I have tutored on the Keele course (previously held at Caerleon) for the past 13 years so a weeks intensive lecturing preparing students for the forthcoming June examinations is a normal part of my yearly activity but it is very special to be going there as National President.
After annual conference, it sees the biggest gathering of Institute members in the calendar year and this year over 250 people are attending the revision course and other events being held at the university throughout the week, which starts on the Saturday and finishes on the Friday afternoon.
Saturday morning is spent packing everything needed for the week which as well as the normal everyday items includes getting our expanding assortment of dressing up gear out of the garage for the tutors entertainment I am tasked with coordinating every year on the Thursday night which is "different but hugely anticipated by the students each year!" (but more of that later).
Having made the short journey up the motorway, it is not long before I am welcoming the students along with the course director, Gary Watson to the weeks events (with words of wisdom about the need to pace themselves for what sees them receiving 42 hours of tuition over the six days). I then get proceedings underway with two sessions of business rates (or three hours) with the level 3 certificate students from mid afternoon onwards.
Have dinner with the intention of having a quick shower before returning to the campus for the pre-arranged evenings quiz. Unfortunately the heavy schedule of a President and year-end activity at work in recent weeks has caught up with me and the quick power nap! turns into a good nights sleep but thankfully my fellow tutors of Dave Chapman, Dave Hendy, Ian Ferguson, Tracey Crowe, Louise Freeth and Chris Bloodworth keep up the tradition of tutors past by failing to win the general knowledge quiz
Up early Sunday refreshed from my unexpected 10 hours sleep, to deliver the remaining 5 sessions of business rates for my first group starting at 9am and finishing at 6.45pm. The night is spent in deep conversation over a few shandies getting to know new students before returning to our base with Messrs Magor, Watson and McDermott for what ends up being an impromptu meeting discussing the possible changes to the future examination of the Institutes qualification. Is this sad or keen!
Monday is spent in session with the second certificate group of around 25 students repeating the business rates sessions of the previous day (another 7 and a half hours) before dinner, a quick shower and back to the campus for a karaoke evening. The President declines the opportunity to sing having seen Messrs Bloodworth and Chapman break the machine with their version of love shack (or did the DJ pull the plug) and leaving before Chappers at the request of the students did an 8 minute meatloaf track which by all accounts pretty much ended the night on an all time low. Fortunately some of the students demonstrate hidden talents and some “x factor potential” whilst the tutors efforts are only suitable for “Cowell-esque” criticism.
Tuesday morning sees the conclusion of business rates for my second group with delivery of the final two sessions before breaking for what is a well deserved and needed rest. Some of the students venture into Chester for some retail therapy, some to the local Trentham gardens and others to bed after the initial 3 days tutoring and evenings networking takes it toll. Along with 5 tutors, a couple of the association reps down for the following days meeting and a couple of students, we head off for an afternoons golf which starts in sunshine, by the ninth had changed to a icy blizzard before concluding in spitting rain (the mood of the weather matched by my groups golf which is made up of Phil Black a level 2 student from Westminster and the Welsh wizard and newest member of the tutoring team Chris Bloodworth). The result is a closely kept secret akin to the election results in Zimbawe but needless to say without some fixing of the scores the President of the days golf would not have seen him lift any trophy. It is just fortunate we are here for our knowledge of Revs and Bens and not our golfing prowess.
Back in time for the themed night in the university restaurant (or canteen) taking us back to our school days, pink custard, treacle sponge and the Presidents favourite included on the menu “fish fingers” amongst other classic dishes. It’s all great fun before seeing most head for the bar on campus to watch the evening’s football. However, the most important result of the night see’s the National Council team of McDermott and yours truly whitewash the Institute staff (Messrs Magor and Watson) on the pool table six – nil before heading back up to the management centre where more of the association reps from around the country have arrived for the following days meeting. A few hours are spent discussing a variety of subjects over a few glasses of wine before retiring to bed and the second part of the week.
This year is very different for me as I am usually one of the tutors who teaches on all 28 sessions in the week but I am required to do other things Presidential which means getting involved in going around all the groups to speak to the students, open up and get involved in the management course, and other events we run at Keele as most key personnel are all on site. Wednesday morning sees us have a really good meeting with the representatives of the regional associations discussing two key issues, the future education strategy and with the changing face of local Government how we modernise our regional activity to meet the changing agenda and needs of our members. I kick off the management course immediately after lunch before setting some future dates in my ever full diary to take forward some of the agreed initiatives from the morning session.
