A Beginners Guide to National Conference

This session will… Introduce National Conference Reflect on key democratic processes – Zone Reports, Policy Debate & Elections

Before you come to NC… Things to do…Things to bring… Read through reports, papers & manifestos Clothes for 3 days, including nightwear, & toiletries Agree your union’s policy stanceMoney for evening meal & snacks Plan & book your travelRegistration documents including e-ticket, under 18 consent form, & letter from union Find out if local unions are travelling at the same time Accommodation details – address & booking reference Get excited!!Mobile phone & charger

Welcome to Conference Delegates from Previous Conferences’ Share What they were looking forward to, and their experience as first-time delegates: National Conference 2012 National Conference 2013

At National Conference Over the next 5 slides, we will introduce 6 elements of national conference that we think are useful to know about to ensure you get the most of your experience of conference. Nothing will compare with the actual experience of being at National Conference but we hope our summary, hints and tips will be useful either as an introduction or a re-fresher to this event.

Registration You will need your e-ticket and any under-18 consent forms You will be given several documents, including an agenda and a conference pass for each delegate – put these in a safe place! If you’re in FE, when you register ask where the “caFE” is – this will be a safe space to take a step out of National Conference – you will find a member of FE staff there to ask questions, check-in, or just take some time out If this is your first conference, the Info Point will signpost you to First Time Delegate Training

Conference Floor Large auditorium with stage centre-front Approximately 1000 students on conference floor Conference Chair – stage left Observers & visitors in gallery

Information Desk Open throughout Conference hours Go Here if you’ve Lost your pass/voting card Welfare/Accommodation issues Signposting & general support There is a designated Safeguarding Team – the conference phone will be accessible outside of conference hours for emergencies. The number will be on the back of your badge Please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of NUS staff if you need assistance.

Stalls & Fringes We invite a wide range of organisations and groups to be part of our event. Fringe “workshops/plenary sessions” and information stalls provide an excellent opportunity to: Get lots of information Find out about campaign ideas Secure new contacts A source of sandwiches, cakes, sweets…

Meeting Point Familiarise yourself with the conference venue Where can you buy food & drink? Where can you find staff support? Make sure you have each other’s numbers just in case you get separated Agree a meeting point and perhaps schedule in one time every day to meet up

Summary & Review Registration What do you need to register? Meeting Point What will you agree with your delegate party? Fringe What is a Fringe? Stalls What can you find out from the stalls? Info Desk What support can you get from the Info Desk? Conference Floor How many students are at conference?

Key Democratic Processes Zone Reports Policy Debate Voting & Elections

Democratic Processes The next 10 slides will summarise and provide examples of 3 democratic procedures that you will engage with at National Conference. This is not a detailed explanation of all NUS democratic procedures, but we hope that our brief introduction to Zone Reports, Policy Debate and National Elections will be useful.

Zone Reports Zone reports are a good way to find out what your elected committee have been working on over the last year. Reports were published on Friday 29 th January. This is your opportunity to hold your elected officers to account – so feel free to ask questions and scrutinise their work. Read the reports before you get to Conference. If you don’t get a change to read them at a union meeting they are a good read on the train or bus to conference! You can submit questions about the reports on the conference hub under accountability

A Motion What is a motion? A motion is a formal proposal or request for a particular action. At National Conference, motions are discussed and debated, and are then voted on to agree what NUS will do in the coming year. For more guidance, go to our Conference Hub: and select Policy, Guide to Writing Motions.

Policy Debate The following two slides will give you a snap shot of how policy is debated on conference floor. Every debate is different as different viewpoints are discussed and challenged. Motions have been submitted before National Conference and these are discussed at national conference to: A - agree collectively whether these issues should become matters for NUS to work on, and B - to open the issue for all delegates to shape the focus and direction of NUS work on these specific matters Policy is debated in a certain way to allow for and against arguments to be heard fairly and democratically. We hope the following “script” gives you an idea of how policy debate will look and feel.

