BGSA Meeting Agenda: 5 October 2015
I.
II.
Call to order (Aliyah) – 1:30 pm
Welcome & overview of procedures (Aliyah)
a. PIMB/ISB
Rep
spot
has
been
filled
by
Celestino
Velasquez
b. Goals for the year
i. Increase
attendance
and
involvement
of
student
body
ii. Improve
professional
reputation
to
Program
Directors
1. Aliyah has reached out to program directors
and department heads and introduced herself
c. Attendance requirements & voting procedures
i. Program
Representatives
and
Executive
Board
Members must strive to attend every meeting and
send excuse (cc Abby and Aliyah) if there is an
extenuating circumstance
1. These members are eligible to vote
ii. Other BGSA Attendees
1. Need to attend 3 meetings in order to be
eligible to vote
2. Abby
will
track
attendance
throughout
the
year
III.
VP of Records: Review and approval of September minutes
(Abby)
a. Last months minutes are approved
b. Sent around a sheet for new attendees to provide name,
email, and program affiliation
IV.
VP of Finance report (Jennifer)
a. Account balances were declared
V.
VP of University Relations report (Beth)
a. Upcoming GPSG Events
(https://pre.gpsg.pitt.edu/events-2/)
Zombie Paintball
When: Fri, October 23, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Mockingjay Premiere
When: Thu, November 19, 10pm – Fri, November 20, 12am
GPSG Fall Formal
When: Fri, November 20, 7pm – 11pm
Where: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 419 S
Dithridge St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Theme: 90s prom
a. Travel Grants – keep applying!
https://pre.gpsg.pitt.edu/services/travel-grants/
VI.
WSMA update (Alyce)
a. WSMA
just
held
a
coffee
hour
and
it
was
a
success.
Unfortunately, were unable to secure a speaker lunch for
SCIENCE 2015 due to speaker flight schedules.
However, we
would like to remind students to attend the professional
development program for students and post-docs that is a
part of the SCIENCE 2015 Agenda.
VII.
VP of Communications report (Greg)
a. Fall
newsletter
was
sent
out
in
September,
next
newsletter will be in December
i. Need a Student Spotlight for December newsletter
1. Nominate
someone
for
their
academic
excellence
ii. Website
1. Google calendar now lists BGSA events
VIII.
Grad office report (Lauren)
a. Needs to discuss Symposium details with Chelsea and
Amie
IX.
Past events
a. No events in September besides elections
X.
Upcoming events
a. Symposium (Chelsea/Amie) – November 4, University Club
i. Event flyer and Keynote Speaker flyers will be
distributed
ii. Abstract submission is closed
iii. Oral talks and awards are finalized
iv. Need PIs as poster judges!! Recruit your PI
v. Happy hour following BGSA Symposium will likely
be at Peters
vi. If you signed up for dinner with the Speaker, it
will be at the Porch, 7:30pm
vii. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE DAY OF THE SYMPOSIUM
1. Passed around a sign up sheet
b. Department
chair/program
director
meet
and
greet
(Agustin)
i. This is a series of individual program events to
promote
communication
between
students
and
program directors and/or department chairs
ii. Will
help
to
improve
BGSA
professional
relationship with departments and programs
iii. Lunch or coffee would be provided by BGSA at a
limited number (first come, first serve basis)
iv. Representatives should reach out to their program
for student interest – report back in November –
we will go from there
c. Fall hiking outing/pumpkin decorating (Aliyah)
i. Frick Park near Squirrel Hill
ii. BGSA purchases paint, carving tools, and pumpkins
1. Saturday October 17
2. Sign ups
3. $3
fee
to
attend
(pumpkin
cost)
and
BGSA
will cover all other costs
4. Expected cost is $50
5. Event is approved to happen
6. Eventbrite
–
pay
$3
to
grad
office
by
Thursday, October 15
iii. BMES
is
picking
also
on
hosting
October
17,
a
trip
but
to
BGSA
pumpkin/apple
will
not
co-
sponsor this event because of time restrictions
d. End of Foundations happy hour (Sarah/Ben)
i. Talk to previous
first year representatives to
plan this happy hour
XI.
New business
a. Need a VP of Programming, or volunteers for individual
events
b. Program Reps should make sure their program is aware
of all BGSA events!
c. Next meeting November 2
XII.
Meeting ended, 2:12pm