Applications
Below is a list of each candidate with the position they have applied for and a couple of sentences outlining why they should be elected. If you wish to know any more about one of the candidates, either find them on Facebook, email us your question or comment below.
David Buckley - Chair
As a founding member, I have developed an attachment to the Gaming Society. This attachment drives me towards aiding it and seeing it thrive. My time as Secretary since then has provided me with a wealth of experience and insight that will help me keep the cohesion within the committee and give the society the proper foundation that it needs.I have also fully supported the move towards democracy and wish to further increase transparency of the society to its members while still giving the committee strong leadership.
Arron Wray - Vice Chair
I have a year and a half worth of experience carrying out the duties of the chairman and know exactly what the job entails. I think I would be perfectly suited to the role as I can easily fill in for the chair in their absence and can help mentor the new chair.Danny Quarton - Treasurer
Since joining in October I feel I've become an integral member of the committee, regularly attending meetings, taking an active role in organising and setting up events, and recently organising the purchase of t-shirts for the committee. As the current vice-treasurer, I think I am in the best position to progress to treasurer proper.Toby Edwards - Ambassador
I feel that given my background, I have strengths in dealing with outside individuals and companies.Mike Price - Ambassador
I would like to put myself forward for the position of Ambassador, as I have a lot experience in this role.Maris Doniks - Ambassador
I have relevant experience of being an ambassador. I was the ambassador in youth society called CReativus, my responsibility was to contact people/sponsors/venues. During the period of last year I have been responsible for several major events, including two international events, as well as several minor events. Aside from my activities in aforementioned society, I successfully organised and hosted 2 local sports competitions in my home town last summer. In addition to skills and experience I have, I am also interested in involving new people into world of gaming and this might be great opportunity. I am very passionate about gaming and I would make great contribution to University of Manchester Gaming Society.Richard Whyman - Recruitment Officer
I think I would perfect for this role because I'm The Whyman!David Buckley - Website Manager
I have previous experience of coding websites, a good eye, and know what would be required to make the website useful.Warren Del-Pinto - Server Manager
So far in this academic year I have attended most of the gaming society's events both on and offline. Over this period, I have made quite a few new friends in the society, and have enjoyed being a part of it as a whole. As a result, I would like to contribute to the society by joining the committee next year.I have chosen to apply for a role involving server management for several reasons. Firstly, I enjoy attending the online events hosted by the gaming society, and have a general interest in how the servers are run. Thus, I feel that the above role would be of direct interest to me. Due to this interest, I am willing to learn / expand upon any of the technical skills required for the role. In addition, I have an awareness of many of the ideal settings for popular online games, including as Team Fortress 2 and CS:S, as a direct result of playing them regularly over the past few years. I feel that I could make valuable suggestions on interesting game modes, possible online events, potential competitive ventures and other such events involving the society, and would actively seek input from other gamers.
Michael Howe - Secretary
In the last semester, I have taken on the role of vice-secretary, actively involving myself in the roles and requirements of the secretary position as necessary. Fully aware of the constitution and the society's functions and the machinery of running the society, I feel well able to fulfil the necessary requirements for this role, along with the careful and necessary oversight involved in the expansion of the society's scope in the coming year.This, combined with a passion for video games and seeing the social role of video games expanded, leads me to feel that it would be beneficial for the society to allow me to steer it through the next year, in co-operation with the other parts of the executive.
Amendments
This is a list of proposed amendments to the constitution. If you wish to read the current constitution, it can be found at http://bit.ly/umgs-constitution.Amendment 1 - Apologies
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
This amendment is to ensure that proper and fair measures are in place if committee members become complacent or unable to maintain their responsibilities. In particular, it outlines the rules such that committee members can see what exactly is expected of them.
5.2 The meeting starts when the appointed Chair declares so, and must be done after the declared start time and no more than ten minutes later.
5.3 Committee members arriving after the meeting has started are deemed late.
5.4 All committee members must attend every meeting on time or provide an apology.
5.4.1 Any formal apologies, for absence or tardiness, must be given 24 hours prior to the meeting.
5.5 Every meeting must begin with a register and discussion of apologies for any members not present.
5.5.1 The committee members present, absent, and late must be recorded along with the status of any apologies.
5.5.2 The register must be publicly viewable.
5.6 If a member fails to give an appropriate apology for three meetings in one semester, the Chair is to have a private conversation to enquire as to their neglect and inform them it has been raised.
5.6.1 This conversation can be held after two failed apologies in one semester if another committee member raises concern during a meeting.
5.7 If a member fails to give appropriate apologies for four meetings in one semester and they have been spoken to previously by the Chair, that member is to be given an official warning regarding their attendance.
5.8 [continue from 5.5...]
Amendment 2 - Agenda
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
A clarification of content of meetings and the responsibility for the agenda.
5.7 An agenda for each meeting shall be compiled at least two days in advance of a meeting by the Chair.
5.7.1 The agenda should contain any current issues of the society.
5.7.2 The agenda should contain a short description of each item to be discussed.
5.8 Every meeting must end with any other business, where committee members can bring up items not currently on the agenda.
