Young Fine Gael National Conference 2009

[Tigeress]

Forgive me if i'm wrong, but i'm pretty sure that isnt alan.

What isn't Alan? I asked that question to Blueshirt101(who is Alan as he signed it of as Alan Gallagher).

Can't you read boi???

[The Irish Agent]

EDIT


Talked to the man himself, its not him

[kateanya]

Interesting! That is actually an issue I have been concerned about for some time and one which pushed me to seriously consider running for the Exec. Many people vote on the basis of personality or geography but rarely if ever on the issue of broad policies. The exec makes policy for the organisation and yet noone has access to what is discussed or said at exec meetings when deciding policy and neither can policy reflect the membership. For instance I proposed a policy document to the exec a couple of years ago and it was rejected. That's fine of course but I never got to know why they rejected it, and from what I heard a couple of members (who I actually voted for) rejected the policy. It surprised me that I voted for someone who had a quite different outlook on social policy that I have, and obviously had I known this before voting it may have affected that vote.

Communication has always been a problem in YFG, the problem being ordinary members haven't a blind bit of clue what's going on policy wise, or in general. It was something that was raised at the last LRC AGM (jan), yet there has not been much improvement on it since. Several candidates at the last conference made promises on communication, yet were unable to follow this through..

Also on previous posts, I don't think it's very fair to be airing personal opinions on Barry's Presidency or any member of the exec on a website where anyone, note anyone, can read it. Have some loyalty to the organisation and its good name and refrain from personal comments. I've no doubt he works behind the scenes and supporting young candidates, but maybe thats the problem- not many would be aware of it.

But if you've a problem with any member, attack them where it counts- on Sat 21st, and vote for someone else. But what some see as a lack of work being achieved by the exec, it's not just one person, its collective, its the exec. My main problem would be communication, and not knowing what's going on, how policy decisions are made and also the lack of effort to give people a reason to get more active in (Y)FG through campaigns.. (and canvassing does not count as an incentive for the ordinary member)

[blueshirt101]

Sorry if I confused people, that was Alan's email which I posted, it was sent to every member of YFG!!

[Beanz944]

Communication has always been a problem in YFG, the problem being ordinary members haven't a blind bit of clue what's going on policy wise, or in general. It was something that was raised at the last LRC AGM (jan), yet there has not been much improvement on it since. Several candidates at the last conference made promises on communication, yet were unable to follow this through..

Also on previous posts, I don't think it's very fair to be airing personal opinions on Barry's Presidency or any member of the exec on a website where anyone, note anyone, can read it. Have some loyalty to the organisation and its good name and refrain from personal comments. I've no doubt he works behind the scenes and supporting young candidates, but maybe thats the problem- not many would be aware of it.

But if you've a problem with any member, attack them where it counts- on Sat 21st, and vote for someone else. But what some see as a lack of work being achieved by the exec, it's not just one person, its collective, its the exec. My main problem would be communication, and not knowing what's going on, how policy decisions are made and also the lack of effort to give people a reason to get more active in (Y)FG through campaigns.. (and canvassing does not count as an incentive for the ordinary member)

I would agree with Kate, in the greatest part of what she has said.
Firstly on communications, the success of communications is a complicated one to work out. From my point of view, my experience is that the regional meetings have been very good opportunities to get people to communicate with the exec. However, whether it is down to a lack of attendance or just because of the fact that on the day, people don't feel like saying what is on their mind, these opportunities are missed out on.

There was a great deal of talk about the idea of the national debating competition with would run on over a period of a year or so, more or less along the lines of the Macra public speaking competitions, or team debating events. It was a very good idea, and to the best of my knowledge it was attempted in Wexford. Again, convincing membership turn out was very disparaging to the continued running of any similar event.

When it comes down to it, you are dealing with people both on the exec and on regional committees who are willing to take a job and do it, so long as it doesn't cause them a great deal of hastle. That is essentially what volunteerism is about. I have been guilty of being harsh, critical, pugnatious, infantile in my own expectations in the past. I can remember saying some very bold things about what I thought of the former executive after only about 6 months. It had a great deal to do with the distance a forum like this gives a writer. I was wrong actually to say a great deal of what I did say. Some such confrontations over very little actually killed of a great deal of the YFG debate that used to go on Politics.ie. (and Dave Cocherane's Lisbon platform obviously)

To suggest the future way forward for the incoming exec, who ever is to succeed us, I would say that it is very important to master the idea of the debating competition. Get people to take part in it. Give them expences for travelling. If we'll say UCD go down to UL for a night etc. Make sure our policy people are at such events to give people the idea that some of the things being discussed could actually influence our front bench. Allow it to be a forum for dialogue and discussion that is free and open and on subjects members want to discuss. Remember aswell, anybody can write policy and submitt it to the national executive. Idealilly it is the basis for the policy officer to co-ordinate this as opposed to being a fount for every policy the organisation opperates. Remember, he only human.

