Visit to the Kelpies

Formal Meetings

Visit to Bird Sanctuary

Horse Drawn Canal Boat Trip

Town Walk

Rural Life Museum

Annual General Meetings and Social Weekend

Annual General Meetings are our formal meetings which are held during the annual social weekend. The choice of venue for these weekends circulates around the Regions and Nations providing a wonderful opportunity for members to meet up with friends old and new, whilst enjoying exploring a different area each time.

Official AGMs are held each year to cover the legal business of each of the three AOUG Limited Companies. These are organised under a compound meeting named AGM Part I. This meeting is conducted under the Memorandum and Articles of the Association.

All members are invited to attend this meeting on a self funding basis, and may vote either in person or by postal proxy on any Resolutions presented.

Advanced notice is published in OMEGA in accordance with the legal requirements and all members are invited to submit Resolutions should they wish to change any of existing Memorandum and Articles.

There is also a second part to the AGM known as AGM Part II, This is run under Standing Orders which incorporates reports on previous activities of the Association and Motions to change the working procedures of the Association. All members are invited in advance to submit Procedural Motions and have the right to vote either in person, or by postal proxy, on any of the Motions presented.

The Association of Open University Graduates like to ensure a balance to these proceedings and so along with the formal AGM meetings and other more informal meetings, there are also plenty of other activities built into the arrangements to produce a full social event, with plenty of time to mix with other members and share the pleasures of the local area.

2o24 AGM – 17th-19th May – Swan Hotel Bedford

Our AGM and Social Weekend is open to all OU Graduates, OU Students and their friends and families and this year is based at The Swan Hotel, which is sited at the side of the river, in the centre of Bedford with a large carpark and easy public transport links.

The weekend begins after lunchtime on Friday 17th May and continues until after lunch on Sunday 19th May. Attendees are offered four different option choices – Option One is for the Saturday lunch after the formal AGMs and a tea/coffee during the meetings. Option Two is to attend the Saturday evening Gala Dinner with all the entertainment and Option Three is the same as Option Two but with the addition of an overnight stay on the Saturday evening with breakfast on the Sunday morning.

Then finally Option Four is for the full package of all accommodation and meals including both the Friday and Saturday evening entertainments. The prices quoted on the Booking Form are per person regardless of whether you wish to share a room or not as the package deal arranged with the hotel is based on an individual basis. All rooms are of the same size and standard.

If you would like to come but what you require does not fit neatly into one of these Options, please contact AOUG@open.ac.uk to discuss what you would like and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Please note that since we are now passed the date for a deposit only, that full payment is required with your booking, which is non refundable. Therefore we recommend that you take out holiday insurance in case you need to make any last minute cancellation.

Sorry but it is now too late to book accommodation for this year. However you may still book to attend as a day visitor or to join any of the excursions. 

In addition to the main package, we offer optional excursions during the weekend. This year:

• Friday afternoon excursion is a trip on the river.
• Saturday afternoon excursion is a trip to Woburn Safari Park.
• Sunday morning excursion is a guided walk around Bedford to learn some of its fascinating history. Plus for any non AOUG Members, (or those members not wanting to attend the formal AGMs) there is an opportunity to visit any or all of three free entry museums – John  Bunyan Museum, The Panacea Museum and the Higgins Museum.

Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you are welcome to book to attend these excursions, if you are able to travel in time.

For more information about any of these excursions please contact the AOUG Office using AOUG@open.ac.uk or via the message service under Contact on this website.