Conference Campaign: 4 Days to Go

Quick update: No word from Caroline, but Andy Strang left this on Conservatives inTouch (got an account there today)

QUOTE (AndyStrang @ Jul 25 2006, 02:30 PM)
16 year olds and 29 year olds don't mix. (rest of the comment deleted for being weird)

Beg to differ, price a training conference at £140 and that's unlikely to be a problem. Plus, let's be honest, if we can't trust people to sort their own social lives out at an event, we might as well give up now and call in the Politburo to regulate us all thoroughly.

The Change Agenda: Money

Funding is a sore point for me. Either there isn't any, or securing funding requires a long lead time (eg. the new CF.com website - planned out in detail, but getting it to this stage has taken almost 14 months)

A few points RE funding:

• EITHER, the NME must be given control of a modest discretionary budget
• OR, the NME must address finding its own funding for the purposes of keeping a fighting fund, to contribute towards expenses
• In general branches and areas must be self-sufficient, this also applies to funding
• Training and sharing of best practice, will be provided by the NME to ensure that branch and area chairs can do this. Better fundraising techniques will be a constantly updated source of info from the exec.
• Central funding towards larger projects on a regional level will be determined, in the style of the 'fresher's packs' for students, aimed at giving CF a standard level of professionalism across the regions.

The Change Agenda: The boring stuff

Apologies if this sends you to sleep, but if I have learned anything in the past two and a half years, it's that professionalism requires attention to the details. Here's my take on how the exec can be made to run more professionally:

• The NME will be run by a series of committees to increase accountability and decrease workload per individual thus expanding the scope and ability of the NME in each portfolio
• Each portfolio will have a member of the NME assigned to manage the brief and in addition one other member acting as deputy. These members will ultimately be responsible to the NME for the planning of their programme, consultation with members and the senior party and delivery.
• These members will recruit, as necessary, volunteers to help in the administration of each portfolio, thus expanding the capacity of each committee. The NME members leading each committee will be responsible for the conduct of their committee and it's volunteers
• Each committee will submit its plan of action, and amendments, to the NME for approval
• Each committee will be required to minute its meetings
• The NME will produce a 'handover guide' to next year's NME allowing for it's successors to build on their success rather than start again from scratch.
• The NME will use modern technology, e-conferencing, an NME blog and the existing websites to communicate with itself, chairmen and the members.

More info to follow - but the basic idea is simple. To run the NME as a national executive and not an overglorified branch. Bureaucracy seems pointless, and is boring - but I've seen the damage unaccountability and poor planning can do. Your exec should be accountable at every stage, these are some of the ways of introducing that accountability.

Slogan Competition

Each candidate must submit a manifesto and an ever-so-naff slogan.

Time for some fun, let's hear your suggestions in the comments;

• Vote Early, vote often
• Forwards not Backwards! - (extra marks for good grammar)
• It could be worse.....
• Things can only get better (subject to approval from Peter Cunnah and the rest of D:Ream)
• Compassionate Conservative Futureism
• Vorsprung Durch Andrew Young

The Change Agenda: Read my lips -"No events"

The NME elected in September will consist of six members and one chairman.

Seven people to run a national organisation, a ridiculously small number. If the NME were to take full advantage of all its co-options it could swell to a mighty nine people plus the chairman - or, put another way, the same membership as the CF in Salford Uni when I was there.

It strikes me that if ten people were expected to run an entire national organisation, it might be wise to focus on certain core tasks, to reassess what is possible and what is most useful.

This year's exec has focussed on events from the start, (our only co-option was for a second events organiser) but Nick's legacy would perhaps better be served by the other key idea to emerge from this year's exec - Regionalisation.

Running events is time consuming and difficult business. It is easier when events are organised close to home - hence the emergence of the London clique.

