Welcome Back & Charity Update

Nicholas Bond (National SSAGO)

Saturday 23rd of April 2022

Welcome back to the Team Pink blog! We're coming back in syle with new Assistant roles and an update on the Charity status.

Hello, and welcome back to the Team Pink Blog! Clearly things have been a little empty here over the past 3 years, but with the incoming Exec looking to improve communication we think it’s about time this page was revived.

 

Charity Update

The main reason for this post is that we need to share an update regarding SSAGO’s conversion to Charity status. The Charities Commission have contacted us to inform us they have rejected the initial proposal documents - but not denied SSAGO becoming a charity. They provided a number of points they would like to see addressed or clarified before a resubmission, covering things such as SSAGO’s involvement/independence from TSA, GG, SAGGA and SUs, the relationship between the SSAGO Representative Committee and the trustees, and the relationship between clubs and national SSAGO. They also would like us to make our objectives clearer.

As such, how to proceed with the charity conversion is a topic once again tabled for the in-person Team Pink Handover meeting which will occur the day of Ball (look out for an agenda soon!). 

Team Pink Assistant Roles

As mentioned in recent announcements, Team Pink is looking for more volunteers! New long-term Assistant Officer roles are being created to improve the workflow and responsibility within Team Pink. The two roles being opened for applications are: SAGGA Liaison and SASU Manager. Anyone can put themselves forward for either or both of these roles, so if you think you have the skills Team Pink is looking for then please see https://ssago.org/volunteer for full descriptions and the application form. You’ve only got until Midnight 29th April in order for these applications to be reviewed by Team Pink in person at Ball!

Further to these roles, in light of the Charities update above and the fact the Charity process looks set to take significant time, the decision was made to create a further, temporary role of "Charities Assistant". This role will undertake the legwork of the conversion process, enabling the core Exec to focus on the day-to-day running of SSAGO and their manifestos. The Charities Assistant role will be a temporary position, which will be removed as soon as all charity transition tasks are complete.

Applications for this role are to be made through the same form as the other roles describe above, so once again if you think you have the skills we’re looking for, head over to https://ssago.org/volunteer to see the full descriptions and submit your application!

Closing Thoughts

As ever, Team Pink is always looking for feedback. We’ll be reviewing our communication methods in depth at our handover meeting, so knowing what works for you is important! Would you like to see more on this blog, or is it a waste of our time? What would you like to see here, and how often? What smell has yellow got? And what about the recent Newsletter?

Whatever your thoughts - email us at committee@ssago.org, message us on Messenger or Discord, send us a carrier pigeon, we’d love to hear from you!

Constitution Consultation Update

Joshua Smith & Lexie Massie

Friday 12th of April 2019

This is an update on the proposed new SSAGO Constitution following the full membership consultation that took place.

Overview of Updates

A massive thank you to everyone who took part in the full membership consultation on the proposed constitution changes. We have now used all of your feedback and proposed amendments to update the Articles of Association and Bylaws to create a draft. 

Key Updates

Several updates were made to the Advisory Committee to emphasise that apart from in exceptional emergency circumstances (i.e. the entire SSAGO Exec dies/resigns or SSAGO ceases to exist) they are purely advisory and do not make any decisions. It is up to the student membership of SSAGO to shape and determine its own future. 

The Complaints Process has been updated slightly so that in the event of a complaint being made about the entire SSAGO Exec the process will be followed by the Advisory Committee. Once that process was complete the Advisory Committee would feedback to the Full Committee (Reps) and advise them on how best to proceed. The Full Committee then would ultimately decide if and what disciplinary action should be taken. 

Any appeal through the Complaints Process now also would go to the Full Committee (Reps). 

As requested, a spreadsheet comparing the key changes between the old and proposed new changes has also been created. 

What’s Next? 

You’ve been provided 6 weeks to suggest any alterations the proposed changes. If you have any final final bits of feedback on the the final versions please do not hesitate to contact us by 5pm Monday. We then plan to hold a full members vote to approve the changes from Wednesday. Voting will remain open for two week. 

Responses to Your Feedback

What happens about bullying and manipulating behaviour?
Bullying and manipulation would be dealt with as outlined in the Complaints Process Bylaw and Members Code of Conduct. 

No repercussions if conflicts go un-declared and are later identified?
If a conflict of interest was to go undeclared and later be identified it should be dealt with through Complaints Process Bylaw. Depending on the severity of the conflict members may alternatively trigger a vote of no confidence as outlined in the SSAGO Executive Officers Bylaw.
 
Should a time limit be set for being on the Advisory Committee?
The member of the old SSAGO Exec who sits on the Advisory Committee is replaced every year as a new SSAGO Exec takes over. Representatives of Scouting, Guiding and SAGGA are selected by their respective organisations and may change as appropriate depending on the issue that comes up.

I think that ssago exec should be able to claim that an Advisory Committee member has a conflict of interest as. 
This is covered in the conflict of interest part of the Advisory Committee Bylaw. Where a member has has a conflict their respective organisation may be instructed to send a suitable replacement.  

The whole Advisory Committee takes away almost all power from Exec.
The Advisory Committee is intended to support the SSAGO Exec with advice and only make decisions in emergency circumstances where the SSAGO Exec cannot. These are situations such as when a complaint is levied against the entire SSAGO Exec or there ceases to be a SSAGO Exec able to make decisions (e.g. they are removed by vote of no confidence or all/mostly die). 

This Bylaw has been updated to make clear that this is emergency circumstances only. Where the Advisory Committee are involved in a the Complaints Process this has been updated to emphasise that they advise the SSAGO Exec how to proceed, or in if the complaint is about the SSAGO Exec they advise the Full Committee (Reps) how to proceed.   

I think that the Advisory Committee have the potential to have too much power and control over Reps and the Exec. Several of the policies give the Advisory Committee the final say on matters, and people who are not currently students should not be given this right. It is the Student Scout and Guide Organisation and with the Advisory Committee (consisting of potentially only 1 student member) having more control than the Exec, this isn’t right.
The Advisory Committee is only meant to have emergency powers if there is no SSAGO Exec (e.g. they are removed by vote of no confidence or all/mostly die). The relevant Bylaws have been updated emphasise this more clearly. The Complaints Process has been updated so that the SSAGO Advisory Committee either advise the SSAGO Exec or Full Committee (Reps) how to proceed, ultimately leaving the decision with SSAGO’s members. 

The SSAGO Full Committee (i.e. Reps) is be the ultimate decision-making body of SSAGO. The Advisory Committee should be able to advise on matters, but decisions should be brought before the full committee for ratification. We'd like this to not end up being a shadowy body above the exec. with the ability to make decisions that clubs/the membership cannot input into, or ultimately reject.
In the current SSAGO Constitution the Full Committee (Reps) has no say in constitutional changes to SSAGO and may have any changes to Policy Documents it makes rejected by The Scouts or Girlguiding. Where the constitution is split into Articles of Association and Bylaws the Full Committee (Reps) now has to approve all Bylaw changes. It may also amend, create and remove Policy Documents without the approval of The Scouts or Girlguiding. 

One area of concern is the role of the full committee to only "Jointly amend Bylaws" with the advisory committee - this puts the vote of all clubs (and by extension the full membership) on par with the three votes needed for the Advisory Committee to make a decision (does the current Exec member's vote in this committee count at this stage?), largely stripping clubs of the ability to effect change if the Advisory Committee disagrees - if this is not the intention then it needs some rewording - the advisory committee should not be above the full committee.
The current SSAGO Constitution requires approval from The Scouts and Girlguiding to make any constitutional changes. As the responsibilities of Scouting, Guiding and SAGGA have now been grouped together in the Advisory Committee this responsibility now falls with them. The constitutional restructure splits our current constitution into Articles of Association and Bylaws, so having any Bylaw changes approved by the Advisory Committee is a continuation of that policy. It has been updated from ‘jointly amend’ to ‘approve’. 

As with the current constitutional policy, it’s expected that were a change to be rejected it would be for a very good reason. This would allow SSAGO to reconsider the proposed changes and amend if appropriate. Were either Scouting, Guiding and SAGGA to become unnecessarily obstructive to SSAGO and frustrate the process of updating our constitution we would have to as an organisation reconsider our fundamental relationship with these organisations. 

The SSAGO Advisory Committee must be invited to all General Meetings and shall act as independent adjudicators to all votes" - adjudicators only if there's a tied vote, or does this small select group have the ability to override the votes of clubs/full members?
This meant the Advisory Committee would oversee the votes to ensure they were carried out appropriately and not that they would have a vote themselves. In the event of a tie the meeting chair has the deciding vote. This section was repetition of the Returning Officer and teller responsibility and has now been removed . 

How likely is getting all members in attendance (i.e. what is Scouting/Girlguiding's current track record of making meetings?) - if we don't get these then the input to the Advisory Committee is likely going to be just the current chair, previous chair, and maybe SAGGA?
The Scouts and Girlguiding over the past couple of years have always met with SSAGO together, and have requested more joint meetings as part of the Memorandum of Agreement to strengthen our future relationship. This is a continuation of that. Quoracy is deliberately three so if required the SSAGO Exec, SAGGA and old Exec representative could appoint a Returning Officer for the AGM and auditor for the accounts. 

It sounds like somebody needs to look up the definition of the word "advisory", as this all sounds like a bit of a power grab really.
The Advisory Committee would only have ‘control’ of SSAGO in emergency circumstances were there to be no SSAGO Exec or in the event SSAGO ceased to exist. Wording in the Bylaws has been updated to emphasise this more strongly that outside of this emergency circumstances their role is solely to support and advise SSAGO. 

Such a recent past Exec member is unlikely to be impartial on matters, whether they are in favour or not. 
A member of the previous SSAGO Exec sits on the Advisory Committee to ensure continuity between SSAGO Execs and advise on recent decisions or issues. Conflict of interest is covered in the SSAGO Meetings and SSAGO Advisory Committee Bylaws. Were a member to be conflicted on an issue in first instance an alternative member from the previous SSAGO Exec would be attempted to be found. If that were not possible they would have no say on that issue.

Almost half of the Advisory Committee could potentially be involved in the things they are advising on, which isn't right. The committee as a whole also reviewed this and came to similar results. They felt that as it is, it has too many potential places for conflicts of interests, and people abusing the system in the future. We considered several fixes, but all were major changes beyond the scope of this comment.
Conflict of interest is covered in the SSAGO Meetings and SSAGO Advisory Committee Bylaws. Were an old or current SSAGO Exec member to be conflicted on an issue in first instance an alternative member from the their respective SSAGO Exec would be attempted to be found. If that were not possible they would have no say on that issue. They would only be allowed to contribute to parts of the discussion if deemed appropriate by the remaining members. 

With the old and current SSAGO Exec members removed enough members of the Advisory Committee would be left for it to reach quorum. If the entire SSAGO Exec were conflicted that would suggest the complaint being dealt with is about the SSAGO Exec and that the Advisory Committee would be advising the Full Committee (Reps) how to proceed with that complaint.   

If we deem the Exec not be following these, would the Advisory Committee step in?
The Complaints Process would be followed. This has been updated so that were the complaint about the whole SSAGO Exec it would be dealt with by the Advisory Committee who would advise the Full Committee (Reps) on how to proceed. 

Potentially situations where this may come into conflict with SU policies for clubs? (e.g. if SSAGO removes national membership, but under our SU rules we cannot remove an individual's club membership, we may still need to let them be part of the club but also not a national member?)
As happens currently their national membership to SSAGO would cease. Depending on the severity of why they were removed it may be appropriate for their students’ union to be informed who may start their own disciplinary processes. 

Would putting a time frame for addressing complaints be worth it? Different complaints may take different lengths of time to address however.
No time frame is set to ensure flexibility for all issues that could crop up.  

Ensure there's a clear way to complain about an individual who could be on both Exec and Advisory Committee. I think this is best done through an online form where it shows you who will receive the email.
This is something that does not need including in the Bylaw but can be explored. 

Gives undue power to the Advisory Committee rather than the Full Committee.
The Complaints Process has been updated so the Advisory Committee would advise the Full Committee on how to proceed with a serious complaint involving the SSAGO Exec. This gives the Full Committee the ultimate power to decide any appropriate action. 

I wonder whether something about if other SSAGO clubs will hear about decisions made as a learning point (i.e. transparency or if will be confidential).
Most complaints will be confidential as is current practice to protect the privacy and welfare of the individuals involved. The SSAGO Exec can explore finding away to share learning points from this process. This process itself is developed from the learning points of the past few years of complaints that have been dealt with by the SSAGO Exec. 

For the final version, a proper diff between old and new should be produced - there are a lot of changes to the structure of meetings and votes which seem to shift power away from the Full Committee which are hard to spot without going deep and comparing.
A spreadsheet comparing powers and responsibilities of different groups and meetings in the current constitution and new constitution is below. 

Current Constitution	New Constitution
General Meetings Elect the SSAGO Exec Elect National Events Pass Motions Change Membership Fee Vote of No Confidence	General Meetings Elect the SSAGO Exec Elect national Events Pass Motions Change Membership Fee Vote of No Confidence
Full Committee (Reps) Amend, create and remove Policy Documents with Scouting and Guiding approval Hold the SSAGO Exec to account Approve new SSAGO Bank accounts Reject additional SSAGO Exec roles Approve additional Assistant Roles	Full Committee (Reps) Amend, create and remove Policy Documents Hold the SSAGO Exec to account Approve new SSAGO Bank accounts Reject additional SSAGO Exec roles Approve additional Assistant Roles Amend Articles of Association and Bylaws with Advisory Committee approval Call a Vote of No Confidence Call a General Meeting Determine disciplinary action against the SSAGO Exec as part of the Complaints Process Oversee appeals as part of the complaints process ​
SSAGO Exec Oversee the operation of SSAGO Approve Club affiliations to SSAGO Approve Associate Membership Award Honorary Membership Appoint SSAGO Assistants Amend, create and remove factsheets Propose constitution changes with approval from Scouting and Guiding  Appoint auditor for SSAGO accounts	SSAGO Exec Oversee the operation of SSAGO Approve Club affiliations to SSAO Approve Associate Membership Award Honorary Membership Appoint SSAGO Assistants Amend, create and remove factsheets Propose constitution changes with approval from the Full Committee and Advisory Committee Oversee Complaints Process Call Advisory Committee Meetings
The Scouts, Girlguiding, SAGGA Approve changes to Policy Documents Approve constitution changes Appoint a Returning Officer for the elections Attend Full Committee Meetings Attend General Meetings Attend SSAGO Exec Meetings	Advisory Committee Approve changes to Articles of Association and Bylaws approved by the Full Committee (Reps) Appoint a Returning Officer for SSAGO elections Provide support with the complaints process Appoint auditor for SSAGO accounts Attend Full Committee Meetings Attend General Meetings Attend appropriate SSAGO Exec Meetings Call a Full Committee (Reps) Meetings Call a Vote of No Confidence Call a General Meeting
Members Put forward motions for SSAGO Meetings Call a Vote of No Confidence Elect their national events Elect their SSAGO Exec	Members Put forward motions for SSAGO Meetings Call a Vote of No Confidence Call a General Meeting Call a Full Committee (Reps) Meeting Elect their national events Elect their SSAGO Exec

Commented on the document relating to meetings at Ball, allowing things like no confidence votes online (which should make things more democratic and easier if it's ever needed) etc.
No confidence votes have been updated so voting can take place at Ball and online, but only once both parties of the motion have been given equal chance to defend their position.

