President's Updates
Seumas Bates
Hey everyone, I hope you're in good health and spring is treating you
well. I think it might be useful for people if I post an occasional
update as to my activities and the activities of the Committee of
Management generally. I’m not planning on making these like my formal
reports to the CoM meetings, but a more laid-back affair where I fill
you in on important developments and my opinion on them. This update
is more intended for the Facebook Group, but I think it best if I also
post it here.
Elections. I think this is still recent enough for a mention. As most
of you by now know we recently had a very successful EGM where a whole
new CoM was elected by the membership. It was a well-attended affair
and I was personally buoyed up by the passion people had for the
Hetherington and the enthusiasm for constructive change and
development. I was also deeply impressed by the new CoM. 12 excellent,
committed and very able individuals, all very different and all very
talented. It’s wonderful to be able to draw on such genuine enthusiasm
and experience – things that money can’t buy. In short they are
everything a President could wish for, and I thoroughly intend to sit
back, relax and let them to all the work. I jest of course :o )
Newspapers. By now most of you will have read the newspaper articles
discussing the finances of the Club. If not, here they are;
http://www.glasgowguardian.co.uk/news/systematic-failures-cause-hetherington-club-shutdown/
and http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/police-probe-as-university-club-funds-vanish-1.1013597.
I’m not going to say that these articles portray us in a positive
light, and I don’t know why someone passed the documents mentioned on
to these papers. But what I do know is that this is not the end of our
journey; it’s a hurdle on the way. I’ve always had the attitude that
you play the hand you’ve been dealt, not the hand you wished you had,
and if this means the CoM has to work twice as hard to get the Club to
re-open then that’s what we’ll do. Plain and simple.
The Future. Those of you who know me know that I don’t dwell on past
mistakes, nae point, I instead learn from mistakes and I make damn
sure they aren’t made again. What I’m saying is that we’ve been given
a fresh start here, a tabula rasa if you will, and I have no interests
whatsoever in recriminations or blaming sessions. Frankly I couldn’t
care less if X, Y, or X was the fault of so-and-so. Not interested.
Personally, I intend to spend my time developing what the Hetherington
could become. We have such potential. Such, potential. We are a unique
club for a unique membership and we have so much scope to enrich the
diverse and vibrant community that is the University of Glasgow. It’s
this community that is our strength. The Club isn’t bricks and mortar,
it’s not a bar or a catering outfit and it certainly isn’t the foam
poking through the bench seating. It’s the fact you can overhear
genuinely interesting debates at the cutting edge of science sitting
next to an equally fascinating one about 12th century poetry. It’s the
fact that any one lunch time can host people speaking a dozen
languages from every corner of the world. It’s the bingo calling to
get your lunch. What I’m saying is, so long as we still have all that,
we’ve got a hope of getting the Club back on its feet, so let’s work
together, crack on, and get a cup of tea at an affordable price.
Thanks for reading, please e-mail me at
pres...@researchclub.gla.ac.uk if you want to know more and I
encourage everyone to join http://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general.
See you soon.
Seumas Bates
Seumas Bates
Hello all, here is the second of my informal updates on the activities
of the Committee and myself. I hope it will give you an overview of
some of the most important developments currently underway and some of
the challenges for the future.
Sub-Committees. In order to better focus the work going on to generate
the business plan it was decided by the CoM to create a number of
smaller sub-committees where CoM members and non-CoM members alike
could comment, create and develop the components for a successful
submission to the University. What they all share however is a strong
mixture of enthusiasm and experience, but they could always use more,
and I encourage everyone to join the Google Group and share your views
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general. At the
moment we have four active groups, which are as follows; Finance
(chaired by Mhairi) which has the responsibility of reviewing and
providing guidance for the Club’s financial matters. Core Business
(chaired by Sara) which is responsible for developing the financial
foundation for the Club by regulating and improving our bars and
catering operation. Community (chaired by Michael) where this
foundation is built on to take us beyond being a simple bar or
catering outlet and to realise the potential for the Club as a support
network for you, the membership. Events & Publicity (chaired by Tom)
who have been tasked with rejuvenating the Club’s regular and
occasional ‘special’ activities and entertainments, and also laying
the foundation for new academic meetings, conferences and other
occasions.
Collaboration. Since I last posted we have met a host of external
groups to discuss possible collaboration efforts in the future. I
think this is an area which is potentially very exciting for the
future provision for the Club’s membership. So far we have formally
met representatives from the Mature Students Association, the Students
Representative Council, the Queen Margaret Union, and the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Society. By collaborating, and combining
efforts and expertise we hope that level of support and welfare
provision available in the Club can increase dramatically, making it
easier for our membership to gain access to the support services they
sometimes need.
