Student Government Association

I. Call to order (5:40 pm)

II. Roll Call
• Present:
o Speaker Gabe Rettaliata
o Asst. Speaker Jen Kent
o Brian Frazee
o Neketa Kakar
o Sunaina Khandelwal
o Aditi Srivastav
o Rahilla Tarfa
o Whitney Torchia
• Absent
o Omoye Ebhomielen
o Amber Spry
o Chidinma Ukonne

III. Icebreaker
IV. Speaker/ Assistant Speaker Elections

• Motion by Gabe to delay elections until next meeting to allow all Senators to have a vote. No objections.

V. Action Guide Review

• David Hoffman reviewed Senate job description and how it plays into SGA’s roles. Also looked over pg. 25 of action guide.
• Gabe went over the attendance policy- only 2 unexcused absences allowed for the year, including Senate meetings and committee meetings
• David did a brief intro to parliamentary procedure, referencing pg. 29-30 of action guide.
• Gabe then briefly went over the glossary of terms (pg. 31), writing legislation (pg. 35), SGA budgetary procedures (pg. 37), and the SGA tome entries starting on pg. 53. He encouraged all Senators to look over these sections in particular, but also recommended reading the other sections as well.

VI. Introduction to “The 5 Projects”
• Gabe introduced the five projects and explained that these were baby steps into introducing SGA members to completing projects.

a. Transcript Fee
a) This group is looking into the $8 fee per official transcript
b. Pond Cleanup
a) This group is planning a pond cleanup day and a pond naming contest
c. Student Org. Involvement Card
a) This is a program that will track how students go to and reward them for high attendance.
d. Halloween Fest
a) The group is planning a student org. fair on Halloween including people getting dressed up, as well as other events.
e. Web Services Update/ Upgrade
a) This group wants to revamp the SGA website as well as other SGA web services to make them more user friendly
b) Brian asked about looking into changing the UMBC homepage
c) Steve said it has been bad since his freshman year
d) Jen agreed with Brian

• Gabe asked anyone not in a project group to join one.

VII. Plans for Upcoming Year
• Gabe handed out sheet from Campus Walk activity from the Retreat. Encouraged everyone to fill it out to help brainstorm ideas for Senate projects. Senate will also consult project list compiled during retreat.
• David said he will send that list out over SGA listproc
• Gabe asked who Senate would like to have as guests at meetings
o Bookstore Bob
o Provost Hirschman
o Tom Delucca from Chartwell’s
o Dr. Nancy Young
o President Hrabowski

VIII. Executive/ Ex-officio Reports
• SGA President Steve Gilmore-
o Please attend Convocation
o Involvement Fest is Sept. 3rd, look for an e-mail
o Over the summer, met with committee to do teacher evaluations by students online, to replace paper based SCEQ’s
o Election Night Extravaganza- Brian Frazee and Sameera Syed have been working on this event
o Homecoming- Katie Dix is Homecoming Chair. Movie will be Batman: The Dark Knight, Sat. there will be pre-game activities
o Look for Cabinet and USMSC confirmations to come soon
o Readership Program needs an additional $4000
o Retreat follow-up meeting- look for an e-mail
o Be sure to update your Corp. Time calendars
o I would like to meet with each person in SGA individually over the coming weeks
• SGA Advisor David Hoffman
o “Make UMBC Yours” session from 1-2 pm on the 26th- to help students get involved with organizations and campus life.
o There is a new Provost- meet him
o Nancy Young was named permanent VP of Student Affairs
• SGA Treasurer Yasmin Karimian
o Attend a treasurer training session to learn more about finances

IX. Announcements
X. Adjournment (6:34 pm)
XI. Pass the Gavel

Call to Order: 5:37 pm

Roll Call:
Silva
Harsh
Stefan
Christine
Yasmin

Confirmation of Nayana Davis as Chief of Staff

David Hoffman: You and the Senate were elected, so there is so scrutiny involved in making sure the appointed positions have the best interest of the student body in mind. So its your job to decide if she will serve well enough in this role?

Yasmin: What do you see as your main role?

Nayana: Being a liaison between the different branches along with the accountability

Stefan: Whats your time commitment

Nayana: I originally planned to attend all of these meetings, but due to time restrictions I plan to alternate

Passes 4/0/1

Pride Committee Meeting Reports

Nayana: As far as professionalism goes, people found that there were concerns about being too involved in conversations to help students who walk into the office, as well as cleanliness and personal relationships going too far in the office. The idea of having a customer service training for all SGA members was suggested. We also did updates on the different projects and what the different branches were up to.

Yasmin: Are there going to be minutes for the pride committee meetings?

Nayana: If you email me Ill send along my own notes as to what happened

Pre-Meeting Discussion

Harsh: First off, I’d like to go over motions. To start, there’s informal legislation, which we can make whatever changes we want at this point. Then once there is a motion to vote, it becomes formal legislation, and then to change it or pass/deny it, it must be voted on.

David Hoffman: Friendly amendments are a way to informally change things on the legislation, which can be done if someone proposes the change and it’s seconded.

Harsh: As for rights and responsibilities, any member has the right to overrule the chair, through a motion. Secondly, it’s a responsibility to inform the organizations being questioned how their answers will affect the outcome if its in regards to a rule. Also, you should try to get to a treasurer training, so if an organization comes with a question you know what to do. We will wait till the end of the meeting to further discuss this.

Skydiving Club- Parachute Repair

Harsh: Would you mind telling us a little bit about this?

PR: This club was around a while ago, so this piece of equipment (referencing to parachute) was purchased in 1999. The AAD is a device that releases a chute, and it requires maintenance every 4 years

Harsh/David Hoffman: This is a hobby club, but falls under a restricted funding policy

Yasmin: So if this is repaired, it can be used for the next 4 years?

PR: Yes, it can for members who have completed a tandem jump

Harsh: Lets move on to the USPA national Collegiate Championship

PR: This is an event where 19 other college clubs come and participate in a competition in canopy control and accurate landings. The biggest thing is I think this is a great opportunity for UMBC, since last time we competed

Harsh: The roundtrip airfare, how many people is that for?

PR: Just 1, the other people don’t have their license

David Hoffman: The definition of a sports club is in part competition, so if today you brought up that you wanted to compete, you would probably be listed as a sports club. This being said, that puts some doubt on the parachute repair as well, as if you were a sports club we couldn’t fund your equipment.

PR: I do see what you are saying, but this club is a little different then other clubs. For us to be able to use this chute, we need these things, otherwise the chute is worthless. It seems to me that the only way around this is to make a parachute team for the competition, and a hobby club for the equipment.

Chinese Student Association

Harsh: Lets start with your meet and greet BBQ
CSA: This event is co-sponsored with VSA as well and its open to everyone who wants to come as well as free.

Harsh: Where is this being held?

CSA: Erikson Courtyard, so its pretty open

Harsh: How are you going to advertise for this?

CSA: Word of mouth, and we discussed this with ASIA and they said they would advertise this to the rest of the student body too.

Harsh: Lets move on to the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

CSA: We are hoping to inform people about the moon festival and give cultural background

Stefan: Where is it?