Make the Advisory Committee advisory and retain the Full Committee's overall power.
The Full Committee gains additional powers in the proposed changes to amend parts of SSAGO’s constitution. The Advisory Committee would only have ‘control’ of SSAGO in emergency circumstances were there to be no SSAGO Exec or in the event SSAGO ceased to exist. Wording in the Bylaws has been updated to emphasise this more strongly that outside of this emergency circumstances their role is solely to support and advise SSAGO. 
 
Point 6.3.2 (in the Bylaws) seems to contradict an earlier point. It states that "Once called, a General Meeting must be at the next SSAGO Rally...", which appears to contradict 6.1.4 which says 2 weeks notice must be given for it to occur at a Rally. It appears that if you call a general meeting within the 2 week proceeding a rally that you have one rule saying you don't have enough time for notice and another saying that it must occur.
This has been corrected to say that an ‘EGM must occur within 8 weeks’ as the notice required to be given is already specified in 6.1.4. 

We would like the Exec to review the numbering within the document and possibly the layout itself to allow it to be more accessible and easier to read for members.
The layout of the document follows standard practise for most charitable organisations and is similar to that used by students’ unions. It brings our governing documents in line with the requirements to register as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission. It presents all of the content of the existing SSAGO Constitution in a much more ordered way and removes conflicting points. 

Something to remove the possibility of potential abuse of the system or conflict of interest.
Conflict of interest is covered in the SSAGO Meetings and SSAGO Advisory Committee Bylaws, and requires anyone with a conflict to not be involved in any decisions relating to that conflict. Any breach of this would be dealt with the Complaints Process and if required disciplinary measures.  

Potentially the member of a past Exec having to be from at least 3-5 years ago, or only present as a non-voting member. We also felt there should be a maximum term of approximately a couple of years for this member.
The member of the previous SSAGO Exec only serves on the Advisory Committee for one year before the are replaced by an outgoing member of the next SSAGO Exec the following year. They are on the Advisory Committee to provide continuity between the two SSAGO Execs.  

Have Honorary and Life memberships now been combined?
Honorary Membership and life membership are the same thing.  

Are we no longer stating "at least level 4 education" as that was the case before or is that assumed in "further education"?
The wording is taken from the current constitution. 

If an Exec member is no longer a student, however, count as a full member, do they pay associate or student rate?
They would be required to pay the Full Membership rate unless this was set differently. 

Where has SAGGA Rep gone in the Assistant roles?
SAGGA Liaison has now been added to the Assistant roles. 

This is the Student Scout and Guide Organisation, it shouldn't be possible for non/ex-Students to make decisions that cannot be rejected or amended by the actual Student membership of the organisation.
Students gain additional powers in the proposed changes and more control over their governing documents. Non-students would only have ‘control’ of SSAGO in emergency circumstances were there to be no SSAGO Exec (e.g. they are removed by vote of no confidence or all/mostly die) or in the event SSAGO ceased to exist. This is in line with SSAGO’s existing dissolution policies which have been updated to add emphasis on holding an EGM to elect a new SSAGO Exec or restarting SSAGO if it had ceased to exist. 

Reps Voting Results – February Rally 2019

Lexie Massie & Joshua Smith

Friday 12th of April 2019

22 clubs took part in the most recent Reps voting, and this article will summarise some of the key results gained from it.

Thank you to all the clubs who spoke to their members and voted with their views. It is great to see so many clubs engaged with both their members and with National SSAGO. A short summary of the key decisions made and their outcomes are outlined in this article. The full responses can be found in the resources below.

Key Outcomes

• The creation of additional SSAGO bank accounts was approved by 89% of clubs as it is hoped this will make the organising process easier for regional events
• The proposed changes to the Accident & Incident Reporting Policy Document were approved by 92% of clubs, ensuring the policy is up to date
• The Archive Team’s bid for an archiving weekend was approved by 93% of clubs, an event which will benefit the future of SSAGO archiving, as it will give more SSAGO members a chance to get involved, and would be good publicity for SSAGO having this information on the website
• The Exec-Elect’s bid for a 1 year student license of Adobe Cloud was approved by 81% of clubs as it will be a useful tool for the promotion of SSAGO over the next year, allowing us to create a more professional looking image

Badges

• 72% of SSAGO clubs would prefer badges that sit individually, whilst 16% of clubs would prefer interlocking badges for the proposed SSAGO Night’s Away badges
• There was a 50/50 split between clubs preferring the badges to be the same colour, and clubs preferring the badges to be a different colour

Constitutional Changes

A massive thank you to everyone who took part in the constitutional changes full membership consultation launched in February at the AGM. All the feedback you provided and proposed amendments have been addressed in a separate article available here. Using your feedback a final version of the constitution has been completed ready for full membership approval.  

Support

Thank you for letting us know what sort of support your clubs receive. We will use this feedback to identify ways in which SSAGO will be able to provide the support that different clubs require.

• Clubs receive varying levels of support from their Student Union’s, with many clubs receiving none or very little support. Many of the clubs have access to their SU’s minibuses, and are able to apply for funding, but the amounts gained from this are generally limited.
• Some clubs have good relations with their local Scouting and Guiding, and are able to use local Scout huts for a reduced fee and borrow kit. However some clubs currently receive no support from their local Scouting and Guiding.
• Clubs have requested even more publicity resources from National SSAGO. They would also like access to National’s merchandise links, so that they can order clothing and other resources for their clubs at hopefully a cheaper price. However, in general, clubs are happy with the level of support they receive from SSAGO.

What Next?

The Exec will now work to implement your decisions. If you would like anything to be discussed in our next SSAGO Exec meeting, or to raise any issues then please let us know. The Exec can be contacted at exec@ssago.org

SSAGO Constitution Changes

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Sunday 10th of February 2019

The SSAGO Exec is proposing changes to our Constitution. This will be a 6 week process that will include every member of SSAGO.

Overview

These changes restructure the constitution into in a format of Articles of Association and Bylaws. The Articles outline the fundamentals of the governance of SSAGO and the Bylaws outline how this is enacted.

This restructure allows SSAGO to register with the Charity Commission.

There is no major change to existing SSAGO policy or procedures. These have just been updated slightly to reflect how SSAGO currently operates, reworded where originally ambiguous and had conflicting points or sections fixed or removed.

The following additions have been made to the constitution:

• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Advisory Committee
• Members Code of Conduct
• Complaints Process

Following advice from SAGGA and The Scouts a Complaints Process and Members Code of Conduct has been added. This has been based on UK Government recommendations and incorporates content from our existing Activity Guidelines, Behaviour & Disciplinary Procedures Policy Document and Equal Opportunities Policy Document.

The responsibilities of The Scouts, Girlguiding and SAGGA in the current Constitution have been grouped together into a new Advisory Committee made up of a representative of each of these organisations. This committee will fulfil the tasks of those organisations and support the new Complaints Process.

The Process

An initial review of the changes is taking place in the Policy Fixers project group before a full membership consultation of the changes is formally announced at the AGM. Any member of SSAGO can get involved in the Policy Fixers group and discussions by joining here.

 

Join Policy Fixers Policy Fixers Facebook Group

 

Following the AGM there will be a 4 week long full membership consultation of the proposed changes through the SSAGO Reps system. Members will be able to provide feedback and suggest amendments via their Club Representative. Feedback can also be sent to exec@ssago.org or through the Policy Fixers project group.

Once the consultation is complete any final amendments will be made and the proposed change will go to a Full Members online vote for approval. The constitutional changes would then take effect by Aber Does ABBA Ball.

Reps: Voting Results

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Wednesday 16th of January 2019

27 clubs took part in our most recent Reps. Here are the voting results and what they mean going forward!

Thank you to every club who took the time to talk to their members and vote in Reps. 27 clubs took part in the process and voted. It was fantastic to see so many Club Reps engaging with their members and discussing the issues online. Below is a quick summary of some of the key decisions made and what their outcomes mean going forward.

Key Outcomes:

The new InTouch, National Events and National Expenses policies have been updated with approval of  87%, 77% and 94% of clubs respectively. These bring our procedures up to date and in line with those of The Scouts, and provide more clarity on how national events should be run and what national expenses may be claimed by volunteers.

A new Branding & Publicity policy was also approved by 90% of clubs. This outlines how the SSAGO logo which actually belongs to the Scout and Guide Graduate Association (SAGGA) may be used. It should also provide a consistent SSAGO brand through future years. If you have any questions about if this policy effects your club then please do get in contact.

An Events Officer will also be created following approval from 97% of clubs to support future national events. Further information on getting involved in this role and other national SSAGO opportunities will be released soon.

Club Reps also provided thoughts on Great 48, Associate Membership and other SSAGO issues that will be reviewed and considered by the SSAGO Exec. You can view all of these responses in the referenced resources below. If you have anything to add to any issue raised please do get in contact.

What Next?

The SSAGO Exec are now working to implement your decisions. If you would like anything discussed in our next SSAGO Exec meeting, or to raise any issues then please let us know. The Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

What have we been doing?

Melissa Roberts (Aberystwyth Student Scout and Guide Organisation)

Friday 9th of November 2018

Check in with what you're exec and the assistants have been up to, and get to know them a little if you are new to SSAGO! Don't forget you can contact the exec with any queries or ideas on exec@ssago.org

Exec

 

Joshua Smith - Chair 

Hello SSAGOers, my names Joshua and I'm your current national Chair. I'm responsible for overseeing all of national SSAGO to ensure it's safe and running smoothly so you can have a great time.

Recently I've been working on our relationship with Scouting and Guiding, sorting out some of our rules and policies, and trying not to get too ill. One thing you'll notice about national SSAGO is we all wear pink which may or may not have been my doing. It's a great colour!

Do shout if you have any SSAGOy questions, I'm happy to help! I can be contacted on chair@ssago.org

 

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

Attended Gilwell 24 and Gilwell Reunion to promote SSAGO!

Uploading resources to the website: new clubs factsheet, current/old club reports, rally feedback, reps voting result. All available via resources section https://www.ssago.org/resources

Worked with Jimmy to create a way of sharing ideas between SSAGO clubs - to be implemented in the future.

Updating the Incident and Accident reporting policy.

In the process of establishing an online Notifications system, with Vicky (Notifications Officer) and Oliver (Webmaster).

Talking to Larah regarding her role as Archivist - has lots of exciting ideas!

Acted as Chair for a short period whilst Josh recovered from illness.

Otherwise writing exec and reps minutes/agendas.

Started work as a Land Surveyor and joined a Brownie unit in Hemel Hempstead!

 

Edwin Burkinshaw - Treasurer

Hello SSAGO!

If you haven’t noticed what I’ve been up to lately then you’re probably not in the Facebook group having to put up with a million posts a day from me! I am of course referring to Lancaster Fantasy Rally, our next big international SSAGO event in Lancaster with people coming from Ireland and the Netherlands (Hence the international) which has more or less taken over my entire life at the moment! (Also if you haven’t already then book now at https://rally.ssago.org/ )

There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure everything about Rally goes as smoothly as possible, and as such felt Rally deserved a mention before going into all the boring treasurer bits.

It’s been a busy summer for all the exec, we’ve been up to all sorts of things and I’m sure you’ll be able to read about all sorts of things in my fellow exec members blog posts, so I’ll stick to the treasurer specific stuff.

Following last reps, we’ve been implementing the updated development fund policy and have already had a bid from HUGS that’s been approved and sorted, and they now have a very nice flag! We’re also looking into new ways to use the development fund to help benefit SSAGO as a whole, which are still in discussion at the moment but once we know what we want to do you’ll be hearing a lot more about that!

In terms of SSAGO events we’ve been working with SW Freshers, Lancaster Rally (Yup, I’m working with myself, that guys annoying for sure!) and Nottingham Rally and trying to sort them out with deposits and bank accounts, no matter how much of an uphill battle that can be trying to sort out HSBC! Hopefully when I manage to get HSBC to work with us we’ll be setting up several new accounts for different purposes, including a north and south account for freshers camps and a shop specific account as well as the Witan account.

Most of my jobs aren’t the most exciting but I’m definitely here, behind the scenes frantically trying to stay on top of everything!

Edwin

 
Jimmy Austin - Membership 

So by now most of you will know who I am but for those new to SSAGO, I'm Jimmy this year's Members Officer and I'm just starting my 3rd year of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leicester. It's hard to believe I'm halfway through my year on the National Exec, I've been at my busiest in the last month with lots of action going on within clubs. With the help of some very enthusiastic SSAGO members we now have new clubs in; Worcester, Winchester and Falmouth, so welcome to all the new members at these clubs! Just because freshers is now over, this doesn't mean you have to wait until next year to create a club, do get in touch and I can then help support you. I've also now completed my training meaning I can process DBS's for anyone that requires one to help at SSAGO supports events. Over the coming months I will be working on rolling out the support role in SSAGO regions, as well as doing some work to update the factsheets area on the website. If you think there is a topic that you would find helpful or want more information on please let me know or come and have a chat at November Rally!

