Earlier this month I attended my division’s AGM, whereby I met the Committee for Telford & Wrekin, like everything I have experienced so far through the Union it was set up to make members thinking of attending easy for them.
It was at a central Telford hotel, details regarding the AGM were sent out well in advance, a nice dinner was supplied free of charge, the timings were considered to make it an early start/reasonable finish, generally I would say thought had gone into supporting & facilitating members attending.
No why the fuss, why attend, why should I bother?
Well Telford is going through some radical changes in education, various secondary schools are merging, other schools are ‘adjusting staffing levels’ there are various new Headmasters in other schools, who might be considered Gung-Ho & therefore coming to AGM might just give a local member an insight into the landscape & climate & state of the education system of the area.
So I was surprized by what can only be described as apathy by local members, turnout considering local issues was poor, however I am getting ahead of myself,
The format:
Is get to the hotel & have a drink and socialize, then have a bite to eat whilst catching up, on this occasion it was Chicken & mushroom pie with various side options & the outcome very nice as well!
(this was agreed by a vote of 8 vs. 4 so the motion that the chicken pie was nice was carried – joke!)
Everyone was very welcoming and we sat around the table in one of the pre-booked conference rooms generally having a gas & catch-up!
The meeting was then called to order & various points raised & discussed all related to either specific local issues or national campaigns, it was interesting to observe & offer comment on some of these issues, not least the topics covered in this blog earlier such as Supply & LGBT rights.
Everyone had a chance to speak/contribute even a ‘newbie’ like myself & it was interesting & informative.
The Swearing In of the Equality Officer:
I would like to suggest this was the main event of the evening, I donned my ceremonial robes, garter, rod & chains & awaited my swearing in as the Equality office for my division,
The line up or committee members roles were discussed & I was sworn in as the new Equality Officer
All joking aside it was that easy, i/e come along, be met & be welcomed by like minded people who share a common interest, be fed & watered at a nice central hotel and discuss how things can be addressed or improved both locally & nationally.
I even shared this blog with the committee & they seemed to like it as a another possible tool in engaging with members.
So clearly they must be good judges of character!
PJR Education Consultancy 
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