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► VP Communication & Media

Hi, I'm Emma and I'm YOUR Vice President Communications and Media

About Me...

Biography
Emma was an AU Student Officer (08/09) and before that; a member of the Cheerleading Society for two years.

Communications Office: 1st Floor, Student Centre
Elected: March 2009
Hometown: North Somerset
Course Graduated In: BA Hons Advertising & Public Relations

Week 7 - w/c 8th March

 Coming Friday!

Week 6 - w/c 1st March

 Voting, and yes I have made my choices and no I am not telling you!  Bullet deadlines this week, as well as the big showdown on Friday evening, where the fate of the next Executive team was decided. I was unable to go to the results as I was en route to Knaresborough for a weekend of exams to get my Cheer Coaching Qualification, however I did get updated with the results. I also made sure that I wold listen to the extensive coverage by The Linc when I got back to make sure I didnt miss out on anything, and that I didn't. I just want to take this opportunity to say WELL DONE to The Linc for the really excellent coverage of the night and the elections as a whole, I was super impressed!

Had another Student Council this week, and I would also like to take this opportunity to say a massive WELL DONE to the LGBT Committee and Society, they have done themselves and Union so proud this year! We have had more meetings planning the Volunteer Awards and have designed the nomination form which will go live next Monday. Discussed the Varsity coverage with the Sports Editor from Bullet, Lee.

Week 5 - w/c 22nd Feb

Hustings! Lots of ‘inspirational’ speeches and high hopes for next year, I feel myself taking this election quite seriously and I for one will be scrutinising the Manifestos and voting for who I think is suitable for the roles even though it will be a straight popularity vote in terms of the results. But I can have it in my knowledge that I voted for who I believe should be running the Union.
In other news we also have continued meeting with regards to the SU Volunteer Awards evening, we had exec, I attended the CIPR lecture and networking event, and we had election committee to check things through before voting begins on Monday. Oh and a meeting with Darren from Bullet and an interview with Charlotte from The Linc.

Week 4 - w/c 15th Feb

Had some annual leave this week, which was nice to have some time off before elections kick in. Once back we had one more manifesto masterclass and Student Council and on the Friday it was time to see who had submitting an election nomination form and see the candidates for the first time.
At candidate briefing it was quite fun working out which students were running for what position, obviously we had a good idea for some of them as some people hadn’t kept it quiet what they would be setting their eyes on but others had seem to come out of the woodwork which was really refreshing to see students that weren’t currently involved take an interest in changing the Union and getting involved instead of just complaining.
So we have 16 candidates, 4 for President, 2 for VP Academic Affairs, 2 for VP Welfare and Diversity and 3 for VP Activities so that is a good starts all full time positions contested. Part Time officers not so much, 2 for Campaigns which is good, but then one for each of sports, liberation and Community Action (RAG) and no candidates for Events, Societies, Riseholme, Hull or Holbeach. I see a By Election coming!

Week 3 - w/c 8th Feb

 Ven’debt’a all this week, we have had the Flashmob, HE Funding Debate, University Challenged and High Street protest of which we have some really ace photos of for next year.
We held manifesto masterclasses in the Atrium which we had some students come along too, so looking forward to see who submits a nomination form by the end of next week.
We had our first Communications Strategy Working group meeting which went well, just planning the next one now which wont be for a good couple of week till the elections are done with, another meeting planning the Students’ Union Volunteer Awards which I never told you about in the end. Basically aren’t having a Media Awards or a Community Volunteer Awards evenings but instead a whole evening recognising volunteers in the Union as a whole. That means only students who are giving up their time to the Union will be recognised and rewarded, which I think it how it should have been all along!
We are having different awards with a Winner and a Highly Commended in each area as well as a John Jenkinson Award for ‘Above and Beyond’.
The categories are Sports, Media, Community Volunteers, Reps, Societies and an ‘Open’ Students’ Union. Nominations will be opening in a few weeks and the event will be by invitation only and FREE which is what we like to see!
Also I went to Riseholme Campus Committee in Steven’s place which was a really good insight into what another officer gets involved with, actually taking it back to students which is something I don’t get to seem to do in this role. I never seem to actually be representing students only seeing how the Union can represent itself better to students, one of the many reasons I fully back the Comms role going to a Staff Member…not an officer

Week 2 - w/c 1st Feb

 Press Releases!! Press releases for Ven’debt’a, and also I am going on two training courses, one for writing Press Releases and one for Media Strategies. They were run by a guy with extensive PR and Journalistic experience which was so helpful for writing practical Press Releases rather than textbook taught ones that we learnt to do in my degree, so I am hoping that the course is really going to benefit the rest of my time here at the Union as well as later in life.
I learnt the dance for the Ven’debt’a Flashmob, I get to do the LOUD bit!! Also featuring this week was Student Council, Student Rep Training, Elections Committee and a Linc Podcast interview.