Melissa Roberts - Publicity 

Hello fellow SSAGO-ers!

I’m Melissa, also often known as Mel, and I am responsible for everything to do with publicising SSAGO and our events! I’m part of Aberystwyth SSAGO and have just started my MA in International Politics here!

Hopefully, you’ve seen some of what I’ve done throughout freshers, with lots of facebook posts and tweets, and even more, posters being sent around the country to freshers fairs! Since the last blog post I have been working on 2 major things - SSAGO Support events and Freshers Publicity resources. We have had support teams at Fundays, Gilwell 24, Wellies and Wristbands and the Exec had a (very successful) stall at Gilwell Reunion. Every club had the option of a free publicity pack for the first time this year, they contained posters, business cards and stickers to be used for all things SSAGO! I've also been working with Oli (Webmaster and a Publicity Officer from times gone by) to get a final version of a publicity and branding policy sorted which has been in the making for about 5 years and is now ready to be voted on at reps!

 

Please feel free to call on me for any publicity related things, or anything else I can help with! You can get hold of me at publicity@ssago.org

I look forward to seeing everyone at Rally in November!

 

Assistants 

 

Oliver Bills - Webmaster 

Hey SSAGO!

My name's Oli and I'm the SSAGO Webmaster - I develop and look after all of SSAGO's technology - from the main website, the events system, the membership system (and so many other systems you'll probably encounter at some point!), emails and various bits of technical magic. At some point, you'll probably end up getting an automated email from me!

 

What have I been working on recently? All the stuff for Freshers, both for prospective SSAGO members and tools for committees, the Witan website, the Rovers 100 website, making the events system better (which you'll hopefully encounter when you book on to your first SSAGO event!), improving the Reps system for club reps, preparing things for the next SSAGO elections (even though they're still a long way away at the moment!) and using Summer to fix a lot of bugs and issues.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on the SSAGO website and all of our SSAGO systems or any other ideas you might have - get in touch at webmaster@ssago.org, or find me in my pink hoodie at Rally and come and have a chat, or if you're a techy person and want to get more involved, make sure to join the Web Team at https://www.ssago.org/projects and get involved in the fun!

 

Oli

Larah Korrison - Archivist 

Hallu!

           I’m Larah and I’m SSAGO’s Archivist! What’s this fancy sound word I hear y’all say… archives are essentially old records, books, documents and sometimes artefacts, the original evidence for everything we know in History class. My role is about looking after and promoting our archive collections and sometimes helping clubs with theirs.

           Lately I’ve been working on a few projects behind the scenes that will hopefully come to the surface. Last year we celebrated 50 years of SSAGO (although our roots go further than that), and I’ve been working with a few SSAGO members to finalise our interviews that we did at the birthday camp. I’ve also been working with Aber SSAGO over the summer to organise their records and they’re now deposited into the University Library, Hugh Owen. I’ve also been digitising a large collection of Cambridge’s SkyBlue termly magazine that has been running for decades now, the next stage will hopefully be getting them onto the website for everyone to enjoy. I’ve also utilised some of my contacts to do some Witan investigations. Witan was an international camp that was set up after the second world war to reunite Western Europe. Witan meaning, ‘Meeting of the Wise’, was run every 2 years and usually by a different country. Over this summer I’ve managed to piece together a timeline of most Witans and even have a physical and digital donation of a Pennant which were made at SSAGO rallies as a souvenir, today we have badges. Next Witan will be at KISC, witan.ssago.org  

           Look out for World Digital Preservation day on the 29th Nov and Explore Your Archive 17 - 25th Nov… some nice treats are coming your way! If you’re interested to find out more, you can join our Facebook group and project at https://projects.ssago.org/. Feel free to post questions or share stories – maybe your parents were involved in SSAGO? You can also read about SSAGO’s History on our website at https://www.ssago.org/pages/display/history

And as the cherry on the cake I’m always looking for people who fancy to get involved with the archive, there’s plenty of fun things to do just ask if you’re interested!

       

You can get hold of me at archivist@SSAGO.org or feel free to Facebook me (Soz not a Twitter person).

 

Joe Barnes - Quartermaster 

Hey SSAGO,

I’m Joe, the National Quartermaster. I’m Studying Materials Engineering and the University of Liverpool, and I am responsible for running the online shop (www.shop.ssago.org) where you can buy SSAGO badges, neckers, hoodies etc., as well as selling these items at Rally.

Since last rally, it’s been a fairly quiet period for the Shop; I’ve only had about 20 orders to process over the summer. I’m in the process updating the items on the shop so you’ll soon be able to buy newly redesigned national hoodies, as well as reordering a few items and trying to sort out a few returns.

Of course, you’re all wanting to know what the deal is with the 50th Anniversary badges, so I’ve been replying to lots of emails and Facebook posts about them, and Oli and I are working to be able to get these badges to you all in the least painful way possible, so keep an eye on your emails!

If you have any suggestions of new items to sell in our shop, or improvements that could be made, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me: quartermaster@ssago.org 

Please find me and introduce yourself at rally (as long as I’ve had coffee) – I’ll be in a pink hoodie!

Joe  -- SSAGO QM

 

If you want to contact any of the exec or assistants simply email their role @ssago.org (eg chair@ssago.org), or catch them at rally in their very bright pink clothing!

Exec october

National SSAGO

Friday 9th of November 2018

Check in with what you're exec and the assistants have been up to, and get to know them a little if you are new to SSAGO! Don't forget you can contact the exec with any queries or ideas on exec@ssago.org

Joshua Smith - Chair 

Hello SSAGOers, my names Joshua and I'm your current national Chair. I'm responsible for overseeing all of national SSAGO to ensure it's safe and running smoothly so you can have a great time.

Recently I've been working on our relationship with Scouting and Guiding, sorting out some of our rules and policies, and trying not to get too ill. One thing you'll notice about national SSAGO is we all wear pink which may or may not have been my doing. It's a great colour!

Do shout if you have any SSAGOy questions, I'm happy to help! I can be contacted on chair@ssago.org

 

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Attended Gilwell 24 and Gilwell Reunion to promote SSAGO!

• Uploading resources to the website: new clubs factsheet, current/old club reports, rally feedback, reps voting result. All available via resources section https://www.ssago.org/resources

• Worked with Jimmy to create a way of sharing ideas between SSAGO clubs - to be implemented in the future.

• Updating the Incident and Accident reporting policy.

• In the process of establishing an online Notifications system, with Vicky (Notifications Officer) and Oliver (Webmaster).

• Talking to Larah regarding her role as Archivist - has lots of exciting ideas!

• Acted as Chair for a short period whilst Josh recovered from illness.

• Otherwise writing exec and reps minutes/agendas.

• Started work as a Land Surveyor and joined a Brownie unit in Hemel Hempstead!

 

Edwin Burkinshaw - Treasurer

 

 

Hello SSAGO!

If you haven’t noticed what I’ve been up to lately then you’re probably not in the Facebook group having to put up with a million posts a day from me! I am of course referring to Lancaster Fantasy Rally, our next big international SSAGO event in Lancaster with people coming from Ireland and the Netherlands (Hence the international) which has more or less taken over my entire life at the moment! (Also if you haven’t already then book now at https://rally.ssago.org/ )

There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure everything about Rally goes as smoothly as possible, and as such felt Rally deserved a mention before going into all the boring treasurer bits.

It’s been a busy summer for all the exec, we’ve been up to all sorts of things and I’m sure you’ll be able to read about all sorts of things in my fellow exec members blog posts, so I’ll stick to the treasurer specific stuff.

 

Following last reps, we’ve been implementing the updated development fund policy and have already had a bid from HUGS that’s been approved and sorted, and they now have a very nice flag! We’re also looking into new ways to use the development fund to help benefit SSAGO as a whole, which are still in discussion at the moment but once we know what we want to do you’ll be hearing a lot more about that!

In terms of SSAGO events we’ve been working with SW Freshers, Lancaster Rally (Yup, I’m working with myself, that guys annoying for sure!) and Nottingham Rally and trying to sort them out with deposits and bank accounts, no matter how much of an uphill battle that can be trying to sort out HSBC! Hopefully when I manage to get HSBC to work with us we’ll be setting up several new accounts for different purposes, including a north and south account for freshers camps and a shop specific account as well as the Witan account.

Most of my jobs aren’t the most exciting but I’m definitely here, behind the scenes frantically trying to stay on top of everything!

Edwin

 

 

Exec Blog: 5 months in

National SSAGO

Thursday 6th of September 2018

Here is a summary of what the Exec have been up to and what we are working towards! Main decisions: Development bids accepted: Wifi hotspot for use at National events and Aberystwyth archive materials. Updated Development Fund policy and since approved by reps. Payment deadlines to be introduced to National events. Kudu Bird to be repaired and box to store it in to be bought (similar to the Gadaffi plate). What have we been up to: Since handover in April we have had 5 Exec meetings so far, in addition to catch-up meetings. All of the Exec made it to Gilwell 24! All with the help of other SSAGOers we spread the word to other Explorers, Senior Section members and leaders. We’ve also had support teams at Magic and Mayhem, Fundays, and Wellies and Wristbands! Updating the constitution, which includes writing articles and association, which will be sent to the Charity Commision as part of becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Signed the Memorandum of Agreement with TSA! Preparing publicity packs and getting ready for the new academic year. InTouch and National Events policy updated and awaiting reps approval later in the year. Preparing and sending out Fresher’s publicity packs to clubs. Helping to set up new clubs: Worcester and Winchester. What the exec are currently working towards: Aiming to become a charity by January 2019. Introduce an online forum to discuss reps voting, activities and Fresher’s ideas. Updating the Incident Reporting policy. Making a Factsheet for new clubs, to introduce them to how SSAGO works. If you would like anything to be discussed at a future Exec meeting please email us. The Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Reps: Voting Results

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Saturday 4th of August 2018

32 clubs took part in our most recent Reps. Here are the voting results and what they mean going forward!

Thank you to every club who took the time to talk to their members and vote in Reps. Together we achieved a phenomenal turnout of 82% of clubs. Below is a quick summary of some of the key decisions made and what their outcomes.

Key Outcomes:

Following it’s backing by 92% of clubs the Memorandum of Agreement between SSAGO and The Scout Association (TSA) has now been signed. After four long years of hard work, this concludes the process of re-formalising and updating SSAGO’s relationship with TSA. The SSAGO Exec are continuing to work with Girlguiding to complete their version of the agreement.

An application from the SSAGO Exec to use some of the Development Fund to provide clubs with free publicity packs for freshers was approved by 85% of clubs. Further information will be distributed soon on how to get your hands on them.

The Development Fund Policy update was approved by 94% of clubs. This update allows bids which don’t quite meet the funds requirements, but that the SSAGO Exec feel would still be beneficial to SSAGO to go to Reps for approval to be voted on by SSAGO clubs. Any club can apply to the Development Fund. You can read the new policy here to see how it works and complete an application form here. All application need emailing to exec@ssago.org.

Payment deadlines will be reintroduced to national event bookings. Further details on how these deadlines will work will be finalised over the next few weeks. Don’t forget to keep the 16th-18th November free in your calendars for Lancaster Rally!

The Kudu Bird will be repaired (56% Approve) and a new secure box obtained (62% Approve) for it to ensure it’s preservation for future generations of SSAGO. If you want to get involved with helping research and preserve SSAGO’s heritage you can join the SSAGO Archive Team here or email our Archivist at archivist@ssago.org.

What Next?

The SSAGO Exec are now working to implement your decisions. If you would like anything discussed in our next SSAGO Exec meeting, or to raise any issues then please let us know. The Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

The Assistants have been busy!

Melissa Roberts (National Exec)

Thursday 21st of June 2018

Check out what the team pink assistants have been up to in the last few months!

Harriet Bell - International Officer 

 

• Spoke with Jimmy (Membership Officer) about my role, expectations and what I want to achieve this year
• Updated International team on who I am, what I want to do and how the International Team will play an important role in building links with other SSAGO-like clubs across the world
• Worked with Melissa to create a poster advertising the International Team and what we do, to share with the whole of SSAGO
• Compiled a list of the clubs that we know of so far, which ones are yet to be contacted and some more leads to investigate- so far we know of 17 countries with SSAGO style clubs!
• Invited all known International groups to Duck Rally, highlighting the potential to stay on longer at the site and the good chance of nice UK weather!
• Working with the Rovers 100 crew to bring International aspects to the events and badges, along with generally helping organise the camp
• I am also working on an email to send out to uncontacted International clubs, to explain what SSAGO is and how we can link up with them, where in person at camps or online

 

Joe Barnes - Quartermaster 

 

• I’ve had various Skype meetings with Oli, Josh, Mel and Edwin to get used to my new role and to how the online shop works.

• I inherited the online shop with over 70 orders in varying stages of completion, so I have been working to remove old orders and to post orders that need posting.

• All outstanding old orders that hadn’t been paid for by the end of last week were deleted, so place these orders again (and pay this time) if you still want the stuff you ordered.

• I had 5 very large parcels arrive containing all of the SSAGO stock, which have had to find new homes in my house.

• I counted the excessive number of stamps I received from Dale (procrastination from revising…)

• I’ve nearly set up a computerised sale system for the Shop at Rallies, so sales should be faster and easier.

• I realised I’m the only Assistant without a mascot… so I found myself one.

• I’m trying to resurrect the printer so we can have newsletters on Rally.

• I’ve been working on getting the online shop re-opened now that I have the stock.

• Non-personalised clothing and past rally badges are now on sale, so head over to www.shop.ssago.org to buy lots of cheap things!

Reps: Voting Results

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Wednesday 16th of May 2018

31 clubs took part in our most recent Reps. Here are the voting results and what they mean going forward!

Thank you to every club that voted on the issues discussed in our most recent Reps meeting and everyone who got involved in the process. We had an amazing turnout of 31 clubs.

A breakdown of the voting results is now available on the SSAGO website for every member to see along with how every club voted. This is linked to below along with the meeting minutes and other referenced materials.

The Key Outcomes Are:

The Memorandum of Agreement with both The Scout Association and Girlguiding has been provisionally approved (86% Approve, 14% Reject). The SSAGO Exec will continue to work with both organisations and use your feedback to finalise the agreement.

