Board positions unveiled: a journey full of new discoveries, exciting tasks and lots of fun
At first glance, the title of ‘board member’ might seem a bit intimidating, like stepping into a vast, uncharted forest. But, once you take that leap, you find yourself in an enchanting realm brimming with wonders. From tackling new exhilarating tasks to finding friends for life, a year on the board can be a life-changing experience. To give you a glimpse into it all, we offer you a little overview of the tasks that each position needs to perform and reveal some of the most delightful moments a board year can bring.
President (Mattias)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
My current main tasks involve spearheading the board and making sure all the board members have a good time and are motivated with their work. I also am the outside representative of the organisation and make sure everyone knows we have good vibes.
The most exciting part of my work is that I get to see other boardies and members become the fullest version of themselves and to do cool stuff for cool people. And I think that’s cool.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
My current favourite memories are the chill nights we have had with the board, it’s just so chill and fun to see how close we have become in the semester that we’ve been working together.
If your board position was a superhero, who would it be and why?
If the president were a superhero, I think I would be Energy Pal because I have so much left over energy to give people hehe.
Secretary (Carmen)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
My tasks as a secretary include, among others, contacting new members, taking minutes during meetings, writing a monthly newsletter, and keeping our members updated about various exciting offers. Although all of these have a fascination of their own, it’s crafting our newsletter that sets my spirit alight as it allows me to unleash my creativity. I especially enjoy collecting answers for our “Question of the Month” section that I include in every newsletter as each time it’s like opening a treasure chest with so many exciting answers that reveal our members’ personalities and preferences.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
It’s difficult to highlight only one but I would say our most recent Strategy Days in Viljandi were something that I’ll hold dear to my heart for a very long time. A combination of fun and work, it was a perfect weekend trip with people who already feel like family. It’s amazing to see how close we as board members have become – it feels as if you could go to the end of the world with them.
If your board position was a fictional character, who would it be and why?
One of the candidates would definitely be Anne of Green Gables with her imaginative power and talent for words coupled with a communicative and reflective spirit. However, the true beauty of this position lies in its versatility which means that a wide array of personalities with their unique skills would excel in the role of a secretary, each bringing something truly special to it.
Treasurer and FR team leader (Saskia)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
📨 Sending membership fee emails
📈 Book-keeping
✏️ Budgeting
💸 Fundraising
For me the most exciting part is Fundraising because it gives the whole organisation the opportunity to make even bigger events, cooler merch and exciting trainings with more funding.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
It’s hard to choose, every meeting has been fun and cosy. If I have to choose, then my favourite memory would be team training where we brainstormed all the possible ways to f#ck everything up in AEGEE, it was a LOT of fun ideas.
If your board position was a type of cake or pastry, what would it be and why?
It would be a meringue roll, because it’s quite easy to make once you know the tips and tricks and also if you eat it you can have a piece from another cake as well – you will have time to enjoy AEGEE life and do other things as well.
Events team leader (Kadi)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
My primary task as event coordinator is overseeing our weekly events. That involves coming up with event ideas and planning them through with my lovely team. I really enjoy the collaborative brainstorming sessions during our Mondaily meetings, where we come up with new event concepts and activities. It’s really cool seeing each person opening up and sharing their imaginative and novel ideas that grow into events for our members. I also think I like it so much because a lot of it is just being silly, goofing around, and having a laugh with my team.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
Oof, a tough question. I just won’t be able to pick only one. I adore all the fun times with our board, getting to know each other’s distinct personalities and the connections we’ve grown over the year. But event-wise there are two that stand out to me. First, Halloween holds a special place in my heart, especially as it was the final big event in our beloved previous office and quite in the beginning of my term. The decorations, the activities – everything about it was just perfect. And the second is the bog hike. How could I possibly forget our cosy, laughter, and snow-filled weekend outdoors?
If your board position was a garden plan, what would it be like and why?
A wild, vibrant and diverse flower garden, that every position filler gives their unique touch to. The position similar to a garden is always ever-changing, different ideas and events always around the corner. There are some flowerbeds – guidelines and set events – but overall it’s a very creative, colourful and fun position.
PR team leader (Johanna)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
The PR position’s main task is to take responsibility that AEGEE-Tartu is seen outside so that others will get to know who we are and what we are doing. With my team we prepare social media content, make merch and try to find opportunities to represent our organisation. My personal favourite is making merch because you see the results after that.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
There have been many good memories but one of my favourites was board chill where we just talked about everything except AEGEE. It was refreshing.🙂
If your board position was a genre of music, what would it be and why?
My first thought was 2010s pop music. It is kinda happy and energetic. But also familiar and that’s why also safe.
IT responsible (Helena)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
Main tasks of my position are: management of AEGEE-Tartu’s website, uploading blog posts and helping with various technical questions that board members might have. However, what truly ignites my passion is the opportunity to embark on the creative journey of designing and restructuring our website. This aspect allows me to bring my visions to life and enhance the digital presence of our organisation.
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
I love board chills! Nothing quite compares to the blissful camaraderie experienced during our board chills:) These are the times when we come together, sharing quality moments either cooking, playing board games or watching Shrek (100th time).
If your board position was a famous painting, what would it be and why?
“The scream” by Edvard Munch. This iconic painting encapsulates the agony of confronting minor setbacks or problems that usually have a fairly easy and logical solution.
HR team leader (Liisa)
What are the main tasks of your position and which of these would you consider most exciting to you?
The HR manager conducts recruitment interviews, organises the main recruitment periods in autumn and spring in collaboration with the rest of the board, coordinates the mentoring system, is in general the first contact person to new members. Besides that they lead the HR team; keep track of members’ well-being and motivation by celebrating birthdays, congratulating members of the month, conducting feedback collecting etc. The HR manager generally also organises The Local Training Course for new members. To me personally the most exciting were the interviews because you get to meet and know so many different people! It is very rewarding to offer new members the knowledge, explanations and support they need to enter the magical world of AEGEE!
What’s your favourite memory of the board year?
My board year from 2022/23 was full of awesome moments! I think the most I enjoyed our board’s strategy days when we came together for a weekend to plan the broader goals of AEGEE-Tartu but also to bond and have fun together. Amazing laughter was shared then plus cooking pancakes together for breakfast!
If your board position was a mythological creature, who would it be and why?
The HR manager would be a fairy whose busy wings lead them to all who are in need of a friend, guide or listener. Such as a fairy, the HR manager also makes little magic come true!
