The difference

The manifestoes are full of cliches for a simple reason, we all know what needs to be done, but I'm not going to start picking an argument there. After a frustrating year on the exec I am arguing that CF should change how it works. This is the difference.

A quick flick through the manifestoes will reveal numerous schemes for the year ahead. This is understandable, simple goals appear to be progress. This year it was events, the exec came to the conclusion that if only we worked really hard and organised lots of events then we would have succeeded, we even co-opted another member to organise them.

This election the schemes include targetted campaigns, membership drives or NUS.

However, whoever takes charge next year will be the person in charge of CF in every part of England, Wales and NI and for every task for which CF has responsibility. Whilst pursuing one or more of these goals obsessively may bring short term gains, the problem will remain the same, that the NME consists of seven people (ten at most) and a centralised model will entrench the slow decline we are now seeing in CF.
My main goal is to radically change how CF works. To do this there must be a dynamic shift to the lowest levels of the organisation for all of our key tasks. The NME must stop acting as a London-based super branch and make a permanent change to a service provider and strategic body.

Success in the regions will involve the establishment of a regional identity and cooperation on a regional basis. Achieving the critical mass for taking on larger projects in every region must be the aim of this nine months.

Make no mistake, as a national organisation CF is failing - most of you will appreciate this already - but there is huge potential in our members and it is possible to set in place the means for future success.

Andrew