Week 1 - w/c 25th Jan

* Semester B *

 A new semester a new start I am hoping, moral is starting to wear thin, but I am determined to see things through. We have started the NSS and I have had one of the presentations today with third year PR students. Another bullet board meeting, an SU/UL liaison meeting, exec, a review of all the officers PDR’s and elections committee. Siren Advisory Board met, which I really enjoy going to as it is useful to see what the radio station is up to and it came to me whilst in that meeting how the Union can access the local community through Siren so that is something for the Comms strategy. Which completely reminds me I haven’t told you about that yet, it came out from the strategy away day looking at the Communications of the Union, something that drastically needs improving, we have planned an overhaul of the way in which we communicate but from the strategy day we are doing this on a much bigger scale now. We are looking at how we communicate with everyone, students, all the different types of students, staff the different types of staff, community, press dignitaries etc and putting this in a document so that it becomes Union policy. This should really help future officers deal with the way in which they interact with students and hopefully it can be seen as my contribution to the Union.
We had a planning session for the Manifesto Master classes that we are putting on for potential candidates in the elections.

Week 15 - w/c 18th Jan

 Awards week planning, they aren’t till April but we need to start thinking about them now. This year we are discussing joining all the awards evenings that we hold into one, but I think what will happen is that we will keep the Sports and Societies Awards Evening separate and keep all the others together but I don’t know what that will look like yet – and  I have the job f preparing the project proposals so answers on a postcard!
More Election Prep and Student Council

Week 14 - w/c 11th Jan

 So technically the Union has been back at it for a week but I was on ‘Holiday’ last week, nowhere special just visiting families in the festive season.
And seeing as we are still in Semester A, you haven’t missed out on any blogs!
Monday, was the Unions strategy away day and it was l—o—n—g but really good!! We discussed where the Union is at the moment as well as looking where we have come from, then in an ideal world where we want to be and currently what are we doing that is stopping us from achieving that, what is helping us to achieve that, and what we can start to do that are aren’t currently doing to achieve that; which has brought up some interesting points and the Union is going to start meeting in smaller groups to discuss this points further.
We also has the Agenda (2) go off to print, and exec meeting and an elections committee meeting as elections kick off in a couple of weeks.

Week 13 - w/c 21st Dec

CHRISTMAS!! And also time for our individual ‘Personal Development Review’ in which we had asked each other, staff, university staff and external people to answer questions about the way in which we work. Mine was good, I felt, I was more surprised at all the lovely comments I got rather than the bad ones (I already know I am late for everything!) so that was a satisfying end to the year. Let’s hope things stay the same after Christmas.

Week 12 - w/c 14th Dec

Monday, all the staff went on an away day and it was like not having you parents around!! We took over the SOAP Centre and it was especially nice for me to get downstairs and see the other officers as I don’t get to see them much stuck upstairs!
We have been gearing up for Christmas and we had our deadline for getting our Secret Santa gifts in. I attended the Vice Chancellors Leaving dinner as Chris’ guest along with the two Kayleigh’s which was a lot of fun and really nice to see some of the University’s Senior Management in an informal setting,(even though we were in the Atrium???)
I have had an interview with a student this week as well as a pre audit visit from SUEI.

Week 11 - w/c 7th Dec

This week sees the beginning of the 24/4 Library opening of which the officers are fully behind. Monday was the Snowflake Ball which I went to, although a bit later than I would have liked as I had Cheer practice but the night was a good one, I personally stuck to the soft drinks as I was driving home and also took command of a camera so Media Crew could enjoy themselves; this did mean however that I got to get fairly close to Matt Horne, and he even spoke to me which was a bonus considering he didn’t talk the whole night to the crowd! Back to official business, we had Trustees meeting this week, and everything is in fine form financially, with our Charities Registration going through at present, I gave an SU update at the meeting I the form of a presentation which was greatly received that it also went to Council the same week. Bullet Board met also, along with an Exec meeting, the first Student Media Forum and a small meeting to discuss how SUTV might work.

Week 10 - w/c 30th Nov

Working lunches this week were at Chad Varah and in the Atrium, I really enjoy going up to Chad Varah, not only is it up the hill which is one of my favourite places in Lincoln but it is so quite and pretty. I love going to Greestone as well we have such talented students up there and I love looking and nosing around at all the work that they do!
Elections Committee this week also gearing up to find our replacements! Obviously we have cut the positions but also made the positions more relevant to the student body so we are hoping for a good turnout of Candidates and hopefully voters will follow, I just don’t want to see us get criticised as the Union normally does.