Amendment 3 - Public Meetings
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
This amendment is to move towards a more transparent and open society where all members of the society can view what is happening, while ensuring the responsibility is no further spread. The amendment also follows on from ‘Agenda’.
5.10 All members of the society are welcome to attend and observe a committee meeting.
5.8 Every meeting must end with any other business, where anyone present can bring up items not currently on the agenda.
Amendment 4 - Official Warnings
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
This additional article serves to clarify the process of warnings so that proper measures can be enacted on negligent or uncommitted committee members to ensure the society does not go stale.
X.1 The first stage of warning is a private conversation with the Chair to discuss any issues and make the member aware of the issue.
X.2 The second stage of warning is a formal warning in writing from the Chair.
X.2.1 A copy of the warning should be forwarded to anyone holding a key role.
X.3 For the third stage of warning, the committee should vote on whether or not to relieve the committee member of their position.
X.4 Before a member has received a formal warning, if nominated and seconded by committee members, a vote can be taken to issue the next warning up to the member in question.
X.5 If a committee member repeats their offence having received a second stage warning or higher, that member goes to stage three.
[As an amendment to ‘Apologies’]
5.6 If a member fails to give an appropriate apology for three meetings in one semester, the member gets a first warning.
5.6.1 [remove]
5.7 If a member fails to give appropriate apologies for four meetings in one semester and they have received a first warning, that member gets a second warning.
Amendment 5 - Events
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
This amendment clears up rules regarding the committee’s presence at events and protects the events from neglect.
6.3 All committee must be present and on time to each event or provide an apology.
6.3.1 Any formal apologies, for absence or tardiness, must be given 24 hours prior to the event.
6.4 A register must be kept recording committee members present, absent and late along with the status of any apologies.
6.5 If absent to an event, a committee member must assign any of their responsibilities to another member and confirm them.
6.6 [continue from 6.4...]
Amendment 6 - Spelling
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
A list of changes to the articles in the constitution to improve spelling, grammar and ease of reading.
3.1 Any student of the University of Manchester is eligible to join the Society.
4.3 [new line removed after clause]
4.5 The committee must contain three key members: the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer. Any other committee members can be assigned one of the alternative roles as outlined in section 4.9.
6.5 All are welcome at our events regardless of society membership.
10.3 The treasurer should aim to create a full budget for the year.
12.1 The society shall never be dissolved.
Amendment 7 - General Meetings
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
The addition of a second general meeting to allow new committee to be added at the beginning of the year and to clarify the proceedings.
Article 7 - General Meetings
7.1 An Annual General Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the AGM) shall be held once a year at the end of the second semester.
7.2 A general meeting shall be held at the end of the first semester.
7.3 The purpose of a general meeting is to hold elections for new committee members.
7.4 All members of the society will be invited to a general meeting at least a week prior to the meeting.
7.5 Members of the society have the right to vote in a general meeting.
7.6 The constitution cannot be modified without voting in the AGM.
7.7 The key positions are only up for election in the AGM.
7.8 Elections must take place before any amendments to the constitution.
[Remove 8.5]
7.9 The proceedings of the AGM will be conducted by a returning officer who is not running for any of the positions.
7.9.1 If a returning officer cannot be found, a society member who is not running for a position should be nominated.
7.9.2 If more than one society member is nominated, the current committee will hold a vote.
7.10 It is the responsibility of the secretary to collate amendments and a list of people running for a position.
Amendment 8 - Elections
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
Move to clarify the status of positions and size of committee. 8.2 is in response to making meetings public, and to solve the issue of ‘invitations’ to meetings being vague. 4.10 is to ensure responsibility and accountability of members does not become obscure.
8.2 To run for a key position, the person in question must conform to the following criteria:
They must have held a prior position as a committee member
They must have attended events regularly
They must be a member of the union
4.10 There can be no more than 12 committee members.
Amendment 9 - Communication Channels
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
This amendment defines and protects the private communication channel between committee members.
Y.1 The committee shall have a private forum through which to communicate.
Y.2 The minutes should be posted after each meeting.
Y.3 Three admins should be chosen by means of a vote to manage the forum.
Y.3.1 To be put forward, a member must have been on committee for at least one semester.
Amendment 10 - Meta Committee
Submitted: David BuckleySeconded: Michael Howe, Pez Cuckow
Temporary leave is taken into account for those taking years out, interruptions or other circumstances where the committee member is expected to return within a year. Veteran committee members who have previous years of experience are also considered.
4.10 A committee member going away for a year is granted a role ‘on leave’ for the duration of their leave.
4.10.1 ‘On leave’ committee members have no responsibilities.
4.11 A member of the society who has held a committee position for four semesters or more may hold an ‘honorary member’ role.
8.12 An ‘on leave’ committee member may not run for election.
Y.4 An ‘on leave’ committee member will retain access to any communication channels for the duration of their leave.
Amendment 11 - World Domination
Submitted: Richard WhymanI would also like to amend the constitution, the current aim is:
"To unite all the gamers of Manchester and give them a forum to play and discuss games together."
I would like to change this to:
"To unite all the gamers of Manchester and take over the world!"
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