I then with Sue Williams Lee, President of the West Midlands Association try and choreograph some moves for the entertainment we traditionally put on the Thursday night for the students, which this year is loosely based around the Spice Girls, as you have never seen them before. In the past we have taken off a multitude of acts that inevitably involves tutors putting their credibility and modesty on the line all in spirit of showing hopefully that whilst we are an institute who work hard we also like to have fun and means we certainly aren’t seen as “grey suits and elusive”. I am sure there will be photographs and I fear video, which will no doubt be loaded onto the worldwide web by now or over the coming days! I am afforded the luxury of a few hours off so catch up on some e mails for work before hosting a dinner in the grounds of the university for the students in the last year of their 3 year corporate qualification and people who are on the management course as well as a number of past presidents who are all giving and facilitating sessions on the management course which has again sold out for the third year running since it was introduced. We also invite Neil Garrett who has stepped down as a tutor this year following his retirement last week from the VOA after 19 years as a tutor on the course. The evening is an opportunity to recognise all that is good about the Institute and having concluded the evening with a short speech, I gather my dance troupe of tutors for an hours rehearsal starting at 11pm. Having had the afternoon off to prepare we have never been so organised before retiring for what is by now turning into an endurance test for most.
After annual conference, it sees the biggest gathering of Institute members in the calendar year and this year over 250 people are attending the revision course and other events being held at the university throughout the week, which starts on the Saturday and finishes on the Friday afternoon.
Saturday morning is spent packing everything needed for the week which as well as the normal everyday items includes getting our expanding assortment of dressing up gear out of the garage for the tutors entertainment I am tasked with coordinating every year on the Thursday night which is "different but hugely anticipated by the students each year!" (but more of that later).
Having made the short journey up the motorway, it is not long before I am welcoming the students along with the course director, Gary Watson to the weeks events (with words of wisdom about the need to pace themselves for what sees them receiving 42 hours of tuition over the six days). I then get proceedings underway with two sessions of business rates (or three hours) with the level 3 certificate students from mid afternoon onwards.
Have dinner with the intention of having a quick shower before returning to the campus for the pre-arranged evenings quiz. Unfortunately the heavy schedule of a President and year-end activity at work in recent weeks has caught up with me and the quick power nap! turns into a good nights sleep but thankfully my fellow tutors of Dave Chapman, Dave Hendy, Ian Ferguson, Tracey Crowe, Louise Freeth and Chris Bloodworth keep up the tradition of tutors past by failing to win the general knowledge quiz
Up early Sunday refreshed from my unexpected 10 hours sleep, to deliver the remaining 5 sessions of business rates for my first group starting at 9am and finishing at 6.45pm. The night is spent in deep conversation over a few shandies getting to know new students before returning to our base with Messrs Magor, Watson and McDermott for what ends up being an impromptu meeting discussing the possible changes to the future examination of the Institutes qualification. Is this sad or keen!
Monday is spent in session with the second certificate group of around 25 students repeating the business rates sessions of the previous day (another 7 and a half hours) before dinner, a quick shower and back to the campus for a karaoke evening. The President declines the opportunity to sing having seen Messrs Bloodworth and Chapman break the machine with their version of love shack (or did the DJ pull the plug) and leaving before Chappers at the request of the students did an 8 minute meatloaf track which by all accounts pretty much ended the night on an all time low. Fortunately some of the students demonstrate hidden talents and some “x factor potential” whilst the tutors efforts are only suitable for “Cowell-esque” criticism.
Tuesday morning sees the conclusion of business rates for my second group with delivery of the final two sessions before breaking for what is a well deserved and needed rest. Some of the students venture into Chester for some retail therapy, some to the local Trentham gardens and others to bed after the initial 3 days tutoring and evenings networking takes it toll. Along with 5 tutors, a couple of the association reps down for the following days meeting and a couple of students, we head off for an afternoons golf which starts in sunshine, by the ninth had changed to a icy blizzard before concluding in spitting rain (the mood of the weather matched by my groups golf which is made up of Phil Black a level 2 student from Westminster and the Welsh wizard and newest member of the tutoring team Chris Bloodworth). The result is a closely kept secret akin to the election results in Zimbawe but needless to say without some fixing of the scores the President of the days golf would not have seen him lift any trophy. It is just fortunate we are here for our knowledge of Revs and Bens and not our golfing prowess.
Back in time for the themed night in the university restaurant (or canteen) taking us back to our school days, pink custard, treacle sponge and the Presidents favourite included on the menu “fish fingers” amongst other classic dishes. It’s all great fun before seeing most head for the bar on campus to watch the evening’s football. However, the most important result of the night see’s the National Council team of McDermott and yours truly whitewash the Institute staff (Messrs Magor and Watson) on the pool table six – nil before heading back up to the management centre where more of the association reps from around the country have arrived for the following days meeting. A few hours are spent discussing a variety of subjects over a few glasses of wine before retiring to bed and the second part of the week.
