Position: President (Job-Share)
Names: Alison and John
Nominated by: David P
Seconded by: Adam

This past year we have individually succeeded in our roles as Women’s and Men’s officers. On the times we have worked together we have proven to be a strong team.

Elect us for joint presidency and we can carry that strength through the next year.

We aim to:

• Encourage more political activity within the society;
• Build on the continuing success of this year’s social events;
• Celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community within the union;
• Strengthen links with the NUS, the Union, Leeds Student, and other societies;
• Promote a more welcoming society.

As joint presidents who individually represent both male and female, undergraduate and postgraduate students, we aim to lead the committee, not rule it and represent every member to the best of our ability.

We have proven ourselves to be experienced, dedicated and hard working committee members, and your vote will mean we can carry on our good work for another year!

Ally and J x

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Position: President (Job-Share)
Names: Cory and David
Nominated by: Alice
Seconded by: Sasha

The belief in altruism and making a difference are our core objectives as election candidates for chair of the society. The key element of our strategy consists in giving the society’s members the opportunity to make a difference to their LGBT. We also want to create a closer bond between societies such as ‘Stop AIDS’ in order to dispel popular myths regarding HIV as a purely homosexual phenomenon. Equally, we plan to organise fundraisers for whatever ‘good causes’ the society would identify as important to sustain. We have both undertaken charity work in the past and have vast experience in interacting with people regardless of race, gender and other crucial issues concerning individuals of various backgrounds. We are also experienced in working with the media and are largely familiar with AIDS education.

We are both friendly, outgoing, approachable and regular society members who attend many of the events. We are convinced that we can contribute extensively to the success of the society without losing any of the amazing work the current committee has already achieved. They have transformed this society into a challenging organisation in which we would like to become much more involved. We are confident we would reflect and represent the society’s members’ interests and what they stand for in a fair and balanced way.

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Position: Secretary
Name: Adam
Nominated by Phil
Seconded by Richard

After making tea and coffee for you all this semester, and treating you to a chorus of Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves at Curious, I am running for secretary to continue being involved with running the society, and believe that I would be best suited to the organisation side of things. As a trained audio typist I am experienced in producing documents and minuting meetings.

As secretary I will…

• Regularise committee meetings fortnightly
• Move them out of the LGBT office
• Make the meetings, and their minutes more easily available to everybody by publicising details in advance

“One firmly supports Adam’s running for secretary, as he has been most welcoming to my humble self, and one believes that he will be well equipped to represent members, particularly those of arctic origin. Vote for him, and drink more coke.”

- Margaret (Forum-dwelling capitalist bear)

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Position: Treasurer
Name: Philip
Nominated by: Adam
Seconded by: Richard

Being a Maths student, I would love this opportunity to gain practical experience of the financial world. I also have lots of experience when it comes to spending money as it is a major part of my favourite past time; shopping.

I don’t have a lot of experience with dealing with finances, but I am a quick learner and I will work hard to ensure the society is well funded and that the money is spent on what you want. I will also aim to keep organised and up-to date records of funding and spending.

I am a smiley, friendly person and I am open to all and any suggestions from society members about fund raising and I will try to implement these as much as possible.

As treasurer, I will work with the Events officer(s) to make all society events as cheap as possible so that they are financially accessible to all members.

Finally, and in closing, I would like to say that if I am elected, I will buy nice biscuits and hot chocolate (if you’re lucky and nice to me) for coffee hour.

Phil xx

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Position: Women’s Officer
Name: Eve
Nominated by John
Seconded by Nichola

Around 70% of this year’s LGBT members are female. At our regular events, you may have noticed that the turnout of women is generally pretty low, at around 30%.

In order that I can fairly represent the opinions of the women in the society, we need to be able to get together to discuss issues as a group, as well as to have fun and get to know each other. For this to happen more women need to attend more events!

• This year I will aim to build on the 04/05 committee’s fabulous work in increasing the popularity of events overall, and collaborate with the events officer(s) to ensure that more events are women-friendly and well publicised so that LGBT events are the first things to go in our diaries.

• A regular email will be sent to all female members to inform them personally about campaigns and planned women’s nights, and to invite feedback on recent events, suggestions for improvement and new ideas.

• I will work confidentially with the LUU women’s officer as necessary to help with any health or welfare concerns that members may have, and ensure that LGBT members are kept informed of the advice and assistance available to them through the Union.

I am a good listener, and will put forward and represent the views of all women in this LGBT, both within the society and on a wider level in the Union, University and maybe even the World. Mad cackling is heard from Evie’s direction. Ahem, OK, so maybe world domination is a bit far-fetched at this stage, but everyone has to start somewhere…

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Position: Men’s Officer
Names: Joe and David
Nominated by: Ross
Seconded by: Dominic

Joe:

If I were elected as Men’s Officer, I would essentially hope to maintain the good work of our current officer; this would entail being an approachable and sympathetic person to whom any male member of the society (be they Gay, Bi, or Trans) could turn to with any problem they may have (however trivial) in complete confidence, and deal with it in a sensitive and effective manner. I like to think that I am a person trustworthy enough for any member of the society to feel comfortable relying upon for this support (and any other that may be required), and I feel that I have already proven myself adept at this within the society, despite not actually being a committee member. I can certainly say the same for Dave, with whom I would job-share the position, were we elected, as I have personally depended on him to offer such support for myself in the past, to which he has proven to be extremely apt. Both of us are regular members, and a good representative of the male population of the society as a whole. Secondly, yet just as importantly, we intend to actively campaign for acceptance and equality for all the society’s male members (be they Gay, Bi, or Trans) both within the LUU and in the wider context, in addition to raising greater awareness of such issues.

