American University
Residence Hall Association
c/o Housing & Dining Programs | 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20016-8142
Phone: (202) 885-1878 | FAX: (202) 885-1154 | E-mail: info@aurha.org | www.aurha.org
General Assembly Minutes
Megan O’Toole
President
(202) 885-1878
megan@aurha.org
Joanne Frangias
Vice President of
Administration
and Finance
(202) 885-3606
joanne@aurha.org
Nate Warszawski
Vice President of Advocacy &
Community Coordination
(202) 885-1742
nate@aurha.org
Sarah Nylen
Vice President of
Programming
(202) 885-2772
sarah@aurha.org
Jody Gregory
National Communications
Coordinator
(202) 885-3676
jody@aurha.org
Devin Moore
Chief of Staff
(202) 885-2179
devin@aurha.org
Daniel DeHollander
Advisor
(202) 885-3138
deholla@american.edu
September 25, 2014
9:00pm ~ Letts Formal Lounge
 Call to Order
o Called to order at 9:01pm
 Attendance
o Anderson- 5/6
o Cassell- 3/3
o Centennial- 5/6
o Hughes- 4/6
o Leonard- 2/2
o Letts Clark and Roper- 5/6
o McDowell- 2/2
o Nebraska- 2/2
 Agenda Approval
o Motion made by Matt- unanimous consent
 Seconded
 Passes
 Hall Reports
o Anderson
 First meeting on Monday
 Looking forward to a great year
o Cassell
 Still filling position
o Centennial
 First meeting on Monday
o Hughes
 Filling vacancies
o Leonard
 First meeting yesterday
 Filling positions
o Letts Clark and Roper
 Filled all positions
 Working on this year
o McDowell
 Need to fill rest of position
o Nebraska
 Filling vacancies by end of next week

Executive Board Reports
o President
 What I did:
 Validated Election Results with Devin, Max, and Daniel
 Prepared for General Assembly




Held the first Presidents Roundtable of the year
Applied for the CAACURH Scholarship
Was chosen to be on the CAACURH Bylaw Review
Committee
What I didn't do:


Participate on the CAACURH Presidents' conference call (it's
happening right now)
What I'm planning on doing:



o
o
Plan out Roundtable meetings for the year
SAWG (Sexual Assault Working Group) Meeting
Reach out to outside organizations/campus partners about
presenting in GA
Vice President of Administration and Finance
 What I did:
 Finished RHA Budget / Prepared Presentation
 Gave my financiers their budgets
 Conference Call with My Favorite Student
 Got RHA a spot at All-American Weekend
 Georgetown Cupcakes are done.
 What I’m planning on doing:
 Credit Card Reader from My Favorite Student
 Figure out details for All-American Weekend
Vice President of Advocacy and Community Coordination
 What I did:
 Met with Deputies





 Orientation
What I didn't do:
 Nothing
What I will do:
 Explore potentials for dialogue programming

o
RAINN Day
Set up a roundtable
HOTY
Make preliminary advocacy calendar for this semester
 Put up the RAINN Day mural
Vice President of Programming
 What I did:


Planned out potential programs and allocated money
Worked on Founders Day


o
 Planned Tailgate
What I didn't do:
 Write out roundtable plan
 What I am going to do:
 Plan out roundtable
 Meet with clubs for Diversival
 More meetings
National Communications Coordinator
 What I did:


o
Working on Diversival
NCC chat with the region
Opened Conference Application
 Submitted letter of intent to bid
 Submitted application to NACURH recognition committee
 What I didn’t do:
 Book rental cars for CAACURH
 What I am going to do:
 Book rental cars
 Plan roundtable Agendas w/ Devin
 Select Conference Delegate
Chief of Staff
 What I did this week Finished calculating the results
 Round-table meeting set for this weekend




Developed a plan for my round-table for the year
Gained access to the @aurha.org domain and created the
Administrative Board emails
 Facebook group set up for General Assembly
 Created a contact list for all of RHA
What I didn't do this week Give all halls access to the poster approval form
What I'm going to do next week Give all halls access to the poster approval form
 Update RHA social media pages

o
Get the information of appointed members so far
Advisor
 Take notes on the meetings!
 Daniel wants to help make this year amazing!
 What did Daniel Do?