Regional Coordinators will be incorporated into SSAGO Regions (88% Approve, 3% Reject) as they are developed further. Your feedback on what they should do and how they should be appointed will be used to shape the role.

Online payments will return (74% Approve, 18% reject) and the transaction fee cost will will be covered by SSAGO absorbing it (85% For). The SSAGO Exec will now work to get these back up and running on the SSAGO website.

A development fund for application to have another Web Hack weekend for the the SSAGO Web Team was approved (89% Approve, 0% Reject). The SSAGO Webmaster will now organise the event. If you are interested in joining the Web Team or other SSAGO projects you can do that here.

It was fantastic to see the amount of engagement we had from members around SSAGO in this process. We will continue to use your feedback to improve it. If you think of any other improvements we can make on the system please do get in contact.

What Next?

The SSAGO Exec will be working over the next few weeks to implement your decisions. If you would like anything discussed in our next Exec meeting, or to raise any issues then please let us know. The Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

First Month on the Job!

Melissa Roberts (National Exec)

Wednesday 9th of May 2018

Check out what the new exec have been up to in their first month on the job!

Joshua Smith - Chair

It's been one busy first month, what withhandover, a new team and lots going on! Here are a few of the things I've been up to:

• Had individual catch ups with all the Exec Members (minutes viewable here).
• Caught up with the Rover 100 project (minutes viewablehere).
• Chaired the new Exec's first two Exec meetings (minutes viewable here).
• Working with The Scout Association to get the SSAGO Active Support Unit is set up.
• Collected event feedback for UWE Ball (results viewable here).
• Fixed SSAGO's internet banking and handed it over to the new Treasurer.
• Distributed Roverway merchandise and have prepared the shop to handover.

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Updated email log and made a new one for this year
• Written minutes and agendas for exec meetings
• Working with Larah to get the Kudu Bird fixed
• Working on creating a new incident form
• Uploaded Rally and Ball feedback forms
• Encouraging Glasgow SSAGO to go to summer rally, now have 6 going!
• Been to Perth for the first Scottish SSAGO regional event
• Otherwise been pretty busy with fieldwork, exams and interviews!

Edwin Burkinshaw - Treasurer

• Filled in several mandates to update signatures on the accounts
• Closed the Plymouth Rally account
• Began contacting the new national events to help them with their events with their budgets (If anyone from Birmingham Chocolate rally want to get in touch with me for a budget template/an update on some stuff to help just drop me an email ;) )
• Began work on updating not one but 2 policy documents, the Exec Expenses document and Development Fund policy document with updated drafts hopefully being ready for Cambridge rally reps
• Been doing lots of payments and trying to sort out the receipts so we know what’s gone where
• Spent lots of time dealing with HSBC and learning very well why everyone rants about them
• Set up Cambridge rally with online access to their bank account
• Sent south west freshers camp a loan for their campsite
• Beginning work on setting up a new bank account for the shop, a new Witan account and then looking into regional accounts
• Listened to feedback and been updated by many members of SSAGO and tried to act upon it where possible

Jimmy Austin - Members Officer

Hi Everyone,

Well, that first month went pretty quick! I spent most of it trying to bring myself up to speed on how SSAGO works behind the scenes this includes reading up on lots of the SSAGO policy documents, factsheets, and surveys. I've also been busy sorting out the last few Indie members and clubs who are still to pay membership fees. I've also had quite a busy time on my placement having to complete a project in London for the last two weeks which has eaten up a lot of my time. However whilst I was in the Capital I managed to meet up with the new Indie Rep, Daniel Nixon, and also some members of the London Indie contingent to discuss how to bring the group back to life. I've also spoken to all my other reps and SSAGO assistants who work with me to find out what they want to do this year. My next big challenge to finish in the next month is the factsheet for new clubs, started by Anona (Last Year's Members Officer), with the aim to get it edited and sent for final review by Reps at Duck Rally.

Melissa Roberts - Publicity Officer

I can’t believe we are a month in! It’s been a very busy month but I’m still really excited for the year ahead. We have some amazing national events ahead, a summer full of support events and regional activities for you to get involved in. I’ve got a few things on the go at the moment;

• I made a video for Scoutadelic which is now the most watched episode in the series! There’ll be more SSAGO episodes in the future, let me know if you want to get involved.
• I’ve added lots of events to the website. Some of these are ones that SSAGO are supporting and others are ones that you can attend and enjoy the activities yourself, find them here
• I’ve been in contact with Gilwell 24 and Fundays to organise our role in these events, we’re playing a big part in these so we need lots of helping hands!
• Booked our place at Gilwell Reunion and applied for a seminar session
• I’ve done lots of general publicity following up ball, advertising rally, the cutlery cup, Rovers 100 and the SSAGO Support events
• I survived my dissertation and my 21st!

James Frith - Publicity Officer 2017/18 Annual Report

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Saturday 31st of March 2018

Following the AGM, the national Exec decided to make sure their full annual reports were available to all the membership through our Exec blog!

This year has been pretty amazing in terms of SSAGO Publicity!

In terms of Outreach and increasing our presence with both The Scout Association and GirlGuiding - we’ve volunteered at more events than ever before, including our first national GirlGuiding events; “Wellies and Wristbands” and “Sparkle and Ice”, as well as run our first timetabled talks at Gilwell Reunion to showcase SSAGO to a wider and more varied Scout audience!

The new, improved and increased Merchandise range has not only provided members with a more colourful SSAGO wardrobe, but also helped to increase SSAGO awareness and outreach too! This, coupled with updated banners and publicity materials available to clubs throughout freshers has hopefully positively impacted your publicity as clubs, as well as SSAGO Nationally!

Looking inward, we’ve had the biggest active membership increase ever, with increased engagement with SSAGO National Events (largest Rally ever, go Young Goats!), Challenge badges, SSAGO News, Online voting, using our resources, etc - all of which would also not have been possible without Oli, our wonderful Webmaster, who is continuing into the new Exec year.

This year he’s created the Online shop, Membership perks, badge functions, upgraded the online election system, event system, admin systems… and countless other improvements that keep SSAGO’s Website well ahead of the standard!

As mentioned at the AGM, hopefully you’ve noticed all we’ve been doing, and hopefully will continue to see what SSAGO Publicity Officer and Webmaster can achieve with Mel taking the reins!

I have included a few stats from my year as Publicity Officer below:

• SSAGO promoted at 10 Scout and/or Guide events over the year through the “SSAGO Support” brand
  • Moot briefing weekend
  • OxonJam
  • Fundays x2
    • Woodhouse and Gilwell at the same time
  • Gilwell 24
  • World Scout Moot in Iceland
    • Took Percival up a Volcano as promised!
  • Wellies and Wristbands music festival x2
    • SSAGO’s first official national GirlGuiding event
    • Foxlease and Waddow Hall at the same time
  • Gilwell Reunion
  • Intense
  • Scarefest
  • Wintercamp
    • Organised but unavailable due to personal reasons
  • Sparkle and Ice
    • SSAGO’s second official national GirlGuding event
• Designed new publicity card leaflets and stickers, made available to all clubs during freshers and beyond
• Designed and procured:
  • 2 new roller banners
  • 2 new parade banner
  • SSAGO orange flag
  • Ensured all were available for clubs to use during freshers and beyond (used by over 10 clubs across the UK during the few weeks of Freshers alone!)
• Designed new SSAGO merchandise:
  • Exec
  • Assistants
  • World Scout Moot
  • SSAGO Support
  • Roverway
  • Indie
  • SSAGO Project Teams
    • Media, Archive and Web Teams
• SSAGO Active Membership has risen to 600+ from less than 400, and overall membership has risen to 950+ from 890, with a peak of 1100 before the Christmas membership cull
• Made multiple SSAGO publicity videos
• Increased SSAGO facebook page likes from 900 to 1450+, and facebook group members from 1400 to 1600+
• Stepped up Instagram use with 325+ followers and twitter use with 600+ followers, Snapchat gets sporadic use
• Written or have encouraged the writing of 20+ SSAGO news articles so far
• Organised and delivered SSAGO’s first programmed talks at Gilwell Reunion
• Designed Leeds rally badge and shirts, Moot badge, 50th Anniversary challenge badge…
• Organised the SSAGO ‘spoons event - for no real reason other than it sounded like a challenge and would be fun!
• 1 hour a day average plus 15 weekends (including Rallies, Ball, etc)
• Dealt with emergent SSAGO issues and stress throughout!

All in all, it been a full on year, and while I’ve enjoyed it I’m quite looking forward to finishing with SSAGO and focusing on my other volunteering roles in Scouting and beyond, as well as my career and professional development, plus of course Wedding planning for next year!

Ciao SSAGO!

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary 2017/18 Annual Report

Lauren Whittaker, Secretary 2017/18

Friday 30th of March 2018

Following the AGM, the national Exec decided to make sure their full annual reports were available to all the membership through our Exec blog!

• Email log introduced this year in order to ensure that emails are responded to and chased up where appropriate.

• Written minutes for Reps, Exec, AGM and Girlguiding meetings. Created a minutes template to use and will continue to use it this year.

• Ensured that club reps are up to date on the membership system, preparing questions for club reports, ensuring they are submitted (with the highest being 31 clubs) and responded to any questions from the reports.

• Sorted through the secretary folder back in the summer and found lots of old paperwork, which has since been digitised by Larah (Archivist) and uploaded to the website more recently.

• Moved to Glasgow part of the way through the year and have helped to spread the word of SSAGO in Scotland. Have set up a region in Scotland and had organised to meet up in Perth but is being rescheduled due to the snow. Helped Edinburgh and Dundee SSAGO get set up along with Anona (Membership Officer), meaning that there are now 3 clubs in Scotland! Supported Glasgow SSAGO and encouraged 4 to go to rally for the first time.

• Attended a Girlguiding meeting back in September in London with Josh.

• Attended both Gilwell Reunion and Wellies & Wristbands in order to promote SSAGO.

• Got re-elected at the AGM to continue on next year and looking forward to building on what I have learnt this year!

Anona Mann - Members Officer 2017/18 Annual Report

Anona Mann, Members Officer 2017/18

Friday 30th of March 2018

Following the AGM, the national Exec decided to make sure their full annual reports were available to all the membership through our Exec blog!

SSAGO Membership Overview Statistics for the Year

• End of 2017 saw 910 members part of SSAGO, and increase of 2% (19 members) from 2016.
• 645 members (71% of membership) have been active online over the past 12 months .
• 477 members (52% of membership) have attended at least 1 national event over the past 12 months
• 869 (95%) have Full Membership status
• 39 (4%) have Associate Membership
• 386 members (42% of membership) are involved with Scouting/Guiding at Higher Education/similar compared to 415 members (46% of membership) are involved at home.
• Gender spread of SSAGO is as follows: 37% male, 61% female and 2% other

Outlines from Manifesto

• Keep on top of club membership and payment, work to improve our ever growing overseas contact with similar SSAGO type clubs
  • Have successfully accomplished this, by to talk to clubs about membership submissions soon as the new academic year started in September, then kept posting and emailing clubs every month! I set a provisional deadline for membership lists for November Rally, however only a handle of clubs did this, but increasing the amount of posts and talking to individual clubs, most then got membership lists and payment in on time. I then worked even closer with the remaining clubs to make sure everyone knew what was needed to be done and assist with their enquiries
  • After last Feb rally, the position of International Officer was created as an Assistant role, this meant that they could work on making close bonds with international groups that were similar to SSAGO. This saw a group of Dutch contingent members attend reunion, as well as a few Dutch and Irish attending Witan in a Weekend.
• Creating strong links between clubs no matters their size or how long they have been part of SSAGO, to meet up outside of national events.
  • Admittedly this point was a lot harder than I thought it would be, I have received feedback from reps on regions and have managed to make the regions more defined, taking into the consideration of reps feedback. I had attended Northern Freshers with 50 people attending, with one even coming from as far as Edinburgh! Before hand over I aim to complete this, including creating a page with regions up on the website so that the information is available to all clubs and indie members alike. I hope this will encourage more and stronger inter-club events!
• To work closely with the Publicity Officer to increase membership.
  • I have attended several events with James as well as attending events such as Poacher and Gilwell Fun Days, when he was not able to. Also offered feedback on publicity material that contained club information so new clubs were not missed out.

What else has happened over the year

• Attended many SSAGO Suport events including: Oxonjam, Gilwell Fundays, Poacher and Gilwell Reunion, advertising SSAGO to Explores and promoting us to leaders as well as showing how helpful and reliable we can be to events.
• Caught up with new clubs from last year to see how their first year was and what their plans for the upcoming year was. Unfortunately in some cases clubs did not respond and after some investigation it had turned out they had become inactive.
• Made two very colourful spreadsheets, one running from April to August the other September to April, this was so I could easily see; what groups had submitted membership,paid, how many members of what type each club had, as well as highlighting new clubs and struggling clubs and other important comments. This really helped with the organisation and a visual key to the status of clubs.
• Worked very closely with the Indie Rep Lourna, helping to set up online payment through the website for Indie membership, creating a spreadsheet to allow them to also keep up to date with membership and payment statuses. Kept regular contact to make sure they were not struggling in the role and knew how to handle different situations.
• Set up multiple  new clubs, these are:
  • Lincoln Uni
  • Edinburgh (EEGS)
  • Trinity St Davids
  • Herts SSAGO
  • Dundee
  • In the process of setting up Cumbria SSAGO, Derby and restarting Warwick.
• Started to write up a fact sheet for new committees, however I hope to make this condensed and easy to follow, yet still have the information reps thought would be helpful- but there is a lot of information!
• Started helping Larah (SSAGO Archivist) read through  past material to find membership numbers!
• Attended a TSA and GirlGuiding meeting and wrote the minutes
• Helped to audit the accounts with Josh, and try to support throughout the finance issues that have occurred this year.
• Learnt how the behind the scenes of the shop worked while looking after Indie membership payments. As well as the membership system on how to approve clubs and to confirm their payments online.

Assistant Update (SAGGA Rep)

I worked with Laura to help find a Returning Officer and see how she has been doing in her role.

