OXFORD UNIVERSITY CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION

Former Patron: The Rt Hon. Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG OM PC FRS (Requiescat in pace)
Hon. President: The Rt Hon. William Hague, MP



MINUTES OF MEETING

Meeting: 0
th
Week Council

Date and Time: 16/1/2014, 17:00

Term: Hilary 2014

Venue: Christ Church, Lecture Room 1


Present:
Jack Matthews, President, University College
James Heywood, President-Elect, Magdalen College
Robert Greig, Ex-President, Magdalen College
Christopher Frost, Treasurer, Oriel College
Simon Blackaby, Treasurer-Elect, St. Johns College
Rupert Cunningham, Secretary, Christ Church
Harry Challands, Political Officer, Somerville College
Devon Howard, Ex-Political Officer, New College

Matthew Burnett, Social Secretary, Wadham College
Jeff Vinall, Communications Director, Brasenose College
Benjamin Crompton, The Whip, Trinity College
Maryam Ahmed, Publications Editor, Wolfson College

James Manuell, Returning Officer, Magdalen College

Richard Black, Non-Executive Officer (Archivist), Lincoln College
Amelia Hamer, Non-Executive Officer (Membership), Somerville College

Frederick Parker, Committee, The Queens College
Jan Nedvidek, Committee, Christ Church
Alexander Erikstrup, Committee, New College
Timothy Ang, Committee, St. Johns College
Izaak Tanna, Committee, Jesus College
Joseph Selley, Committee, Exeter College

Louie Brockbank, Ex-Publications Editor, Pembroke College
Theodora Dickinson, Ex-Publications Editor, Merton College

Nathan Elvidge, Oriel College
Kes Daood, Christ Church





Council opens at: 17:07

1. Business of the President:

The President comments on absence of the President-Elect and hopes he will arrive soon. He
expresses his gladness that everyone has come and his hope that more ordinary members will
attend Council in order that they can hold the Association to account. He emphasises that
there is a lot to discuss in this meeting and requests that those present keep their remarks
short and sweet. He invites Committee to stay for the start of Officers to talk briefly about
some of their duties.

James Heywood, President-Elect, Magdalen, enters council at 17:09

Outline of Hilary Term 2014 The President believes that OUCA must ensure that all its
members are working together in order that the Association can be as effective as possible in
meeting its objectives, particularly in the run up to the 90
th
Anniversary.

Social Media OUCA now has a twitter feed and a Facebook page, which is open to
everyone, regardless of membership. The President is pleased to note that lots of
Conservative Future members have liked the page, and that within two days of the page it has
had more likes than the entirety of the regional Conservative association.

Update on Speakers The President will announce over the weekend when all arrangements
have been confirmed.

Brief update on Campaigning The President will leave this to the Political Officer but
wishes to inform interested people of the opportunity to get involved with campaigning for the
Tax Payers Alliance, which OUCA shall be helping to petition for a reduction in the duties
on cider in 3
rd
week of this term.

Ratification of Appointment of Non-Executive Officers The President is keen to appoint
Non-Executive Officers, in order to draw upon the Associations expertise.

The President wishes to appoint Richard Black, Lincoln College, to the position of
Archivist this position shall be designed to find out more about OUCAs history. This is in
order to find out who OUCAs alumni are in order to invite them for the 90
th
Anniversary
celebrations, as well as to help with finding future speakers and to generally enrich the
Association. The President recalls that he and the President-Elect went to visit some never-
before-seen archives, and that it was a fascinating and enriching experience. The President
informs Council that Richard Black has already started researching.

Passed nem con

The President wishes to appoint Amelia Hamer, Somerville College, as Membership
Officer this role is to promote attendance at events amongst members (membership itself
being healthy) and to encourage that membership be as representative of the University and
Party membership as possible.


The Ex-President, Magdalen asks if the President has had the opportunity to ask Amelia
Hamer about her concerns regarding the previous terms Termly Dinner.

The President responds that he has talked to her and that her willingness to express her
concerns shows her commitment to improving OUCAs events.

Passed nem con

Appointment of Non-Constitutional Officers The President appoints the Ex-Political
Officer, New College, as the General Agent. In this role he will work with other officers and
the Membership Officer to increase membership through college representatives. The
General Agent will manage these representatives. The representative role may also involve
campaigning but this will depend on whether or not this can be managed alongside
membership duties.

Creation of Sub-Committees the President creates the following two sub-committees:

1. Political Action Sub-Committee this will be designed to organise campaigning for
the next general election. The President reminds Council that this existed in the time
of the Ex-President, Somerville. The President notes that the President, President-
Elect, Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect, and Secretary are all constitutionally obliged to
sit on every sub-committee. I n addition to this, The President appoints: the Political
Officer, The General Agent, David Bagg (who will act as a liaison with the Oxford
East Conservative Association), and the Ex-Whip, Pembroke College.
2. The Anniversary Committee This will be designed to build a foundation for future
Presidents for the Anniversary term (Michaelmas Term 2014). The President
appoints the Archivist to the sub-committee, alongside those constitutionally
required to sit.