This year is very different for me as I am usually one of the tutors who teaches on all 28 sessions in the week but I am required to do other things Presidential which means getting involved in going around all the groups to speak to the students, open up and get involved in the management course, and other events we run at Keele as most key personnel are all on site. Wednesday morning sees us have a really good meeting with the representatives of the regional associations discussing two key issues, the future education strategy and with the changing face of local Government how we modernise our regional activity to meet the changing agenda and needs of our members. I kick off the management course immediately after lunch before setting some future dates in my ever full diary to take forward some of the agreed initiatives from the morning session.
I then with Sue Williams Lee, President of the West Midlands Association try and choreograph some moves for the entertainment we traditionally put on the Thursday night for the students, which this year is loosely based around the Spice Girls, as you have never seen them before. In the past we have taken off a multitude of acts that inevitably involves tutors putting their credibility and modesty on the line all in spirit of showing hopefully that whilst we are an institute who work hard we also like to have fun and means we certainly aren’t seen as “grey suits and elusive”. I am sure there will be photographs and I fear video, which will no doubt be loaded onto the worldwide web by now or over the coming days! I am afforded the luxury of a few hours off so catch up on some e mails for work before hosting a dinner in the grounds of the university for the students in the last year of their 3 year corporate qualification and people who are on the management course as well as a number of past presidents who are all giving and facilitating sessions on the management course which has again sold out for the third year running since it was introduced. We also invite Neil Garrett who has stepped down as a tutor this year following his retirement last week from the VOA after 19 years as a tutor on the course. The evening is an opportunity to recognise all that is good about the Institute and having concluded the evening with a short speech, I gather my dance troupe of tutors for an hours rehearsal starting at 11pm. Having had the afternoon off to prepare we have never been so organised before retiring for what is by now turning into an endurance test for most.
Up early Thursday I spend the morning delivering the two business rates sessions for the Level One students and during the mid morning break open up the NVQ day organised for the various regional centres whom have come together to share experiences. I spend my lunchtime in a meeting with the conference sub committee discussing amongst other things proposals for the 2008 Manchester conference, performance awards night and future conference venues for 2009, and 2010. Julie arrives mid afternoon with the rest of the outfits for the evening (the ordered union jack dress has not arrived) so she has had to come up with a few different options and having concluded a further meeting in the afternoon we prepare for the gala dinner held for everyone at the event by laying out the costumes to be worn, finalising the evening dance routine before heading back to write a few words for what was an evening that will be one of the highlights of my Presidential year.
Hosting a drinks reception, the evening is a fantastic evening with students having worked incredibly hard and bonded during the week, meaning that I am in demand for presidential photos (it is great to be able to mingle with them, show the chain and the speech is the easiest I have had to give all year as I can speak from the heart having been involved as a tutor on the course and hopefully it will inspire others to follow in my and other tutors footsteps in getting involved in the institute post their exams). By 10am we are off to change and run through the two routines we are doing one last time before hitting the stage at 11. The troupe of Messrs Hendy, Chapman, Crowe, Watson, Bloodworth, McDermott, Ferguson, Triggs and yours truly launch into “Stop Right There” and what has become the Keele Theme tune and my own favourite “Reach” which we have adopted for the last 10 years or so. What we haven’t got in talent we hopefully make up in enthusiasm and as always our efforts are incredibly well received by our students who see us in a totally different light. The evenings disco winds up in the early hours but everyone is up to kick off the last days tutoring at 9am on time.
I make a few visits into the various groups which as always and despite the full weeks exertions are fully attended before taking my position along with Allen Traynor, last years President, and Julie as a member of the judging panel to probe questions to those presenting on the case study scenario they have been working on over the previous two days. It shows that the course has meant a lot of hard work and in announcing a winner, which will see the team attend the annual conference, they are all winners and am sure have got a lot from the event.
All that is left is to help Gary pack the course office for another year. He puts in a lot of effort to run the event with military efficiency, which is not an easy task. I will be back in the autumn and next year as a Past President but it has been a truly wonderful week that I will never forget and as I have said will stand out as one of the highlights of my year in a year I have and will continue to do some very special things
Back home, the week catches up and I fall asleep waking just in time to catch the second day of the masters golf. Up early on Saturday I catch up with the weeks e-mails and spend the weekend preparing for next week both work wise, and what looks like being another busy IRRV week attending two association AGMs. Pick up some new golf clubs on the Sunday (hopefully they will hit in straighter than my last lot!) and nip in to my parents to prove to them I am still alive, as I haven’t seen them for quite a few weeks.
No doubt there will be photos to post from the week. If as a student you have any please e-mail me any you think I would like to me at work at bobtrahern@northwarks.gov.uk. Best sign off after what has been a fantastic week.