Attended RHA Fall Orientation and hosted RHA Additional
Opportunities Session
Met with Megan, Joanne, and Sarah
Conference Call with My Favorite Student about special
packages and AU pennants


What did Daniel Not Do?
 Reconcile P-Card
o NOTE: It is very important to return all receipts to your
Hall Council Advisor ASAP!
What does Daniel Plan to Do?
 Meet with Nate, Jody, and Megan
 Attend a Founder’s Day Meeting with Sarah (9/26)



Attend a CLARCC Meeting (10/1)
Schedule 1:1 Meeting Times with Devin and Members of the
Administrative Board
HDP and Other Updates




Spring 2015 Resident Assistant (RA) Selection
(http://www.american.edu/ocl/housing/RA.cfm)
o Candidates must attend an information session
 Mon. 9/29: 10-11pm in Anderson Conference
Room
 Tues. 9/30: 7-8pm in McDowell Formal Lounge
o Candidates who wish to apply for Fall 2015 but are
studying abroad next semester should participate in the
process now.
Appointed Administrative Board Reports
o Parliamentarian
 Approved elections results
 Went to orientation
o Deputy Programmers
 Founders day planning
 Tailgate coming up
o Deputy Advocates
 Went to orientation
 Discussed future events
 RAINN Day
o Deputy of Marketing and Design
 Not present
NRHH Report- Markie, President
o Open to Resident Student Leaders
o Runs the OTM system
o Name has changed
Chief of Staff Appointment Discussion and Vote
o Presentation
o Q and A:
 Cowboy Joe: Are there any other people open to the position?
 No
 Martin: What do you view as your strength?
 Work well with a team
 Alex: Past experience with RHA?


GA delegate

Appointed to VP of Finance of Letts Clark and Roper
 Many awards from Marieka
Saagar: What does Chief of Staff do?





Officer
Writes minutes for meeting
Work with Administrative board
Have a deputy of marketing and design to help with posters
and publication
 Daniel: Point of information, how do appointments work?
 A-Board is chosen through application process
 Swear in those who didn’t go to transition
o Pro Con Debate:
 Pro- he’s already doing it
 Con- none
 Pro- great last year as GA delegate and VP of Finance
 Con- none
 Pro- nice guy
 Period Ended
o Approval Vote
 27/0/1—Approved!
National Communications Coordinator Appointment Discussion and Vote
o Presentation
 Conference Experience, drawn to NCC position
 Big plans for Regional and
o Q and A Period
 Ferdinand- What Plans?
 Want to plan for School of the Year bid
 Martin- biggest strength?


 She’ll be there for you
Markie- what are bids? Why is it a big part of your job?
 Bids are bids for an award at the Regional and National level
 Has to format in a proper way
o Pro con debate
 Pro- seems to be qualified
 Con- none
 Pro- good ideas
 Con- none
 Pro- like the school of the year bid
 Period Ended
o Approval vote
 29/0/0—Approved
Administrative Board Appointment Discussion and Vote
o (1) Parliamentarian
 Max

o
Presentation
o A lot of Parli Pro experience, and leadership
experience in general
o Working closely with Executive board and Admin Board
already
 Q and A
o Mark- what is JSA?
 Promotes Civic involvement
o Martin- greatest strength?
 Follow rules
o Cowboy Joe- greatest weakness?
 Chocolate
 Pro Con Debate
o Pro- Necessary experience
o Con- none
o Pro- likes rules, keep us on track
o Con- none
o Pro- used to do JSA with Max
o Con- He could be swayed with chocolate
o Pro- Probably won’t
o Con- none
o Pro- good at job
 Approval vote
o 29/0/0- Approved
(2) Deputy Programmers
 Landria
 Presentation
o Wants to get students involved
o Excited
 Q and A
o Ron- What are some events you have worked on in the
past?
 Her 16th birthday- budgeted her party, planned
it, found places to plan
o Martin- strength?
 Organization
o Josh- what would you bring to events?
 Bring a new perspective on RHA events
o Cowboy Joe- year?
 Sophomore
o Time elapsed
 Saagar- extend Q and A by one min
 seconded
o Passes
o



Meg




o
Sussana- Why do you want to get involved in campus
this year?
 Wanted to
Pro Con
o Pro- budget experience
o Con- none
o Pro- first year to bring new prespective
o Con- lack of experience in formal planning
o Pro- hard worker
o Con-none
o Pro- good grasp on what her position is
o Period Ended
Approval Vote
o 29/0/0—Approved
Presentation
o Deputy last year
o Helped with Founder’s Day
o Headed one of her events
Q and A
o Christina- any new ideas?
 Meg has an event once a month
o Martin- strength?
 Very thorough
o Ron- What is a problem you have faced?
 Windy day at one of her events
 moved events together
o Martin motioned to extend time by 1 min
 Seconded, passes
o Question period lapsed
Pro Con debate
o Pro- a lot of experience
o Con- Confusion between two deputies
o Pro- good idea on what she needs to do
o Cono Pro- already have a connection with other deputy
o Period ended
Vote
o 29/0/0—Approved
(2) Deputies of Advocacy & Community Coordination
 Monique
 Presentation
o Advocacy experience
o Wants more inclusion on campus
 Q and A
o