Policy Debate Chair:Introduce Motion - invite delegate from the Union A (submitted motion) to the stage Union A:Opening speech for the motion. Chair:Asks if anyone would like to speak against the motion Union B:Free speech against the motion Chair:Announces any amendments to the motion. Invites delegate from Union C (Submitted amendments) to the stage. Union C:Speech for the amendment Chair:Asks if anyone would like to speak against the amendment. If no one takes this speech the chair will move to a vote to include the amendment in the original motion

Policy Debate Cont. All:Delegates will be asked to hold their voting card in the air to indicate whether they are for, against or are abstaining from the vote Chair:The Chair will state if that amendment passes or falls. The Chair will then return to the main motion and ask the submitting union to make a summary speech for their motion (acknowledging the amendment if this was voted) Union A:Summary speech for the motion Chair:The Chair will then call a vote on the motion. All:Delegates will be asked to hold their voting card in the air to indicate whether they are for, against or are abstaining from the vote Chair:The Chair will state if the motion passes or falls

Policy Debate - Extra Extra rounds of speeches - a request can be submitted to the Democratic Procedures Committee (the table at the front of the stage) and the chair will ask for a vote and if voted in favour, an additional round of speeches will be heard Parts – similar to amendments, parts are smaller, specific changes to particular sentences in a motion, and sometimes also in an amendment. These requests are submitted to DPC before the start of the debate Waive - If a motion debate is really straight forward and not controversial, often the final summation is “waived” and you move straight into a vote. You can also nominate another Union to take your speech, with their prior agreement, if you feel their views will be a positive addition to your argument.

Don’t Worry! Don’t worry if you don’t remember all of this – we just hope that by listening today, some of these words and processes become more familiar. You can find out more about National Conference at conference.nusconnect.org.uk

Voting & Elections There are two ways you will be asked to vote… To pass/agree a motion, an amendment, a part, and a report you will be asked to hold your voting card clearly in the air. Conference Chair and DPC will conduct a visual count. The elections of your National Executive Council and Presidents you will be via secret ballot. This uses the Alternative Transferable Vote (ATV) system. You will be notified of the timings & locations during conference. You will need your voting card.

Voting & Elections Cont. At National Conference, you will elect: President Vice Presidents (FE, HE, Society & Citizenship, Union Development, and Welfare) Block of 15 Democratic Procedures Committee Student Trustees Candidates want your votes, so remember to: ask them questions find out more about them read their manifestos & choose those who will best meet your students’ needs

Voting & Elections Cont. NATIONAL CONFERENCE VOTING CARD Please indicate your preference of candidate in order, 1, 2, 3, etc. There are five candidates, including Re-Open Nominations. Please place your voting card in the ballot box upon completion. Martin Luther King Emmeline Pankhurst Julie Andrews George Orwell R.O.N Only vote for the candidates you want. The candidate you like the most is number 1, your second choice is number 2, etc Vote for RON if you think these candidates are not suitable Do not put a cross or mark your ballot paper – this will be considered “spoilt” and will not count

Summary & Review Zone Report Why are reports reviewed at conference? Who to vote for? How will you decide who you want to vote for? Elections Who is elected at National Conference? Voting What are the two voting methods used? Motions -> Policy What happens to the motions that are voted in? Motion Debate What happens in a debate?

Reminder of Key Dates Registration opens - Tuesday 1 December 2015 Zone Committee Proposals and Reports published - Friday 29 January 2016 Deadline for ordinary motions and amendments - 12 Noon Friday 4 March 2016 Deadline for registration - 12 Noon Wednesday 23 March 2016 National Conference - Tuesday 19 April – Thursday 21 April 2016 (for conference times please go to the Conference Hub)

It’s over to you! Don’t forget to look at the Conference Hub conference.nusconnect.org Have a brilliant conference