CSA: Its actually here (Commons)

Harsh: How many people are you expecting?

CSA: Around 25

Christine: The SGA provides 100 free copies, if you want to expand your advertising

Harsh: Same with UMBC spotlight

Yasmin: Don’t forget to fill out the score sheet on the back of the paper for this event and the previous ones

INDS

Harsh: Mind providing a basic explanation of the event?

INDS: This is a fundraiser event, we will just be passing a hat or whatever and if you want to make a donation to Reggie Harris you can, but don’t have to.

Harsh: How were you planning on advertising?

INDS: We are on the events calendar as well as newspaper ads

Yasmin: Is the food from chartwells?

INDS: Yes, and the lodging fee is for the artist
Yasmin: How many people do you expect?

INDS: 150, but we can take up to 300. With the off campus advertising we want to be sure students are the main attendees.

Yasmin: You may want an admission fee for off campus students

David Hoffman: Are you aware of this going to the SAFE committee?

Yasmin: There is a meeting tomorrow, but no, haven’t heard of it

INDS: We haven’t heard of that, so not sure.

Hindu Student Council

Harsh: Mind explaining your event “First General Meeting”?

HAS: Its just our first meeting, we expect 40 or so people in the Sondheim building.

David Hoffman: Since you didn’t specify a date, and this was handed in on 9/5/08 this event has to take place 15 days from then

Request Withdrawal

Harsh: This next event, tell us about it?

HAS: Around 250-300 people, Dandiya

Yasmin: Last year you charged people to use the sticks, and then when you gave them back, they refunded half your money

HAS: The deposit should be a full refund, it was just to prevent people from stealing them

Christine: Are the water and refreshments free?

HAS: We haven’t discussed that but if we have to it will be free for UMBC students

Yasmin: Are these quotes from scheduling?

HAS: No, they are just from last year

Yasmin: Maybe we should wait till next week so you have time to discuss with your board making everything free and such

Tabled till next week
Deliberations:
Parachute Repair: Even with the competition, in general seems like it will be used for the club and available to all Passes 4/0/1

Championship: The fact that it’s a competition precludes it from being funded. Denied 1/2/1

Meet and Greet BBQ: Passes 3/0/1

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival: Passes 3/0/1

Benefit Concert: The issue with this is if the event by itself is valuable enough to the students, regardless of its charitable considerations Passes 3/01

Breakfast Teas: 3/0/1

Yerba Mate: 3/0/1

Coffee House: They were given $50, but were missing $4 to actually put there supplies on tables. Passes 3/0/1

First General Body Meeting: The issue here was they got their quotes from Sodexho and then the food service provider changed to Chartwells, increasing their quotes. It would also be worth exploring if Chartwells would be willing to decrease their cost for student orgs, what with them being a large customer source. Yasmin, Silva and Steve Gilmore plan to set up a meeting with a representative to discuss this. Passes 3/0/1

Post Meeting Discussion
- Go over the score sheet
- Steve Gilmore: Joint legislation next week for election night extravaganza for a $5-6k GL expense next time
- Back to earlier discussion: Treasurer training/Ice scream for great events

Last year we would contact organizations and let them know why/why not they were funded. Next week we will divide that up amongst us. Other things, be punctual, we should start a 5:30. Same with office hours to answer questions since the finance board is sort of like the face of the SGA.

The rules that guide the meeting: The finance board doesn’t have a formal document that guides them through their processes. We currently follow Robert’s Rules of Order. Things like an attendance policy and such are strictly laid out, same with choosing a chair. Maybe adopt the senate’s procedural rules, with changes.

Roll Call – Christine Missing

Adjournment

SGA Finance Board Meeting 9/16/08

Meeting called to order at 5:34pm

Roll
All members present

Pre-meeting discussion

Temporarily suspending policy for the Gospel Choir
Due to a miscommunication with the Finance Board, the Gospel Choir submitted their allocation request form only 9 days before planned event.
Debate as to whether or not temporary suspension of current policy would be appropriate, since new policy comes into effect October 1st
Since the allocation form violated both the old policy (14 days before event), and the new policy (15 days before event), the Finance Board decided not to grant the funds to the Gospel Choir.

Proposed changes to Legislation:
“And WHEREAS the student organization has been informed that it is bound by this legislation, to abide by any and all agreements reached with the finance board as conditions for receiving these funds.”
Potential revisions of proposed changes to legislation:
“bound by this legislation” considered too harsh.
Removal of “and” at the beginning
“Whereas the student organization has been informed that this grant of funds is based on its agreement to abide by any and all terms reached with the finance board.”
“…based on its agreement to abide by the conditions listed below”

Extra time before Jewish Student Union permits for post meeting discussion subjects.

Office hours
Reminder that all finance board members must schedule one office hour a week
Raffi Yousefian – Mondays 12pm-1pm
No other times were scheduled
Oracle Calendars
Reminder about calendars located on My UMBC, under dashboard.
Board Members should be sure to put their schedules up
Useful in helping plan events or emergency meetings.

First Year Ambassador Interviews
6 students apply
3 finance
3 senate
First Year Ambassadors do not have a vote, but are full members of the Finance board
Applications are still currently being reviewed
Should have new members in two weeks
Interviews scheduled Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after 5pm and during free hour. Members of the finance board are allowed to attend

Discussion on dealing with organizations that violate agreements made with the finance board
Finance board limited to holding back funds that have been granted or preventing future funding
Issue should be taken up with student Organizations Committee first

