The new Resident representative of the PSOAS Board and Chair of the Toppila/Rajakylä Tenant Committee, Siru-Säde Liljeqvist, told us about her experiences in board work and resident activities. Siru-Säde has lived in PSOAS since August 2021 when she transferred from the University of Turku to Oulu. “My first contact with Oulu after the railway station was the PSOAS Lounge office, where I arrived with my suitcase”, Siru-Säde recalls.
How did you get involved with the Toppila/Rajakylä Tenant Committee and now as a new face on the PSOAS Board as a Resident representative?
“I moved to Oulu during the Corona pandemic, when making friends with new people was difficult. One summer Sunday, I participated in a barbecue event organized by the Tenant Committee, where I enjoyed myself until cleanup time. I was told that basically PSOAS grants an annual budget and we in the Tenant Committee get to decide how to use it. The event was a nice introduction to their activities. In the fall, there was an open residents’ meeting, which I attended.
I think it’s important that people can join Tenant Committee with a low threshold. The meetings have an open atmosphere where we chat and catch up. The atmosphere is also friendly and encouraging. For the Toppila/Rajakylä Tenant Committee, community spirit and a good atmosphere are really important. I have also found close friends through the community.
You can get involved in PSOAS board through a selection process. The PSOAS board selects a Resident representative from among the candidates nominated by the Tenant Committee.”
How is the Resident representative’s voice heard in board work – how can one influence decision-making?
“The Resident representative acts as a full member of the board. Sharing the resident perspective is actively encouraged. I started on the PSOAS board in the middle of the new CEO selection process, which was a challenging but educational experience. The process demonstrated concretely the influence of the Resident representative’s role. The Board has various committees, of which the Resident Services and Communications Committee has been particularly interesting. In our discussions on resident satisfaction, I have felt that I have a lot to contribute to the conversation.
What is the significance of Tenant Committee in developing PSOAS?
“In the Tenant Committee you can have the most influence on your own area the most, but ideas can work across the board in other areas as well. For example, based on a suggestion from a foreign Tenant Committee member, we came up with instruction signs for saunas in Toppila buildings. The idea was found necessary elsewhere too, and an advertising agency created a visual look for the instructions. Now the guidance is used in all PSOAS residential buildings. For Finns, using a sauna is self-evident, so the idea had not occurred to anyone before.
Residents also submit some development proposals for the Tenant Committe. In such cases, we check whether the proposals can be implemented and we are happy to involve the residents from outside Tenant Committee to implement the suggestions.”
Why should PSOAS residents get involved in resident activities?
“Community is the best thing that the Tenant Committee offers. We have a great community in Toppila, which increases the living comfort in the area. Together, we have invested in ensuring that there are many events in the area. The personal interests and ideas of the Tenant Committee members guide the activities, and the purchases and events benefit all tenants.”
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