(Posting it on here because it will avoid having to CC everyone in all the time through email)

Basically, UMM can submit one vote for each category for the categories listed further down – it’s a tad long. The Activities Awards are scheduled for Saturday 22nd May,

Chuck your votes below by the 15th April if you want to have a say. If you’ve never contributed to the mag – don’t bother.

Event of the Year 2009/10

Pharmacy ball 2010 – unbelievable night, well organised, the committee could not have put more effort into the night, enjoyed by lecturers and students alike, went so smoothly, venue was unbelievably well decorated, everyone who attended was immaculately dressed, thoroughly enjoyable! The jazz band had students in it which was also a nice touch, entertainment was amazing, cards, music, dancing and more! The after party in casinos was also a great success!

Asian Ball – This was a great event. It is the first time that an Asian Ball has been successfully organised at the Universities at Medway and over 100 people attended. Everybody who went had a great time and there was great food, entertainment and an amazing atmosphere.

St John Ambulance Buy a date Night – This event took a lot of organisation from all involved and raised over £200 for our unit. The evening was a big success for all who attended and from speaking to people they were glad to see an event that hasn’t been held before running so successfully. I feel that this event was out of the ordinary and got a lot of attention from many students on campus. Our members and friends also went to great lengths if they nominated themselves to be auctioned off and I think this deserves recognition.

Rowing Bowling Social – The first major social of the year, amazing night of laughs and awesome pictures with all rowers attending. Got a good team spirit together while having a great time in the process.

Best New Society 2009/10

Hindu – The reason why I believe that the Hindu Society should be named best new society is because of how it aims to educate people from all cultures about Hinduism. Although Hindusim is not my culture, I have learned a lot about it by going to events. If there is one particular aspect about the Hindu Society that stands out from other societies, it is that it brings individuals together to interact in a fun and practical way.

Telugu – The Telugu Society has over 160 students as part of their membership and so has a positive impact on the international community at the Universities at Medway. They have held a large event for their members to ensure that the students were settling into university life and to encourage everybody to make friends.

Most Improved Society 2009/10

St John Ambulance – Links – This Society has come on so much this year the management of the society had been great. The membership has sky rocketed. The amount of training and fun activities that has been organised for the members was fantastic. The society although established now a couple of years really has improved and become a fantastic success. I think it really deserves this award!

Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS) – In comparison to the ACS last year, this year’s ACS has been fantastic. It proved to be a challenge taking it on this year but I believe it has now taken a huge step forward, which will continue and has also grown to be another one of the large societies on campus. It has worked hard in organising events for students, ones which have received great reviews and comments. It definitely deserves the Most Improved Society nomination.

Society of the Year 2009/10

MPSA – We have worked hard over the past number of years to make MPSA the best it can be. I think we have managed to really set the societies foundation on the Medway Campus. We lead by example, we have organised many events this year, Paintballing, Movie nights, Pharmacy Ball, Responding to symptoms competitions. We work closely with UMSA and Medway School of Pharmacy to help build a good atmosphere on campus, our members support the campus by sitting on various committees at University level, we try to be more than just about organising events. Representation of our members this year has been high on the list of things to do, we have established ourselves as a support network for our members, sign posting to the people in UMSA or the Universities that can help them. This is our third year in operation and I feel the society as matured and it will no doubt continue to flourish over the coming years.

St John Ambulance – Links – The society engages with all of its members on a weekly basis, teaching valuable first aid and getting members fully first aid trained. The society has organised successful events from socials, training courses to fundraisers to raise money for vital equipment. The society has a very practical application, going out on duties for the local community and for in-house university events like the Summer Ball. Both the exec and the members work extremely hard and volunteer a lot of their spare time and so this society deserves to be society of the year.

Most Developed Club 2009/10

Rugby – The Rugby team has flourished this past year. They have sought extra funding to develop their club further, have sourced better training facilities and have negotiated great deals for their members. The executive committee has worked hard to improve the standard of rugby and testament to this is winning their league and getting through to the semi final of the cup. They have also focused on developing the club by building a second squad which they have organised friendly matches for this team in order to prepare them for their first season next year.

Netball – The Netball squad has significantly developed from last year, successfully recruiting 20 members to 31 and having two teams play in competitive leagues this year. They have successfully applied for and been granted a bursary to develop their club and have utilised the money by investing in advanced equipment to develop their standard of play as well as arranging for some members to complete their umpire qualifications.