Laura has spent the year attending a lot and a lot of SAGGA events and helped at alternative (SAGGA) rally, attended national support events such as OxonJam and Sparkle on Ice! Delivered lots of babies and ran Witan In a Weekend rally, and is excited to carry on her role in the next coming year.

Action points to work on between now and handover

• Further work out how to proceed with SSAGO regions, and work with the webmaster to get this up online
• Work with the webmaster to get access to see where indie members are studying to help guide them to nearby clubs and regions
• Condense the new ‘New Committee Guidance’ fact sheet
• Create a suggestions page that offers ideas for regular club meetings, this would help offer new and current clubs programme ideas.
• Finish the SSAGO bunting and complet fixing the SSAGO megaphone!
• Work with the elected Membership Officer to integrate them into the running of SSAGO in time for handover!
• Final check up on new groups and struggling groups to see how they want to move forward and how they would like supporting.

My 5 words I learned while on exec

• Exec (used to spell it Exsec)
• Membership (used to spell Membership and a variety of other ways)
• Whether (spelled anyway but the correct way)
• Committee (every possible way but not correctly)
• Certain (used to think that spelt curtain so spelt it sertain)

Thinking/Founders Day 2018

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Today we celebrate the birth of both Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, and the founding of the movements of Scouting and Guiding that make up not just SSAGO, but such an important part of our lives, some of this year's Exec look back on their favourite Scouting and Guiding memories...

"I would like to share my experience of Girlguiding Centenary camp to the rest of SSAGO, which brings memories of international friends on Thinking day! Despite only being 14, I still remember counting down the days and driving my parents crazy – It is safe to say that my excitement levels before any Guide/Scout camp has certainly not changed. The weeks activities did not disappoint, with caving being my favourite activity of the week! Besides the action packed week I also enjoyed meeting so many international Guides (including Japan Girl Scouts) - sharing songs, swapping badges and learning about different cultures!"
- Lauren

"I don't have a favorite memory, because I've had so many good memories in the 5 years of Scouting I have had! But pre uni life, one of the best memories I have is from the Oxford Spires District camp, 3 of us had gone as our very brand new Network Group just out of Explorers and therefore spent the weekend with a lot of other explorer people who where in the school year below us, just having fun and messing about, I got into a flour fight with one explorer leaders who still till this day tries to get his own back when he sees me! During this event we had the district camp fire and while sat there with my friends and others I new, I realised that Scouting was where I fitted in and that those around me were like my second family and I would never be leaving! Best of all I learnt how to play Irish snap and it was possibly the funnest camp I can remember going on!"
- Anona

"'Favourite memory' seemed like such a good idea at the time, but it's so hard to pick one; I'm making new ones all the time!

I think one of my favourite Scouting but not SSAGO (shock horror) memories is when I took my 3rd Wallscourt Farm Cub Pack to Airhop at the end of the Summer term and presented my Cub of the year with a little Lego model of herself in uniform. She was over the moon and seeing just how happy this made her was an amazing feeling. About a year later I was able to present her with the Chief Scout Silver award round a campfire on my last meeting before Graduating and moving away, and again being able to see her and all my Cubs grow and achieve their potential was wonderful. I've been able to take so much from Scouting, but it's the difference I can make with what I give back that makes it truly a life changing adventure...

Obviously haven't included a photo of my Cubs, but here's a photo of me as a Cub!"
- James

The Change in Online Payments

Anona Mann (National Members Officer)

Thursday 15th of February 2018

In light of the Payment Service Directive (PSD2) law being introduced 13th January 2018 effecting the use of a surcharge to cover the card transaction charges, SSAGO has put on hold on the use of online payments for the shop and events.

Hello SSAGO

Unfortunately, the SSAGO Exec has had to take immediate action to suspend PayPal as a payment option for national SSAGO events, and the SSAGO shop due to a recent law change around the use of surcharges on card payments. The law makes it illegal for a business to charge extra for the use of online card payments (such as PayPal).  These charges are vital for SSAGO to allow us to cover the cost of card transaction fees for online paypal payments. 

Currently, we are looking into how this law affects SSAGO. We are currently in a grey area while we sort out our CIO status, we a not a business or charity, instead, we are an unregistered organisation. So until the Exec are 100% sure that we are fine to carry on payments as they are, we have removed the option of paying via paypal for both shop and event bookings. However, in the last exec meeting, it was voted on as well that we will give event committees the option to use the online payments but have to absorb the surcharge into their contingency. Please note this is a short-term solution and we will be discussing it further with reps at Witan in A Weekend.

If you have any questions you would like to raise please don't hesitate to email us at exec@ssago.org.

Thank you for your patience, 
The Executive Committee

It's the final countdown...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Monday 12th of February 2018

Quick pre-AGM catch up with the National Exec and Assistants, everything since Christmas... 

Executive committee:

Joshua Smith - Chair

• Had a successful meeting with both The Scout Association and Girlguiding to finalise the Memorandum of Agreement which covers our how we work together and support each other. You find out more about that here! 
• Finalised the Service Agreement for a SSAGO Scout Active Support Unit which will exist as a separate entity to SSAGO and allow SSAGO members not part of The Scout Association to get suitable disclosure checks and volunteer at events with SSAGO Support. 
• Got the SSAGO elections system set up. Get involved here! 
• Prepared the Main Account and Development Fund accounts for auditing. 
• Started preparing the Event accounts for auditing. 
• Spent over 15 hours working with HSBC to resolve some historic SSAGO bank account issue in person and over the phone. 
• Used up all the call time on my phone talking to HSBC.
• Had catch up meetings with Witan in a Weekend Rally and Yule Ball. 
• Promoted SSAGO at both Gilwell Winter Camp and Sparkle and Ice with SSAGO Support.

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Been to the Exec weekend away
• Encouraged members of Glasgow SSAGO to attend rally!
• Worked with Larah (Archivist) to upload old minutes onto the website
• Keeping the email log up to date
• Writing lots of minutes as usual...
• Helping Dundee SSAGO to get set up along with Anona
• Can't wait for rally!!

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Chassed up many grouos to get them to submit membership
• Worked with Lorna to make sure all indis are payong membership though the shop, created a pretty spreadsheet to acumplish this!!
• Attended TSA and GirlGuiding meeting worh Josh and traviled to London to have a sleep over at Larahs house!
• Lots of exec meetings because od the vank related issues! 
• Spend new year writing up a new factsheet to help new committess
• Went to the exec team building weekend were we all played lots of board games!
• Read though spme archived material to help Larah find mention of membership numberd of SSAGO 
• Set up Herts SSAGO on the website and have started talking with Dundee to set them up to 
• Explained to sevral people that Harold is a mascot teddy bear not my boyfriend!! 
• Just spend most this year emailimg lots of people and eatting my weight on chocolate

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Visited Our Chalet and Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switerzerland over New Years, took Percival with me, did a bit of SSAGO promoting, played boardgames with Glasgow SSAGO's Chair... oh, and proposed to my Kate in an igloo on top of an Alp!

• Continued to provide clubs with helpful publicity material (posted a banner to Dundee!)

• Bit of Witan Rally promotion through 'Top 10s', now the biggest Rally on record! Ball promotion to come... 

• New National SSAGO merch including Indie, Roverway, Media/Web/Archive team and general members clothing; all made available through the shop early last month, to be collected at Rally if ordered as such!

• Organised SSAGO attending GirlGuiding's Sparkle and Ice for the first time, we ended up running the campfire on Saturday night and have been invited back for following years (as well as back to Wellies and Wristbands in August!)

• Ran the first Training camp for my World Scout Jamboree units in Devon, as well as helped judge IST applicants at the South West selection camp... 20% of whom were SSAGO members! (Good luck all!)

• Posted way too much about the SSAGO AGM and election already, with more to come!

• Ordered some very exciting and shiny sets of badges...

• Continued planning for future SSAGO Support events, handover and other Publicity plans!

Executive Assistants:

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Been in contact with several ex-members, including some with the help of Birmingham's Past Member Association 
• Working with volunteers on archive projects one including extracting club reports from past AGM minutes and SSAGO Journals 
• Helped Lauren to update resources page with: Club reports, AGM Minutes, Exec Minutes and Reps Minutes from the archive 
• Had a great time with the team at our weekend away, although it lead to my phone getting broken (note to self don't drop it in a puddle). 
• Had an exciting week visiting various archives in London such as: HSBC, Tate Britain, Wellcome Trust, Lambath Palace to name a few! 
• Looking forward to Witan in a Weekend

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Attended the SAGGA Birmingham AGM to plan lots of awesome social and support days for this year (and ate way too much food!)
• Liaised with Larah about the best ways for SSAGO to contact SAGGA with regards to collecting people's stories for the archives
• Attended the SAGGA catch up weekend in Sheffield. Did lots of crafts, chatting and way too much eating (there's a bit of a theme going on here....)
• Lots and lots of planning for Rally!

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Improved the elections and online voting system
• Created new SSAGO events system
• Completely new way to manage events and create your booking process
• Added various new booking stages and types and processes
• Made it easier to get information out of the booking system
• Further improvements to the shop system
• Created crazy activity stuff for Witan in a Weekend Rally
• Fixed various membership bugs
• New way to create new admin events
• Made it easier for Lauren to set club reports
• Introduced SSAGO SMS texting as well as phone system

Vicky Sanderson – Notifications

• Attended the Exec Weekend at the beginning to January which was very productive about moving forwards. 
• Dealt with the influx of Nan forms over the past week.

Beatrice, forever the first SSAGO International Officer

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Thursday 8th of February 2018

It's with a heavy heart that we announce SSAGO's first International Officer, Beatrice Phanjoo, has stepped down from her role due to study commitments with her law degree.

When asked to comment, Beatrice said; "After having an amazing year as an International Assistant, I have decided to resign to leave the space for someone else. I was passionate about my position and what I was doing and it is with regrets that I had to step down. So, if you are interested by researching SSAGO equivalent groups and organisations in other countries, reaching out, sharing and developing ties, this job is for you! If you want to organise events with international contingents or an SSAGO contingent to attend international events/camps, look no more, SSAGO needs you!"

We wish Beatrice all the best in her studies and for the future, and thank her for the legacy she's created as the first SSAGO International officer.

Applications for a new International officer will open after the AGM...

SSAGO Elections 2018

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Thursday 1st of February 2018

Nominations for the National Exec positions and national events are open. Find out more about how to get involved here!

Hello SSAGO,

Hopefully you’ve all seen by now that nominations for the National Exec positions and national events are open! They will be closing on the 17th of February at 1pm.

As with last year all of the election processes will be run through the SSAGO website. You can access the elections page of the website here:

Elections Page

If you wish to run for any of the National Exec positions, you must nominate yourself online, supplying your manifesto, nominator and seconder. Nominations will be published on the 14th of February and will be printed and made publicly available for people to view and browse at Rally. Late nominations can still be submitted up to the 17th of February at 1pm.

If you wish to submit an event bid for any of the upcoming national events, these are also submitted online. You must provide a description of your event, those responsible for it and a seconder from another club to second your event. Bids are open for Spring, Summer and Autumn Rally, Ball and Witan.

As with last year, people not attending the AGM in person will be able to register to vote online and have their say. Registration to vote must be completed in advance of the 14th of February, and those attending will not be able to vote online.

The timeline for these elections are as follows:

• February 14th 23:59 - Nominations published
• February 14th 23:59 - Online voting registration closes
• February 17th 13:00 - Nominations close
• February 17th 13:00 - Online voting opens
• February 17th 23:59 - Online voting closes
• February 18th - Voting takes place at the AGM at Witan in a Weekend Rally

If you have any questions about running for an Exec position or bidding for an event, please feel free to get in touch with the exec at exec@ssago.org.

SAGGA have agreed to provide a returning officer for the election, which they are currently finalising. The returning officer will be there to answer any questions or queries you have about the elections process, and they can be reached at elections@ssago.org. Any current queries will be passed on directly once SAGGA have confirmed their officer.

Best Regards,

SSAGO Exec 2017/18

Joint Meetings: Why Do They Matter?

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Sunday 28th of January 2018

A lot is said about the SSAGO Exec meeting with The Scout Association, Girlguiding and something called the Memorandum of Agreement. But what does it actually all mean and why is it so important?

Recently the National Exec met with representatives from both The Scout Association and Girlguiding in two significant meetings to discuss our relationship and how we support each other. These meetings were the first time in almost a decade that all three organisations have met together in one room.

But what does this actually all mean for SSAGO and why does it matter so much?

The Story So Far

Remarkably these discussions have being going on across three different National Execs over the past three years. It's fundamentally about a shared core set of values where SSAGO provides a programme and opportunity for people to continue their journey through Scouting and Guiding while at university.

Discussions begun initially in 2015 with The Scout Association about renewing and reformalising our relationship with them in writing as the original version of an agreement, as of the 1990s had been lost. Everyone knew SSAGO was an Associate Organisation to The Scout Association but no one quite knew what that actually meant.

By 2016 a first draft was complete which became known as the Memorandum of Agreement. At this point the discussions were expanded to include Girlguiding and it evolved to include all three organisations. This past year the current National Exec has met with both The Scout Association and Girlguiding to finalise the Memorandum of Agreement and have it ready for review by Reps.

The Memorandum of Agreement

The agreement is not actually one but rather two linked documents which reference each other. One for our relationship with The Scout Association and another for our relationship with Girlguiding. Both agreements cover many aspects of SSAGO which are important to every member.

At a glance, the agreement covers the following areas:

• Fundamental Values
• What They Offer SSAGO
• What SSAGO Provides Them
• Personal Liability Insurance
• Public Liability Insurance
• Safeguarding
• Disclosure Checks
• Incident Reporting
• Emergency Procedures
• Continuity and Communication

One of the big topics in this agreement is that every member of SSAGO who is also a member of The Scout Association or Girlguiding is insured for their activities in SSAGO through their respective organisation.

What Still Needs to be Done

The Memorandum of Agreement is in the process of being updated to a final draft which will then be taken to SSAGO’s next Reps meeting meeting in February. Here representatives of every club will discuss the agreement, any necessary alterations will be made and vote taken to implement it into official SSAGO policy.

Final Remarks

If you have any questions or comments this agreement please do get in touch. We’ve included below links to the relevant minutes and documents relating everything mentioned above. The drafts of the agreement are old now, but when new final versions are ready these will be emailed out to clubs and made available on the SSAGO website.