Week 9 - w/c 23rd Nov

Had SU Executive Meeting this week in which we discussed the code of conduct for Student Officers, Riseholme Ofsted inspection, we had an update on all our current projects from various members of the team and also looked back at the Mandate that we have had from Student Council, which so far are Student Accommodation and Sports Facilities which Steven and Chris are looking into.
This week I attended a Time Management training day (of which I was late for!! You just make this stuff up!) which I put myself on as I am fed up of rushing around and never being on time! I really enjoyed it, although I need to need to be patient it isn’t going to change over night but I am thinking about things I can put in place which will help.
We also had Bullet Board this week as well as Student Council and my Working lunches which were at Riseholme and Greestone.

Week 8

This week saw one of our most important events in the SU calendar, our Annual General Meeting which you may have we put under the more student friendly name ‘The All Student Meeting’. We had an amazing turnout with 200 students voting on Students’ Union budgets, accounts, charities registration and a number of motions submitted by students.
I have been out and about on my Working Lunch rounds this week visiting the Atrium and Chad Varah, I strangely enough was speaking to Post Grad students in both cases and brought up some interesting points surrounding their needs and how the SU supports PG students.
I was involved in the elections review committee which took the chance to review our By Election process and learn lessons for our main elections in Spring. This academic year’s elections should be exciting as the Executive Committee structure will be changing after the motion was passed by students in the All Student Meeting.

Other things I have been involved with this week have been, a meeting to discuss the ‘Re-Fresher’s’ week idea for Semester B, and talking with the University about Open Day involvement; and talking of Open Days will be popping in tomorrow (Sat) to deliver some presentation on Student Life at Lincoln.

Week 7

Meetings this week, and generally doing things that pop up throughout the day meaning that you stay about an hour behind where you are supposed to be! I always look at my diary when writing blogs to make sure I cover the events that happen, but this week has been a strange one, because I look at my diary and it is relatively an easy week, but not from where I am standing!
It has been non stop, going from place to place, talking to different people about a million different things, by Wednesday I thought my head was going to explode!
I have undertaken a mass review and meeting schedule with both Media Crew and Bullet to assess internal structures and the direction that both groups will be taking up until Christmas and then into Semester B. Basic planning of ALL the launches that I have planned for after the New Year.
The exec are gearing up for ASM (All Student Meeting) next week on the 17th (EMMTEC @ 2PM), have submitted a paper about the new future for the Union.
Government announced the Tuition Fee review, so we had a mad rush collecting petition signatures so that Kayleigh T and Chris C could provide Parliament with a ton of letters! Chairing Entertainments Committee last minute, which was good because I don’t get to chair meetings very often and I like doing it! Reminded me actually that I need to sort out meetings of the Student Media Forum Committee which will start soon!
Talent show, which is always a lot of fun, Media Crew covered this, with me making a little ‘Backstage Video’
And the week ends with our second instalment of Student Council and getting the prep ready for the launch of something very special!

So going to spend the weekend getting some much needed rest to do it all again next week! - Don't forget ASM (17-11-2009 EMMTEC @2pm)

Week 6

WORKING LUNCH – yaay!

Another tick off the Manifesto, as working lunch started this week. Officers have been scheduled to cover campuses during lunchtime to answer questions, meet with students and generally be on hand to tackle student’s issues.
Posters are in the process of being designed by one of our Student casuals, and will be up and about over the different campuses over the next week or so.
We had our final Fresher’s meeting, the one that oversees every aspect of fresher’s week, and brought together every detail that worked well and what changes we need to make for next year!
Exciting time for me this week, as I got to do my very first TV interview liaison with BBC Look North, I also quoted to a journalist at the  ‘Observer’ which was also very exciting!

Speak next week! x

Week 5

Well, I wasn’t wrong this week has been super busy and we aren’t even half way through!
Had a meeting with the Media Crew to organise footage editing which they are working on, and also a meeting with the Heads to discuss structuring and down feeding information and team communication which seems to be doing well so far, meaning we have a fully functioning Media Crew.

As a team we have been working hard on completing the finishing details to the new website, and as I was away last week I am a little behind with mine, but catching up fast I hope! I have had my training on uploading the photos to the Photo gallery online, so watch this space for all those Freshers’ photos that we took all those weeks ago. Will be identifying a date for the Media Centre Launch which is exciting, and am proud to say that we have finally had our new iMac installed into the Media Centre!
Meetings this week are Siren Advisory Board which I have never been to before and Student Council of course!