On this basis, there is no good reason why the NME should spend its time organising social events. Branch Chairmen should rightly cater for the social needs of their members and invite other nearby branches to join them where possible. Area Chairmen should do likewise, but for the bigger events, and also aim for some coordination of events across an area. If elected, I will insist that we start appointing regional coordinators as the constitution allows to allow regions to take on a unique identity and start thinking big.

CF needs more events - and there is no point in the NME doing it all themselves. Rather, a concerted effort to move the emphasis from centre to the regions is needed. This will involve removing the idea of the NME doing social events.

For National events, such as training days and conference, any NME I chair will be asking Areas or regions to host the social elements. This will not only give people good experience of hosting events and taking responsibility, but it will also allow regions other than London and the South East to raise their profile.

Campaign Pledges -

• Regional Coordinators, each accountable to a member of the exec, appointed to provide support to Chairmen and Region and to ensure needs in the regions are fed back to NME
• More events - coordinated on a regional basis, with better publication
• Training - on how to throw better events and fundraise
• Building up Regions - asking branches, areas and regions to contribute as a key element of the national organisation not a add-on.
• Constitutional Change - The NME should be expanded to reflect the scale of the task. A constitutional amendment will be submitted to the board to this effect.

For the Record:ConservativeFuture.com

I loved the opportunity to write for CF's website - http://www.conservativefuture.com/. The Copywriters teams are a great way to involve members - after all you don't have to live in London to contribute to CF's flagship source of information.

When Richard Jackson and I were approached about running two teams of writers for the site, I thought it was a great idea and we both set about trying to deliver a massive amount of material (10 articles per week, up from 2 per month).

I enjoyed the challenge of figuring out a system that would work to produce the least work per person, but the greatest results.

Today, the Copywriters teams encompass nearly 50 people (70 on an informal basis). They are all ages and from all backgrounds. 29 year old academics, mix with students who have just finished their GCSEs. Many writers would not otherwise be involved in CF. They receive training at our writing workshops, which we are soon to open to the senior party. (CF.com alumni include ConservativeHome's Sam Coates, Exec member Claire Palmer, and North Southwark and Bermondsey Chairman Martin Cakebread)

Importantly, I no longer manage the teams on a day-to-day basis. Writers who have worked their way through the ranks now run their own teams. For specific projects, eg campaigns and scripts for CF TV I will give them some input, but they are in charge and thriving in the role.

The Copywriter Team's success was my inspiration in standing for the NME last year, I thought that if we could introduce those clear systems of working, the potential of our members would be huge. I'll talk later about CF TV and CF Net, but needless to say the possibilities are there for greater participation by ordinary members to make our organisation much better.

ConservativeFuture.com will soon be revamped according to the plan I have helped to draw up. In addition the presence of our new internet tools (CF TV and CF Net) will increase the ability of CF to communicate with both the public and its own members (communication between centre and regions is frighteningly bad).

If I stand a chance of winning this election it will be based on my record, I am happy to measure what I have done for CF against any other candidate.

Conference Campaign: 6 Days to go

Still no word from Caroline or Andy as to whether or not they support banning students or any other groups from certain events. Don't be shy guys - leave a message in the comments or email me.

I was reminded that Zoe Aylward (who proposed me last year) organised an event on a party boat on the Thames. This required, as all social events do, a lot of time and effort. Anyway, Zoe headed off on holiday only to return to find that the event had been cancelled because there was some confusion over whether the event was Student Life or Working Life.

Student Life or Working Life? What's wrong with getting the boat, filling it with CF members of all shapes and sizes, adding alcohol and setting sail?

Zoe took the news with tremendous good humour and patience, but it was a shabby way to deal with someone else's work.

Getting hung up on the student question is counterproductive - providing good events smartly targetted is the way to attract Working Life members.

(Manifesto is nearing completion expect it soon)

Any Questions?

Alright guys, you must have a million questions. I am writing the manifesto today and tomorrow, but in the meantime, if there are any burning issues you want an honest answer on leave them in the comments, or email.