Merry Christmas from the Exec!

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Saturday 23rd of December 2017

Quick (not quite) monthly catch up with the National Exec... also Merry Christmas!

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec... also Merry Christmas!

Executive committee:

Joshua Smith - Chair

• Had the first joint meeting for almost a decade with The Scout Association, Girlguiding and SSAGO all together in one room to discuss our relationship.
• Redrafted the Memorandum of Agreement which covers how SSAGO, The Scout Association and Girlguiding work together and support each other (such as insurance, safeguarding, etc...).
• Continued to have the largest recorded turnout in the Plymouth Rally Reps vote with total of 33 clubs voting.
• Successfully implemented a new Safeguarding Policy with 94% Reps approval and a new Electioneering Code of Conduct Policy with 92% Reps approval.
• Updated the Mascot Kidnapping Policy with 92% Reps approval.
• Exchanged numerous communications with HSBC by email, phone and in person to resolve some historic bank account issues.
• Assisted Plymouth Rally with bank account access for their Rally.
• Set up Witan in a Weekend Rally with bank account access for their Rally.

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• ‎Set up Scottish SSAGO facebook group and helping to plan a trip to Perth for all members of Scotish SSAGO in the new year.
• Sadly missed rally but I'm certainly going to be at the next along with some Scottish SSSAGOers!
• Been pretty busy with end of semester coursework and exams!
• Merry Christmas SSAGO!

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Took a very long car travel down to Rally! As co pilot I took the car North at one point not South
• I've sent lots of emails and set up Edignbour on the SSAGO website
• Took Harold to cub camp where we made a SSAGO themed Christmas stocking and ate lots of yummy food
• Signed for a house for next year!!
• Messaged and posted lots about club membership
• Rejected more clubs then I have approved for membership due to it not being complete!!
• Ralph (and Vicky) have been round a few times to play bored games and eat food
• Wrote up minuets from reps meeting 
• Sorted out my appointment for January to finally get my modules signed of for my wood beads
• Written a lot of Christmas cards

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Went to South West Freshers camp (very briefly)

• Attending World Scout Jamboree UK Contingent leader breifing, and lead a Q&A session and Bowling night with all Devon's selected Young People

• Went to the amazing 90s Rally, ate lots of cake on the cafe crawl, produced 'Woody's roundup' with the Media team

• Designed new National SSAGO merch including Indie, Roverway, Media/Web/Archive team and general members clothing; all soon to be available on the shop

• Sorting out SSAGO Brand booklet, Support events (including Wintercamp, Sparkle and Ice, etc), Roverrail proposal, staged badges, more...

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Went to Rally and had so much fun
• Discussing with potential Witan in a Weekend’s International contingents
• Gone back home and currently enjoying some sun 

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Finished inventory of Aber SSAGO archives with the help of coursemates and club members
• Met with University Archivist to discuss how we can move forward and prepare the records for deposit 
• SSAGO took part in 'Explore Your Archive' (See the playlist here: goo.gl/qFu26B) 
• Had a great time with Aber SSAGO at PLUGS rally 
• Contacted an ex-member of Aber SSAGO and discovered a third necker design
• Added an ex-member's memory write up to our growing collection

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• I went to Rally which was AMAZING and have done a few bits and pieces for the upcoming Witan Rally.
• I also booked annual leave so I can attend SAGGA's "Winter Reunion" weekend next year which I'm really excited about!
• Other than that I have had a surprisingly SSAGO- and SAGGA-free month!

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Made a new SSAGO phone system for the exec, events and first aid
• Further developed the reps system at reps.ssago.org
• Lots of bug fixing
• Rebuilt the shop admin interface
• Upgraded the SSAGO server infrastructure
• Attended a meeting with Girlguiding with Josh to help provide Exec continuity

Vicky Sanderson – Notifications

• Saved some forms
• Visited Durham
• Saw Anona
• Didn't go to rally
• Busy with work

Reps: Voting Results

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Friday 22nd of December 2017

A record number of clubs voted on the issues discussed at our most recent Reps meeting at Plymouth Rally in November. Here are the voting results and what they mean going forward.

Hello SSAGO,

Thank you to every club that voted on the issues discussed in our most recent Reps meeting and everyone who got involved in the process. Once again we had an amazing 33 clubs making the past two Reps votes which is the highest turnouts on record.

A breakdown of the voting results is now available on the SSAGO website for every member to see along with how every club voted. This is linked to below along with the meeting minutes and other referenced materials.

The Key Outcomes Are:

The ‘Child Protection’ policy has been replaced by a new ‘Safeguarding’ policy (94% Approve, 3% Reject, 3% Abstain). This new policy covers disclosure checks, working with young people and brings us in line with current UK law.

The ‘Code of Conduct For Electioneering’ policy has been replaced by a new ‘Electioneering Code of Conduct’ policy (92% Approve, 0% Reject, 8% Abstain). This brings SSAGO’s current electioneering policy in line with how our elections are actually run.

The ‘Mascot Kidnapping’ policy has been updated from the 2008 version to a new 2017 version (92% Approve, 3% Reject, 6% Abstain). This restructures the original policy and makes mascots of regional event host clubs and at events where SSAGO members are volunteering or providing service unstealable.

A development fund for application from the Exec to purchase hi vis jackets to be used at SSAGO events and when supporting Scouting or Guiding events to promote SSAGO and increase our visibility was approved by Reps. (83% Approve, 9% Reject, 9% Abstain)

It was fantastic to see the amount of engagement we had from members around SSAGO in this process. We will continue to use your feedback to improve it. If you think of any other improvements we can make on the system please do get in contact.

What Next?

The next National Exec meeting will be on Thursday the 28th of December. If you would like anything discussed in this meeting, or to raise any issues then please let us know. The Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Best Regards,
Joshua Smith
SSAGO Chair 2017/18

Reps: What Happens Next?

Joshua Smith (National SSAGO)

Friday 1st of December 2017

This is how we will be moving forward with Reps voting.

Hello SSAGO,

Thank you to everyone who attended and took part in our most recent Reps meeting at Plymouth Rally. Voting for the policies and issues discussed will commence on Monday the 4th of December.

Every Club can get involved with the next step in this process and vote regardless of whether or not they could attend the meeting! Please can clubs make sure that their Club Rep is up to date on the membership system. (Select Rep Here)

From the meeting we have the following proposed votes:

1. Replace SSAGO’s current Child Protection Policy with the proposed Safeguarding Policy.
2. Replace SSAGO’s current Code of Conduct for Electioneering Policy with the proposed Electioneering Code of Conduct Policy.
3. Update the Mascot Kidnapping Policy from the 2008 version to the proposed 2017 updated version.
4. Development Fund Bid: SSAGO Hi Vis Jackets

Now the Reps minutes are online (Here) every Club will have two days to look at the proposed votes and suggest any changes they would like to make by the end of Sunday the 3rd of December . This is your chance to let us know of any good ideas you might have thought of since the meeting concluded!

Based on feedback from Clubs in the Reps process we have amended the proposed Safeguarding Policy with further advice from the Scout Association. This is to provide more clarity on who needs disclosure checks when supporting events. (Updated Policy Here)

Below is all referenced material, including the Reps presentation, the meeting minutes and all proposed Policy Document changes. Please do have a look at these and get back to us with any queries.

The National Exec can be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Best Regards,
Joshua Smith
SSAGO Chair 2017/18

Woah, we're (over) half way there...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Monday 30th of October 2017

Special Monthly Exec blog; an update from our mascots!

Special Monthly Exec blog; an update from our mascots!

Executive committee:

Rex the Dinosaur - Secretary

• Moved up to Scotland and trying to adjust to the wet weather!
• Walked up to Arthur's seat with Glasgow SSAGO and Edinburgh indie members
• Enjoyed sitting in Lauren's room watching her write essays and reports
• Helped Lauren to do a presentation on SSAGO as part of her course
• Been encouraging Glasgow SSAGO to go to rally!

Harold the Hedgehog - Members Officer

• Went exploring around the gardens at Chatsworth house and got lost in the maze with some very small children!
• Helped teach Anonas cubs how to light fires and got to have a ride on the mountain rescue car
• became a tourist around Sheffield and visited pretty places
• Attended Anonas scout hut AGM and did a bit of climbing
• Attended HUGS events and ate lots of pudding and met the Chairperson of the iMecE
• Attended Northern Freshers camp and got lots of cuddles and also helped to present Anona's groups explorer belt presentation!
• I played hide an seek with Anona for over a week while she was busy writing emails
• Have had lots of time to nap with Anona! Think we are both going into hibernation its to cold up North

Percival the Platypus - Publicity Officer

• Watched James do lots of Publicity things from my nest on the sofa
• Went along to the Devon World Scout Jamboree Young People selection camp but spent the weekend on the parcel shelf (unloved)
• Went along to Scarefest at Gilwell park this weekend and got very smokey with SSAGO running the backwoods cooking!

Executive Assistants:

Maurice the Dodo - International Officer

• Been in Bea’s room ever since Reunion (any mascot union?)
• Made friends with William the Wolf, Cubs Pack mascot from 3rd Wallscourt Farm Scout Group. He’s a nice chap.
• Witnessed Bea juggling uni, work and volunteering and gave her loads of cuddles
• Looking forward to visiting her home country and my name sake next month

Agnes Baden-Owl - Archivist

• Met Aber ssago and they are lovely! Cozy sesh with Idris the dragon
• Perched in Larah's bedroom not doing much
• Oversaw Aber & Larah's coursemates making a start on the club's archive materials ready for deposit
• Looking forward to 90's rally but I think I won't see anyone :(

Hogwarts the Warthog - SAGGA liason

• Sat on Laura's shelf for the whole month because she is the worst mascot keeper ever and didn't take him to the SAGGA committee meeting or Alternative Rally....

Wiggle the Mouse - Webmaster

• Sat on bedside table, greeting Oli most mornings and nights
• Travelled to camp and spent time inside lovely canvas tents (proper tents)
• Watched Oli do lots of coding
• Wiggled

Ralph the Reindeer - Notifications

• Been in Vicky's bedroom since Reunion.
• Oh, lies; went to work before a Guide meeting.
• Watched Vicky mark.
• Watched Vicky sleep and snore. (Creepy)
• Annoyed Harold on social media, messaged other mascots but they didn't reply.
• Plotted world domination with a meerkat.
• Helped get Aber home through telepathy and support to Agnes. Muchos love to my little Dodo.
• Heckled at Harold (again).
• Enjoyed a week off with Vicky!

Five months in...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Sunday 1st of October 2017

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec…

Executive committee:

Joshua Smith- Chair

• Had a very productive meeting with Girlguiding to discuss how we work together and strengthening our relationship further.
• Have been preparing for a joint meeting with the Scout Association and Girlguiding to go through the Memorandum of Agreement.
• Helped run and coordinate SSAGO Reunion.
• Promoted SSAGO at Gilwell Reunion.
• Dealt with a lot of admin...

Frances Milroy - Treasurer

• SSAGO has money
• Graduated!

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Travelled all over the country to go to various SSAGO related events – Led the SSAGO support team at Wellies & Wristbands at Waddow and have also been to Gilwell reunion with the rest of the exec
• Went to a very interesting meeting with Girlguiding at their headquarters in London with Josh
• Finally got round to writing handover notes ready for ball
• Had a very delayed train journey to reunion but was well worth it and certainly had a great weekend!
• Started my masters course and been to my first Glasgow SSAGO event! – looking to help grow SSAGO in Scotland!
• Replied to various email queries

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Set up some more new SSAGO Clubs
• went to Gilwell Reunion and helped show how cool SSAGO was and spoke to someone from Edinborough in hopes to start their SSAGO back up!
• Started new term of Cubs and Beavers, aswell as starting my uni placement
• Made 30m of bunting several carrot cakes (one exploded) and took them down to SSAGO Reunion!
• Got to be a tourist round London with Vicky and we took Ralph and Harold to the Lego Shop and the Imperial War Museum! 
• Have started to help Larah look through old documents to find out national and club numbers
• My smallest sibling turned 1 so we had a big party and i made him very cute trousers

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Organised SSAGO attending the Wellies and Wristbands Girlguding music festival; was awesome!

• Led SSAGO's first programmed workshop "Scouting for Students" at Gilwell Reunion, along with the usual stall; went well!

• Ran a "stall" at Intense for the day to make sure SSAGO had a presence at a prominent Scout Network camp just ahead of Freshers; was wet!

• Attended SSAGO Reunion, helped a little but tried to enjoy the weekend as a participant (while also sharing/tweeting and resharing/retweeting on social media!); was brilliant!

• Put together SSAGO "Publicity Packs" to give clubs a last minute publicity boost at a much cheaper cost than could be bought individually; will be asking for feedback in reps to develop for next year!

• Designed and purchased new SSAGO banners (including a map banner which can be constantly updated with the new events, clubs, number of members, etc) that have already been used at 2 Reunions, Intense, lots of freshers fairs by clubs across the country; hopefully SSAGO will agree to buy them off me at the next reps meeting!

• Made more little SSAGO promo videos for social media; page likes have reached 1270+!

• Started combining everything into a SSAGO Branding Policy and SSAGO Media Policy, as Guidelines to help both clubs and future execs to use the SSAGO brand and media effectively to help promote their clubs

• Shared over 30 freshers fairs posts from clubs, as well as the usual media posting and continued “SSAGO Spotlight" (if you’d like to feature, use the SSAGO facebook frame and drop me a message)

• Continued planning future SSAGO Support events (Scarefest, Wintercamp, Sparkle and Ice, etc)

• Continued my Graduate scheme, leading my new Scout group in Ivybridge, became the 7th World Scout Jamboree Unit leader for Devon county, and joined The Scout Association's project team for "Roverrail"; the Interrailing Scavenger hunt across Europe to celebrate 100 years of Rover Scouts!

