Members Officer
Hannah Michael
Swansea University Guides and Scouts
Hi everyone! I'm Hannah, a PGCE student at Swansea University and a big Scout and Guide fan since my Rainbow days! I’m the current President of SUGS and I love leading Cubs with my friends, lending a hand with Scouts and Beavers in Swansea and London, representing the club at SSAGO reps and chipping away at the Green Project. I'm really passionate about making Scouting and Guiding enjoyable for absolutely everyone and have loved being a part of SSAGO over the last four years so I think this is the perfect way to give back as Members Officer on Team Pink!
What do I want to do as Members Officer?
This is just the tip of the iceberg but some ideas I have for the role are:
- SSAGO Bear: a travelling teddy that is passed between committees sharing the behind-the-scenes in a diary/newsletter to help newer clubs see the who, what, when, where, why and how a club thrives.
- Friendly Competitions: fun challenges between regions or clubs, e.g. growing the tallest sunflower for Earth Day or a photography competition for publicity.
- Social Packs: carry on Ewan’s idea of shared activity resources to help new or struggling clubs from mini pioneering to boomwhackers (all personally tried and tested) with the time, cost and what you’ll need.
- Committee FAQs & Checklists: I’d like to team up with the secretary and the assistants to simplify all the fiddly bits of SSAGO like updating details, the website (e.g. setting up a camp), membership fees but also on inclusivity and welfare so clubs know exactly what they need to do and when so no one is left without a clue.
- SSAGO 101: a ready-made introduction presentation for Freshers’ events/the first social of the year explaining SSAGO, rallies, balls, Discord, mascots, Team Pink and all the other quirks that make the organisation what it is!
- International Pen Pals: joining up the International Project lead to write postcards to international student Scout and Guide groups to create international links, building on friendships I’ve made on Witan 2024, 16th World Scout Moot and at KISC and it would be fab to have other get involved too!
- Green: continuing leading the project but suggesting (and taking suggestions for) easy ideas like free range eggs (instead of caged) or donating leftovers to food banks after camps in factsheets.
- Welsh Language: Carry on Lucy and Ed’s work by adding more of the language in SSAGO; even as a beginner I know that it’s really meaningful to try and have and celebrate Welsh where possible.
Why should you vote for me?
I have three years of committee experience as President and Vice President so I understand both the visible leadership and the paperwork like emailing the SU in the background that keeps a society running smoothly. By raising money for amazing charities like Cancer Research, the Bat Conservation Trust, organising a Comic Relief breakfast, beach clean and launching cool new merchandise like drawstring bags and even jibbitz – I’ve proven that once I set my mind to something, I put in the work to see it through because I genuinely enjoy it! I’ve liaised with our local GLV and High Sheriff to introduce enthusiastic freshers as new leaders, teamed up with loads of societies and created over 200 stories and posts on Facebook and Instagram so I’m confident in communicating and building those relationships – skills that are essential when acting as the first point of contact for clubs; I want to be a friendly face that people come to!
As Small Bands Manager for the Musicians’ Society, I keep records up to date, help set up new bands, oversee membership lists, and make sure I have a full picture of how each group is doing. When a band looks like it might be struggling, I reach out and offer support. In many ways, if you replace ‘bands’ with ‘clubs’, I’m already carrying out quite a few of the responsibilities of a Members Officer just in a different environment. Alongside Mental Health First Aid, safeguarding and inclusion (anti-racist and LGBTQ+) training from my course, which prepares me to respond well to welfare concerns; my experience demonstrates that I already practise a lot of the skills this role needs.
SSAGO has meant so much to me, and it’s given me friendships, confidence, opportunities, and memories I’m so grateful for. I truly want every member to have the same fantastic experience that I’ve had and I never want any committee, club, or individual to feel lost or unsupported. I have so many ideas, but more importantly, I’m someone who puts in the time and effort to make them happen. When I care about something, I follow it through and I like turning plans into action and support so that every club feels encouraged and every member feels valued. If that’s the kind of Members Officer you’d like, I would truly appreciate your vote! 