Secondly, institute a new panel position of communications. Most SU bodies have one. Susie does a great deal of that for YFG, but having an exec member working in that area could be invaluable. Emalgamate Nat. Secretary/Webmaster/Organiser and make it the one job. It would be a good basis for having a system of regular publications, and synchronising what ideas are being discussed on the exec with what is going into the public arena. The person who does that job would obviously need to be mobile, able in the aformentioned fields and probably not too obsorbed by college.

In the field of organisers, make a controlled budget available to them. Resurect the council. Dublin aside, the Munster council in Cork for those of you who were at it, proved the point that the lure of a well prepared council meeting is enough for people to get up and travell. Making brances aware of the event is also NB, BTW. Not to be autocratic, but the boot must be put in where some college brances in particular have been slow to travell. If you aren't aware of it, branch officers, particularly secretary and chair are obliged to be at a council meeting, and if not to at least furnish the council with an excuse and report of recent goings on.

Look you could go on for ever with other ideas. I will probably write them down before conference and post them here, but the central ideas remain the same constantly. Communication is centred about people actually talking to each other and contibuting ideas and platforms. Its crucial. Secondly, not disparaging members by overloading them by work from day one is fairly important. Not to compare it to Macra again, but their organisers practically guide new officers by the hand for the first 6 months. It is very advantageous.
Finally, think about te means of reaching out to members. Councils, meetings, debating, writting, Informer etc, are all very handy.

[Tigeress]

I would agree with Kate, in the greatest part of what she has said.

Secondly, institute a new panel position of communications. Most SU bodies have one. Susie does a great deal of that for YFG, but having an exec member working in that area could be invaluable. Emalgamate Nat. Secretary/Webmaster/Organiser and make it the one job. It would be a good basis for having a system of regular publications, and synchronising what ideas are being discussed on the exec with what is going into the public arena. The person who does that job would obviously need to be mobile, able in the aformentioned fields and probably not too obsorbed by college.


.

I agree with a lot you have to say with regards the need to improve Communication.

However in relation to the above point, you must realise that YFG is a voluntary organisation.
The job you have created is not a task which could be done by a college student or a working person.
For that reason Susie is there, and she does a damn fine job as national youth organiser.

The exec needs to relate more to the grassroot member, maybe a news letter every quarter, detailing news, events etc.. This would help with the communication deficit.

[Miss Mad]

Ah yes its that time of year again where the people who never run for anything spend there time bashing those who have the Ba!ls to do so. All I can say on this matter is that it takes alot to put yourself forward in an organisation where back biting on the net is so previlant. After my four years in the organisation all I can say to people when voting is choose wisely. Experience is always essential and the most important thing. Put you own preferences in personality aside and decide who is really fit to do the job. Also when it comes to Pres and VP remember that these 2 will be sitting on senior party exec and it is important to when voting to think "is this person ready and capable to play with the big boys?"

[Miss Mad]

Oh and on relating to grass roots I agree with this but no news letters, a quick email once every 2 months wud be fine

[geraghd]

I agree with a lot you have to say with regards the need to improve Communication.

However in relation to the above point, you must realise that YFG is a voluntary organisation.
The job you have created is not a task which could be done by a college student or a working person.
For that reason Susie is there, and she does a damn fine job as national youth organiser.

The exec needs to relate more to the grassroot member, maybe a news letter every quarter, detailing news, events etc.. This would help with the communication deficit.

The organisation used to have a position of Communications Director up untill the current exec. Its a tough job but not one that would be insurmountable for a college student or someone iwith a full time job.

And newsletters I think are in the main superfluous unless its a regular thing. I think an email would suffice, but at the very least monthy. However a key issue is accessibility not simply hearing from a prepared PR exercise.

[Beanz944]

Ah yes its that time of year again where the people who never run for anything spend there time bashing those who have the Ba!ls to do so. All I can say on this matter is that it takes alot to put yourself forward in an organisation where back biting on the net is so previlant. After my four years in the organisation all I can say to people when voting is choose wisely. Experience is always essential and the most important thing. Put you own preferences in personality aside and decide who is really fit to do the job. Also when it comes to Pres and VP remember that these 2 will be sitting on senior party exec and it is important to when voting to think "is this person ready and capable to play with the big boys?"

Having had the proverbial balls, I would hope that I don't fall into that category. Essentially I think that this thread discussion should be issue based if we are going to have it at all.

However in relation to the above point, you must realise that YFG is a voluntary organisation.
The job you have created is not a task which could be done by a college student or a working person.
For that reason Susie is there, and she does a damn fine job as national youth organiser.

I wasn't suggesting infringing on Susie at all but rather putting more of a communications role into the hands of a member. In the end, 70% of all work will be done centrally by Susie anyway. So, it isn't really a comment about that at all. What I feel is being sought after by members is the opportunity to talk (shout at/to) their exec. If thats what they want, give them that opportunity. (BTW, going on the usual tempo of National Assembly's, that never really happens.)