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I have thoroughly enjoyed the past two years as Chair of the Trainees Committee and would like to thank everyone for their support during this time, particularly the rest of the Trainees Committee, and also the very understanding consultants at Selly Oak and Heartlands hospitals in Birmingham.

It is now time for me to step down, and give someone else a chance. I feel that our voice and solidarity as a group of trainees has improved over this time, and I’m sure the new committee will continue to build on this strength. There are a number of other posts available, and elections will be held at the Trainees meeting at the Harrogate BGS conference. If you want to stand, but are unable to attend the conference, please send me a statement explaining who you are, why you want the post, and what you will bring to it. Voting is very straightforward and will be using the technical ‘raised hands’ method – one vote, per person, per vacant post. In the event of a tie, the Chair has the casting vote. Below are summaries of what the posts involve, please contact any of the current committee members if you would like further details or to discuss informally, the demands of the post.

Chair
This post introduces one to “larger geriatric medicine politics” and represents a fantastic opportunity to develop one’s organisational skills (although it is essential that one has a talent for this when one takes on the post). It is, however, time consuming and requires understanding managers and a considerable degree of diplomatic skill. The Trainees Chair is a member of the Education and Training Committee (ETC), Specialist Advisory Committee in Geriatric Medicine (SAC), Management Committee of the BGS (UKMC), BMA JDC Multi-speciality Advisory Group, and has an observer’s seat on the BMA JDC. All this involves attending meetings in London once or twice per month. To do the job effectively, I believe that the Chair needs to stay on top of current issues affecting trainees, and must be prepared to act upon them even if it does ruffle a few feathers on the way! One needs to communicate well with other trainees and senior consultants, and to be approachable so that one can stay abreast of developments throughout the four nations. The Chair needs to liaise well with the rest of the Trainees committee and must be prepared to delegate where necessary.

Education and Training and Vice Chair
This role involves sitting on the ETC and SAC with the other E&T representative and the Chair. The post holder represents the opinions of trainees on all matters to do with training, assessment, e-portfolios etc. Meetings are held four times per year at the RCP in London, with SAC in the morning, and ETC in the afternoon.

Academic and Research Committee
The Academic and Research trainee representative role involves sitting on the BGS A&R committee, which meets 4 times a year at Marjory Warren House in London. The committee oversees the scientific content of the BGS’s bi-annual meetings, governs some of the BGS’s larger grants and research fellowships, and deals with the various issues surrounding academic geriatric medicine. Of note, a new sub-committee has been formed, solely to discuss issues surrounding the BGS national conferences, and at present the A&R trainee also sits on this committee. There is the opportunity to take part in the adjudication of abstracts submitted for the scientific meetings. Trainee committee representatives may also be asked to assist with chairing a session at the BGS conferences. This role is also an excellent opportunity to meet various senior academic members of our Society.

England Council (two posts)
The BGS England Council meets three times a year in London at Marjory Warren House to deliberate issues relating to the provision of health care for older people in England. Consultation documents are sent out to Council members for their comment, prior to the meetings. The England Council is composed of a consultant representative from each region within England and two trainee representatives. The current chair of the Council is Professor John Young. The views of the trainee representatives on the Council are actively sought and their opinions are taken on board in the decision making process.

Trainee representation on the England Council is an outstanding opportunity to expand knowledge of the methods by which the BGS works in partnership with both the Department of Health and other organisations associated with the care of older people, to help shape national policies for the health care of older people.

Finance
This committee oversees the finances of the Society, reviews financial policy, including cost of subscription rates, Society investments and allocation of resources to various grants/funds. The post holder will be introduced to a balance sheet, profit and loss, budget setting, monitoring of financial performance, risk management and investment strategy, but it is not an onerous post as most of the work is done by the Society’s accountant. Planning the Society’s future against the background of economic uncertainty has proved very interesting. The Finance committee meets three times a year (meetings usually last 3 hours). These are held in Marjory Warren House and can be attended via teleconference.

Zoe Wyrko

BGS Newsletter, September 2009
Issue 23 ISSN 1748-634000 23