Allocation Requests

Jewish Student Union
Event name: Chavalaz Roshashana hip-hop
Number of people expected: Between 100-200
Location: Out on the terrace
Questions/ Concerns
1. Is your organization running the DJ mixer?
Yes
2. How is organization advertising?
Commons, word of mouth
3. Is event free?
Yes
• Concern about group submitting allocations 14 days in advance. Reminder that As of October 1st, allocations must be submitted 15 days in advance.
• Concern that though event was stated to be free, the organization might not understand this as a condition – should be clearer about it in the future. This was followed by a rather long-winded debate about how to make it clear to student organizations that they are agreeing to terms set during the meeting with the Finance Board.
Decision: passed
Representatives in favor: 4
Representatives Opposed: 0
Representatives Abstaining: 1
Kinetic Sculpture Club
Event name: Team Building Workshop
Date: Changed from 9/27 to 10/4
Number of students expected
Location: Visionary Arts Museum
Questions/ Concerns
4. Is event open to all students, or just club members?
Anyone can come
• Not a lot of advertisement
• Location
• Suggestion to make a facebook group
• Actual event is held a week after indicated on allocation form
Decision: Passed
Representatives in favor: 4
Representatives against: 0
Representatives abstaining: 1
Gospel Choir
Event Name: iG-NITE
Decision: Funds Denied (see above), however SGA Finance board takes responsibly for the miscommunication, and will consider this when funding the Gospel Choir’s next event.
African Student Association
Event name: Cry for Help Ball 2008
Number of people expected: 350-400
Location: UC Ballroom
Questions/ Concerns
1. What country is featured this year?
Uganda
2. How will the event receive donations? Will the Association charge for refreshments?
No, food is free, - donations are voluntary. Will not charge students.
3. What are some of the issues in Uganda?
Child Soldering, kidnapping, lack of education. Working with an organization called “Books for Africa”
4. What is the contract for?
Trying to get a well-known person to speak at the event
5. Who are you bringing?
Famous Nigerian musician and political speaker.
6. Is $3000 the offer she made?
This is the amount she suggested for travel and room
7. How will UMBC students get tickets?
Students will use their red IDs at the door or pick up tickets from the commons
8. Will there be late charges for coming to event without tickets?
No
9. How is the event being advertised?
Sending out invites to various embassy and sponsorship letters, make use of flyers on campus
10. From where will food be provided?
Off campus. Didn’t have enough food last year
11. Talk to Invisible Children United?
Yes
12. Is the request for $250 just for flyers?
It will be use for other forms of advertisement
13. What kind of decorations will be at the event?
Flags of each country
14. What is the highest priority in funding?
The contract
15. Would you be able to pick a hotel for her? Maybe one that was less expensive?
The main cost is for the plane trip.
16. Is there someone you could get for cheaper, who lived closer?
Haven’t really looked into it, but she seems to be a very important figure in African politics, would help bring a crowd. $3,000 is better than expected. Can’t get her for any cheaper, would have to get someone else.
17. What does she do?
She is a musician and a speaker. She is the main speaker, but there will be others.
18. Do you think she’s essential to the event?
Yes. Some people are coming just to see her
19. Do you think that this will be The African Student Association’s biggest event for the year?
No Jambo Night will be bigger
20. How many people came last year?
About 350 – 100 more than expected
21. How much money did Cry For Help raise last year?
Almost $3,000
22. Who spoke last year?
Someone from the embassy (not specified)
23. Is your group buying the flags for decoration?
Yes
24. Are they reusable?
Yes
25. If the SGA denies the allocation request, will your group still hold this event?
Yes, though it will be difficult.
• Must keep in mind policy that half of these spots must be reserved for students, thus ability to bring in people from outside the campus is limited
Concern would be making sure UMBC students see the full benefit of money invested in event ($6,450). Would like to see as many UMBC students get in as possible.
• Make sure the event is geared towards UMBC students, not just people off campus
Is $6,000 invested worth the $3,000 raised?
• Potential possibility: If SGA does not fund the event, you can charge for students to get in
Decision: Passed
Representatives in favor: 4
Representatives opposed: 0
Representatives abstaining: 1
Go Club
Event name: UMBC Fall Go Tournament
No show, hold allocation form for next week?

Post meeting discussion

Continuation of aforementioned discussion
If a group says one thing in meeting and does another (e.g. charging for an event when they said they won’t or not advertising when they said they would) how to enforce punishment?
Not the finance boards position to distrust organizations
Finance board would consider dishonest actions in further allocations of said organization
Freezing their funds, referring them to student organization committee, penalizing them for future event
Risk future events being geared more towards people outside campus then on it
Some concern that African student association had charged late fees for students arriving at the door. Also concern that the group might not advertise on campus, so that reserved tickets for students would be used for off campus guests.
Heard that Ethiopian student association had charged for an event and said they didn’t. Issue of weather of not it was active deception. Not really looked into enough.
Keep in mind that SGA does do some advertising for big events automatically
Specific violations should be addressed on an individual basis
Stated in legislature that orgs would agree to all terms in meets

Further considerations for Legislation
“Conditions agreed to at the finance board meeting”, or adding, “including but not limited to, free admission”
Difference between budgetary policy (binding on everyone – including org) and budgetary statures (conditions under which SGA funds events)
Could insert details about charging admission into both and not change the legislation
Only change the policy, something along the lines of: you may not sue SGA money to create carry over money, or support events at which you are charging admission
Harsh volunteers to draft amendment

Question about names at the top of allocation forms.
The name on each form is the finance member who must contact the group with information about funding. Can reiterate conditions discussed during the meeting

What to do about orgs not coming to meetings.
Consider dropping organization if they miss two meetings

Roll call:

All members present except for Christine Paul
Departure time 6:44pm

7:38 meeting adjourned

I. Call to Order 5:33PM
II. Roll Call

A. Present:
1. Speaker Gabe Rettaliata
2. Assistant Speaker Jen Kent
3. Brian Frazee
4. Neketa Kakar
5. Sunaina Khandelwal
6. Amber Spry
7. Aditi Srivastav
8. Rahilla Tarfa
9. Whitney Torchia
10. Chidinma Ukonne

B. Absent:
1. Tascha Ebhomielen

III. Approval of Minutes

A. Approved by general consent.

IV. Open Discussion

a. Review of past week
b. Gabe Rettaliata: Has anyone met with a project group this past week? Let’s talk about it now.
c. Neketa Kakar: IT Steering Committee. People Soft Essay Software. People can check the status of their application. There’s going to be financial aid stuff online like FAFSA forms. You can change your degrees online as well. Advising and registration can be done online too. This is going to be done next year around February. Around January, we’ll get a new version of blackboard. They’re also changing the cable TV from Comcast to something else. They said we’re still going to have the premium channels.
d. Michael H: They’re staying with Comcast but they’re taking the channels and taking control of themselves.
e. Brian Frazee: I heard a rumor that we’re only going to have half of our channels.
f. Neketa Kakar: They said that we’re going to basically have the same channels.
g. Whitney Torchia: For the transcript fees meeting, we met with Nancy Young. We had a very productive meeting. We’re meeting this Wednesday at 1 in the SGA office. We’re going to e-mail Yvette and the Registrar Steve Robinson to see what we can do.
h. Gabe Rettaliata: To add to that, they definitely presented it in a very interesting way to VPs. They manipulated the data and just used schools that had high fees. They shifted the focus from the undergrads to the alumni’s. What they didn’t realize is that when a student is applying to med school, they might need 15 transcripts. Those 15 transcripts really add up. They claimed that the registrar was swamped and they couldn’t do student services. So now that the registrar has outsourced this, they have plenty of time to do… whatever. So we got Nancy to realize that these fees aren’t that high anywhere else especially in systems in Maryland
i. Jen Kent: Can one of you guys send this to UMBC Underground?
j. Gabe Rettaliata: We should talk about that within the committee.
k. Whitney Torchia: We didn’t know when we could get student support because we haven’t talked whether or not they want to bargain.
l. Brian Frazee: Just want to give someone an update. I posted in the USM blog about the transcript fee at UMBC. Bowie state charged $3 after the first 3 transcripts. CP has no fee but you can only get 11 in one transaction.
m. Sunaina Khandelwal: The website committee. We have a good plan to change the website. There will be new tabs on top. We are going to have resources, FAQ and Events and About section. We are going to condense the information. It’s a lot more informative and user friendly. Hopefully it’ll be up in 3 weeks.