Started the promo for AGM, which we have renamed ASM (All Student Meeting) which is 17th November.
Oh, and have heard from the Student Communications Group about carrying out the consultation process with students about the University improving communication, exciting times!

Week 4

Not a long week for me this week, I have to pop back to my parents to collect some belongings before they move house and this is the only week I can go, so only a short blog this week.

On the Monday I had an Open Day review with the representatives from the University, together we critiqued the Open Day involvement to see where could be improved. Putting into place a few changes fro the next one, with plans for more changes in the future, no changes to my Student Life talk though...did I say that I got a round of applause for the one I did the other week!

We also did a review of the Freshers’ Fayres and Marketing, and we discussed what went well, and what needs to be changed for next year, feel like this years team is really making a difference in the Union, which is a nice thing to be involved in. I know next week is going to be a busy one; our first Student Council is on the Thursday.

Week 3

Nominations have opened, and we are behind, so lots of work on promoting the elections this weeK, that means casuals to book, new posters to distribute, visiting an talking to students around campus, especially up at Riseholme!
We held an SU Helper review meeting to discuss what was good, successful and what we may need to reconsider for next year. We called for another Bullet Board meeting as we have had to alter the deadlines, and to discuss issue 3. The first Media Crew meetings were held this week, met those who signed up during Freshers week, and briefed them on what the Media Crew was all about and how they would be involved, love seeing how many Media passionate students we have at this University and so eager to get involved!

We have also had our mid month exec meeting, and alongside Chris Charnley had an interview with The Linc for their new podcasts. Need to be off now, students and elections call!
Till next time! X

Week 2

Meetings again this week, Bullet Board to decide the future of the next issue and discuss the contents of the last; Elections Working group as it is getting close to nominations opening next week and we have a lot of work to do and Student Communications meeting that the University hold as a way at looking at the best ways of communicating to Students, I had three students that kindly agreed to attend with me and I was really thankful for their input so THANK YOU!

The week wasn’t all about meeting, Coventry Union came to visit and my good friend Dez the Comms VP came to see me to talk about the Media Centre, Bullet and the Media Crew as this is something he wants to input into his Union. It was so nice to be asked to give advice on the Media Crew and the future for the Media Centre as I had worked really hard on the planning and implementation.

We had our *official* officer photo shoot this week as well, which was a lot of fun, and I think it did all of us who went a lot of good to get out of the office and have a giggle with each other.

Pep Rally was also a lot of fun, I love going to Pep Rally and feel the around campus, the atmosphere is always so inviting and exciting! Good luck to all the sports and societies this year, I look forward to reporting on your successes!
Over and Out! Xx
 

Week 1

Right then, I hope everyone is settling in (or back in).This week has been a bit dull in comparison to last, it has been a case of catching up with all the normal things that we weren’t able to do during Fresher Week (and I’m not talking about sleep...I still haven’t managed to do much of that!)

This week it has been all about meetings such as Elections Working Group. Exec and the big one Board of Trustees. I have also been sitting in as a panel member for some interviews for some student casuals that help us design posters, distribution and some web work which should make our lives in the Marketing and Comms department a little less hectic.
We also had the re-launch party for Bullet Magazine which went really well, even if it was a little stressful behind the scenes!
The whole team went to Derbyshire for a ‘Post Freshers’ catch up session which was productive and it was nice to catch up with all the Officers after being a bit like passing ships in the dark for a week; I coudn’ stay for the whole weekend as I ahd to get back for the SU Helper Thank you BBQ that we had organised as a treat for all those that helped, unfortunately we didn’t have a very good turn out but at least we k now for next time.
This week also saw the very first Open Day of the year, and the first year that the Student Centre was open and ready for potential students to visit. The day was a great success and luckily I didn’t choke under the pressure of the Student Life Talks!

Till Next time xx

Week 0 

Freshers’ Week = Amazing!

I have had such a good time this week although I can’t say that I am not absolutely exhausted from all the late nights and early mornings!
I have been an honorary Media Crew member this Freshers’ week, meaning I have been out and about armed with a camera covering all the action.

It has been the first week of the Media Crew being up and running, and they have done a fantastic job and been like rocks during this busy week. They have now been appointed the head honchos of the Media Crew, and we all are so pleased with the amount of students that signed up at the Fayres!This week, I also have had a deadline for  the new Student Life talk for the Universities Open Days, that after a few long meetings the Students’ Union now have responsibility for. The Student Life talk presents to potential students what it like to be a student, and especially the student experience at Lincoln, which after Freshers, and knowing what we have planned for this year is as I started this blog entry = Amazing!
Till next week!

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