Lies, Damn Lies

Beauracracy

Sorting out stuff for next year at the moment, it turns out being Chair of a society actually involves one working, which is a rather appalling thing to discover, having signed on for the cv boosting advantages, of course.

But yeah, the SU is moored in beuracracy. Thing is, is if something goes wrong, the SU are liable for it, so to cover themselves there are endless forms for us to fill in. The budget request form is a particular masterpiece. I am meant to be able to predict what events I am running next year. Right. This is meant to be a fun organisation for some students at Bath, I have no intention of forcing a long term plan down their throats, and also what we are able to do depends on the number and activity of our members. Never mind though, I suspect this is something I will have to get used to.

Next, of course, is the discovery that what we can actually spend the budget on is hideously limited. We cannot pay for any speakers to come, which is a huge shame, as it means we miss out on most quality speakers- I think we might be able to pay for transport costs, but even that is not sure. We can pay for our own transport costs, I think, although not for the socials are selves.

So yeah, obviously I wil have to think of things we will spend our budget on, otherwise we won't get one- or get a really small one- and that would be quite the tragedy.

Whats also great, is, apparently, we have to get risk assesment for everything. This includes, for example, baking a cake. We have to get a risk assesment slip filled in if we want to bake a cake and then sell it (or eat it amoungst ourselves). ARGH!

I think my biggest bugbear along with this is we have to write a constitution for the society. Thats ridiculous. Its stupid students playing silly games of democracy. This is a tiny little society, led by the most active members. We do not need to make sure that there is a method to remove the leaderhsip, we do not need to make sure there are proper channels for people to go through! Its not real! Its just a little society which hopefully can make a small impact on the student body! We don't need a bloody consitution! The UK hasn't got one, for crying out loud!

Oh well, have to suck it up, I suppose, as if we don't keep up with all this the SU will destroy our society. Which would be a tad depressing.

posted by Mr K @ 4:45 pm