Challenges. In addition to these meetings, the Executive has also had
a meeting with David Newall, the University’s Secretary of Court. As
most of you know Mr Newall has been responsible for overseeing the
clearing of the Club’s debts and establishing the financial clean
slate which the new CoM has to work with. I think it’s fair to say we
owe him some sincere gratitude for this. However, he was also very
clear about the challenges faced by the new Committee. He was keen to
stress that the problems faced by the Club go deeper than one or two
years bad management, and that the University’s patience with and
trust in the Club has been very badly shaken. I wish to stress to the
membership that the University is looking for real, substantial change
in the running and activities of the Club. A simple return to ‘how it
was’ is not going to fly with them. This task is not insurmountable,
but the challenge we face to re-establish the Club in the premises we
know and love is very extensive indeed.
Consultation. This is why we need your input. In order to establish
that there is a demand for the services offered by the Club the CoM is
currently working to organise a large-scale consultation with you, the
membership. At this gathering we are looking to hear your views and
suggestions, and to help us establish a legitimate foundation from
which we can build a case based on the wishes of a wide cross-section
of the membership. We’re going to advertise this properly within the
next few days so please keep an eye open. We’d love as many of you to
attend as is possible, and we ask for your help in spreading the word
to both members and potential members – your friends, lecturers,
professors; everyone!
Thanks for reading, please e-mail me at
pres...@researchclub.gla.ac.uk if you want to know more and I
encourage everyone to join http://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general.
See you soon.
Seumas Bates
On 17 Mar, 22:15, Seumas Bates <seumas.ba...@gmail.com> wrote:
> President's Update 17/03/2010
>
> Hey everyone, I hope you're in good health and spring is treating you
> well. I think it might be useful for people if I post an occasional
> update as to my activities and the activities of the Committee of
> Management generally. I’m not planning on making these like my formal
> reports to the CoM meetings, but a more laid-back affair where I fill
> you in on important developments and my opinion on them. This update
> is more intended for the Facebook Group, but I think it best if I also
> post it here.
>
> Elections. I think this is still recent enough for a mention. As most
> of you by now know we recently had a very successful EGM where a whole
> new CoM was elected by the membership. It was a well-attended affair
> and I was personally buoyed up by the passion people had for the
> Hetherington and the enthusiasm for constructive change and
> development. I was also deeply impressed by the new CoM. 12 excellent,
> committed and very able individuals, all very different and all very
> talented. It’s wonderful to be able to draw on such genuine enthusiasm
> and experience – things that money can’t buy. In short they are
> everything a President could wish for, and I thoroughly intend to sit
> back, relax and let them to all the work. I jest of course :o )
>
> Newspapers. By now most of you will have read the newspaper articles
> discussing the finances of the Club. If not, here they are;http://www.glasgowguardian.co.uk/news/systematic-failures-cause-hethe...
> andhttp://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/police-probe-as-unive....
> presid...@researchclub.gla.ac.uk if you want to know more and I
> encourage everyone to joinhttp://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general.
Seumas Bates
Hello again everyone. I would like to present another update of the
events taking place relating to the to attempt to re-launch the
Hetherington.
Student Finance Sub-Committee. I am pleased to report that the
campaign to re-open the Club has reached an important milestone. On
Friday 21st a draft Business Plan was put to the Student Finance Sub-
Committee for their review and consideration. This is an important
step on the road to recovery as we have now ‘officially’ laid out our
wares – as it were – for the University to consider. We hope that over
the coming weeks myself and members of my committee will be able to
meet with members of senior University management to discuss our
proposals, hear their feedback and critique, and to make the necessary
corrections and modifications which shall generate a final submission
which is considered strong, relevant and beneficial to all parties. We
do not yet know the results from this meeting, but in the mean time it
would be great if you would take the time to read over the substance
of our draft yourself at http://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general?lnk=srg
Letters of support. Many thanks to everyone who has so far sent in
letters of support. It is crucially important that we are able to
demonstrate to the University that we have a strong mandate to re-
start the Club. Being able to prove to the University that there is a
substantial section of the student and staff population who miss the
Club due to its closure or who might consider using the Club should it
re-open. To those of you who have already written to us – thank you,
to those of you who have not yet – I encourage you to take a few
moments to pen us a line or two. Even better, if you could mention a
part of the proposed re-structuring of the Club which you find
particularly appealing that would be even better! Please send any
letters to us via the pres...@researchclub.gla.ac.uk e-mail address.
I’d like to especially thank Felicity Maxwell of the Faculty of Arts
who has been doing a Sterling job drumming up support amongst the
staff and students of her faculty.
The Rector. I’m pleased to report that Charles Kennedy has agreed to
add his voice to those calling for the Club to re-open. The Rector is
an important representative of student welfare at a very senior level
within the University and we are additionally lucky to have someone
with Mr Kennedy’s enormous personal experience and influence on our
side.
