Branch President's Handover
This is part 1 of our generic branch president's handover document. Part 2 gives specific details on how to book rooms at your university, contacts for your student's union, top achievements for last year, etc. Your outgoing branch president should have given you a copy of this, but if not....fear not - contact VP Branches who should have a copy of this.
Section 1: The big picture
What is Medsin?
Medsin is an independent student organization that raises awareness of and takes action on humanitarian and global health issues at a local, national and international level. Formed in 1997, it is a network of motivated medical students active in curriculum issues, community projects, international exchanges, campaigns and conferences.
What are Medsin’s Objectives?
- To promote health for the benefit of the public by reducing inequalities in health and healthcare, in the UK and abroad.
- To advance health education by increasing awareness of global health issues amongst students with an interest in health and the wider community, aiming to improve the quality and standard of global health and healthcare.
How is Medsin structured?
Medsin-UK is the student-run charitable organization, consisting of an elected 'National Committee', who work to facilitate the Medsin network. The National Committee’s overall role involves:
- Coordination - Sharing ideas and information effectively through newsletters, website and regular contact
- Empowerment – Enabling students to put their ideas into action. The National Committee facilitates the exchange of resources and skills across the network. It is also responsible for organizing training opportunities that help students to develop their personal and professional skills
- Support - Using our experience and central position to give advice and support to branches and projects
- Representation – Maintaining relationship with the IFMSA and other partner organizations and developing new contacts.
The Medsin network consists of Medsin branches at universities throughout the UK, and projects and campaigns which are run within the local branches. Each branch has a Branch President, and each Project/Campaign has a national Coordinator. Medsin’s Vice-President for branches facilitates dialogue and idea-sharing amongst Branch Presidents and the Vice-President for Projects and the Campaigns director does the same within the network for projects and campaigns, respectively.
Medsin members are individuals who participate in any of the activities run locally or nationally by Medsin branches or projects. Medsin’s members are students with an interest in health; predominantly, but not exclusively medical students. Medsin has increasing participation form other healthcare and non-healthcare students with an interest in the local and global promotion of health for all.
The international network - The International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) – is an organization which works to facilitate cooperation and dialogue between medical students from over 90 different countries around the world. The IFMSA is recognized as an official partner of the World Health Organization (WHO).
As the UK's National Member Organization, Medsin has access to the IFMSA's exchanges, projects and conferences. IFMSA’s activities are now organized into six standing committees: Professional Exchanges; Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS; Refugees and Peace; Public Health; Medical Education; Research Exchanges. A delegation of Medsin members attend biannual IFMSA General Assemblies, in order to share knowledge and input into the objectives of the international organization.
The constitution and bylaws – things to note!
- Branches
11.1 All branches are required to:
11.1.1 Submit a written report of activities which have taken place in their branch over the last 12 months to the Vice President for Branches at least 3 weeks prior to the Spring General Assembly.
11.1.2 The President must submit a written list of all local committee members including name, email, address and telephone number to the Vice President for Branches whenever there are any changes to previous lists provided.
11.1.3 Pay the annual branch fees within one month of being invoiced.
11.2 The annual report must include:
11.2.1 Activities conducted after previous report
11.2.2 General financial status
11.2.3 Plan of action for the next year
11.2.4 President’s description of the status of the branch
11.2.5 A written list of all local committee members including name, email, address and telephone number.
11.3 When a member branch does not fulfil the requirements of Medsin-UK stated in this clause, the National Committee that branch will automatically lose voting rights until they have been fulfilled. During voting sessions at each GA, the National Committee will report to the General Assembly branches that have not fulfilled the requirements for membership, and the General Assembly will decide any further action to be taken.
Section 2: Branch structure
Section 3: Medsin nationally
How to use the National Committee
Your responsibilities as a Branch President:
Look after your local Branch! You can use the network to help with this
Pass on information about national/international stuff to your local members. This includes encouraging people to sign up to receive the E-Newsletters (e.g. at meetings and events) and advertising conferences and workshops.
Keep the network and committee updated with your Branch’s activities. Email news to news@medsin.org.
Use the network as a forum for feedback, advice, support and sharing ideas.
Be responsible for your branch over important national issues such as questionnaires, fees, activities, organisational issues and meetings.
Give some input into national activity, organisation and development.
Section 4: Communication within the network
Section 5: General Assemblies
Before the GA
Look out for notices about the GA in the e-newsletter & via email.
Deadlines to note, include:
- Branches, projects and campaigns must submit their annual report forms to the national committee at least 3 weeks prior to the Spring General Assembly.
- Bylaw changes and other motions must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the General Assembly.
The national secretary will compile all the proposed bylaw changes, motions and statements of motivation into one document and send this out to the voting members, 2 weeks before the General Assembly. We encourage branch presidents to discuss these with their local members prior to coming to the GA.
During the GA
- During the plenary sessions and elections, you will vote on behalf of your branch.
- There will be opportunities to network with other branch representatives, projects and campaign coordinators.
- You will help to shape Medsin's future by inputting in debates and topical mini-meetings.
- You will receive training in key skills such as leadership, activity planning, how to run effective meetings, etc.
After the GA
- Please let us know what you thought of the GA and what can be improved for future GAs.
- Update your local members on what happened.
Section 6: Medsin Explained
Medsin Explained events are an opportunity for branches to explain to local students:
- What Medsin is
- What projects, campaigns and activities Medsin runs
- How students can get involved
Medsin Explained nights are typically run during the start of the new academic year, following fresher's fayres, although some branches run 'Medsin Re-explained' events in January/February time as well.
For presentations & materials that you can use from your Medsin Explained evening, click here.
Section 7: Annual calendar
Medsin hosts two National Conferences annually - the National Conference in October and the Global Health Conference in March. As well as this, Medsin also holds two General Assemblies (GAs) a year – the AGA in the autumn term and the SGA in spring. To find out more information, click here.
Last updated on Monday 29 September 2008 at 22:23.
Add a new event 