Events of The Society
The Union puts on a wide variety of events for its members, but is best known for its Thursday night debates and individual speaker events. In both of these, leading figures from public life are invited to discuss something of interest to the membership.
Debates in the past year have seen such figures as Andrew Mitchell, David Blunkett and Nigel Farage discussing the merits of the coalition government, Max Mosley debating whether the British press have too much freedom and Max Clifford discussing reality TV. The motion for a week's debate varies widely, and often touch on politics, science, the arts, religion, the economy and comedy. Generally, the proposition and opposition sides of a debate each have three speakers, with speeches alternating between the two sides. Before the last speech on each side, the debate is opened up to the floor, where any member can have their say and question either side. Those watching then vote by exiting the chamber through one of three doors: "Ayes", "Noes" or "Abstentions", with the result announced moments later in the bar.
Recent individual speaker events have included Ken Livingstone, former BP CEO Tony Hayward, comedienne Jo Brand, actor Bill Nighy, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the first democratically elected President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi and UN weapons inspector Hans Blix
The Union also puts on a wide range of social entertainments for its members, including yoga & pilates, comedy evenings, an annual Valentine's Ball, a summertime 'Garden Party', cocktail workshops, a weekly pub quiz and much more.
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Famous quotes containing the words events and/or society:
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—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)
“In communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd or critic.”
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