Well that’s all for now. I encourage you once again to have a look at
the Business Plan. This document has come out of many many hours of
Consultation Meetings, Internet Debate, and Committee Meetings, almost
all of which was done – I’m pleased to say – in full view, and with
the active participation of you, the membership. With your continued
support, and assistance I am hopeful that we have a chance of success
in this most difficult of tasks.
Thanks again,
Seumas Bates
On 7 Apr, 11:58, Seumas Bates <seumas.ba...@gmail.com> wrote:
> President's Update 07/04/2010
>
> Hello all, here is the second of my informal updates on the activities
> of the Committee and myself. I hope it will give you an overview of
> some of the most important developments currently underway and some of
> the challenges for the future.
>
> Sub-Committees. In order to better focus the work going on to generate
> the business plan it was decided by the CoM to create a number of
> smaller sub-committees where CoM members and non-CoM members alike
> could comment, create and develop the components for a successful
> submission to the University. What they all share however is a strong
> mixture of enthusiasm and experience, but they could always use more,
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Seumas Bates
Hello all, I’d like to once again inform you of some recent events
relating to the campaign to re-open the Club. Mainly I’d like to
discuss the recent submission of our proposed Business Plan to the
Student Finance Sub-Committee which is the body that determines the
level of funding given to study-bodies such as the SRC or QMU and who
have the final say as to whether the Club has a future on campus.
The substance of the Business Plan (which was unfortunately
distributed in what we considered to be draft form) is still publicly
available here: http://groups.google.co.uk/group/hetheringtonclub-general
and has come out of many hours of research, consolation with the
membership, and debate amongst ourselves and on the forum. I’m sorry
to say that the response from the SFSC was largely a negative one. Mr
David Newall (the secretary of court) was kind enough to relay to us
feedback from this body which is as follows;
* the legacy of bad management;
* optimistic business plan assumptions;
* the need for infrastructure work at 13 University Gardens;
* the relationship with other University priorities; and
* whether alternative possibilities for postgraduate student space
have been explored.
Needless to say we were greatly disappointed with this result and
with
the reasons offered for refusal in particular. Although we do not
feel
the reasons given by the SFSC are strong enough to warrant refusal,
this is the position we now find ourselves in. I have been offered a
meeting with Mr Newall in July to examine these points, and their
wider implications as well as the next step for the Hetherington. I
shall of course keep you informed with the results of this meeting.
Many thanks for reading, and for your continued support. I hope that
you will continue to offer your encouragement to the campaign and to
continue to write letters of support to the University management,
and
to encourage your colleagues, lecturers and friends to do the same.
Thanks again,
Seumas Bates
On 23 May, 15:29, Seumas Bates <seumas.ba...@gmail.com> wrote:
> President's Update 23/05/2010
>
> Hello again everyone. I would like to present another update of the
> events taking place relating to the to attempt to re-launch the
> Hetherington.
>
> Student Finance Sub-Committee. I am pleased to report that the
> campaign to re-open the Club has reached an important milestone. On
> Friday 21st a draft Business Plan was put to the Student Finance Sub-
> Committee for their review and consideration. This is an important
> step on the road to recovery as we have now ‘officially’ laid out our
> wares – as it were – for the University to consider. We hope that over
> the coming weeks myself and members of my committee will be able to
> meet with members of senior University management to discuss our
> proposals, hear their feedback and critique, and to make the necessary
> corrections and modifications which shall generate a final submission
> which is considered strong, relevant and beneficial to all parties. We
> do not yet know the results from this meeting, but in the mean time it
> would be great if you would take the time to read over the substance
> Letters of support. Many thanks to everyone who has so far sent in
> letters of support. It is crucially important that we are able to
> demonstrate to the University that we have a strong mandate to re-
> start the Club. Being able to prove to the University that there is a
> substantial section of the student and staff population who miss the
> Club due to its closure or who might consider using the Club should it
> re-open. To those of you who have already written to us – thank you,
> to those of you who have not yet – I encourage you to take a few
> moments to pen us a line or two. Even better, if you could mention a
> part of the proposed re-structuring of the Club which you find
> particularly appealing that would be even better! Please send any
>
> read more »
Morag Hunter
Somebody took it upon themselves to send a copy of the business plan
that was, quite frankly, unprofessionally formatted. That was quite
bad. (Actually, having read it, I am amazed that the person who
formatted it is a PG.)
On top of that, the business plan that was submitted was naive and
displayed a basic misunderstanding of what was needed. That was very
bad.
I have only seen what is available here - but I am shocked that the
CoM really thought that they had a serious business proposal.
We had one chance to get the Club back and, thanks to the CoM being so
up themselves that (despite what they say) they ignored advice and
went their own sweet way, that chance has been blown.