Confession Time

I'm not a Catholic, but something tells me that a bit of confession is good for the soul right now.

Truth is, I once joined the Mark Clarke Campaign - well almost.

The decision not to stand again for NME was made a while ago, and I had just planned to carry on with the work with CF.com, CF TV and CF Net, as well as the training days.

However, at a friends barbecue, the now ubiquitous pairing of Clarke and Palmer arrived. I thought it was odd that they were there, but assumed that one or both of them had struck up a friendship with our host.

Whilst I was grilling the burgers, future A-Lister Mr Clarke sidled up to me and began to chat.

"So Andrew are you going to stand again?"

"Umm...no, the NME is too expensive, and it doesn't help with the work I do with CF to be a member. I'm just gonna manage the teams in the same way I did with the Copywriters before I got elected."

"Oh that's good, cause I'm going to need, that sort of help when I'm in there. It''ll be good to have someone doing that."

...and so I became a hapless stooge to the best funded campaign CF has ever seen.

Thing is though, I really don't know Mark, and supporting the ClarkePalmer slate was unlikely. I've been a member of CF for four years now and know most of the long-standing activists, and Mark isn't amongst them.

The only thing I do know, is that he is one of the organisers of the CF Conference, and as good as that event will be (and with all the funding it's being given) I feel really uncomfortable about the student ban.

As much as CF does need a shot of professionalisation, when the Chairman's term is likely only to be nine months, I'm not sure we can spare the time for someone to learn the ropes. We definitely can't afford to have more politburo schemes from the centre.

I realise that Caroline and Mark have been campaigning for months before I even decided to stand, but I'll happily compare my record in this past year with anything either of them have done for CF. If you were signed up to support either camp before the summer, now is the time to change. Email me.

Conference Campaign: 7 Days to go

Update: Success!! A student rang RE the conference yesterday and thanks to one post on this blog no-one was able to say no.

No excuses, no 'You should've gone to Manchester' - just a quiet backing down and acceptance of the money.

Let's be honest - any member who is willing to fork out £140 should be allowed to go. After all this is our best funded event and it doesn't benefit the organisation to start playing silly beggars with the student ban.

Question is...will any of the other candidates for Chairman support the principle of equality for all members? Caroline? Andy? We already know where the Clarke/Palmer camp stand on this issue.

Comments in the comments section, or email.

Conservatives In Touch

Looking at the stats of who is visiting the page - Conservatives In Touch.net seems to be sending the most traffic my way.

Scary really, CIT is the Mr Hyde version of ConservativeHome.com, a way to put members in touch, but unlike ConHome, there are no reasoned debates, or discussions on road pricing policy. Rather it's all gloves off pugilistic stuff.

Unfortunately, as anyone who reads that forum will know, a CF forum is out of the question (for a start we would find it difficult to pay the resulting legal fees). However, CF Net our regional internet project has proved a step in the right direction in allowing a greater degree of interactive communication. When it launches in the next couple of weeks members will be able to see who represents them locally, get local news and comment on what's going on.

In additon, if elected, I'll start an NME blog to keep members up to date on what's going on, and members of the NME will be able to post as much or as little as they want regarding their work. Members can then post comments and contact the members directly on specific issues.

In the post

This morning whilst doing the post I saw the Conservative Future Information Pack. This is sent out to MPs, Assembly Members, Council Leaders, ACs etc. and contains a mini library of guides to each aspect of running a CF branch.

It marks the culmination of a year's experience and the fulfillment of my pledge to provide an e-library of advice (all booklets can be emailed to members on request). This is a decent start but imagine had we been focussed on this sort of support work from the start rather than trying to run a quasi-branch that specialised in events?

Two Points:

• I am pledging to focus on the provision of training, resources and services from the centre. Running branches is for the Area and Branch Chairmen to do, not the London clique.
• The future success of CF relies upon engaging the senior party. An NME committee, headed by one Executive member, will focus solely on this aim.

