WMANUS: Where next?

WMANUS is at a serious crossroads with regards to the future of the organisation, with many serious questions now being asked regarding the validity of its existence in its current form. I believe that it is time that we hold an open and honest consultation with the membership about just what exactly they want to see their area become in the future.
And when we talk about the future, we can no longer be referring to one or two year plans, we need to be prepared to be looking at the movement in 5, 10, 20 years down the line. Where do we want to be? And, when it comes to the existence of a powerful student movement, a force to be reckoned with, I believe wholeheartedly that areas such as WMANUS need to be at the heart of the organisation. But, in this economic climate, can we do it cheaper? Do we need a full time officer? An office costing us £1000’s per year, when in fact, we should be out on campus day in, day out?
As your area convenor, I don’t want my year in office to be spent holding a time consuming governance review, but I do think we need to hold an open consultation on where you want us to go – and that needn’t be time consuming, or take me away from campaigning, but it does need to be done. In order to support and fight for you, WMANUS needs to know what you want!
I know that we’re not happy, my own union has held talks on our continuing affiliation to WMANUS, which is why I know that I have the same doubts as you, and why I know that whilst WMANUS is important to me, and I believe it is an important part of the West Midlands, I also know that right now, it’s not working to its full potential.
I will launch this consultation, in an environment in which we can say as honestly and openly as we want, what we want, or more importantly, what we need. And, as your convenor, I will compile this report for conference 2010, ready for the membership to vote on where they want to go.

 A fully inclusive, interactive and open debate on the future of WMANUS, held on your campus with your members – not in closed rooms.

 A more accessible and transparent WMANUS – one in which you can engage, one where you can find the information you need, when you need it, be in on a new website, a chat forum, through an email data base, or at the local and regional campaigning forums I will set up.

 A WMANUS that is worth your affiliation fees, with a convenor that will be on your campuses, developing and supporting you, and helping you to achieve.