Students' view of BRM and AGM
In this issue of Network News, we asked what pharmacy students thought of the Society's branch representatives' meeting (BRM) and annual general meeting (AGM). Here, Gautam Paul, British Pharmaceutical
Students’ Association (BPSA) president 2005–06 and Jennifer
de Val, BPSA president elect 2006–07 give us their overview.
Gautam Paul with Society President Hemant Patel |
Attending the AGM and BRM provides a useful insight for the BPSA to
learn about current developments at the Society. Furthermore the BRM
provides a platform upon which the BPSA can present the views of its
members to the Society and the other branches, with a view to driving
BPSA policy forward.
The AGM itself was an excellent event to attend as hearing reports of
the Officers enabled the BPSA to hear how much hard work takes place
at the Society by the Council, directors and other staff members. It
was good to read and hear the annual report of the Society, and to hear
about plans for the future, such as Pharmacy 2020.
It was interesting, however, to observe the number of members attending,
which appeared to be low. In order for the AGM to be more relevant to
the members, it should reach out to a larger audience. As mentioned,
in The Journal (PJ, 3 June, p644), the AGM being held alongside the British
Pharmaceutical Conference after the afternoon sessions would help draw
numbers to the AGM as well as to the BPC. As the BPC is the flagship
event of the Society it makes good sense for the AGM to coincide with
it.
On attending the AGM, it was interesting to see the way in which the
debates and motions were carried out, and compare this with our own experiences
at the BPSA annual conference. The content of the meeting was useful
for the younger end of the profession, and we would encourage any newly
qualified pharmacists to attend and get involved with the future of pharmacy.
Preparation for the BRM takes place several months before the actual
event. Firstly the motions to be presented are chosen by the BPSA executive.
The motions chosen are BPSA policy passed at the BPSA annual conference
the preceding year. The criteria for choosing the two motions are not
set out, and the choice is taken seriously. The BPSA executive endeavours
to choose motions they feel are timely and relevant to the Society, and
will best represent what BPSA members want. Following this, the explanatory
paragraphs are drawn up and then sent to the Society.
Producing a relevant and well worded motion is not an easy task and for
this year it was extremely useful that Society staff offered assistance
to the branches with the writing of the explanatory paragraphs. The BPSA
certainly benefited from this expertise which helped to better shape
the submitted motions.
Attending and taking part in the BRM aids the BPSA in representing its
membership and acting on their views. It also helps to put pharmacy student
views to the forefront of the pharmacy agenda and enables the BPSA to
participate fully in the branch network and to promote awareness of our
Association to the profession.
Speaking at the BRM can be a daunting experience especially if doing
so for the first time. Taking part in the BRM helps to build confidence
and public speaking skills, which are important transferable skills for
working life.
The BPSA was disappointed that the motions it presented were not passed
at the BRM. However, at the same time we were pleased that the importance
of the motions was recognised, and to know at least one will be considered
by the Society.
The afternoon sessions at the BRM allowed the attendees to see the developments
at the Society and to hear about the plans for the future. A presentation
focusing on preparing branch motions was particularly interesting with
the general feeling in the room being that it will be very useful to
have formal guidance available from the Society.
The fact that the AGM and BRM bring together such a wide spectrum of
the profession means that they make ideal networking events. I was surprised
to find that many attendees had been involved with BPSA during their
undergraduate days. It was reassuring to know that there were many people
at the BRM who understood the BPSA and why we believed in our motions,
even if they were not passed.
The next opportunity that the BPSA will get to mix with branch members
will be at the branch and regional secretaries’ meeting in October
and we look forward to having the opportunity to let our views be heard
again then. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal