These are the manifestos that were written by the candidates for the AGM this year. The election resulted in the following committee members for next year:
- President: Harry Miller
- Secretary: Rebekah Allison
- Treasurer: Josh Nicholson
- Welfare: Maggie Nott
- Gear: Molly Claassen
- Social: Jack Cota
- Social: Zoe Wharton
- Social Media: Jacob Peel
- Walk Leader: Matthew Dalby
President
Harry Miller
Hi, I’m Harry. I’ve lived in Newcastle my whole life and I currently study Marine Engineering as a second year student.
I’ve been a member of NUFWS for nearly 2 years now so Many of you may already know who I am. However, if you don’t know who I am you might know me as the official NUFWS pool champion so being at the front is normal to me, which is why I believe I can be a great president.
Over my time in NUFWS I have been on many walks (including every weekend trip this year and most of the day walks) which has given me plenty of experience in walking and a good idea of how I should run the society if I get elected thanks to the example’s set by Owen and Fiona the year prior.
If elected I aim to create an inviting atmosphere to encourage new members (hopefully drivers) to get as involved as possible. An idea I have for this is to try and run multiple ice breaker socials throughout semester 1.
NUFWS is my only society so I can, and am prepared to, devote my time to leading the best society Newcastle offers.
Secretary
Rebekah Allison
Hi, I’m Rebekah and I’m running for secretary. I have been in the society for the past 2 years and loved it, and as I am going into my third year, I would love to get more involved in it. Living near the Lake District means I know the area well and has allowed me to have plenty of walking experience in the past. Having also spent an apprenticeship working outside I know the best ways to prepare for harsh weather conditions and have received navigation and first aid training through this which would hopefully mean I won’t get lost! Being part of other societies has allowed me to see how they run, what works and what doesn’t. I’ve only missed a couple trips this year, and I’m often at the pub which is a high priority. I think I’d be good at the role as I have good time management and I’m approachable. I’m looking forward to help organise trips, choosing where to go and which bunkhouses to stay at. I look forward to working with the rest of the committee to ensure everybody has a great time.
Tresaurer
Josh Nicholson
Hi, I am Josh, I am a 1st year Biology student and I would like to be NUFWS treasurer next year. I would be good for this role as I am organised and enjoy looking at details and getting things done. I also have a wide range of experience and love walking in Scotland, Wales and England and want to help facilitate walks for all levels of experience in the hills especially introducing people to the joy of being on the high fells and Munros. I have undertaken mountain leader training so hopefully my navigation and leadership skills should be up to scratch although I am looking to improve them. I hope to be a good treasurer and make sure the societies funds are spent responsibly next year to benefit all members and help everyone to enjoy exploring the outdoors.
Welfare Sec
Maggie Nott
Hi lovely mountain people! My names Maggie, I’m a third-year languages student and I’d love to be your welfare secretary for next year!
I’ve been a part of fell walking since my first year and it’s become such a big and amazing part of university for me! I really care about this society and would love for as many people as possible to feel as welcomed and happy joining, as I have these three years. As far as caring for the welfare of the members, I like to think I can be a reassuring and easy person to approach, so any issues people have in accessing this society I will take seriously and ensure everyone can access the society and feel comfortable taking part. Ultimately, my favourite thing about this society isn’t the hikes or the scenery or trips, but the people who love doing all those things together. I’ve never felt more welcomed by a group of people than I have with fell-walking, and I’ll do my best to keep it this way. Come to me for anything, we’ll talk it out!
In terms of this role being an executive role, I’m well up for getting shit done, keeping organised and making sure everyone knows what’s going on, where to be and when to set their alarms. I’ve been doing a year aboard this year so being organised is something I’ve been forced to adapt to, and I can hopefully transfer these skills to NUFWS next year!
Thanks for reading my rambles, it would mean a lot to be on your committee next year!
All the best, hopefully your welfare sec next year!
Social Secretary
Jack Cota
Hi, my name is Jack Cota, and I am going into my fourth year of computer science next year. You might’ve seen me up a few big hills, or more likely in the Strawberry on a Wednesday. If you have met me before, you’ll probably know that I’m a very consistent member of the socials since I joined the society this year.
You might be thinking, “this guy isn’t even a very good walker, what can he bring to the society?”. While I’m probably not the best fellwalker in the society, I am very good at walking from the Strawberry to Lady Greys. I might not be good at planning routes for daytrips, but I am quite good at planning the routes for the socials.
