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Althing

Next Althing will be the 6th-8th September 2013

The most important event of the District Fellows Movement. The most dynamic and exhilarating democratic event in Woodcraft Folk and certainly the most potent gathering of young minds this side of the millennium. It’s when we choose our campaigns, when we elect our committees, when we choose a Zine editor, when we scheme and plan the shape of the movement, when we make every big decision for a the coming year and beyond. It’s like an AGM but a million times more engaging, varied and fun. It’s more than a meeting – it’s a celebration of our work and an opportunity to really get to know one another!

• Have a motion or musing you’d like to bring to the DF Movement?
• Ever thought of standing as a Committee Member or Regional Rep?
• Want to just generally hear how to get more involved in DF’s?

Want to see and meet more amazing people as our Woodcraft journeys stimulate and excite our lives more than we thought possible?

How does it work?

Every member of The District Fellows Movement who comes to Althing has the right to get their voice heard and to cast their vote on motions that can radically change the way we tick. Members can also stand for a host of key roles in the movement on DF Committee, Regional Council, Zine editor and so on. Finally anybody can bring Motions or Musings for discussion at Althing that can alter our direction, policies, events and well literally everything! Recent motions shook up the structure of DF Committee, gave birth to The Zine, pledged to 10:10 and changed the dates of Annual Gathering to outside exams.

Motions?

Motions are fresh ideas or new ways of doing things. Anybody can submit a motion or change (amend) someone else’s. At Althing we thrash out the ideas in the motion and decide whether to move forwards with its suggestions or not.  Good motions are clear and specific, they do small things like make a national dress up day for DFs or huge things like make DFs a separate charity to Woodcraft Folk. It’s easy to submit a motion and The DF Secretary will help you refine your motion to address exactly what you want to discuss. Just e-m

Musings?

Musings are different to Motions. With a Motion you have to have a specific solution or idea in mind for how to move forward. Somtimes the idea is great but the way you wrote it down doesn’t quite wash and the idea is lost. With a musing you submit a carefully worded issue that you want to address but are unsure how best to do so. At Althing we have a collaborative discussion using consensus to generate a way forward without getting hung up on grammar and word choice. Submitting a Musing is just as easy as submitting a Motion. Just e-mail The Secretary by clicking HERE or on the image below.

 

 Elections?

DFs is intensely democratic. Every year we elect DFs to certain roles in the movement. You can either stand yourself for election or nominate somebody else who you think would be good. To Stand or nominate somebody all you need to do is e-mail The Chair by clicking HERE on on the buttons bellow. At Althing every candidate participates in “hustings” which is essentially a Q&A with everyone else there starting off with a short speech.

Here is a list of all the roles available for election. If you have any questions about any of the roles why not get in touch or just e-mail The Chair. Note that some roles (such as Vice Chair and Sustainability) are decided at Old/New once all of DF Committee has been elected. Any member of DF committee can take one one of these roles. Half the roles come up for re election each year (more if some reps step down).

DF Committee

Role	Length of Role
Lay member 1	2 Years
Lay Member 2	2 Years
Campaigns Rep	2 Years
Communications Rep	2 Years
Fundraiser	2 Years
Shadow Treasurer (Treasurer the next year)	2 Years
Events Rep	2 Years
Secretary of The Movement	2 Years
International Opportunities Officer	2 Years
Training Rep	2 Years

DF Regional Council

Role	Length of Role
Wales Rep	1 Year
Scotland Rep	1 Year
London Rep	1 Year
South West Rep	1 Year
South East Rep	1 Year
North East Rep	1 Year
North West Rep	1 Year
Eastern Rep	1 Year

Other Roles

Editor of The DF Zine	1 Year
Venturer Committee Liason	1 Year
Workers Beer Rep	1 Year
Webfairy	1 Year

 

Roles not decided at Althing

Role	Decided?
Chair of Regional Council	By Regional Council
Chair of DF Committee	Old/New
Woodcraft Folk Staff Liason	Old/New
Vice Chair of DF Committee	Old/New
Sustainability Rep	Old/New
General Council Rep to DF Committee 1	By Committee before Old/New
General Council Rep to DF Committee 2	By Committee before Old/New

An All Round Great Event

There is a vague myth in DFs that some events are “business events” and other “social events”. In reality all our events are both. Winter Wonderland is the perfect forum for our General Council Trustee elections and Althing has a really intimate and unique programme of relaxing stuff alongside all the tough decision making. Costume nights, themed menus, The Thing’s birthday, mini wide games, mao, mafia, ninja and more.

 

Why not watch this video from 2008 for proof of how amazing it is.

Althing 2008 from Span That World on Vimeo.

 

 

The Woodcraft Folk is a registered charity in England and Wales (1073665) and in Scotland (SC039791). Woodcraft Folk, Units 9/10, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