Candidate Statements
Candidates for election to the Executive Committee.
Candidates for Officers` positions require six assenters from any Region or Nation, whilst those standing for Executive Representatives` positions, require three assenters from their own Region or Nation. Brackets show an assenter`s Region or Nation and their Executive Committee involvement ie. EC stands for an Executive Committee member during 2011/2012. PEC stands for a previous Executive Committee member.
All AOUG members can vote on the enclosed ballot form for the Officer candidates but only those affiliated to either Region 05 or Region 06 may vote for their Executive Representative.
Treasurer: Jean Hertzog.
Assenters: Michael Bechley (EC R02), Lesley Sleigh (EC R07), Malcolm White (EC R07), Elizabeth Mount (PEC R03), Ann Taylor (EC R13), David Ogilvie (PEC Nation 11)
Being a member of AOUG for 23 years, and recently serving on the Executive Committee as Chairman, and then Publicity Officer, (and fourteen years previously, as an Executive Representative), I have a sound knowledge of the Association`s history and its aims and objectives.
I have also been Acting Treasurer since last May and have been involved in many financial research projects for the Executive Committee and undertaken all the day to day budget supervision, leading up to the 2011 Audit. Even though I`d previously been a Maths co-ordinator, training other teachers and had later run my own shop, I still learnt many new skills managing the Association`s financial affairs. This has opened new challenges and rekindled my enthusiasm to work on behalf of the Association and now I should like the opportunity to continue this work and ask you to vote for me to undertake this role officially.
Publicity Officer: Kate Macve.
Assenters: Jean Hertzog (EC R07) Elizabeth Mount (PEC R03) John Eaton Terry (R03) Beatrice Ann Reed (R03), Lesley Sleigh (EC R07), Malcolm White (EC R07)
I have been a member of AOUG since graduating with a BA in Humanities with Music in 2003, and became an active member in 2007 when my local Region, the South West, became active again, attending our monthly meetings whenever I can. In 2009 I volunteered to take on the role of Editor, which has been a very enjoyable challenge, and has also given me some insight and understanding of the workings of the Association.
I feel the next few years will see changes in the spectrum of Open University Graduates, due at least in part to the major re-financing of Higher Education, and if elected I will try to build on the work of previous Committee Members to help new Graduates to keep in touch with their Alma Mater. Please give me the opportunity to work to help the AOUG to grow and become an even stronger force.
Development Officer: Violet Rook.
Assenters: Ramsey Hertzog (EC R07), Eileen Thornton (R09) Lesley Sleigh (EC R07), Mohammad Motawalla (EC R04), Dorothy Ford (R09), James Steele (PEC R09)
I obtained my Open University degree in 2001 having started it quite a while previously and then having an interval during which I nursed my parents, and maintained a full time job. My background is in midwifery and education and I now have a lot of involvement with local health in regard to Newcastle Links, a Patient Safety Group and promotion of the local environment.
I have been the Executive Representative for Region North 09 since 2007 and have met some very nice people who are members of the AOUG during that time. I am a member of the Open University Shakespeare Society and I like to contribute to the website such has Platform and OpenLearn. I also paint and write poetry. I would like to take this involvement further in regard to the Development Officer post
Executive Representative East Midlands - Region (05) David Bellaby.
Assenters: Jill Caine (PEC R05) Liz Pegg (PEC R05), Alan Stennett (R05)
Since completing my teacher training at Saltley College Birmingham in 1960, I have enjoyed a patchwork of part time distance learning courses. From these I have cobbled together a Dip Ed from Nottingham, a BA from the OU in 1974 and two valuable, though unproductive, years with the University of Wales. During my years at the ‘chalk face’ in Derbyshire, I was actively involved with the NUT as work place representative and the TBF (now the Teachers’ Support Agency) as a council member
I keep in touch with OU through ‘OMEGA ’ and ‘Sesame’ and by watching the excellent OU/BBC TV programmes. I admire the University for pushing the boundaries of learning and having a truly inclusive philosophy. And so it must continue! The OU gave me the opportunity for higher education I missed after secondary school. I hope to put something back through my AOUG membership
Executive Representative East of England - Region (06) Jean Grout.
Assenters: Jane Dunn (R06), Susan Sapsed (R06), Valerie Schicker-Hill (R06)
As the co-opted Executive Representative (ER) I was very pleased to start organising events which would enable members to meet and enjoy themselves. This has been a very rewarding experience which I would like to continue as an elected ER. Much work has been required to contact members from our enormous Region of 452 members living from the East coast to central England, and I have only been able to scratch the surface so far in contacting them.
If elected, my future plans would be to endeavour to find Contacts in some of the Counties. These Contacts could organise events pertinent to their own areas enabling members to socialise at their local events, so reducing enormous travelling times with this Region. I consider it a priority to recruit and retain members and when the paperwork has been collated this should be easier; after all we want members to be happy!