Seb has been a fantastic social sec this year, and I would love to carry on his hard work (and the year long tradition of a computer scientist as social sec). I would like to continue the themed nights, as well as plan more bar crawls like the Tour de Metro. Sober socials are also important so that we can do something different, and make sure there is something for everyone, even if you aren’t a fan of drinking (we aren’t a drinking society after all!).
For me, university is all about meeting people and making memories, and I’d love to play a part in making sure everyone makes as many memories with great friends as I have in this amazing society.
Gear Secretary
Zoe Wharton
Next year will be my third (and last!) year in the Fellwalking society, and I’d love to give something back by joining committee. Gear secretary is my preferred role, and I feel I am very well suited to it for several reasons.
I have done two National Trail walks in recent years, meaning I have good knowledge of what kit is useful to take on long walking trips. I started with limited knowledge and a small budget, meaning that I had to put in a lot of research, and the experiences themselves were very beneficial to find out what is essential/ non-essential, which brands are trustworthy and how much stuff is necessary to take. This information will be particularly useful to new fell-walkers, who feel like they don’t know where to start.
I am extremely organised and love to keep things tidy. I currently live with three boys, so keeping the gear store in order won’t be a challenge at all.
I am friendly, approachable, and confident on big walks, so will be competent at leading walks and helping on trips. I am also used to carrying big bags and I always come prepared with tissues and spare snacks!
Looking forward to seeing you all at the AGM.
Kind regards,
Zoe
Molly Claassen
Hey, I’m Molly and I’m running for Gear Sec. This is my second year in the society, but I have an extensive background in climbing and fellwalking to draw upon. As a self-confessed gear nerd, my years of fellwalking has given me an expansive knowledge of kit and how to use it correctly in a wide range of conditions, from white-outs to warm sunny days. I aim to share this knowledge with you, making fellwalking accessible, fun and safe. As part of this, I will organise the gear store and put the inventory onto the NUFW website so that members can see what kit is available to borrow. I aim to create a log of rented kits to ensure everything is returned. I will apply for funding grants, something I have significant experience in, to replace older society kit and potentially buy additional winter kit. I am keen to help members navigate the complexities of kit options and offer advice on what is best value for money. I hope to expand the range of merchandise and move away from unisex sizing. Finally, I have experience of leading walks and look forward to working with other committee members to ensure the society remains a success.
Social Media Sec
Jacob Peel
My name is Jacob, I’m from sunny Cumbria, and I’m running for the role of social media secretary. In this role I hope to use social media posts to create a buzz around NUFWS for those considering joining, as well as quickly providing clear information about events like walks and socials for members. As a Computer Science student, I can overcome technical issues, and will be able to manage the nufws.com website effectively. I also have experience in video editing and graphic design, which I will use to create appealing media. Since social media pages and the website are the face of the society, it’s important to emphasise quality communication through these. One change I’m considering is to introduce more humour into these pages, to strengthen a sense of community and rapport. I also think it’s key to maintain the excitement that comes with a new announcement. As a NUFWS regular for 2 years I’m keen to help others get the most out of the society and won’t neglect the responsibility of swiftly replying to any enquiries in a supportive manner. Thanks for reading.
Walk Leader
Jake Hanney
I think I would be a good walk planner because I have been fellwalking since a young age and I know not only what is safe and possible but how to have a good time in the mountains. I have also done a lot of walking with friends so am capable of organising small groups and guiding others.
I would like to improve the society by exploring more new and interesting places and also by making the society more welcoming and accessible to new members.
Thanks,
Jake
Matthew Dalby
Hi, I’m Matthew and I’m a 3rd year medic, now heading into 4th year and next year will be my 3rd year of being a part of the society. After 2 years of going on many of the different trips and having a great time on the walks I’ve decided I would like to contribute to planning these so that others can have as good of a time as I have. I think I would be a good walk planner because I am used to planning the routes for my own hikes and I used to make route cards for small groups where not everyone was at the same level of ability. I believe this experience will let me make fun routes that everyone will be able to enjoy regardless of who is coming on a trip. Having been here a couple of years I have a pretty good idea of how the society runs, what works and what doesn’t and I would love the chance to put that knowledge to good use.
Newcastle University Fellwalking Society 