Hello DFs!!!
Next month (14-16th August) we are holding our annual Althing!
But what is an Althing?
I hear you ask…
The Althing is our yearly Business meeting, where we elect new members of DF Committee and have an opportunity to amend our constitution. DFs have the opportunity to submit motions and musings, letting you – DFs – have a say in how the movement is run. This year we’re merging DF Camp and Althing to create the “EveryThing 2.0” (following from last year’s success). This is the opportunity to nominate yourself for a role on committee and become a vital part of the movement and how it is run!
So which roles are up for election?
Well, it’s important that we establish there are three different types of roles:
- Committee Roles – These tend to be the largest roles in the movement. The individuals filling them are expected to attend Things (our DF Business meetings), where they will have their travel expensed, and must supply a quarterly report to the movement.
- Supervisory Roles – These roles are vitally important to the DF Movement, but must remain independent of DF Committee because they must be able to be critical of Committee as well as the movement as a whole when it comes to their area of responsibility. They must also submit quarterly reports.
- Non-Committee Roles – According to the constitution: “there shall be several elected roles that are not on committee composed of DFs and elected by DFs to oversee areas of the movement’s objectives that do not fall within the remit of DF Committee”. These guys get to do a lot of the cool stuff in things like our organising podcast and Zine (magazine). It’s also nice to have them attend Things, but they’re not forced to submit a quarterly report in the same way, just an annual report at Althing each year.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way – lets find out which roles are up for election this time around!
Althing Role Descriptions
Committee Roles – 1 Year Term
Chair
You will help Co-ordinate DF Business events, make sure committee activities run smoothly, and help support the rest of committee in their roles. It’s extremely important you know this position is NOT the “leader” of DFs because the DF Movement doesn’t have a leader. Think of it as more of a pastoral/management kind of deal. If you have big ideas for the movement and are good at communicating and keeping people in check, this role is for you.
Events
You will oversee and co-ordinate the organisation of national DF events. It is important to note you do not have to organise each event! Instead, you will set up the various co-ord teams and make sure they have all the resources to fulfill their roles. Supported by the Shadow Events Rep.
Shadow Events
You will help support Events Representative in their role. If you’re interested in becoming the Events rep, but want some time to learn the ropes, this role is for you.
Activism
You will help coordinate the DF Movements political activity nationally, as well as liaising with local groups to support their activism. Especially following the Together Alliance March in March of this year, this role will be vitally important in helping DFs make a mark on a national level. If you’re into politics, marches and want to help other DFs get involved too, this role is most definitely for you.
MEST UP
You will coordinate the national MEST UP team in celebrating and expanding our unique MEST UP programme. MEST UP is what sets DFs apart from other youth movements, and you will be vital liaising with MEST UP trained members, while also organising their Training and workshops.
Shadow MEST UP
You will help support the MEST UP coordinator in their role. If you’re interested in getting involved with MEST UP but want to train under the current MEST UP coordinator first, this role is the role for you.
Shadow Treasurer
You will train under the current Treasurer with a view to becoming the next Treasurer of the DF Movement, responsible for managing our national finances. You can only become Treasurer after training as Shadow Treasurer (due to legal malarkey) so this is essentially signing up to be the Treasurer in a year’s time. If you are good with numbers, this role is most definitely for you.
Training and First Aid Representative
You will coordinate training sessions for the movement, as well as coordinating First Aid on events. We always need more First Aid training, so if you have any experience in that, please apply!!
Committee Roles – 2 Year Term
Laymember (even)
On paper the Laymember doesn’t have a job, but when the going gets tough for someone on committee, the laymember gets going!!! You’ll be asked to step in to support other members of committee with their tasks when they run out of capacity. This role is a real wildcard so if you’re not sure what you want to do on committee, maybe this could be your calling.
Outreach
This role works to build relationships and collaborate with other organisations. They are the point of contact for DF committee for collaborations and relations with the rest of the DF Movement
Secretary
Help organise the DF Business meetings, creating minutes, taking agendas and keeping the policies up to date. If you enjoy emails, files and lots and lots of documents, this role is for you.
Supervisory Roles – 1 Year Term
Accessibility
The Accessibility Rep works with Events coordinators to make sure DF Events are accessible to anybody who wishes to attend. It’s your job to scrutinise DF Committee, so if you fancy holding them to account, go for this role.
Sustainability
The Sustainability Rep works to promote environmentally friendly actions within DFs. This could be from making sure events are planned to use minimal single use plastic, or advertising beach clean up events etc.
Non Committee Roles – 1 Year Term
Venturer Liaison
Works with Venturer Committee to create a smooth transition from Venturers to DFs.
International Opportunities
You will work to find and coordinate opportunities for DFs with other international organisations. You will represent DFs on the world stage, helping create links with other youth branches of IFM SEI organisations. If you have any experience with international organisations, please apply!
Zine
You will organise the DF Movement’s magazine. This could entail running workshops on events, but it’s really up to you!! If you love zines and DFs then please apply for this role!
Podcast
You will coordinate the DFs monthly podcast. The DFM made an amazing comeback this year, so it will be your job to continue creating fun and interesting episodes. This can be through conducting interviews, and running workshops on events to make monthly episodes, but honestly this role can be anything you want it to be. If you love creating media, or are a people person, then please apply for this role!!
London, Scotland and Wales Liaison
These are three separate roles responsible for representing the large populations of DFs in their respective area. It’s lovely when these roles organise big events for their regions, but it’s not a requirement for the position. The most important Thing you should do in this role is make sure your areas school holiday calendar doesn’t clash with our events calendar!! We need DF events to be accessible to all.
“Manchester Leiasgon”
For this one, we look back and blame former DF Tyler Eckersall. In his words:
‘At Althing 2022, as a 17 year old, I organised a large Manchester contingent of DFs to lobby for a Manchester Liaison to be added to the roles. This was barely relevant at the time and is even less so now. As an example for what happens when people abuse democratic processes, this role remains, but in a different format. To find out more about this, please see the Althing 2024 minutes HERE . Run for this one. I dare you.’
You are officially dared. If you wish to keep this tomfoolery alive, to protect a foolish young Mancunian’s legacy, become our ‘Manchester Leiasgon’ and prepare to do absolutely nothing. The more you hate Manchester, the better.
Big Camps Rep
This role will be responsible for liaising with the teams behind the DF 50th Anniversary camp in 2027, and International Camp 2030.
General Council Odd
You will work as a representative for the DF Movement on Woodcraft Folk’s governing board, General Council. It’s a big responsibility and will require attendance at regular GC residentials throughout the year. Through this role you can help shape the way that Woodcraft is run, as well as the way that DFs interact with central Woodcraft. (This role is one year due to the previous holder stepping down)
Non-Committee Roles – 2 Year Term
General Council (even)
You will work as a representative for the DF Movement on Woodcraft Folk’s governing Board, General Council. It’s a big responsibility and will require attendance at regular GC residentials throughout the year. Through this role you can help shape the way that Woodcraft is run, as well as the way that DFs interact with central Woodcraft.
All of these roles can be role shares, to split up the workload between multiple people. Committee often finds role shares can create a more sustainable work environment!
Blue Skies and Happy Applications!
Lara – Secretary of the DF Movement
Angus and Caitlin – DF Communications Team