RIP, HRC
>
> read more »
Norman Gray
Morag, hello.
On 2010 Jul 28, at 02:51, Morag Hunter wrote:
> Somebody took it upon themselves to send a copy of the business plan
> that was, quite frankly, unprofessionally formatted.
As has been noted several times, this document was a _draft_. That is, it was still a multi-person composite document, wasn't regarded as a finished product, and was distributed due to a misunderstanding.
Moral of this story: if something's a draft, put the word 'DRAFT' in bloody big letters all over it.
> On top of that, the business plan that was submitted was naive and
> displayed a basic misunderstanding of what was needed.
Working out just what was required has been a rolling problem, and at no point has it been obvious. For possibly complicated reasons, we've been unable to get much of a steer from anyone about what was required. From various conversations with people we may now have a clearer understanding. We haven't given up
> thanks to the CoM being so
> up themselves that (despite what they say)
Can you perhaps elaborate?
> they ignored advice and
> went their own sweet way, that chance has been blown.
When one receives conflicting advice, one can't follow all of it. Selecting which advice to follow is part of the business of making something.
Best wishes,
Norman
--
Norman Gray : http://nxg.me.uk
Seumas Bates
Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well, and you are enjoying your
summer, wherever it finds you.
I wanted to give you another update on the activities of the
Committee of Management and of recent events which have occurred
beyond our control.
I have no doubt that many of you already share my sadness at the
decision of the Student Finance Sub-Committee last month which
rejected the Business Plan submitted by the CoM. To re-iterate, their
reasons for rejecting our proposal for the renewed Club were as
follows;
1. The legacy of bad management;
2. Optimistic business plan assumptions;
3. The need for infrastructure work at 13 University Gardens;
4. The relationship with other University priorities; and
5. Whether alternative possibilities for postgraduate student space
have been explored.
We in the CoM do not share the opinions expressed in this objection.
It is clear however that in a time of financial contraction and
increasing commercialisation of Universities that the idea of an
independent student/staff run organisation on campus, in addition to
the SRC and Unions is incompatible with the current strategic
objectives of the University management. Indeed, reading between the
lines, the future of the other such organisations on campus appears
to be increasingly challenging.
I genuinely believe (from the off-the-record feedback we have
received from various sources) that the University was both surprised
and impressed by the quality of the Club’s submission on this matter,
and the members of the CoM, and those other elements of the
membership who contributed in some way to make this document possible
should be proud of their achievement. According to the feedback we
have received, it seems that unfortunately, the historical precedent
of poor management and debt, and the increasing pressure on the
University for high-quality office space appears to have been too
strong. It is likely however there is more too this matter than simply
this.
At a recent follow-up meeting with David Newall and a member of the
Student Finance Sub-Committee we were able to ask questions of their
decision. We also took the opportunity to present a new alternative
to the direction of the Hetherington, one which we hoped would be
seen as more acceptable to the University’s management. The substance
of this proposal is as follows;
1. In order to alleviate their concerns regarding financial
mismanagement we proposed to out-source the running of the Club’s
catering and bars operation to a third party.
2. Additionally to our social operations we would work to represent
post-graduates and mature students to both the SRC and University
management. It is our opinion that representation of these groups is
often lacking, and filling this space would strength the University
as a whole.
3. Cross-college networking would be another of our priorities, and
the Club would strive to become a hub in which different disciplines
could find space to debate and collaborate. Working with the new
Heads of the Graduate Schools would be central to this.
4. We would work with the recruitment department of the University to
assist them in providing a student experience which as deemed
attractive, and thus encourage application to the University.
Sadly, this proposal was also largely rejected out of hand. The crux
of the matter appears to be the building itself. We were told bluntly
and explicitly that under no circumstances would we be able to re-
inhabit the old HRC Building on University Gardens.
We on the Committee regrettably see this as the final door being
closed upon us. While Mr Newall stated that the management would not
directly force us to disband he also made it clear that we could not
hope for any money or premises from the University. In our view, they
perceive our future as re-defining ourselves as little more than a
focus group, which the University might choose to consult on matters
important to the post-graduate community.
It is our opinion that very few of our members would wish the Club to
continue in this capacity, and with commercial premises likely to be
to expensive our options are few. We on the Committee are happy to
continue to serve in our current capacity for the foreseeable future
(with an election untenable in September as is Constitutionally
required), however, without a clear remit or purpose this seems
somewhat nonsensical.
We therefore seek feedback from the membership at large regarding our
next step as a Club. If we are to continue as an organisation please
consider seriously how this would work in a sustainable way; your
ideas would be greatly appreciated. If nothing presents itself, then
we in the CoM are of the opinion that, regrettably, there is not a
viable future for the Hetherington Research Club.
Thanks for reading, and for your support and effort in this venture,
Seumas Bates