ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF
IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
CLEARWATER ROOM, PSU
5:30PM
FEBRUARY 29, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm by Finance Committee Chair Aaron McCabe.
ROLL CALL
ASISU Secretary, Emily Koskella, took roll. All Finance Committee Members were present except I.F. VP
Latham and Senator Mingura. MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2012.
Zamora/Stokes. Unanimous. MOTION CARRIED. MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. Zamora/Kelsch.
Unanimous called. MOTION CARRIED.
CHAIR’S REPORT
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
Theatre ISU
Thom Hasenpflug, Director of School of Performing Arts, is presenting for the line item. Theatre and
Dance has five main stage productions per year. Two are plays or musical theatre, one is a children’s’ production, and one is a dance concert. They generally petition the Student Senate for a large chunk of their production budget. Last year, they received about $52,000 from ASISU. They raise close to $35,000 in revenue from ticket sales. There is about $83,000 total in their production budget. Everything depends on revenue and how many attend their productions. They can’t afford to have free admission anymore.
The cost per production is $5 for students and $15 for the general public. They are on a three year rotation for their productions to have variety in shows. This year, they have a big musical, and small comedy. They have a rotation of styles and genres. They have an educational mission, so they have to do different kinds of things. Crowd pleasers sell better.
President Stokes asked what productions are going on this year. Into the Woods is opening in April. It is a large musical with the Department of Music. Since reorganization, music, theatre, and dance are one super department. Black Comedy just closed. Last semester was the dance concert. Next year, they will be looking for granting agencies to support doing Double Blindsided, a new movement-based work created for the university.
Senator Zamora said last year he was on Finance and there was a lack of advertisement problem for productions. He asked how they have improved on that. They advertise in print media, the Idaho State
Journal, radio, and television. Their business manager just left her position. The Student Senate last year was concerned about on-campus advertisement. There are posters all over campus right now for their productions. Their dean is big on making sure the new hire will effectively advertise and help to bring in revenue to keep the program successful and financially viable.
Senator Kelsch asked what position(s) the irregular salary amount is for. He also asked if scholarships go to the scholarship office or straight to students. Irregular salaries are solely for students; none of that money goes to faculty or staff. Scholarships come from several places. Some comes from ASISU. Other comes from donor donations. Other comes from money raised. They have different kinds of award processes.
Senator Gundry asked how many people come to their productions in comparison to last year. The size of the theatre changes perspective and number of guests available. Their numbers are pretty similar to last year. The money maker is coming up in April in the Bistline, with 450 seats.
OLD BUSINESS
1.
Ranger Challenge Contingency Fund Request

Lieutenant Colonel Marilyn DeWalt and Preston Littlewood, ISU ROTC Cadet, are presenting for the club. Part of their club, competed recently with eight other schools in Boise and completed a series of events. They are trying to compete elsewhere. They have the opportunity to compete for the German
Armed Forces Proficiency Badge in Las Vegas, Nevada. They will travel there Friday, compete
Saturday and Sunday, and come back Monday. There are concerns about driving late at night, so that is why they are coming back Monday. Most other schools are following that schedule. Their request was initially for transportation, food, and lodging. They tried to exhaust everything they could to get money. From that, they have enough money to cover transportation. Now, their request is just for food and lodging. They consider themselves student soldier athletes. There are multiple competitions in the states. This is the closest competition to ISU that is feasible to them. The badge, if achieved, would be worn on dress uniforms at any event. They want to show they are capable of performing.
They have been holding tryouts for the last few weeks. A lot of cadets would like to go.
Senator Kelsch asked what exactly the challenge will entail. There will be a proficiency test, casualty evaluation, 100m sprint, high jump, long jump, shot put, 3000 meter run, pushups, sit ups, pistol qualification, 2 mile run, and more.
Senator Gundry asked if each individual can win the badge. Yes, they can. They have seen what their strengths and weaknesses are. Everyone has an equal chance to place. It isn’t a team competition; it is individual. To have a foreign badge to wear permanently on their uniform is prestigious.
Senator Hayes asked if they are requesting 1/3 of meals and lodging. Yes, they requested that from reading ASISU contingency fund request regulations. Senator Hayes asked if competitors have to beat everyone else at the competition to place or if they just have to beat set standards. Competitors have to pass each event at a certain standard; they don’t have to beat all individuals there.
President Stokes asked if anyone could join their club. Yes, anyone can join their club. However, to compete in the Ranger Challenge, they have to be in ROTC. No one not in ROTC is going to this competition.
VP Hemsley asked if they have paid a fee to be in their club. No, they don’t. Parking cars at Holt Arena has been their main fundraiser.
Senator Hayes asked if there is any kind of competition fee. No, there isn’t.
2.
Rotaract Contingency Fund Request
Brandon Comish, secretary, and James Yizar, Student Success and Athletics, are presenting for the club. The biggest reason for their request is an incredible opportunity through Rotary. Whatever amount of money they can raise within next month with a deadline of March 31 is going to be multiplied 3.5 times. They need to raise at least $15,000 on their own, which would amount to
$50,000 that is required to build an outfit and dig a well at a school in Mali. Based on what they have raised, the money they have asked for will help them achieve that goal.
Chair McCabe asked if the club is sending students to build it. Yes, there will be students involved.
They are still deliberating on the number of volunteers they are prepared to take, but they plan to take about 10. The opportunity is first open to Rotaract members. They have a few medical professionals going as well. There is an overall goal of the project, and this is just the first step.
Chair McCabe asked if students are paying out of pocket to fly down. Yes, travel is out of pocket. They are all volunteers. Every dime they raise has to be spent on the actual project.
Senator Gundry asked if they could explain what the purpose of Rotaract is and how they decided they would like to do this. Rotaract is the college version of Rotary. Their motive is “service above self.” They strive to put themselves to work in various forms of service. The three areas focused on are school, community, and international. That is their aim and ambition. In order to plan and execute a project this size, they require the right contacts. These contacts were made during
Brandon’s travels. He went to Mali to make contacts and firm up plans. It is important to ensure stability in the plan. Rotary International with Rotaract has focused on college students to make sure they understand service above self and doing something to make the environment better for students while also doing projects in local communities. Rotary has moved to a more global involvement and taken on more global projects that will be expanding students in university environment. Three Rotary clubs in the community jumped on it immediately.

VP Hemsley asked what they have done on campus as a club to serve fellow students. Most recently, they organized a book swap where students could interact with other students and negotiate prices between each other. They have talked about doing that again.
Senator Kelsch asked what would happen if they don’t raise $15,000. That would mean a longer road ahead of them. They are determined to raise that amount of money. The money they do raise will stay with the club. There are other organizations they are working with as well and it may be possible to pool money with them. It is just a matter of time. They will still send delegates to do research to lay the foundation of the school. That would be a way to solidify their promise to the villages.
President Stokes asked when they will begin construction of this project if they get the money. They are planning on doing this over this coming Christmas break. If it takes them longer, they will adjust the timeline. Another idea is pushing it to spring break, making their trip similar to Idaho Condor.
President Stokes asked if each member available to go is putting forth close to what Idaho Condor students paid, about $3,000. The cost will be similar. They are trying to minimize costs. The downside of going over the Christmas holiday is plane tickets are more costly.
President Stokes asked how ASISU is going to know this happens. If it takes another year, there will be a whole new Senate. He asked if there will be paperwork proving where the funding goes. Rotary is very strict as far as how often Rotaract needs to report to them. There will be plenty of paperwork and documentation. They are hoping to do a lot of photograph and video documentation. There will be a set protocol that the club will have to follow.
NEW BUSINESS
1.
Society of Automotive Engineers Contingency Fund Request
They are requesting $5,000. MOVE TO HEAR REQUEST. Stokes/Winter. Unanimous. MOTION
CARRIED.
2.
Matched Deposits
Alpha Kappa Psi: $975.55; Anime Club: $6.67; Associated Graduate Students of Pharmacy: $69
MOVE TO APPROVE MATCHED DEPOSITS. Zamora/Winter. Unanimous. MOTION CARRIED.
OTHER
Lowell said as far as the Rotaract club, activity fees are considered state funds. They cannot go to charities. They may not allow a deposit into a charity. That is a question that must be answered before a vote.
President Stokes said because the contingency fund is supposed to be an emergency fund, requests should be a small amount of money just used to offset costs. The request shouldn’t exceed the amount they have earned in his opinion. Unless extenuating circumstances are proven, fundraising should be a large majority of what they are spending. MOVE TO TABLE ROTARACT CLUB CONTINGENCY FUND
REQUEST. Stokes/Zamora. Unanimous. MOTION CARRIED.
MOVE TO APPROVE RANGER CHALLENGE CONTINGENCY FUND REQUEST FOR $668.25. Winter/Hemsley.
Unanimous. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT
MOVE TO ADJOURN. Hemsley/Winter. Unanimous. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 6:20pm.