The board photo is the best way for student association boards to promote themselves and their student association. Delta is organising the TU Delft Board photo contest this year. In the run-up to the finale, various student boards will talk about what they do. This week: the 28th Board of the Life study association.
28th Board of S.V. Life. Clockwise: Lukas van der Linden, Lenne Vijn, Eline van Hasselt, Winny Heemskerk, Imke van Mameren and Lylyna Tu. (Photo: Jitske van der Vlugt)
It is quiet in the S.V. Life corner in AS South – there are only two Board members there. Chair Imke van Mameren makes tea while the Treasurer Winny Heemskerk is busy at her computer at her desk. The rest of the Board is in the other office in Leiden. Lonely? On the contrary, Imke thinks it is actually nice. Thanks to a schedule, the Board members rotate locations and company. “This means that you always have different conversations.”
What is the story behind your Board photo?
Imke: “The Board started taking photos in Leiden during the onboarding period. We usually take them around the Burcht in Leiden. You can see the Hooglandse Church in the background.”
You are celebrating your five year anniversary this year. How will you make it a special year?
Imke: “We had an opening reception in the Koperen Kat and an Anniversary celebration in Annabel in Rotterdam. We are now working towards the gala. We are really lucky that we can experience this this year as a board.”
What are other high points for you this year?
Imke: “Winny, can you suggest anything?”
Winny: “Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”
Imke: “Whether anything nice has happened or will happen.”
Winny: “Yes! This summer we will go on a master’s trip to Singapore and Malaysia. We will visit companies and universities there.”
Why aren’t you joining the interview? Are you busy?
Winny: “Yes, I’m working on the finances. It has to be handed in next week Friday. The cash and verification committee need to check it before I present it to the six monthly AGM (annual general meeting, Eds.). So I’m a bit stressed.”
‘People do not realise that being available for your members is an important part of the Board work’
Oh dear. Good luck. Back to Imke then. Do you have to give up anything for a very busy Board year like this one?
Imke: “Actually, nothing. My diary is naturally fuller than I’m used to, but I am free in the weekends. Then I have enough time to see my family and friends. My family lives in Delft, so they’re close by.”
Why are student associations important?
Imke: “I like seeing that people feel at home here. We always say that you make friends for life here. Of course we are also called ‘Life’!”
That must be fulfilling.
Imke: “People do not realise that being available to your members is an important part of Board work. Listening carefully and helping out with problems, even if these are outside their studies or the association. I’m happy to be in that position.”
You also wanted to talk about sustainability. Why?
Imke: “We are working hard on the Green Label, both in Delft and in Leiden. The Label measures how sustainable a study association is. We have a vegetarian policy and are now looking at how to reduce food waste by recording how much is bought in and what is left over in our events. This helps us make a better estimate next time.”
But you will fly to Singapore?
Imke: “After this year, the plan is that the association never flies again.”
- Also read the other parts of this series about the rowing association Proteus-Eretes, board sports association Drop, freerunning assocation Kong, sustainability organisation Students4Sustainability and study association ETV.
Delta’s Board photo contest
Student boards can get better known through their board photo. They stand neatly dressed, in a significant location, and sometimes with something amusing. They give their all to their student association for one year. Who are the people behind the photos? In the run-up to the finale of the very first TU Delft Board photo contest, Delta talks to board members about their busy year.
The winning photo will be chosen by a specialised jury made up of three TU Delft students/alumni. They are:
- Thijs van Reeuwijk: Industrial Design Engineering student and photographer for Delta;
- Joost Bom: Mechanical Engineering student and collector of suits;
- David van der Peijl: Architecture and the Built Environment alumnus, graduate in Architecture and Fashion.
Delta will announce the winning board in June 2025. And the main prize? A well-filled drinks and snacks package for the whole board.
Do you want to enter but your board has not received an invitation? Then send an email to ngham@tudelft.nl.
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