Hey guys, the following section will give you a brief outline of how you can get involved with our association. It is intended primarily to be an accessible and easily understandable rather than comprehensive guide and so if you have any queries then feel free to contact us or indeed refer to the Constitution on the website.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Exec Meetings 

All exec meetings are open for any service user to attend – they are by no means exec­exclusive and we debate a whole host of topics from planning campaigns to reviewing the accounts to the theme of our next social. Even if you have no particular opinion about what’s on the agenda, it’s just a great way to get a taste of what the association is involved in and meet the exec!

Minutes of every exec meeting will be emailed out afterwards so even if you miss one, you can still keep up to date with what we’re doing and the decisions we’re making!

Stand for Exec!

All our exec are ordinary members of the DSU i.e. students just like you. No­ one can hold two exec posts although you can hold an exec and ex­officio position at the same time (like Katie is President and also Trans Rep.)

All you have to do is email a manifesto of no more than 2 sides of A4 to the Association email account 48 hours before an AGM or EGM (I’ll explain those below.) The deadlines for this shall be announced well in advance and the positions open to stand for advertised.

Voting is by majority. Every service user who attends the meeting has a right to vote.

Stand for Ex­Offico or become a college rep

All the ex­officio members sit on what we call the Advisory Committee which meets informally and feeds back to the executive committee, via the Welfare Officer, on any matters concerning those particular groups which they represent, especially equal opportunities. So if you have a matter you wish to raise, feel free to approach our ex­officio members as well.
You could run for your college LGBT rep – ask your college welfare officer for more detials.

Attend an AGM / TGM

Termly General Meetings are every term where every exec officer gives a report, by­elections are held to fill any vacant posts, the accounts are presented and all service users are given the opportunity to make general comments, raise suggestions or bring up any other business. Your input is vital and very welcomed!

The Annual General Meeting is in Easter term and is when we hold the main elections for the year’s for exec. So get ready to stand then!

Be a Service User!

However little or however much involvement you want in LGBTA, we are always happy to have you on board and always available to help or answer any questions. It’s your Association!

A Few Final Points

There is a confidentiality policy as well as a complaints procedure – see the constitution for more details. We take both matters incredibly seriously and I, as Chair, am responsible for disciplinary action against exec members who breach any such code.

This is not a comprehensive guide. It is intended to give you a flavour of all the ways we welcome you getting involved and if you have any questions, feel free to ask! We look forward to seeing you all this year.