Most Improved Club 2009/10

Rowing – I feel it deserves this as last year it was a minimum member Club, we were struggling all year for membership enough to race Boat Race. This year our membership has tripled, we are taking 21 rather than the 8 of last year’s competitors to BUCS, we have crews for Boat Race 3 months before the event and the crews are competent. It is going to be the closest match of Men’s crews race this year and we as a committee for Rowing have worked so hard for our members to achieve this. We race at least once a month at British Rowing events which is more commitment from our members and demonstrates our advances. Our plans for the rest of the year’s developments are not over yet but I definitely feel without those that rowing has been the most developed Club this year.

Football – (No explanation)

Best New Club 2009/10

Tennis – For the first time Universities at Medway have a new Tennis club founded in September 2009. The club now boasts 18 members and the interest is still growing. We are looking forward to be part of BUCS next year but as currently the club isn’t competing in any official leagues to keep the members motivated can be a challenge, despite this fact we have created our own league table and prizes will be available for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The club runs training sessions every Wednesday in sports hall for 2 hours and matches are played every Saturday in Rochester from 1-4pm.

Club of the Year 2009/10

Rowing – The growth of this sport on this campus has been amazing to watch. This year we have competed in competitions on an almost fortnightly basis, we’ve had more socials, more improved training and more fun. Thanks to the amazing committee, we have a kit to be proud of, organized races and events, and great training sessions. Medway is becoming a more recognized name in rowing now and this is down to our participation in the last 12 months. Rowing will also provide one of the highlights of the year this year also, the University Boat Race.

Rugby – This year the UMSA Spartans have won nearly every game they have played. The league was won by ease by and reached the semi final of the cup. Unfortunately injuries got the better of the team in this game. A great team spirit has developed with a group of guys this year, who will carry on the hard work of this year’s team into next year. By hard work and dedication for certain team members has allowed the second team to develop and draw more people into the joys of rugby.

Netball – We have had a successful year winning varsity, (hopefully) winning the first team league, and the second team has established itself ready to enter BUCS next season. The captain, vice, 2nds captain, coach, secretary and social sec have all worked closely together to develop the club. We successfully applied for and received £400 from BUCS which was used for new equipment we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. This money is also sending 5 girls on umpiring courses further developing the club. We have held two successful fund raising events which combined have raised around £300, this has gone towards new tracksuits and towards the awards we will present at the end of the year awards night. As a team our ethic is to train hard and play hard and all the girls have developed excellent attitudes and improved as netballers over the year. We have successfully voted in our new committee for next season and a smooth handover will take place. Vote Netball!

Outstanding Individual 2009/10 (Male)

Patrick Moynagh – I nominate Patrick Moynagh, President of MPSA to win an award for Outstanding Individual. Patrick has always contributed so much to the MPSA particularly as he has now helped run it for three years. He ensures that the events run are always of benefit to the members and has committed a lot of his spare time to the MPSA. In addition he is an outstanding individual because he is never stressed even when everything seems to be going wrong! And I think he might actually have a time travelling device or something because how can one person do so many different things in a day!!! Honestly without him I don’t think the MPSA will still be here.

Gavin Milne – I think that Gavin Milne should receive this award. He played for Spartans this year in a position he doesn’t normally play and has played extremely well. He also had trials for scottish exiles. As well as that, he plays for Kent U20’s and canterbury club team. He trains and plays at least 5 times a week and is very dedicated to his rugby.

Outstanding Individual 2009/10 (Female)

Kiran Mandar – Kiran is an absolutely fantastic Vice President!!! Kiran is one of the most enthusiastic and positive people that I have had the pleasure of working with. She has a very calming mature attitude to the way in which she ran the society, nothing is impossible in Kiran’s mind and this really rubbed off on the rest of the exec. Every little detail for everything she did was meticulously planned, no stone was left unturned. It took 6 months to organise the Pharmacy Ball, Kiran was there every step of the way delegating and really helping to lead the team, many long days and sleepless nights later the ball was a fantastic success, but this could definitely not have been achieved without Kiran’s dedication and sheer commitment! Whether it be representing our members at meetings or indeed planning events she always shows the same electric energy! Kiran most certainly deserves to be recognised for her work with the MPSA!

Preeya Parmar – I could not pick a more perfect person that deserves this award, Preeya has been able to maintain running a society as well as being an education and welfare officer for the universities and studying for her degree. She has the ability to provide motivation to people around her and inspires me everyday with her enthusiasm. I can honestly say that I have never met a kinder individual, Preeya Parmar is this year’s most outstanding individual.

Rachel Rogers – For continually organising events for the netballers and for all students to bond together and raise money. She has had a huge effect on the attitude and closeness of the squad and therefore the standards and results we have achieved.

