UCLU Conservative Society

Members!

Ms Cash has got in contact with the society asking for our help to obtain the Westminster North Constituency. To find out more, please see her facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=7809647666&ref=ts

Also, please could all members wishing to go on the Brussels trip this June please hand in the lump sum of £150 asap (cheques payable to ‘UCL UNION’) to Emma, Brian, or Iain, or into the Conservative Soc pigeon hole, CSC, 2nd floor Bloomsbury building. Our original deadline was Fri 19th, which was extended, so as time is moving on we need them in quickly so we can get the best deal accomodation and travel wise.

Many thanks,

Emma, Brian, Iain

Last night, Shane Greer, the leading Conservative blogger, was the special guest speaker at our wine reception. With our meeting taking place in the stylish confines of the Engineering Building’s Executive Suite, Shane gave an insightful talk on politics, new media and campaigning.

Using his experience as a blogger and activist, he spoke authoritatively on how on-line media was influencing politics (citing examples like the Twitter backlash against Jan Moir and Carter Ruck’s attempted injunction against the Guardian). He told us how on-line media was making mainstream media more accountable, as well as allowing greater interactivity (such as with the website www.myconservatives.com facilitating grassroots movements and campaigns).

However he didn’t just indulge in digital evangelism, as he acknowledged that the mainstream media was not going to be wiped out soon by the rising popularity of on-line bloggers like Guido Fawkes. Shane then went on to speak passionately about the benefits of campaigning “on the doorstep“, explaining how the physical connection matters and makes campaigning (even by telephone) a better way to persuade and reach voters than through the Internet.

As the speech came to a close, the audience were eager to ask questions. Shane deftly handled the questions – like revealing, when asked about his political journey, that he had only got interested in politics a few years ago and offering, on the one hand, advice to fledging bloggers and on the other, a critique of Labour’s centralising approach to online media (with particular criticism reserved for Labour’s “Twitter tsar” and her declaration that “Labour doesn’t need the Sun – we’ve got Twitter!“)
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Overall it was a great event (some audience members could be spotted busy at their notebooks as Shane spoke), with a nice turnout too. Our next event is the Westminster Pub Crawl, on Tuesday November 17th (after Reading Week) at 19.30. (Details on Facebook here)

On Tuesday  10th March 2009 the UCL Conservatives met for the AGM, the constitution was ratified and elections for the committee took place.

The outgoing committee is pleased to announce the following results:

President:  Kieran James Weisberg

Treasurer: Iain  Martin

Vice President: Emma Double

General Secretary: Asa Bennett

Social Secretary: Emily Cheah

Website and Publicity Officer: Laura-Rose Saunders

Caerulean Editor: Tom Parkinson

The outgoing committee members feel the new committee is a useful mix of successful old and devoted new faces, seeing the promotion of Kieran Weisberg to President and the return of Iain Martin to Treasurer. The society will welcome Laura-Rose Saunders back to UCL from her year abroad in Russia as Website and Publicity Officer and sees the devoted  Tom Parkinson, Emily Cheah, Emma Double and Asa Bennett rise through the society ranks.  The new committee will set to work in the summer to prepare for the coming academic and (hopefully) election year. Lets wish the committee and the party every success and pledge to offer them every support.

Tickets have now sold out

On the 20th March 2009 the UCL Conservative Society will host this year’s Alumni Dinner!

We will be celebrating the success of our society with patrons, supporters, alumni and current members over a sumptuous three course dinner with a plentiful supply of wine. This year sees the introduction of a Pre-Dinner Drinks Reception with a Jazz Trio from the UCL Jazz Society followed by dinner in the Old Refectory amongst walls adorned with our former provosts.

Ticket have now sold out

The Treasurer asks that the few who have reserved tickets but yet to pay contact him as soon as possible via ( conservative@politician.com ) to discuss payment options.

Date/Time: 20th March 2009 at 19:30

Location: Old Refectory, UCL Wilkins Building, Gower Street

Dress Code: Black Tie

Tickets can be purchased safely via paypal and confirmation of your name on the guestlist will be issued electronically to an email address of your choosing. We will post a final guestlist 72 hours before the event or when tickets sell out!

Tickets are limited and likely to sell out quickly!

Tickets Prices:

Student (Members) – £25.00
Student (Non-Member) – £30.00
Alumni/Guest – £35.00

For further event information please do not hesitate to contact members of the committee.

Ticket Type

Student (Member) £25.00 Student (Non-Member) £30.00 Alumni / Guest £35.00

If you encounter any difficulties with purchasing your ticket, or cannot purchase one online, please contact our Treasurer – Kieran Weisberg on ( conservative@politician.com )

A small party is being held to thank Conservative Future members that worked to get Boris elected back in May. This night is a chance for a thank you to members who ‘actually’ helped out during the campaign.

Invites have been sent out to those members – if you campaigned for him & have NOT received an invitation then please email me. Only those on the guest list will be let into the event.

Email me: rngjackson@gmail.com