B. Research Initiative
a. Gabe Rettaliata: This was on the agenda last week but we didn’t get a chance to get into it. There is a proposal in having the SGA partner up with the provost office to fund students. There’s no fund for majors outside of STEM areas to go and present research. They might not have the same access to a grant that could work with travel expenses. In the past they’ve asked SGA to give money. We couldn’t really do that at first. Now, we give money, and provost gives the same amount of money. Possible pilot program is to start with $5,000 and provost will give $10,000. We could look at outside sponsorship of some kind as well. We would all go over the requests with joint committees from SGA and the provost office. Look over to see if it’s worth giving money. They generally get 8-10 requests a year. So that’s about 1 or 2 a month. We obviously have some concerns. It is a lot of money. We looked at our budget and it could come from reallocation from people that work in the study place. We need to make sure that SGA is recognized as a part of this. It can be used as leverage in this partnership. We might be able to use this as projects that need to be done. We need to make sure it’s worth our investment.
b. Brian Frazee: You said this is only for grad students?
c. Gabe Rettaliata: It will only be for undergrad students.
d. Jen Kent: What do URA’s (Undergraduate Research Awards) go to? For my understanding, not a lot of people apply to it. Usually not enough people apply for them.
e. Gabe Rettaliata: Big difference is that URA is a year long process.
f. Sunaina Khandelwal: They give you money to actually give the research. From what I understand, you’re giving them money to present their research.
g. Jen Kent: Doesn’t that mean that the all of URA money doesn’t get used?
h. Sunaina Khandelwal: Actually, I believe they do use all the money. I don’t think they’re sitting on any URA money.
i. Jen Kent: If we can get information on how much money they have, that’d be great.
j. Rahilla Tarfa: I would like to know if other school’s SGA participate in provost partnerships.
k. Aditi Srivastav: If it reaches up to a lot of people, it’s something that we should consider. If it’s double the money, I don’t think it’s extremely competitive. I think it’s being taken care of by the URA. It should be publicized a lot.
l. Steve Gilmore: This will be targeting non research areas like English and INDS. The URA’s are mostly science based. A lot of times, people will have the chance to present across the nation for presenting and researching it. People don’t get to do it because they don’t have the money.
m. Amber Spry: My question is, what are their alternatives? If it wasn’t through this and they wanted to present it somewhere, who will be next in line to pay for it?
n. Gabe Rettaliata: I can’t say.
o. Steve Gilmore: That’s why they want to create this. They requested for it and we don’ have the money. They either have to come up with it or not.
p. Rahilla Tarfa: So it would be separate from the URA.
q. Steve Gilmore: We would get requests each month and a representative from each side will review and we will decide who will pay. And it’s not just travel that will be included but registration fees as well.
r. Dave Hoffman: It is not the money they are after. They want the partnership that they can talk to others with benefits. They want students to help other students fund for the research. It’s a good story. It’s the kind of community we’re trying to make. SGA is trying to support research as well as campus life. The university wants to create this with SGA as a partner. SGA has always questioned, should the student activity fee support academic pursuits? Sometimes SGA has said, kind of. Sometimes SGA has said no, we’re not going to support the mock trial team in doing things that they are required to do in a class. This is sort of approaching that line. Question is, are the benefits worth the cost?
s. Jen Kent: This is essentially giving someone scholarship. Do we do anything else like that?
t. Dave Hoffman: No. If you had a counsel of majors that wanted to take a trip to a conference, you’d have to be deciding what it’s about. Then we’ll decide if it can be funded.
u. Jen Kent: But should we give them money if it will only benefit 5 people?
v. Amber Spry: At the same time, it’s not like the money is going to someone that will present at Bowie State with only five people. It will give UMBC a leg up in the academic community. I think it will be money well spent.
w. Sunaina Khandelwal: I think once we have like 24 people that want it, we can fund half of them. Maybe it will go up once we start funding it…
x. Brian Frazee: I feel like if we fund it then it will create demand. I think that’s a good thing. We are one of the two research schools. Research is one our attractive features.
y. Gabe Rettaliata: We’re going to have another meeting about this. I just don’t know when yet.

C. Student Activity Fee/Green Fee
a. Gabe Rettaliata: Do you want to talk about that James?
b. James McCauley: We’re talking about increasing the student activity fee this year. One of the things that came up is a green fee. It shows our initiative that we want to be a greener campus. Part of the fee increase, with which you could advertise for is that a dollar will be allocated to wind credits. Basically, we’re planning on increasing student activity fee. We haven’t decided on the amount yet. We’ve been budgeting $83,000 in the red this year. We’re trying to break it down from inflationary costs than something like the green fee and the negative budgeting and anything in addition for growth. So there are 4 parts. Those are still under discussion
c. Gabe Rettaliata: We have to keep a cushion to spend on the GL for the products that we want to do. For stuff like Prove it, it can’t happen for awhile. We were talking about one time big fee increase and just have that save us. And then a couple years later, do another one. Or do we want to do a moderate increase to just cover ourselves and do a slight increase yearly. We had quite a discussion about that and it’s still ongoing. Whoever wants to get into that, talk to James.
d. James McCauley: The green fee was something we came into consensus on. We kind of want people’s thoughts on it.
e. Amber Spry: Can you explain how it works again?
f. Gabe Rettaliata: Basically, Dr. Hrabowski signed on to this pact that we would reduce our carbon footprint. Right now, we’re big time energy consumer. We want to be energy neutral. This would be going towards wind credit. We’re buying credit on those things so that we’re saying our electricity came from the winter buy. We weren’t just putting $10,000 to put our carbon gas, we’re being energy neutral.
g. Danielle Lipinski: The green fee will only go through energy credits
h. Steve Gilmore: It can be tagged on to another fee that exists like transportation fee since that uses a lot of energy. That will be in conversation with the green fee.
i. Danielle Lipinski: They really need more staff in facilities management. They have a lot to do and they don’t have a lot of resources to do it. I personally like the sustainability committee and that committee can decide…I know in CP they have something like that.
j. Gabe Rettaliata: John said that a lot of colleges around the nation, they’ve been instituting the green fee like 10-15 dollars. We were just talking and introduced a whole new fee or start some kind of money towards sustainability efforts.
k. Yasmin Karimian: Part of the reason we’re adding it on is because referendum students will vote whether or not they want to add it. It might hurt us if we do a 2 time increase instead of combining it. So hopefully that is something that people want to pass our fee as well. We absolutely need that fee this year or we’d have to find ways to cut down on our budget next year.