Outstanding Achievement 2009/10

Becci Hughes – Becci deserves the Outstanding Achievement award for her consistent commitment to student media this year. Being the editor of UMM this past year, Becci has promoted the magazine, recruited for writers, designed and edited the magazine and has been responsible for distributing the issues. She is a talented journalist and is an enthusiastic and dedicated individual and it is an outstanding achievement that she has managed to coordinate this effort and produce work of such a high standard.

Paul Dunne – I believe Paul is a deserving recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Awards for the efforts he has made to develop advocacy and campaigning on the Medway campus. Following a well planned campaign he was elected Student Activities Officer and has been actively engaged from the outset. He has developed and set up an UMSA committee, overseen the first campus wide campaign and developed communication links between the exec, staff and society heads, as well as publicising UMSA events.

Outstanding Contribution 2009/10

Ian Bradley – For his extra efforts especially in recruitment. He has gone out of his way, perhaps at the expense of his dissertation, to help the Rowing club develop its membership this year. He has stood outside in the cold and rain asking for names and contact details from anyone walking around campus. I feel he deserves recognition for his efforts.

OJ Stone- He has worked tirelessly towards the smooth running of the Umsa Spartans. He has provided us with external sponsors, kit to play in and a ground to train and play on. It has also provided the opportunity for players to play for the local Medway Rugby Club where we train. In recent weeks a second team has developed and played two games. He also has organised social events for the rugby team and all clubs. Without OJ’s constant work for the club, none of this would have happened.

Jo McCallion – For her large contribution towards coaching the netball teams. Constant enthusiasm for improvement and new techniques to improve the standard of netball and fitness. Always offering help to the captain vice when they have been unable to lead the sessions.

Outstanding Commitment 2009/10

Bex Heaton – Bex Heaton truly is an outstanding individual. She coordinates virtually everything that needs organising within the Medway Rowing Club; liaising with students, coaches, members of the club and UMSA alike. She has undertaken a number of responsibilities including organising recruitment, trips, kit, makes travel arrangements and the sheer scale of success of rowing as a sport at Medway is down to her. She is completely committed to the club and to rowing as a sport and is always friendly and approachable. She is one of the most determined people I have come across and I firmly believe she is deserving of this award.

Jackie Walsh – Chair of St John Ambulance – Is an outstanding individual without whom St John Ambulance would not have been the success it has been over this past year. Jackie has dedicated a lot of time to the society organising many training days, socials and weekly meetings pretty much single handedly. We have improved greatly on continuing members from last year and I feel this is all down to her. Jackie is not one to ask for recognition of what she does however I feel that the amount of work she has put in this year deserves a huge amount of recognition and what better way than to receive an award.

OJ Stone – For this award I believe that OJ deserves this, as he has spent years with spartans and I’ve never known someone to put so much effort and work into a club and know that he’s doing for other people with no benefit to him. He organised our kit, stash and pitches for each match. Without him the spartans could never have been so successful.

Kelly Martin – As 1st team netball vice captain Kelly has continually supported the captain in all areas necessary and provided a very caring aspect to the squad making it a brilliant environment for all the players. She is always available to help and has managed all the equipment throughout the year. Kelly has never missed a training session or a match and should be rewarded for her 100% commitment to the team. Without her the team would not be as successful as it is.

Katherine Daramola – As president of the ACS, she has had a huge task of raising the profile of the society and this has required her dedication and commitment not to be discouraged by challenges she faces. She spends so much time on planning for the society and ensuring that plans come to fruition. A very committed president.

Captain of the Year 2009/10

Laura Dent for captain of the year, this is because she has been supportive of the club, taken us to win the league (hopefully) this year, is very committed to the club, very organised and as it’s her last year I think this would really make her happy. She’s been a extremely good role models and I think most members of the club look up to her as how to behave and act, she’s a real credit to the club and we are all going to miss her very much.

Bex Heaton – Bex took up the post at the end of last year, and she has been instrumental in the growth and development of the sport at Medway. The sheer amount of organisation this woman does is outstanding. To name a few things, designing and ordering kits, organising training sessions, organising and entering crews for competitions up and down the country, organising transport and accommodation for competitions and training, organising social events and also liaising with the local rowing club. What’s more amazing is, despite all of this, we have never heard her complain once! She is always smiling, enthusiastic and determined to get the job done!

Glenn Topping (Fid) of the spartans deserves this award, as he lead the team all the way through the season and always, always lead by example if he wanted us to play better and up our game. He always made himself available to us and never missed a match. He inspired every to play to the top of their game.