Audrey


Martin- greatest strength?
 Organization and Empathy
o Josh- how do you bring more diversity to campus?
 Ask students what they want
o Period ended
Point of Info- Joey- move the previous question?
o You can motion to move the question
 Joey- Motion to move the question?
 Vote: 28/0/1---passed
Appointment Vote
o 29/0/0—approved
Presentation
o Enthusiastic about advocacy
 Q and A
o Lexi- any ideas for the upcoming year?
 Penny drive
o Joe- did you ever attend a rotary conference
 No
o Martin- greatest strength?
 Energy
 Jose- Move the previous question
o Seconded
 Vote: 27/0/2—passed
 Approval vote
o 29/0/0—approved
o (1) Deputy of Marketing & Design
 Natalie
 Presentation
o Graphic design major
o Design experience
 Q and A
o Martin- greatest strength?
 Attention to detail
o Josh- previous experience with RHA?
 No
o Joe- Are you a freshman?
 No, Sophomore
 Arthur- Move the previous question
o Seconded
 Vote: 26/0/3—passed
 Approval Vote
o 28/0/1—approved
General Assembly Swearing In
o Congratulations!


Old Business (Discussion)
o Electronics shouldn’t be on
New Business
o Parliamentarian Procedure Presentation- Max Glas
 Bylaws are important- Look at them
 No resolution cannot go against the bylaws
 Joe- point of Info- can Bylaws be amended?
o
 Yes- but formal resolution process
 Passing legislation- Resolutions
 Respect the speaker, understand motions and points
 Placards to raise motions
RHA Budget Presentation – Joanne
 Presentation


Starting balance- $59,429.05
 Budget line-item breakdown
Q and A
 Martin- how much was Founder’s Day last year
o Same amount
 Joe- What is Founder’s Day?
o Formal ball open to students- a nicer prom
 Martin- do you think $20,000.00 is enough?
o SG has allocated the same amount
o Not all residents go, so RHA wants to give money back
to student




Saagar- how is the money calculated from HDP to RHA
o Population of residents
Saagar- what is My Favorite Student?
o Care package company
o Link on facebook group
Terry- how will we know what the budget is later on?
o Come by Joanne’s office hours for further questions
o Not going on social media
Motion to extend time by one min –Arthur
o Seconded
 Vote: 18/3/6—passes


Josh- where is your office
o The RHA Office in Anderson first floor
Pro Con Debate
 Pro- Budget well described, using past knowledge




Con- not a lot of room for error
Pro- set up very well
Con- STRIKEN FROM MINUTES (Out of Order-Relevancy)
Con- expensive
o Reduction on prices

o

Pro- expenses already done, split Founder’s Day good

Con- none
 Period ended
Approval of Budget
 28/0/1—budget approved!
CAACURH – National Communications Coordinator- Jody
 Presentation

In Pennsylvania




Planning on a Delegation of 8 students
Opportunities to meet new people
Conferences have many opportunities
Questions?- Ask Megan, Jody, or Daniel

Applications open until Saturday, anyone can apply


Other ways to get involved, even if you do not get into the
Delegation
o Committee for Roll Call Video
o Banner Committee
o Philanthropy Committee
o Helping out by writing bids
Q and A
 Jose- how are the residents selected?
o Jody, Markie, and Megan will be selecting
 Alex- who are included in the Delegation
o 3 executive board members, so 5 more open positions

o
Nate- all day Saturday for applying?
o Yes
Hall of the Year Presentation – VP of Advocacy & Community CoordinationNate
 Presentation



 Report every month
Q and A




HOTY- is the award given to the Hall
How to win?
o Fulfilling certain tasks
o Send to HOTY@aurha.org
Saagar- is there a way to see the list of tasks?
o Sending with the Advocates
Sarah- is there a limit or pictures for each event?
o 10 per event
Katie- can RHA members be in the photos?
o Yes
 Jaime- if it isn’t on the list?
o Check with us
Josh- Motion to extend the period by one minute




 14/14/1—tie, chair votes yes, passes
o Poster requests
 In the email y’all
o True Colors – VPACC
 Fill out this paper and bring it to you next GA
Open Forum
o This is where you will discuss items that are important to residents- send to
megan@aurha.org
General Announcements
o Sarah- October 4th- Kickball for Kids, lots of fun, all proceeds go to the kids
Recognition
o Twitter stream
o Use #RHA and the twitter handle
Adjournment
o Motion to adjourn meeting- unanimous consent
 Seconded
 Passed
o Meeting adjourned at 10:55pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Devin Moore
RHA Chief of Staff
Minutes approved by an unianimous consent vote from the 10/02/2014 General Assembly