2022 AGM - Vice Chair Organisation Report

"You're still muted!" Another year of Zoom meetings and the odd excursion to help fight by-elections

2021 has continued to pose difficulties due to remote working and social distancing.

If, like me, you are involved in multiple voluntary and work-based teams, meetings sat at the desk, or on mobile phone (see, I can multi-task) tend to blur into one another…

For my part, I continue to assist (as best I can) Keith Melton and the Officers of the Exec in booking conference Fringe slots, pulling in speakers etc. and generally setting up umpteen Zoom meetings, trying (?!) to make sure we have recordings and minutes available for view/digest.

During 2021 I have managed to get a few of the applicants through the Accredited Candidate process and am happy to report that the initial stage has been much improved by Francis Thomas our Political Assistant, thanks due.

We have had meetings of most of the Special Interest Groups, when commitments of those involved allowed - some of which (SIGS) are now working independent of Exec prompting, the others are getting there, work in progress currently.

The Regional Groups are still in their infancy, several people have been identified / put their heads above the parapet and agreed to be the initial co-ordinator for their region. These will be made known to the wider membership as soon as we can, they will need YOUR support if we are to make this a success.

Watch this space or - more accurately - your inboxes.

I continue to input to the Lib Dems' Natural Environment Working Group as much as possible.

Autumn Conference 2021 saw the publication of the long awaited Challenge magazine. Big thanks to George Miles for his sterling work collating articles and putting it together in his capacity of Editor. We managed to post out a copy to all members on our database at the time of publication and held several hundred spare copies which have been/are being circulated to the Regions - where they have been well received; being onwards distributed by the regional co-ordinators to fellow Lib Dems and green activists as part of general recruitment and engagement activities.

With my professional hat on (as a publisher and designer) I shall assist David Watts (new Editor of Challenge) to get the next issue ready for Spring Conference. Watch your doormats.

We still have much to do to get all of the Accredited Candidate applicants through the process - so, if you re already an Approved Candidate and can assist - please get in touch with VC Org (email address below).

Jason Billin

Vice Chair - Organisation - 2021

vcorg@greenlibdems.org.uk