The President urges anyone interested in sitting on either sub-committee to let him know.

Emergency Expenditure The President thanks The Whip for spotting a good deal for Port
on the Sainsburys website. The President announces to Council that he has approved 600
of emergency expenditure in order to take advantage of the deal. Said deal was 10 port
down to 6, meaning that the association has purchased Dows Port for less than it normally
gets the usual port.

No Questions

2. Business of the President-Elect:

Speakers The President-Elect announces that he has sent out two invitations to speakers
thus far and has received two positive responses, one from a Cabinet Minister.

No Questions

3. Business of ex-Presidents:

The Ex-President, Magdalen, announces that he is looking forward to the term.


No Questions

4. Business of the Treasurer:

The Treasurer announces that he has brought the accounts for circulation but that there is no
change as of last term.

The Treasurer thanks the Whip for the receipts he has received from him, and asks that every
member bring any OUCA-related receipts they should accrue during the course of their
duties to him.

The Treasurer reminds Council that payment to Pembroke College for last terms Termly
Dinner is still outstanding, but says that he will deal with it as soon as possible.

The Ex-President, Magdalen, asks if Pembroke has been contacted.

The President responds that he has emailed them to ensure them that a cheque will be paid to
them very soon.

No Further Questions

5. Business of the Treasurer-Elect:

The Treasurer-Elect states that he is looking forward to the term.

No Questions

6. Business of the Secretary:

New Activist Point register The Secretary informs Council that he has created a new
Activist Point with a slightly different (and improved) design and colour scheme.

Facebook Group Pending Requests The Secretary has messaged and deleted or added
(dependent on membership) all those who requested to join the OUCA Facebook group.
Those deleted have been encouraged to like the OUCA Facebook page.

Events Sign Down Sheet The Secretary has created a new sign down sheet for official
OUCA events, which he invites all members to admire at the next Port and Policy.

Sending in Business The Secretary thanks everyone who sent in their business for Council
on time this week and would like to remind Officers that the President would prefer that they
only send their business to the Secretary, in order that the Secretary can compile a list of
business and forward it to the Secretary. This will avoid the President receiving an
unnecessary number of emails.

The President adds here that he knows the constitution seems to suggest that business must
be sent to both the President and the Secretary, but, given that the Secretary shall be
forwarding him all business, chooses to make an interpretation of the rule that states that
sending ones business to the Secretary shall be tantamount to sending ones business to both
the Secretary and the President, thus satisfying the Constitution.


The Ex-President, Magdalen, requests that the Presidents interpretation be minuted.

The Secretary assures the Ex-President, Magdalen, that it has been minuted (see above).

No Questions

7. Business of the Political Officer:

The Political Officer informs Council that there will be campaigning next week to be
announced in more detail. There is likely to be an event on Tuesday evening for which the
room is yet to be booked. In addition to this there will be campaigning on the Saturday of 1
st

week, and social action at some point in 1
st
week. Finally, this Saturday (0
th
week) there shall
be non-OUCA campaigning for the Oxford East Conservative Association.

The President here adds that there is a Facebook group for this Saturdays campaigning with
the Oxford East Conservative Association.

In addition to this, the President announces that he has set up a new social action project for
this term OUCA shall be adopting some Commonwealth War Graves around Oxford.
Commonwealth war graves to be adopted around Oxford. These will be tended and the
President hopes members will get involved.

In addition to this, the President announces that, for official OUCA campaigning events, if
someone has to make expenditure for travel, that person will be will given free entrance to
Port & Policy if they notify the President in advance. This will be discussed further next
week.

The Political Officer reminds Council of his email encouraging someone to take up OUCAs
offer of free instruction on how to drive a minibus in exchange for so doing on at least one of
this terms campaigning away days. Anyone interested must have a valid British driving
license which they have possessed for at least three years.

The Secretary expresses his interest in the offer.

The President reminds Council and the Secretary that the course will be fully paid for by
OUCA.

The Committee member, Christ Church, asks if the course will still be available next term as
he turns 21 this term.

The President says this will be up to the President in Trinity Term.

The President-Elect shrugs.

No Further Questions

Frederick Parker, Committee, The Queens College, enters at 17:30

8. Business of ex-Treasurers:


No Business (in absentia).

No Questions

9. Business of ex-Secretaries:

No Business (in absentia).

No Questions

10. Business of ex-Political Officers:

No Business.

No Questions

11. Business of the Social Secretary:

Term Launch Drinks The Social Secretary extends his thanks to all who have RSVP'd for
the Term Launch Drinks and expresses his belief that turnout will be very good.