V. New Business

A. SL07-0809- Confirmation of USMSC Representatives
1. Gabe Rettaliata: So we saw something like this last week. We confirmed Michael and Brian. We will officially confirm Tabassum.
2. Steve Gilmore: Tabassum will be our other voting member in our counsel. She served as shadow last year so she’s already had experience.
3. Tabassum Majid: If you have any questions for me, like Steve said, I was on the counsel last year. It was a good experience so I hope you give me that experience again.
a. Chidinma Ukonne: What kind of experiences have you had?
b. Tabassum Majid: One of its duties is to recommend for the student region. I got to participate in the interviews. One of the things UMBC did last year was active role in the legislator. I was in a lot of those as well.
4. Motion by Sunaina Khandelwal to approve SL07-0809
a. Seconded by Brian Frazee
b. VOTE: 9 for, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Gabe), 1 absent

B. SL06-0809- Confirmation of Executive Cabinet Directors and Assistant Directors
1. Steve Gilmore: Anna Yap is coming after class at 6:45. It might be a little after. We could just do Tabassum and do her next week.
2. Gabe Rettaliata: I think we should just have Tabassum speak and I think we could just table this until next week.
3. Steve Gilmore: Student Initiatives. Tabassum will be assistant director. She was Vice President of SGA her freshman year. Last year she worked with first year counsel.
4. Tabassum Majid: Michael and I are really excited about this. We met last week with our stuff. We wanted to make sure student initiative is like a consultant group. Bringing freshman and see how to incorporate them. Not just freshman but any students that have any ideas. SGA would reach out to a wider population. We followed up with the other proposals. Top 5 will go into more detail later. I was a helper in Prove it last year since I wasn’t in SGA. For people that don’t know, we had a number of collaborators across campus. We had representative in most major organizations to make sure the proposals were feasible. We ended up selecting 5 out of 22. Interviews were conducted as well as campaigns. The student population also voted and the committee with student input. We had a big announcement towards the end. This year what the goal is for Green Space to be implemented in the spring. We met with the facilities, but they’re really stretched. We met up with the chair of the Green Space. If they have any questions, they can contact me or the others involved. That was a big success with SGA last year.
5. Gabe Rettaliata: Like I said, we’re going to table this. We’re not going to take a vote on this today. We’ll vote on this piece of legislation next week.

C. SR01-0809- Resolution to Support the Powervote Campaign
1. Gabe Rettaliata: I will turn it over to the SEA.
2. Danielle Lipinski: Powervote is a nationwide campaign to get a million young people to vote. Need to be aware of energy issues. It is sponsored by the energy coalition. Basically it is a nonpartisan campaign. We don’t support one candidate over the other.
3. Thambie: the goal is to get a million pledges. Conversation about clean energy. Creating clean infrastructures. Investing in a clean economy. Global warming. New coal and natural gas construction. Focusing more on international cooperation. Taking dirty money out of the economy.
4. John Doyle: There are Powervote campaigns going on in other campuses. There’s a pledge goal of getting 40,000 in USM schools. We thought it would be a good opportunity for SGA to get involved with it. We think that by endorsing our campaign, you’re not just endorsing the platform but students to advocate this.
5. Danielle Lipinski: To promote the education and awareness of this kind of issue. It is an election year and we are coming into something that’s an energy crisis. We want students to know the power they have as citizens of America. I guess that’s all we really have to say.
a. Jen Kent: What specifically do we have to do? Is this something that your office is going to be doing?
b. John Doyle: We would be doing tabling and class reps. We basically just want your support. It’s actually a pretty dual relationship. It’ll be a good relationship with us.
c. Gabe Rettaliata: By pledges you mean people signing up, not money.
d. Danielle Lipinski: Yea, there’s no money involved. Basically they just sign their information.
e. John Doyle: We just want to make a block of people to say that these people care about this issue.
f. Steve Gilmore: Are you just trying to educate them and sign the petition or does it extend past that?
g. Danielle Lipinski: Our goal is to educate as many people as we can. If people are really interested, we’d want to have a longer conversation with them. The pledge card itself has an opportunity for people to be a little bit more engaged. It’s not just a one time interaction.
h. Thambie: We also have educational events for people to be more aware.
6. Danielle Lipinski: Please feel free to check out the website because it is something really important for our generation.
7. John Doyle: it’s more of supporting the efforts.
8. Dave Hoffman: Formally endorsing the Powervote campaign, its endorsement could be approved
9. Aditi Srivastav: you named the 7 things…
a. Danielle Lipinski: Yea, that would be what you’re endorsing.
b. Thambie: I’ll just read it again… -read 7 planks mentioned previously-
c. Danielle Lipinski: 7th planked is geared towards our school. It’s basically to educate people about environmental issues.
10. Chidinma Ukonne: Very interesting presentation. At this point in time, advocate students to get involved the election coming up, it can create awareness and have students have their voices heard and also to get them to participate in politics in their own way.
11. Aditi Srivastav: My only concern… is there a lot of opposition to this? Have you had to deal with people giving you a hard time? The only thing we’d get in trouble for is the misinterpretation, it will reflect upon us because we’re supporting it. I’ll be interested in any kind of opposition you may have.
a. Thambie: The only opposition we have is people not wanting to put their information on the card. We know that we’re not going to be selling the information.
b. John Doyle: it’s not a fringe campaign. They are in different kinds of convention.
c. Danielle Lipinski: Our main point, we wouldn’t be asking for money like the Greenpeace people. We want people to come to us and talk about energy issues. How we’re going to expand this is to go to other organizations and presenting it, like we are with you right now. We’re not trying to force people. It’s about endorsing our efforts. We don’t want people riled up.
d. Michael H: If you support it, it would give you more faith in the student body when you institute the green fee.
12. Gabe Rettaliata: Anyone have anything to say about this issue?
a. Whitney Torchia: Date of introduction says 2007.
b. Gabe Rettaliata: Yes, we should change that. Friendly amendment to change it to read SR01-0809, and Date of Introduction to read September 15th, 2008
13. Motion by Brian Frazee to approve SR01-0809
a. Seconded by Whitney Torchia
b. VOTE: 9 for, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Gabe), 1 absent

VI. Projects for Upcoming Year
1. Gabe Rettaliata: Last week, we went through a list of projects that SGA came up in retreat. We came up with our favorites. The top had around 3. The bottom had about 1 vote. Cross out student activity fee since that’s being handled outside. –listed the senate project possibilities.
2. Steve Gilmore: Cross off number 9 because David is already working on that [advisors for judicial].
3. Michael H: What is SGA in the halls?
a. Rahilla Tarfa: Members from SGA trying to meet and talk to students mainly in residential halls.
4. Jen Kent: Take off 14 because we’re already doing that outside of this.
a. Gabe Rettaliata: Originally we were supposed to be involved in entrepreneurship. Long story short, they don’t want our help anymore.
b. Jen Kent: It’s not like they didn’t want to do it anymore but we had issues. Since we couldn’t do that anymore, we decided to do our own like unsung heroes. We want to do something for students that do stuff on campus that deserve to be recognized but currently are not. We are still working on it.
c. Yasmin Karimian: It’ll be meeting Fridays at 12. Not this week. I’ll e-mail for more details.
d. Rahilla Tarfa: Does it focus on entrepreneurship?
e. Jen Kent: No, not at all. It is open to anything that someone finds worthwhile.
5. Sunaina Khandelwal: Number 18. Online suggestion box. Website committee can do something about that. Talk to us about it if it’s your idea.
6. Aditi Srivastav: Number 19. Last year we had our first out of state thing. People hosted people even if hey weren’t in SGA. It’s already doing it.
a. Jen Kent: People that want to do that can contact admissions.
7. Gabe Rettaliata: End of last week I asked if anyone had new project ideas. Anyone want to add to this list?
8. James McCauley: I’m not a senator but following up on previous projects like the transit. I’m not really sure who’s on the ball on that but following through the previous projects like a follow up committee.
9. Gabe Rettaliata: I’ve been thinking of different ways of doing this. Each of us can pick what we want and do it. That’s not a good idea. Pick 4 of these and get in groups of 3 and work on it as a team. It’s easier to do some things in a group with different opinions. What do you guys think? 4 is a good number to pick on this list?
a. Aditi Srivastav: Couldn’t you put some of them together?
b. Jen Kent: They’re different processes.
10. Gabe Rettaliata: What I’m going to do is open it up and do nominations. I’m going to write down what we’re nominating. Then we’ll take a vote.
a. Jen Kent: Question before you start. What if some of these things have already started like the senior gift?
b. Gabe Rettaliata: If someone is already starting on that, they should be in that committee.
11. Michael H: For open door policy, there’s already a lot of talk within RSA.
12. Whitney Torchia: 1 and 4 should be added together.
13. Gabe Rettaliata: That’s fine. Any other questions? Floor is open
a. Sunaina Khandelwal: one and four. Longer library hours/more 24/7 student place.
b. Jen Kent: Stress free zone
c. Brian Frazee: number 11- extra day to move in before classes start during breaks.
d. Whitney Torchia: Testing and validating security system.
e. Aditi Srivastav: Better transit services
f. Chidinma Ukonne: Contact international and out of state students and provide a student contact to be a mentor.
g. Rahilla Tarfa: SGA in the halls
h. Whitney Torchia: We have a question. Black and gold committee that we started… we’re still going to have a black and gold commission. Number 20 was started by Black and Gold
i. Neketa Kakar: then 20.
j. Chidinma Ukonne: Question about SGA in the halls. How do you want to implement that?
a. Rahilla Tarfa: For example, last year for Patapsco, we collaborated with CABs, we handed out fliers and pizza and they talked about their concerns.
b. Chidinma Ukonne: Is it a one time thing?
c. Rahilla Tarfa: last year was the first time
d. Chidinma Ukonne: You can collaborate with RAs to talk about SGA and our objectives. Since it’s a one time thing, it’s something that we can do with them.
e. Gabe Rettaliata: Let’s talk about it after voting.
f. Jen Kent: playground
k. Gabe Rettaliata: So it’s locked in. This is it. Which of these 9? We have to remove 5.
a. Jen Kent: Extra move in. I think a different group can handle it like RSA. We can influence them to do it.
b. Brian Frazee: Playground. I don’t think it should be higher priority like security.
c. Gabe Rettaliata: my freshman year, we had a bunch of committees going on at the same time. People got confused on which committees they were on.
d. Jen Kent: how about we go through each one and see which one has the most?

*Library Hours
Neketa
Brian
Sunaina 6 votes
*Stress Free Zone
Jen
Gabe
Rahilla 6 votes
Campus Security 3 Votes
Better Transit 3 Votes
*International Students
Chidi
Amber 3 Votes
SGA in the Halls 2 Votes
Campus Welcome Sign
Whitney
Aditi 4 Votes

14. Brian Frazee: As long as we make sure all these projects get done, it should be fine.
15. Jen Kent: I think we should get a 4th.
16. Gabe Rettaliata: We’re going to have 3 people on each of these committees. Do we want to take some time to meet right now or later?
17. Everyone: Now
18. Gabe Rettaliata: Let’s meet with our people for 5 minutes just so we can figure out when our first meeting is.
19. -5 minutes of meeting-
20. Gabe Rettaliata: We will be discussing these committees and these projects weekly. They will be on the agenda every week. We’ll get feedback from the rest of the senate. We’ll do well with all these projects.

VII. Executive/Ex-officio Reports
1. James McCauley: The campus involvement card… we haven’t met this week because it’s Monday. Last week, we did. There doesn’t seem to be any problems. The student fee is also going along fairly nicely. It’s nice that we’re talking about it now instead of 4 months from now. Also, I have not forgotten about Erickson field. Be looking at that soon.
2. Nayana Davis: I’m looking to implement office hours next week. Committee meeting is also on Monday.
3. Steve Gilmore: Homecoming. Student tailgating for soccer game. Community grills. More info soon. Election night extravaganza… debate is coming from the executive board. We should be promoting voting registrations. You’ll be seeing a bunch of that next week. Lastly, accountability, I’ve asked you guys to set up meetings with me, and none of you have.
4. Harsh Bambawale: Two meetings so far. Sports clubs. We had an interesting request from skydiving club. Changed status to hobby… but then they wanted to compete.
5. Yasmin Karimian: Nothing too much. I didn’t see a lot of you in treasurer training. When you’re putting your events and want to get funding, it’s the same process for that. I encourage you to come to treasurer training. I’m starting a new set next week so expect an e-mail next week.
6. Dave Hoffman: Treasurer training. Fairly dry stuff but important stuff. Senate will soon have first 3 year students. Finance board will also take in 3. 20 have applied. Interviews are going on in the next few weeks.

VIII. Announcements
1. Whitney Torchia: For voting, I know a lot of people are registered. Are they supposed to fill in an absentee ballot? They don’t want to drive home to vote.
a. Dave Hoffman: It depends on if they want to stay registered in their home county. If they do, they have to fill an absentee ballot.
b. Whitney Torchia: I don’t think a lot of people are aware of that.
c. Michael H: Is there a negative in changing address to UMBC and then 4 years from now, changing it back?
d. Amber Spry: It’s really easy to fill out the card.
e. Steve Gilmore: If you’re outside of Baltimore County, you’re also voting for different people.
2. James McCauley: Question for the person talking about changes with Comcast and blackboard. Do you know specifically what kind of changes are going to be in blackboard? Is that going to affect the SGA version of the election?
a. Neketa Kakar: All I know is that they’re changing it to version 8. I don’t really know what that means.
3. Chidinma Ukonne: Even we don’t have SGA in the halls, would people be willing to talk with the residents about SGA with the RAs… like our objectives?
a. Rahilla Tarfa: I was going to take it on as an individual project but I would like to talk to you about it if you’d like
4. Jen Kent: Everyone is on committees. If you have issues, let me know.
5. Gabe Rettaliata: 3 people in the senate are not on corporate time. They know who they are.
6. Sunaina Khandelwal: I’m on there, I think.
7. Gabe Rettaliata: I think you are.
8. Rahilla Tarfa: Can you see me?
9. Gabe Rettaliata: Yes. Other thing is the office hour’s deal. I’m going to leave a slip in your mailboxes. As long as it adds up to an hr a week, then it’s fine. Just be in there for an hour, please.
10. Jen Kent: Make sure you update your corporate calendars.

IX. Roll Call:

A. Present:
1. Speaker Gabe Rettaliata
2. Assistant Speaker Jen Kent
3. Brian Frazee
4. Neketa Kakar
5. Sunaina Khandelwal
6. Amber Spry
7. Rahilla Tarfa
8. Whitney Torchia
9. Chidinma Ukonne

B. Absent:
1. Tascha Ebhomielen
2. Aditi Srivastav (excused to leave early)

X. Adjournment 7:17PM.

XI. Pass the Gavel

SGA Finance Board 9/23

Call to Order
5:34pm
Roll call
Harsh Bambawale
Yasmin Karimian
Christine Paul
Stefan Victor
Silva Yousefian (late 5:37pm)
Pre Meeting Discussion

How to inform members about requests in advance
Setup deadline, Monday at 2pm decided
Packets can be picked up at SGA office Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tabled events
If an org submits inaccurate quotes and is told to bring back new quotes, would they be required to fill out a new allocation form? Or would the Finance Board accept their form since they requested better quotes?
Harsh: suggestion that groups with inaccurate quotes must resubmit allocation forms for consideration. Currently the Finance Board uses the date the original request was submitted.
Issue would be orgs submitting ridiculous quotes just to make deadline, so that they have extra time.
Nayana: Is sometimes the case with orgs are not intentionally being lazy, but don’t know how to submit quotes correctly.
Harsh: Finance Board would feel obligated to fund them because we told them to come back later.
Nayana: The finance board does have the option to fail a group that has submitted incorrect quotes
James: No intent to trick the finance board. This is the point of 15 day deadline.
Harsh: Does the Finance board feel comfortable telling a tabled group we cant fund them, because there’s not enough time?
Yes, final decision.

Legislation numbers are incorrect for allocations

First Year Ambassadors
Harsh: 10 or 11 interviewed so far. 4 interviewed Wednesday, 4 on Friday
Emails being sent out regarding interview times.
New Student Ambassador
Nikodimos

Allocation Requests

Equestrian club
Horse Show
Questions/Issues:
Harsh: Where is the show?
Equestrian Club: Goucher. There is another show on October 25th, funds would probably cover both.
Yasmin: What kind of transportation?
EC: Cars
Yasmin: Is it for club members only?
EC: No, anyone can come. Advertisements on facebook and website.
Harsh: How many people are you taking?
EC: 15 members on team, and friends coming.
Harsh: Is it a competition?
EC: yes
David: How long has your group been participating I competitions?
EC: This is the first year
David: Previously all your events have been as spectators?
Silva: for hobby clubs we don’t usually fund competitions.
EC: Org. is aware of this and thus not including entry fees in the request
Money requested is mainly for transportation.
James: Is everyone who is going, or can go, competing?
EC: No
Stefan: All members required to go?
EC: Not all members are going to compete.
Tokunbo: How many cars?
EC: 4
Yasmin: Is the competition only open to girls?
EC: Anyone can go
Harsh: How are you advertising?
EC: Haven’t really thought about it, what would you recommend?
Harsh: SGA provides 100 free flyers.
EC: Group has used spotlight in the past with success
David: reminder that the SGA finance board does not fund competitions, though has funded fan buses in the past. Is this more of a fan bus than a competition, or competition more than a fan bus. Is this the way you want to spend your money given the amount you have in a year.
Christine: How many girls do you have competing?
EC: 4-7 out of 15 team members
Nayana: How many people are you bringing to this event?
EC: We want to take as many people as would like to go 15 plus anyone who would want to come
EC: Club has 40 to 50 members
Nayana: Would you need to come back for more money for additional cars?
EC: Yes
Yasmine: Do you compete to get on the team? Is it a club and a team?
EC: No, anyone can get on the team - levels of riding. It’s pretty easy to accommodate everyone
Harsh: Why are only 4 people competing?
EC: Only 16 horses available per class. There is a limit per school.
Christine: If you have 45 members, why are there only 15 that are part of the team?
EC: Members not interested in competing can just take lessons for fun

Preshow Party
Harsh: Tell us about the preshow party.
EC: Will be a party at October 3rd in harbor. Anyone can come. Will advertise on our website. Plan on having food.
Harsh: How many are coming?
EC: All the girls on the team, maybe about 20.
Harsh: Open to everyone?
EC: Yes
Stefan: Have you guys reserved a room yet?
EC: Currently working on it.
Stefan: RAs may have events there too.
David: Have the people competing in the horse show filled out liability wavers?
EC: Have their insurance through the farm.
EC: School also has insurance that faculty advisor worked out.
David: Might want to fill out liability wavers from UMBC as well.
Get through student life.
EC: UMBC signed initial membership form, which had some insurance on it.
David: fill out liability wavers as well, this is the way you warn individual participants of risk of injury.

Hispanic Latino Student Union 6:00
El Encuentro
Harsh: Tell us about your event.
Hispanic Latin Student Union: Third year celebration Hispanic characters month, presentations on current events. Food is free, mostly snacks. Open to all UMBC students.
Questions/Issues:
Harsh: How many expecting?
HLSU: Open, invited 50-70, no more than 40 can be in the room at one time, so the 70 people would come over a 3 hour period.
Harsh: How are you advertising?
HLSU: Through facebook and the myUMBC events calendar. Waiting for financial help through SGA for flyers.
Christine: Are you getting flyers thorough Common Vision?
HLSU: Yes.
Harsh: You can get 100 free flyers that SGA provides.
Harsh: Where did you get your equipment quota?
HLSU: From scheduling. Laptop, LCD and lecture hall sound.
Nayana: If you get the free flyers from the SGA will you still request the money for advertising?
HLSU: Will cut down the price to maybe $30
Yasmin: Submitted deadline 14 days in advance. After October 1st this is no longer allowed. Watch out for this next time you submit a request.
Harsh: What are the decorations for?
HLSU: Have committees going on – streamers that go with flag central South American Caribbean flag colors. Flags.

Election Extravaganza 6:06

Night of the Election – October 4th
Takes place in main street and commons
Game room, 2 inflatable, moon bounce jousting.
Masks
Food quote is safe estimate. If Chartwells quote it goes over 1500, will just have pizza and soda.
Advertising and decoration – trying to get a banner in the commons to advertise
Co sponsoring with SEB to get logo and debate watching parties
Through myUMBC facebook
Signs directing people to location of main event
Net on roof of commons with balloons
Facilities – quote for $250 for setup costs
Debate watching parties - first one on the 2nd in sports zone. Ice cream. Discussion afterwards. Voter registration for first two debates.
Questions/Issues:
James: Budget attached to legislation?
Masks might not be as much as listed. Food and advertising more realistic number.
Harsh: How many people?
7pm to 2am. 1000 people 4 years ago, expecting more this year.
Yasmin: Where is the debate event money coming from?
Executive project fund
Harsh: 1000 for masks? How much are masks?
Thinking of handing out masks before hand.
Nayana: What kind of food?
If Chartwells – pizza, nachos, wings, free coffee in flat Tuesdays
Deals throughout the day at stations to promote election

Vote:
Members for: 4
Members opposed:0
Members abstaing: 1
Pass

Continued discussion on equestrian club
Concerns:
Would create issues for other groups to argue funding for bringing along non-club members
James: Restriction not based on club, but organization
Status of club is in question
Yasmin: Still probably not the best way to spend $200. Especially since not a fan bus
James: Most of them not competing, answers question of whether or not finance could fund it – could. Point of the equestrian club to go and watch horse events – not that expensive for 15 students
Stefan: But only 7 competing
Yasmin: Talked about a faculty advisor going, and finance board does not fund anything for advisors. Goucher is not that far away, maybe $40 would be more reasonable
Not the finance boards issue to debate category of org (sport or no), should base decision off of current status
Erica: In future finance board may be the ones who catch orgs that are changing categories, or are changing and shouldn’t be and this may be the first way that SGA or student orgs committee will find out if group should be changing category. What responsibly of finance board is to let student orgs committee do their job.