The Change Agenda: Blue skies thinking

My part of the election will focus relentlessly on the need for change in Conservative Future.

This is not a minor change, tinkering round the edges or for cosmetic effect. This is a root to branch transformation of how we work in CF.

The massive potential of CF is staggering. Five months ago when I conceived the idea for CF TV, I thought we might get some media students and a camcorder and try and make some short clips of middling to poor quality.

When I put out the ads, as with CF Net and CF.com I wasn't sure what we would see back - BUT every time I am amazed at the volume and quality of applicants.Professionals, students - all immensely talented and hungry to start getting involved. Regardless of their age or background, they wanted to start having their say in the party.

This is the amazing secret about CF, we are a diverse group that cares more passionately than most about the future of this great party - I care about turning it around and so far have had some success in uniting wildly different members in working towards a common goal.

This campaign has a lot of catching up to do, but if you are fed up of the status quo I could do with your help. Email me

Conference Campaign: 8 Days to go

Students aren't a bad bunch of people.

True, they can get away with working a three hour week and one or two can go through the 'questionable personal hygiene' phase, but look at the facts. Our most active members in CF are students, and of those, more describe themselves as a 'committed activist' than for our graduate members. (Precise figures to follow)


That is why, when we are running our most expensive and best training conference in a week's time it is wrong to exclude students.

Cherry picking attendees, inviting non-members and encouraging a working-life only policy may seem like the best way to build up our graduate membership, but when all the poor students got was a single, rainy morning in Manchester before conference started it seems a bit harsh.

No doubt some students will have escaped the sift and they should enjoy what is perhaps our most luxurious conference ever, but in my experience with running training sessions for the Copywriters team at CF.com, the mix of ages isn't a problem - the winning strategy will be to offer something that is attractive to our older members, not to regulate against the students.

Will student applications be welcomed for the last few places at conference? Time will tell...

Yes

ConservativeHome is starting a CF Thread to cover the CF election. It's name?

/torydiary/2006/07/are_you_a_young.html

Are you A. Young?

With luck like that this election will be easy...

Word of Warning

Election time usually excites a lot of interest, and the people applying are a real mix. If you are thinking of standing there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

1) It's hard work - my time on the NME matched my real job in terms of hours worked per week. Difference is - my real job paid me, the NME cost money (a lot of money). If you are going to do it you need to be able to put most other things on hold and be prepared to commit to 9 months of hard slog.

2) Expect no help - CF as it currently stands has no functioning system of member support and no budget (at least not one the NME get to see). Therefore expect everything you do to be done completely as a result of your own efforts. (eg. CF TV, and CF Net are done on blog software for a reason, and not just because it's user friendly)

3) Politicians Beware - though we all campaign for our jobs, the work is more akin to a civil service. If you expect great rewards, recognition or a shortcut to the A-List, perhaps its time to reconsider. Having said that, youth politics can get very nasty, so prepare yourself for some dodgy dealings and lots of firefighting of egos and rows.

IF, after all that, you can still recognise that CF is an essential element to the future success of this great party, and that it MUST to be turned around, then good luck! (Am happy to sign nomination papers to ensure a large field; after all, Caroline and I signed each others in a fit of sportsmanship)

The Contest Begins

A bit of a late entry into the contest, mind you, to beat the other two I would have had to start at least a minimum of 2-3 months ago, and I've got work to do because CF TV, ConservativeFuture.com and CF Net are all huge projects and I make no apology for spending most of my time on these.

CF is a failing organisation, but as you can see from the above we are capable of great things. With good leadership and experience of how CF works it can be made better, I am standing on the following:-

- Regionalisation - the NME as a central body will only take on work and roles to support the regions
- My Record - Compare what I have achieved in CF in one year with any other candidates record
- Professionalisation - CF will work as a professional organisation and banish its bad habits

If that sounds good to you, email.

Every Little Helps