Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: 860-465-0099
Student Government Association
General Board Meeting
October 7th, 2013 3:00 PM
Present:
Executive Board: P. Bjornstad (President), A. Bullard (Vice President), M. Hicks
(BAM), B. Rice (Treasurer), Z. Yeager (Secretary)
Advisors: C. Ambrosio, W. Diaz
Senators: J. Ahern, E. Benoit, A. Burns, K. Chrzanowska, V. Cosma, E. DeLuca, A.
DelValle, E. Drouin, D. Dykstra, A. Fiducia, M. Fournier, J. Garzone, C. Gosselin, R.
Labrie, B. Malcolm, E. McDonald, M. McFall-Gorman, E. Pelletier, R. Perry, J. Reid, R.
Rivera, M. Styrczula
Meeting called to order at3:02 PM
1. Approval of 9/30/13 minutes
a. Motion # 11 (E. Pelletier, E. Drouin) Motion to accept the minutes from
9/30/13 (22-0-0) Motion carries.
2. President’s Report:
a. Retreat – Goal Setting:
The goals are up in the SGA office. We plan to implement the goals
throughout the rest of the semester and keep updates on them!
E. Drouin mentioned the effectiveness of the retreat.
PR noted that they will be working to make new posters for the goals to be
displayed on.
b. Open House Table:
High school students are going to be descending on Eastern soon and we
have a table in the gym from 11-4 on the 13th of October! We need
representatives though. R. Rivera and R. Labrie will be representing the
club! It is fromm 12-4 in the gym.
c. Social Media Responsibility:
VP Ken Bedini wants to have a series of events that deal with social media
responsibility. We set the example for other students as Role models and
leaders.
d. RU1 Campaign:
This is a campaign to show that Eastern students are good neighbors. There
are a lot of complaints about the partying and loud noises from the Eastern
students. P. Bjornstad mentioned the last campaign from 3 years ago and its
effectiveness, however, we may want to try a new approach so not to tarnish
SGA’s name.
Eastern Connecticut State University Student Government Association
“Students Serving Students”
e. Town Gown:
It will be held in the Johnson Room this Thursday at 6 PM. We need as many
Senators as possible to attend. J. Reid, P. Bjornstad, D. Dykstra, E. Benoit, R.
Labrie, B. Rice, and M. Hicks volunteered to attend! W. Diaz mentioned that
the student input is important because the off-campus students do not
represent everybody, but they are the ones that the local residents complain
about.
3. Vice President’s Report:
a. E-Board Update: Nothing to report at this time
b. Committees
i. Student Issues:
1. E. McDonald is working with UR to get a possible ask.fm
started to get student issues.
2. E. McDonald met with C. DeAngelis about the transfer SOAR
issue. This summer students with 60+ credits had an
optional SOAR. But, next summer, transfers will be signing up
with current students.
3. Neither of the elevators in the Cervantes garage are working
currently.
4. Issues may be doing a “Wiener Wednesday” type idea. She
brought up the idea of a “Thirsty Thursday” idea. A. Bullard
thinks it’s a great idea, but it needs a different name. You get
a drink, you give an issue.
5. Looking into a “Therapy Puppy” idea for exam time. Pet the
puppy, give an issue.
ii. Public Relations:
The first committee meeting is this Wednesday at 3. They will be
working on the ideas they came up with at the retreat.
iii. Internal:
Meetings are Wednesdays at 3.
iv. BAM:
1. BAM approved Fishing Club’s constitution at last meeting,
but were scheduled to come today. They did not show up so
M. Hicks will be talking with them.
2. BAM will be sending out the minutes from now on to the
Senate.
3. West Indian Society changed their Constitution a lot. It will
be brought up at their meeting.
4. Ski n’ Board club had an allocation for lift passes.
5. IMA was allocated $3500 for a conference
6. SGA will no longer be paying for advisors to attend
conferences. This saves us money.
7. $167,000 has been allocated. We have about $8000 left.
4. Treasurer’s Report:
a. Budget:
We are slightly negative but we have open POs that we did not use all the
money for them, so the totals are less. We are -$20,000 currently because we
paid for dual-semester things but used only money from one semester. EBoard does have $12,000 though, so we are only -$7000. M. Hicks mentioned
that they allocate all their money out, but the money that doesn’t get spent
comes back to BAM and that money will cover the debt. Clubs do keep
fundraising money at the end of the semester but that is the only rollover
that they get to keep.
5. Secretary’s Report:
a. Office Hours:
Z. Yeager reminded Senators to sign-in for office hours.
6. Advisor’s Report:
a. Robert’s Rules of Order:
C. Ambrosio presented his quick presentation that goes over motions, and
how the meetings are to run. Motions start with “I move” They should have a
What-Where-Money component to them. Then, a second is needed. This
means that it is worthy of discussion. We then move to discussion.
Amendments can be made at this point, but only on one of the What-WhereMoney. We then repeat the cycle. You need a majority of the vote (50%+1)
for the motion to pass. You can even amend the amendments! The Senate’s
mind was blown. After the amendment is accepted, we have to revote on the
amendment again against the original. Then, we have a main motion (the 2nd
amendment) and vote on it. If the discussion takes too long, we can motion
to send it to a committee with a referral and date to report back by.
7. Old Business:
8. New Business:
9. Open Floor:
a. Dates to Remember:
i. Thursday, October 10th, President’s Breakfast, Hurley Hall, 7:00 AM
ii. Thursday, October 10th, Town Gown Meeting, Johnson Room, 6 PM
iii. Sunday, October 13th, Open House
b. Peace & Human Rights:
The club wants to have money re-allocated. BAM did not approve it. PHR
Club planned a conference with UNICEF, but it is against the BAM guidelines
because they do not fund apparel. However, because it is a conference but
clothing is required. Last spring, General Board approved this, but now the
money is forfeited because they did not get everything all set on time.
c. Motion # 12 (E. Pelletier, A. Bullard) Motion to move to closed session
(23-0-0) Motion carries.
d. Motion # 13 (J. Reid, M. Fournier) Motion to re-allocate $500 for TShirts for Peace & Human Rights Club (19-3-1) Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned.