' time, but he might still be around in five years.
Hayley: We could erect a flat-pack shed in someone's garden. It would be possible to move it if that person moves house. (Roger: Or put it at Youlbury?)
Andrew is concerned that it might get damp or be burnt down by vandals.
Jonathan suggested a trailer, since we usually have at least one member with access to a car. However Alistair pointed out that most cars do not have tow-bars, and Andrew warned that new driving licences do not give entitlement to tow trailers. Also it might not be secure enough.
Jacqui: Perhaps we should inquire about the possibility of keeping the Stores at Iffley Road Sports Ground.
Andrew says that the stores should be kept within walking distance for ease of access, since they are already under-used.
There should be a clear-out before we move in case there are things like out-of-date food and worn-out rope that can simply be disposed of.
Alistair asked how much space the Stores take up. Andrew thinks that it is not a huge amount - less that 10 m3. It would probably cover the back wall of an average-sized garage.
Action: Andrew to look into the feasibility of various options and report on his findings, both informally to 'Faff' and then formally to the F&GPC at the beginnning of next term. The F&GPC will then make the final decision about where to move the stores to. A second meeting could be held for this purpose if absolutely necessary, but preferably the decision should be made straight away to facilitate the completion of the move before the end of term.
Hannah requested that these F&GPC meetings be arranged to fit into her schedule.
Chris: Easter activity-wise, I have been rather busy so Luke has taken control.
Luke: The site in Banbury has finally got back to us, and it is available. It is much better than the alternative site, in that it has beds, but it is more expensive (£25 per night, plus £1.50 per person). As long as we can get five people per day this should not be a problem.
Action: Book Thursday to Monday. If not many people are willing to go on Thursday then we might be able to change the start date to Friday later.
Jacqui: The next F&GPC should consider changing the dates when certain committee posts are elected. Perhaps the Annual Dinner organiser should be appointed in Trinity rather than Michaelmas, to allow more time to make bookings? Also it might be a good idea to elect trip organisers further in advance.
Meeting closed at 19:48.