Poker Night OUCAs Poker Night is being scheduled for Friday 31
st
of January (2
nd
Week).
The Social Secretary extends his thanks to members of Committee (St. Johns and Jesus) who
have agreed to deal on the night.

Gadson Dinner The Social Secretary informs Council that he will be liaising with the
Treasurer-Elect in order to plan the Gadson Dinner for later in the term.

The ex-President, Magdalen asks where in Christ Church Saturdays term launch event will
be held.

The Secretary responds that it will be held in the Blue Boar Exhibition Space.

The President compliments the Social Secretary on his effort to arrange an event with OULC.

No Further Questions

12. Business of the Communications Director:

(in absentia)

Weekly email The Communications Director would like to ask Council if they would like
any changes to the format of the weekly email, one of which has already been sent out. In
addition to this he would like to remind anyone who would like to include something in the
weekly email to let him know as early as possible, in order that he does not have to send out
too many emails in the week.

The President here adds his intention to remind Jeff to send out an email as soon as possible
about Port and Policy and campaigning in the coming week.


No Questions


13. Business of The Whip:

The Inventory The Whip has liaised with the Ex-Publications Editor, Pembroke College
(also Ex-Whip) over the vacation to receive the inventory and information about his port
purchasing to inform my decisions this term. He thanks him for his help.

Dows Port The Whip announces that he and the President have purchased a number of
Dows Trademark Port bottles over the vacation at a significant discount from Sainsburys,
resulting in this higher quality port being available for our members at a price comparable, if
not lower, than the usual supermarket port that we purchase. The Whip mentions his
disgruntlement that the President has stolen his thunder by announcing this earlier in the
meeting.

Online Inventory The Whip informs Council that he has updated the format of the inventory
online to make it more user-friendly and presentable. He has also devised a template for the
hard-copy inventory that he intends to bring to every Council meeting and is required to
bring to every Officers meeting. He reminds Council that the constitution mandates
officeholders to inform him when property in their possession is moved or disposed of and, to
this end, he has produced a form that is linked to the online inventory for officers and
members to use. It can be accessed at the address http://bit.ly/oucainventory.

Port & Policy Rota The Whip has produced a rota for Port and Policy for the Committee in
conjunction with the President and has distributed this to them. He has also set up a
Facebook group to aid communication.

No Questions

14. Business of the Publications Editor:

Blueprint Guest Contributor The Publications Editor is delighted to announce that she has
secured two guest contributors for this term's issue: Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Chair, Security and
Intelligence Committee) and David Willetts (Secretary of State for Science and Universities).

Advertisement The Publications Editor has contacted 21 potential advertisers, including
local businesses and UK-wide retailers. G&Ds, Ede & Ravenscroft and Scriptum have all
expressed an interest in advertising with us. She has sent them further information and is
awaiting their responses.

Blueprint Submission The Publications Editor sent out a call for Blueprint submissions and
has received six completed articles from: Matt Burnett, Oliver Carroll, Richard Black, Jamie
Smith, George Scott, and Theodora Dickinson. She has also been promised additional
articles from Harry Challands and Neil Dhir. Including the interview and guest
contributions, this gives us a total of 11 articles for this term's issue. She will be forwarding
all submissions to the President for review after she has edited them, and she will not be
accepting any further submissions. All articles have been excellent quality.


Interview with Alumnus The Publications Editor has interviewed a prominent American
old member, Robert Schuettinger (who worked under the Reagan administration), about his
time at OUCA and will be writing this up for Blueprint in due course. Worked under Reagan
administration.

The President here restates the importance of Alumni research and the benefits that can be
drawn from it.

Blueprint Design The Publications Editor has designed the cover and internal layout for
this term's Blueprint.

The Archivist congratulates the Publications Editor on having secured Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

The President adds his congratulations.

The ex-President, Magdalen, asks about circulation whether or not it will be available to
all members of the Association or just regular attendees.

The Publications Editor responds that free print copies will be provided for everyone with a
certain number of activist points, and email copies for all members.

Amelia Hamer, Membership Officer, Somerville, enters at 17:40

The ex-Publications Editor, Pembroke, asks whether the issue about taking payment for last
terms advertising has been resolved.

The Treasurer confirms that it is being resolved.

No Further Questions

Jeff Vinall, Communications Director, Brasenose, enters council at 17:41

15. Business of the Returning Officer

No business.

No Questions

16. Business of the Non-Executive Officer (Archivist):

No business.

No Questions

17. Business of the Non-Executive Officer (Membership):

The Membership Officer has no business but apologises for her lateness, explaining that she
had a tutorial. Thanks Council for ratifying her appointment.

No Questions


18. Business of Committee:

No business.

No Questions

Council closes at: 17:42.