Institute of the Americas Society: Social Secretary

I am applying for the role of Social Secretary as I want to help foster a welcoming and engaging community within the Institute of the Americas, and to encourage the society to connect in fun ways. As societies are great opportunities to build new friendships, as well as ways to meet new people that share your course or academic background, I believe it would be very important to create memorable social events for these shared experiences together to be created.

As Social Secretary, my aim would be to plan, organise and book a variety of social events consistently, to increase interdepartmental connections. I would plan events like casual socials, games nights, Americas themed activities and end-of-term gatherings. I would occasionally also like to organise collaborative events with other societies, like a quiz or game night, as I feel that could benefit the community in the department, and competition could create more unity in the society.

I also would make sure that events are accessible to all, as inclusivity would be central to my approach. I want to ensure that not only would events appeal to most interests, but also that they are accessible to attend and comfortable so everyone feels free to participate.

Moreover, I would make sure to communicate well and have good organisational skills so all events are promoted well, and align with what the community members would like to see. 

Hello!! I'm putting myself forward for social secretary, because I want to help create a better sense of cohort within the institute. I am a firm believer that the best way to deepen bonds is a good social and that is what I intend to deliver! As it is, the institute lacks the common space needed for a proper sense of cohort, which an increase in events can make up for. Particularly, we need to introduce more lowkey events (like the sip and paint) for the people who don't feel at home in a night out (though, of course, we will be planning more nights out).

As I am currently one of the student reps, I have become acquainted with the inner-workings of the institute and have, somewhat surprisingly, helped adjust the content of the course. I have experience in events planning, as I served as the assistant events manager at my old restaurant for some reason, so I believe I am qualified.

Within the past year, I have workshopped ideas for potential socials, like a full on Americas costume social (for the people who want to dress up as the founding fathers) and more quizzes! Additionally, I'd love to collaborate with other Americas-related societies. I have connections in Latin American Affairs soc and some ideas in mind of how to use them. 

Either way, writing this has been a great way to avoid doing the bibliography for the politics essay <3

I'm standing to be social secretary of the society as I believe that a small community like us should be tightknit, and the best way to achieve this is through frequent gatherings and events that enrich members and allow them to enjoy each others company outside of lectures and seminars.

I believe that I'm a very social person. Before the year started, I reached out to many course members on social media so I could then create the groupchat that connected us all in first year, and that we still use now. In doing this, I felt I got to know many individuals in the course quite well, providing them with a friendly face for when the academic year started. I would like to continue doing something like this, by organising and running socials for everyone in the society. I have experience in doing this, as I was chair of the Politics Society in sixth form, where I organised events and dinners for politics students and other society members. On top of this, I am organized, cheerful and extroverted, meaning I would be welcoming face for the society. I have very good attendance, (for lectures/seminars and socials) and I would fully engage with this position without slacking on my studies.

Overall, I would love to be social secretary as I love meeting new people with similar interests to me, and I enjoy organising social gatherings and academic events for those around me. Whether a pub crawl, or visiting speaker, I'll put 100% effort into making this society enjoyable for all members.