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Got Delft from the Netherlands to SSAGO Reunion 
• Attended Reunion myself and dived straight into a week of job experience in Bournemouth after that!
• Contributed some articles to the Historical show at Reunion from our international friends, the Irish Rovers and Index from Bosnia and Herzegovina 
• Tracked down The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Guides and Scouts and SSAGOgot invited to their international summer camp called Kliffa!
• Contacted Hyde at the University of Helsinki and Teepakki at the University of Aalto 
• Starting 3rd year mayhem with 2 volunteer roles, 2 part time jobs alongside uni!

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Organised an interesting visit to Cambridge archives - considering Birmingham and Durham next
• Working with membership officer to pull out national and club numbers from old publicity materials (on going)
• Co-ordinated with Gilwell to borrow the SSAGO flag for Reunion 
• Along with 3 other SSAGO members, we assisted the Heritage Team at Gilwell Reunion at their stall 
• Put together a museum for Reunion (so much printing...!) Temporarily made my bedroom an archive for old ssago materials 
• Made a full inventory of the rally box (over 50 items in there)
• Interviewed a range of ex-members at reunion and talked about their time in SSAGO 
• Moved to Aberystwyth and started Masters course!

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Attended Wellies and Wristbands with SAGGA and arranged for SSAGO's activities to be on the same field as SAGGA had ample space and, more importantly, shade!
• Introduced a few SSAGO members to SAGGA's wine and cheese traditions
• Went to Reunion camp with my family - 3 generations of SSAGO members!
• Moved house and started my new job

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Helped plan and run SSAGO Reunion
• Ran the web hack weekend to help support the new SSAGO Web Team
• Set us up with card readers to enable us to take card payments
• Further developed the events system to allow people to book multiple activities
• Created an automatic lanyard generator for events to create automatic lanyards from bookings
• Helped create links between the SSAGO system and SAGGA system, for things such as Alternative Rally
• Re-initialised SSAGO for the new 2017-2018 year
• Created a sign-in system for events to mark people off when they sign in

Vicky Sanderson – Notifications

• Attended Reunion and tried to loose Anona in London
• Created a Risk Assessment ProForma which is awaiting approval from Exec
• Went back to Guides
• Promoted SSAGO to Central Yorkshire 
• Went back to work and haven't keeled over yet

Dale Patrick – Merchandise Officer

• Got married yesterday!

Four months, nearly five!

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Monday 21st of August 2017

Four months, nearly five!

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Executive committee:

Joshua Smith - Chair

• On the 11th-13th of August we held a successful team building weekend in Oxford for the National Exec and Assistants where we had a number of productive discussions and had an Exec meeting staggered over the whole weekend.
• I've also been catching up with the Exec, Assistants and national event teams to see how everything is going.
• We've been working to implement the results of the last Reps vote.
• An update is now available on the website with the next steps for SSAGO to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and how you can get involved. You can read that here.
• Policy Fixers
  • The Policy Fixers have now reviewed 11 out of the 15 policy documents and we've been working together to update and improve SSAGO's policy.
  • A draft replacement to our 'Child Protection' has now been through the Policy Fixers twice and is currently being reviewed for us by the Scout Association.
  • A proposed updated version of SSAGO's election policy is now with Reps for scrutiny.
  • We are now reviewing the SSAGO Constitution.
  • Thank you to all the Policy Fixers for your continued hard work!
  • If you want to get involved sign up here.
• SSAGO Reunion
  • With the SSAGO Reunion only a month away I've taken an increasingly active role in its leadership to support the event and have been meeting with all the team leaders to get everything ready for the final booking stage.
  • Somehow I've now also volunteered to be in the stocks at SSAGO Reunion while people throw wet sponges at me...
  • You can sign up to SSAGO Reunion here.
• Scout Association
  • I've produced an updated draft if the Memorandum of Agreement which is a proposed new agreement with the Scout Association.
  • We will be meeting with the Scout Association in September.

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Working with Larah to put old club reports and minutes on the website (on going)
• Writing more minutes...
• Enjoyed the team building weekend in Oxford as part of my grand tour of the UK!
• Completed my Gold DofE award!

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Completed my Explorer belt by interailing round 4 countries
• Moved out of uni halls into a house after too long! Consisted of walking many boxes across Sheffield
• Set up Lincoln SSAGO and sent emails to the SU
• Was taken on a day trip to Eurika by Vicky and Robinson!
• Went to Poacher in Lincoln as SSAGO Support staff to man the Digger Challenge and keep evidence of Vicky's oddness throughout the week
• Had meetings with Josh to talk about various membership releated things and to complain about the lack of sleep
• Spent a weekend at Youlbury in Oxford on team building weekend and had a much deserved break with some awesome people!
• Painted a room and started building a bed out of scrap wood

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Attended the 15th World Scout Moot in Iceland as a participant, promoting SSAGO to both fellow UK contingent Student Scouts and Guides, as well as Student Scouts from across the world… including the founder of Student Scouting in our host county, who may be bringing an Icelandic contingent to a SSAGO event in future!
• Also designed a Moot Orange SSAGO flag to take with us, along with Percival (manifesto point achieved!), and scheduled a few Social media posts for while I was out of the country
• Organised SSAGO Support for Wellies and Wristbands at both Foxlease and Waddow Hall
• Designed SSAGO Support clothing that should feature in photos soon from the above, just sign up to help at an event to be able to order yours!
• Designed prototype stickers and advert cards to debut at Wellies, also bought temporary tattoo paper and SSAGOfied a pair of bright pink Wellies for it!
• Made more SSAGO videos, including A-level general promo video which increased page reach to over 17k for this last week... spreading SSAGO awareness!
• Started “SSAGO Spotlight” on members to run throughout the freshers period; but only with your help… just use the facebook frame and drop me a message if you’d like to feature!
• Continued planning “Scouting for Students” workshop for Gilwell Reunion… 10am both days in the Fox Marquee!
• Continued planning future SSAGO Support events (Scarefest, Wintercamp), and new Publicity materials to be available shortly!
• Somehow continued to fit in a full time graduate job…

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Contacted three different Scouts association from Spain, one from Poland and Plast from Ukraine
• Reached out to the new person representing the Irish Rovers
• Contacted Trondheim Studentsgruppe, a group of university Scouts from Norway
• Followed up on the Swedish Rovers (no success yet :( )
• Went on holidays to gorgeous France and exciting Spain (luckily missing the attack)

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Organised the scanned Secretary folder, added them to the drive and the most interesting parts e.g. 2010 club reports are now onto the website.
• Used the Wayback machine to find old exec, reps and AGM minutes (soon to be available on the website).
• Also found and added to the drive early SSAGO News publications (2000-2005ish)
• Successful and interesting visit to Gilwell - updated the records, we now know in more detail what there is and how much is still missing!
• Spent a fantastic weekend in Oxford
• Getting better at making coffee... Cappuccino anyone?

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Went to Poacher Jamboree and worked on the Inflatables section, helping to man and run all sorts of giant inflatable activities, from obstacle runs to Hungry Hippos to gladiator battles!
• Attended Linconshire County A&E with a staff member who we thought had broken his toe falling off said inflatables (turns out it was a sprained foot!)
• Attended SAGGA camp in Belgium for a week, doing a lot of cutting down trees/digging up roots and setting fire to them :D and lots of sightseeing, beer and chocolate!
• Had a long discussion with lots of SAGGA members about their favourite SSAGO memories - these will be shared at reunion camp!
• Consequently persuaded a few more people to sign up for reunion camp

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Fixed the SSAGO email system when we ran out of emails(!)
• Continual shop and booking system improvements
• Preparing the website for Freshers
• Preparing the membership system for the new academic year
• Preparation of the next online booking stages for Reunion
• Went to the 15th World Scout Moot in Iceland as IST

Vicky Sanderson – Notifications

• Attended Poacher as SSAGO supports as staff on the diggers and Anona's minder.
• Took part in some policy fixing and to meet with the Chair about Accident and Incident policies
• Attended an amazing weekend in Oxford.
• Organised the shop and50th badges to assist the exec.
• Promoted Central Yorkshire at Child Friendly Leeds in Leeds.
• Writing a risk assessment template for SSAGO.
• Promoted SSAGO to Central Yorkshire Scouts.
• Dealt with A-level results day at work and feltincredibly proud of her Year 13 History group

Charity Update: What Happens Next?

Joshua Smith, National SSAGO Chair

Thursday 17th of August 2017

In our most recent Reps vote SSAGO clubs voted to proceed with becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (88.9% for, 5.5% against, 5.5% abstained). The next step in this process is to sort out the SSAGO Constitution.

Many years of altering parts of our constitution have left numerous loopholes and conflicting parts in it which all need fixing in addition to bringing it in line with Charity Commission regulations. This is something anyone can get involved in.

The current SSAGO Constitution is now going through the Policy Fixers project group for review to find all of these issues. Any SSAGO member can join this project and help review the constitution. Simply hit join below and then become a member of the Policy Fixers facebook group.

Join Policy Fixers Policy Fixers Facebook Group

Once the review of the constitution is complete we will work with the Scout Association, Girlguiding and Reps to update a fix the constitution.

If you have any questions please do get in touch. The National Exec can always be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Three months and counting...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Thursday 20th of July 2017

Quick monthly catch up with the National Exec...

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Executive committee:

Joshua Smith - Chair

• Introduced online voting for Reps so every club can go away, consider issues and discuss them with their members before having to vote.
• Read all of the full membership survey data and have started processing it.
• Caught up with Exec members and Assistants to see how everything is going.
• Created and distributed event feedback form for Leeds Rally.
• Exchanged countless emails and dealt with a lot of admin.
• Graduated!

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Chased clubs to fill out club reports and have reps on the system
• Sorted out lots of paperwork which is going into the archives
• Written more sets of minutes which hopefully people are 'enjoying' reading
• Spread the word of SSAGO at Kandersteg International Scout Centre and helped to run an international trip!
• Graduated!

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Carried on emailing clubs
• Planned and completed my Explorer belt expedition
• Moved house and tested the durability of the Gadaffy Plate flight case

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Hyped up Leeds Rally, 'staffed' Leeds rally (drove a lot!), set up and successfully delegated the Newsletter
• Continued to organise and coordinated 'SSAGO Support' events - find them all here
  • Ran the arena bar at Gilwell 24, logged nearly 40 hours with just a few short naps!
  • The SSAGO adverts in the Z-cards looked awesome if I do say so myself!
  • There will be exclusive merch soon!
• Represented SSAGO in the The Scout Association parade group at London Pride 
• Encouraged (gentle poked) people to write more SSAGO news articles
• Designed and purchased a SSAGO parade banner, continued sorting further banners, publicity stuff and preping new merchandise
• Started planning "Scouting for Students" talk for Gilwell Reunion
• Lots of emails and social media-ing as per usual
• Planned for the World Scout Moot in Iceland (4 days to go!)
• Enjoyed a wet but relaxing trip to Snowdon with SAGUWE
• Moved down to Devon, started my career, and of course...
• Graduated!

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Rally
• SSAGO 50th anniversary & reunion massive invites sent out
• Facebook group for "SSAGO's international friends"
• Worked on some ideas for Forum
• Thought of some ideas for promotional stuff for SSAGO clubs to take on International trips

Dale Patrick - Merchandising

• We've bought our wedding rings, and are doing the table plans

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Updated: Event and Exec lists (thank you those that helped)
• Forgot how tedious archiving can be! 
• Organised trip to Bristol archives and helped UoBGAS deposit Kohoutek materials and digitalised all the SSAGO publicity materials e.g. Journals 
• Sorted through 500 photos of the publicity materials and updated our records 
• Helped ex member reunite with the penant they made when they were in the club in the late 1950s 
• Added more memories to the Archive
• Scanned secretary's folder materials (watched some good films during it to keep my mind occupied) just need to sort them out now! 
• Added the rally newspapers to the archive 
• Moved back to London for the summer and looking forward to more trips including Gilwell and Cambridge
• Graduated!

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Worked on the SSAGO challenge badge to make it more accessible for others not in SSAGO
• Assisted the SAGGA secretary to facilitate ex-SSAGO members' transitions into SAGGA
• Delivered my 40th baby and finished my degree!
• Graduated!

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Finished building the new online reps system
• Added new event tools to help people running events (availability, programme building)
• Added more information collection for Indie members when registering to help people start new SSAGO clubs
• Improved the stories system for news submission
• Built an online register for Reps
• Completed all the SSAGO 50th Anniversary functionality

Vicky Sanderson - Notifications

• Running Central Yorkshire Scouts County Camp, as part of the Management Team as Media Manager
• Attended Rally
• Dealt with NAN forms from SSAGO club summer adventures
• Completed NQT

Reps: Voting Results

Joshua Smith, National SSAGO Chair

Wednesday 19th of July 2017

A record number of clubs voted on the issues discussed at our most recent Reps meeting at Leeds Rally in June. Here are the voting results and what they mean going forward.

Hello SSAGO,

Thank you to every club that voted on the issues discussed in our most recent Reps meeting. In total 33 clubs voted which is the largest ever turnout on record. We are well on our way to making Reps representative.

It was fantastic to see how different clubs engaged with their membership on the issues discussed. Some held club votes, others did surveys and some discussed the issues with their members at club meetings. If your club did something that worked well please do let us know!

A breakdown of the voting results is now available on the SSAGO website for every member to see with how every club voted. This is linked to below along with the meeting minutes and other referenced materials.

The key outcomes are:

The campfire policy will be formalised and added to the ‘Activity Guidelines Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures’ policy document (53% for, 22% against, 25% abstained). Rally organisers will also be able to change the timings of the campfire song watershed with National Exec approval (83% for, 11% Against, 6% abstained).

Ball and Witan will have a recommended cost for participants of £35 and £370 respectively based on the results of the full membership survey. These costs will be guidelines which will give the event organisers overall flexibility on the final participant cost.

Clubs voted to increase the base cost of Rally from £25 to £27 (61% for, 19% against, 19% abstained) and to introduce a minimum amount of budget that has to be spent on Rally catering per person (54% for, 37% against, 9% abstained). This cost increase will take effect at Plymouth 90s Rally (17th-19th November). A revised ‘Running National Events’ policy document will be brought to the next Reps meeting for approval and will include proposals for what the minimum catering budget should be.

SSAGO will proceed with becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (89% for, 6% against, 6% abstained). The National Exec will work with the Scout Association, Girlguiding and the Full Committee (Reps) to update our constitution and get SSAGO ready to register with the Charity Commission.