David:

I have really enjoyed getting involved with LGBT society this year and want to become more involved next year from a political perspective. If elected i would like to raise AIDS awarenes, (possibly in co-operation with Stop-AIDS Soc) focus on fundraising for causes which the society deems "worthwhile" all the while maintaining the wonderful work which the current mens officer has put in, especially with regards to the social side of the society!

I believe I am an ideal candidate as I am a regular society member, friendly, outgoing, have experience teaching AIDS awareness in Thailand, am a trained fundraiser and have experience "directing" the media. I also think, in accordance with Joe's views, that we are trustworthy people that society members can talk to if they have any problems. As for dedication, my future aim in life is to set up a charity improving English literacy and HIV awareness in rural Thailand, thus i relish the opportunity to get more involved at this level and promise not to let you down!

I love you for reading this far, now please please please vote for us!!!


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Position: International Students Officer
Name: Alberto
Nominated by John K
Seconded by Emily


ALBERTO

wants to be elected

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ OFFICER

I want to retain this committee position for the following reasons:

International students should be heard in the Society, and I can be a good helper and mouthpiece for them.
We need a Society that is inclusive and plural, and a friendly atmosphere that welcomes international students will be rewarding and enriching both for international students themselves and for British students.
As a committee member, I’m trustworthy, dependable and committed, and I think the society still needs my services.

What do I want to do next year?
I want to do outreach and get students from the International Student Club and the International Office involved by asking for access to their mailing lists. We want them to have fun with us!
I want to make a few trips to some interesting, dusty, stuffy old English locations for some gay parading.
I want British students and international students to interact, maybe in different languages. We all can learn from it.

Please vote for me and make sure that this society doesn’t lose a helpful committee member!!!

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Position: Events Officer (Job Share)
Names: Laura and Nichola
Nominated by: David
Seconded by: Adam

Nic and Laura’s joint plea to be Events Officer / Social Secretary
We think we would be ideal for the position of events officer. We appreciate alcohol, frequently partake in the consuming of it and understand how it can make any event great! If we get the position we intend to enrich your social lives by providing many opportunities for you to join us in alcohol-fuelled fun and frolics, which will leave you with memories you will treasure for life. As well as providing plenty of non-alcohol related events (that are just as much fun!) to prevent everyone’s livers packing in.

Our experience of working in events goes something like this:

Laura – I used to run Brownies so I have experience of organising screaming hyper children, if I can do that, I can organise events for you. As well as that I permanently consume and top up my alcohol levels with vodka. My vast experience in vodka tasting means that I know the right vodka for any occasion.

Nic – Before I got ‘sent down’ I used to help run a football club and parts of my job, at Fitness First were, organising and running sport events for children every Saturday & working closely with the events organiser to run charity events etc. Since my release from Wakefield maximum security prison, I have been running coffee hour and provided entertainment at events (mainly by getting drunk and doing/saying something stupid) but I need to do more for the society because two hours a week and attending events is not covering enough hours to complete my multiple community service orders.

If you vote us in for the position, we will provide essential equipment for any great night out… vodka, books, GHB, frottage and plenty of opportunities to find easy MINGE/ELEPHANT COCK. Of course this is only one road we will venture down in order to provide you with entertainment, we will also aim to run more non-alcohol related events such as: sporty/health related events, cinema trips, meals, bowling, paintball/laser quest, or what ever you want! (And try to keep expenses to a minimum).


Please vote for us; as you can see from above, we are not the most serious of people, so our fun loving nature and enthusiasm will be put to good use by bringing you lots of events, fun and madness, as well as trying to make them as enjoyable as possible. Naturally we will be open to any suggestions for events you want and try to implement them, so that everyone will be catered for in our plans to drink every brewery in the country dry. VOTE DYKE!

Lots of Love and Kisses

Laura and Nichola

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Position: Communications Officer
Name: Richard
Nominated by Phil
Seconded by Adam

I will be standing for the position of Communications Officer this year for several reasons. Firstly, having been involved with LGBT society events for the last 5 months, I feel that if I were to be elected onto the committee it would provide me with the opportunity to further integrate my ideas and offer my skills to improve on the good work of the outgoing committee.

Also, as I am studying Graphic Design, the role of Communications officer would present me with a practical and useful outlet for my creativity whilst simultaneously improving awareness of the society and what it’s here for to members of the union.

Finally, having already created and maintained the website since before Christmas, I feel like I’ve started a job that can still be improved upon and maintained to form the main focal point for member interaction.


-- Edited by JohnK at 20:06, 2005-02-18