The amount of engagement we have seen both from clubs who could and could not attend the meeting in person has really highlighted the true benefits of this form of voting. Overall we've had a positive response to the new Reps voting system with some useful feedback that will be used to continue developing and improving the process. We are a looking at ways to better reflect the discussion that takes place during the actual meeting part of Reps for clubs which could not attend. If anyone has any further suggestions or feedback on the process please do get in contact.

The National Exec can always be contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Best Regards,
Joshua Smith
SSAGO Chair 2017/18

Reps: What Happens Next?

Joshua Smith, National SSAGO Chair

Saturday 24th of June 2017

This is how we will be moving forward with Reps voting.

Hello SSAGO,

Thank you to everyone who got involved in the Reps meeting at Leeds Rally. We had some good productive discussions covering a wide range of issues. (See Agenda Here) If you couldn’t make the meeting there is still time for your Club to get involved in the process and most importantly vote!

Now the Reps minutes are online every Club will have two days to look at the proposed votes to take place which are linked to below and suggest any changes, additional options or new votes. This is your chance to let us know of any good ideas you might have thought of since the meeting concluded.

Please take this time to consider what was discussed, talk about it with your members and come back to the National Exec with any new questions or suggestion you have had since Reps. The meeting itself may now be over but discussions can still continue.

On Tuesday the proposed votes will be updated and voting will commence and remain open for two weeks. At this point the designated representative of every club will be able to vote on their Club's behalf. (Select Rep Here)

Once voting concludes the results will be published online.

Below is all referenced material, including the Reps presentation, a new SSAGO as a Charity Report and the meeting minutes. Please do have a look at these and get back to us with any queries.

The National Exec can always contacted on: exec@ssago.org

Best Regards,
Joshua Smith
SSAGO Chair 2017/18

Two months down...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Sunday 11th of June 2017

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Executive committee:

Frances Milroy - Treasurer

• Looked at lots of budgets
• Spent lots of time on hold to HSBC 
• Chasing unpaid clubs
• Signed up to Gilwell 24 as part of SSAGO support

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• More minutes have been written and are available on the website...
• Chased up active clubs to assign their reps
• Decided on club report questions and are ready to be sent out
• Pre-rally email ready to be sent out to clubs about reps and club reports
• Started to sort through the secretary folder and found lots of old paperwork, some of which is going to be digitised and put into the archives

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Carried on emailing groups who aren't so active to see if they are okay 
• Finished assignmenting for uni so now I'm free to scout/ssago all summer
• Had HUGS handover so no longer on both committees ... happy times!!
• Did some more emailing about membership questions to possible freshers
• Went to Oxon jam and promoted SSAGO being fabulous and did lots of helping at every moment possible 
• I have probably done more but I'm still sleepy after introducing Harold to a beaver sleepover!
• Manage SSAGO Support at Gilwell Park Fundays

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Continued to organise and coordinated 'SSAGO Support' events - find them all here!
  • Ran Quidditch at OxonJam
  • Ran Zorbing, Hay Maze and Waterslide at Woodhouse Park Fundays
• Finalised 50th Anniversary Challenge badge requirements and design
• Encouraged more articles from people and sorted out video template
• Gathered the SSAGO Press team and prepared for the Rally newsletter
• Sorted SSAGO at Pride - check here for details
• Continued sorting new banners and preping new merchandise
• Booked in "Scouting for Students" talk for Gilwell Reunion
• Sorted a SSAGO facebook frame, test it out on your profile photo
• Lots of emails and social media-ing as per usual
• Househunted, and now am packing to move away from Bristol...

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Got finally started on Team International (special thanks to Harriet Bell and Scott Chapman!) 
• In the process of inviting/getting contingencies from both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands to SSAGO Reunion 
• Contacted TSSG, uni students group from Trondheim, Norway
• Chasing up Swedish Rovers and Austria

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Unintentionally reconnected two ex-Oxford members 
• Organised a successful visit to Uni of Bristol special collections and also deposited material from Kohoutek 2017 with the current UoBGAS president
• Added more personal stories to the archive ahead of reunion 
• Continued to talk to ex-members

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• As a consequence of Oli's song I have only had to correct the spelling of SAGGA once this month!
• Attended a SAGGA weekend in Oxford with Oli and networked over board games and beer
• Attended OxonJam as part of SSAGO Supports...
• Delivered my 40th baby meaning that I have helped bring enough babies into the world to qualify as a midwife!

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Preparing for the launch of SSAGO Reunion
• Significant new features for the events booking system
• Building the SSAGO anniversary challenge system
• Launching the new SSAGO bookings system for non-SSAGO events to use the SSAGO events system
• Continued working on the SSAGO badge system
• Created a system for allowing clubs to specify their reps
• Building a new SSAGO reps system to help support club reps
• Continued work on the SSAGO shop ready for launch

Vicky Sanderson - Notifications

• Sorted out a confusing POR situation for Leeds Rally.
• Saved more forms into the dropbox and created notifications. 
• Got annoyed at notifications. 
• Signed up for Poacher 2017 as part of SSAGOSupports (And Vicky needed a holiday). 
• Is busy organising Challenge17 Central Yorkshire Scouts County Camp

One month in...

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Wednesday 10th of May 2017

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Quick monthly catch up with the national exec...

Executive committee:

Josh Smith - Chair

• Launched the first ever full membership survey to give every member the opportunity to give their opinions on every aspect of SSAGO; complete the survey here.
• Introduced post event feedback forms and collected feedback on the past three national events. 
• Started looking into getting the Memorandum of Agreement which defines how Scouting, Guiding and SSAGO all work together and support each other finalised.
• Nearly completed a new SSAGO as a Charity report.
• Held another Exec Meeting. (The minutes are online here.)
• Have started looking at updating how Reps is run to make it more representative. (Please let us know who you club Rep is here.)
• Completed and submitted my dissertation!

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Written my second set of minutes (very long but productive meeting....)
• Written an article for the SSAGO website about Forest evasion
• Tried to chase up access to the Witan paperwork…. (still working on that)
• Blinded everyone with new exec clothing on parkrun!
• Not done too much – been very busy with assignments!

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• Sent out many many emails, checking up on new groups and asking why people haven’t submitted membership yet!
• Been organising OxonJam with James help we are 11 people signed up and it was very exciting.
• I climbed up a mountain while looking silly (with a camera strapped to my head) for the intention of creating cool soon to be SSAGO videos to help promote SSAGO.
• Planned my Leeds Rally costume, as well as looking at making the SSAGO committee some very Jazzy knitted wear!
• I made a pretty map with rough regions of ssago groups that were from the previous membership stuff, but created two different option that can be used as a rough guide to help clubs

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Got more SSAGO news articles on the go, and started building the SSAGO press team! If you or your club have won an award (be it a Scouting, Guiding or Student award), let Melissa and I know at success@ssago.org
• Designed and distributed the new Exec clothing and MOOT merchandise, and promoted SSAGO throughout the UK Contingent for MOOT! Another order will be up on the SSAGO shop very soon so keep an eye out!
• Created a few "SSAGO Support" events (such as "OxonJam", "Gilwell 24" and "Wellies and Wristbands") and have organised more volunteering opportunities (such as "Magic and Mayhem" and "Poacher International Jamboree") to be released very soon, check them out on our SSAGO events page!
• Continued working on publicity concepts for videos, banners, etc, will take to the media team in due course, so watch out for that too!
• Lots of emails (we WILL get our SASU!) and social media-ing (What will SSAGO celebrate next? ;) )... and exam revision!

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Contacted Sweden +18year old RoverGroup, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Poland
• Discussion of opportunities with the Irish and Dutch Contingencies
• Possible China summer camp opportunity
• Started thinking of an international recruitment policy
• 3 law exams down and no bloodshed/crisis/disaster

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Started memories portfolio project
• Had conversations via email with ex members
• Developed reunion ideas list further
• Also had 4 wisdom teeth out...

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Uploaded several years' worth of two SAGGA members' memories of SSAGO to the archive
• Corrected the spelling of SAGGA on three separate occasions
• Worked out why I wasn't receiving any SSAGO emails any more (my bad...)
• Helped bring six beautiful babies into the world (you don't have to put that one haha)

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Created ability for clubs to specify their representatives
• Added a list of all clubs reps, and created reps@ssago.org email address for contacting reps
• Updated the events system to make it better and easier to create events
• Updated and tested the SSAGO Shop with Moot and Exec merchandise
• Switched all of SSAGO sites and sub-sites over to HTTPS
• Further developed the survey system ready for the full-members system
• Enhanced the news system to make it easier to develop and publish news stories
• Upgraded the server that the SSAGO website runs on and upgraded the site to work on the new infrastructure

Vicky Sanderson - Notifications

• Updated AA Factsheet
• Updating policy on activities
• Filed some more NAN forms
• Identified clubs who are doing the job right and the job wrong
• Found Ralph after he went missing from my room
• Asked some clubs to submit reports on their trips away

Our first week on the job!

James Frith, National Publicity Officer

Monday 10th of April 2017

A brief summary of what the Executive officers and their Assistants have achieved in just their first week...

A brief summary of what the Executive officers and their Assistants have achieved in just their first week...

Executive committee:

Josh Smith - Chair

• I’ve tackled some key parts of my manifesto. 
• National events now have feedback forms, so we can use participants feedback to improve future events.
• The full membership survey is ready to go out. 
• Policy Fixers group has been set up and is already reviewing policy documents. 
• Caught up with all the upcoming national events and new assistants. 
• Started work on a long term development plan for SSAGO looking beyond the current exec. 
• Looked into getting SSAGO set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
• Had our first exec meeting and am about to schedule another.

Lauren Whittaker - Secretary

• Written my first set of minutes (which have been more than approved by Josh as the best SSAGO minutes that he has ever seen) 
• I have also made a template for future minutes to be written this yea!
• Trying to keep up with everything whilst being on fieldwork and catching up with all of the Facebook notifications afterwards!
• I think that is about it other than setting up so that I'm ready to send out lots emails...

Frances Milroy - Treasurer

• Got the leftover Euros from Witan changed over
• Changed the SSAGO hotline numbers to the new exec
• Updated the list of paid members
• Emailed clubs about Rally Budgets
• Phoned HSBC
• Lots of attempting to get access to online banking

Anona Mann - Members Officer

• This week I have started talks with James about Oxonjam with the hope to get it up on the SSAGO website soon so people can start signing up as staff for it! 
• Other than that, I grumbled at a printer and have taken Harold on a few train adventures, as well as passed Harold's necker measurements to Dale!

James Frith - Publicity Officer

• Posted social media updates throughout BUGS Ball
• Wrote and encouraged others to write a few SSAGO news articles (Ball, Kohoutek, etc)
• Sorted out google and facebook page ball albums, if you have photos from Ball make sure to add them here
• Designed MOOT merchandise for and publicised the new SSAGO shop
• Created a SSAGO MOOT event to show participants (and encourage non-SSAGO student attendees to sign up to SSAGO!)
• "1000 Facebook likes" competition, which has already achieved an organic reach of 2000 with over 30 entering with some brilliant reasons to love SSAGO! Click here to enter too!
• Started looking into publicity/branding updates and freshers campaigns for this year, as well as organising the Media team
• Started sorting many volunteering opportunities for the summer (Fundays, Gilwell 24, etc) including making SSAGO website events
• Sorted a handy to-do list facility for all Exec and Assistants (that hopefully we'll use!)
• Wrote this blog post!

Executive Assistants:

Beatrice Phanjoo - International Officer

• Established an overall plan and a to do list 
• Liaised with previous SSAGO person involved with international contacts research 
• Started an international contact list 
• Started looking into having a potential team

Dale Patrick - Quartermaster

• Finally got the food choices for the caterers for my wedding confirmed as well as the order of business

Larah Korrison - Archivist

• Detailed to-do list 
• Cleaned up the google docs file ready for team input - making it user friendly 
• Started a contacts sheet 
• Shared/highlighted relevant materials to the rest of the exec from the archives

Laura Payne - SAGGA liason

• Discussed with a few SAGGA members the importance of mentioning SSAGO when talking to TSA/GG
• Found out SAGGA's contacts in TSA/GG so we could see if we were talking to the same people to promote continuity and improve communication (and for the most part we are!)
• Commenced a SAGGA, TSA and GG contacts list
• Established who is on the new SAGGA committee
• Liased (and escaped the escape room!) during a SAGGA Birmingham event

Oliver Bills - Webmaster

• Finished the SSAGO online shop functionality, SSAGO can now sell things (Moot merchandise is the first test!)
• Integrated Paypal ready for online payments for the shop and future events
• Created the SSAGO blog
• Updated the website with the new exec and assistant details
• Improved the SSAGO survey system with new question types and will be available for clubs, events and others in SSAGO to use shortly

Vicky Sanderson - Notifications

• Saved a few NAN forms
• Going to update AA in my holiday in line with POR
• Sorted some enquiries out about forms
• Going to continue to update Notifications Factsheets to reflect changes in SSAGO for regional activities and rally forms
• Usual form filling stuff

SSAGO as a Charity

Joshua Smith, National SSAGO Chair

Wednesday 5th of April 2017

Hello SSAGO,

As some of you may have heard from Bath Ball, the national exec has unanimously agreed to begin the process of registering SSAGO as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Such a move would be hugely beneficial to SSAGO as a whole, with more access to funding and grants for national events, charity rates on things like paypal and activities and more legal security in terms of what exactly SSAGO is.

It would mean more financial scrutiny (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) and the constitution would need updating and tidying up. All of these are issues we are believe SSAGO can overcome and the benefits significantly outweigh the work needed to achieve this.

We met immediately after handover to discuss the positives and negatives of becoming a charity and the logistics behind implementing it given how important this is. The minutes are now available to all members on the resources section of the SSAGO website:

http://www.ssago.org/resources/minutes/2017/executive

We would welcome anyone who looks through the minutes to get in touch with us if you come across anything you think we may have missed or overlooked either by emailing exec@ssago.org or contacting us via facebook.

This process will not happen overnight. It will take months of discussion with Reps, the Scout Association and Girlguiding. We will keep you all informed every step of the way!

Best Regards,
SSAGO Exec 2017/18