6:21
Vietnamese Student Association
Pho Night
Cultural event – show Vietnamese culture
On campus at Susquehanna.
Questions:
Harsh: How many?
Vietnamese Student Association: 70-100
Harsh: advertising?
VSA: flyers.
Harsh: Will you put up advertisements on calendar or spotlight?
VSA: Yes, also on facebook.
Harsh: Free to UMBC students?
VSA: Yes

VSA Banquet
People from on and off campus
Food dancing, fundraiser for medical care, optional donations
Charging for off campus guests
Off campus location
Questions/Issues:
Harsh: Free to UMBC students?
Silva: Why is it so expensive for food and tables?
VSA: $150 per table and requesting 30 tables. Only requesting half that much (for UMBC students)
Harsh: how many UMBC students are you expecting?
VSA: 7-8 tables reserved for UMBC students.
Tokunbo: If UMBC weren’t to fund it, how much would it cost per person?
VSA: $20-25 per person
Tokunbo: Donations will be included in the entrance fee?
VSA: Yes
Tokunbo: what is the latest date you have to book these 300 seats?
VSA: Have reserved them since summer
Tokunbo: Cant change the number of people?
VSA: No
Stefan: Are UMBC students still participating on other events (such as the raffle)?
VSA: Yes
Nayana: Issue with being able to contribute sate money to a charity
Erica: question is if what your providing is going directly to charity, or to student use
Harsh: Not directly funding the charity.
Tokunbo: How much does total event cost?
VSA: About 6000
Harsh: How will students get there?
VSA: Drive themselves
Harsh: How advertising?
VSA: Facebook group. Flyers
Silva: How far is location from campus?
VSA: About 40min to an hour drive
Silva: How many people showed up last year?
VSA: Full capacity
Harsh: How many were students?
VSA: 4th to a half
Are tickets purchased all the tickets used for events?
Harsh: Are tickets funds requested ones for UMBC students?
VSA: Yes

Common ground 6:34pm
Midnight Madness
Common ground is a dance group to teach UMBC students different styles of dance.
3 years old
Free classes to all UMBC students every Monday
team goes around country representing UMBC
Harsh: tell us about event.
Common Ground: open to all students
Questions/Issues:
James: what are props?
CG: cardboard cutouts, depends on theme. Idea this year for big comfy couch theme.
Yasmin: Are uniforms reusable? Will they stay within the club?
CG: Yes. Will use in other events
Silva: Will you perform at Halloween fest?
CG: Yes
Erica: You do competitions, would you use uniforms for these?
CG: Yes
Stefan: How many uniforms?
CG: About 40 performers. Try to cap at 20 performers.
Harsh: Is club open to everyone?
CG: Auditions held for dance team, but club is open to everyone.
Harsh: Uniform restricted to people who perform?
CG: Yes
Nayana: For performing arts groups events have to be open to entire campus
Tokunbo: Seem like involved in campus

Neither go club or musical theater are present yet, so decision vote on Vietnamese student association

Pho night
Members for: 4
Members against: 0
Members Abstaining:1
pass

VSA Banquet
Silva: a lot of money for so far away.
Stefan: could bring down price based on number of students who came last year.
James: But if you lower price, will event still be for UMBC students?

Christine leaves: 6:45pm

Harsh: A lot of money for something that’s not necessarily geared to UMBC students.
Tokumbo: could consider providing transport
Yasmin: move to vote.
Harsh: second.
Members for: 0
Members against: 3
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1
Does not pass.

Move on to common ground midnight madness. 6:48pm

Yasmin: Up to us as to whether or not uniforms would be a benefit to students or just the club. Good that used for on campus events.
Harsh: Is there a policy that prevents us from funding?
Erica: No because they are technically not competing. They are recognized as a group that does not compete. Issue is, are these uniforms for a restricted part of the student body?
Harsh: think it would benefit UMBC students.
Nayana: Have funded t-shirts for performing arts groups in the past
Be aware of setting precedent
Silva: If they wear it at many events will benefit campus.
Harsh: Don’t think were setting precedent harsh. Up to finance board.
Erica: Does set precedent. Will hold yourself to fund costumes for performing arts groups in the future.
Yasmin: Did fund it last year a lot

Musical theatre club 6:53pm
Fall Showcase
Fall showcase a group of songs from a variety of musicals
Held in sports zone
Free for students, $5 for everyone else
Held for two nights
Questions/Issues:
Harsh: You have auditions for the club itself?
Musical Theater Club: For the shows, but anyone can be in the club.
Yasmin: Quotes?
MTC: May have filled out the form for just one performance – not sure if price is accurate
Harsh: What are you doing for advertising?
MTC: commonvision
Silva: Where being held?
MTC: Sports zone, still working out issues with other groups who want the space.
Harsh: Also have SGA flyers

SASA 6:56
BBQ
BBQ every year in the fall
Everyone can come
Erickson field at October 8th -6pm
Open to everyone
Questions/Issues:
Silva: How many people?
SASA: About 100
Yasmin: It’s free for everyone?
Harsh: How are you advertising?
SASA: Flyers in reslife and commons
Silva: Where are you getting your food and supplies?
SASA: Probably a wholesale place

Back to discussion of Common Ground 6:58
Harsh: Trying to decide if we were setting precedent, and if precedent we want to set for costumes.
James: Think this is beneficial, should be funded. Policy is not something that should inhibit us.
Nayana: Policy exists to ensure system consistency.
James: if problem with policy, then policy should be changed.
Harsh: Finance board’s decision.
Harsh: Anyone have anything to say about policy?
Yasmin: Have to make sure costumes are reusable.
Harsh: Must keep in mind that if we fund this we will have to explain to future organizations why we can or cannot fund their costumes.
Further Questions:
Silva: Where are uniforms from?
CG: Haven’t discussed it yet
Silva: Is this amount requested just an estimate?
CG: Yes, based on 40 people
Erica: Would these costumes match the theme for a future year?
CG: Just this year, but parts of outfit would be reusable.
Harsh: How would you reuse?
CG: Parts of costumes can be used in future events.

7:01 vote on midnight madness for common ground.
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent 1
Finance board sees the costumes as being beneficial to UMBC students. Pass.

Musical Theater Club vote

Issue of prices:
$690 new total for Fall Showcase
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1
Pass

SASA BBQ vote
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1

Latino Student Union
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1

Equestrian club
Preshow party in harbor
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1

Equestrian Club Horseshow
James: 20mile to Goucher, 4 cars, 40miles x4 is 160. If they get 10 miles to the gallon, up to $60 total should be funded at $3. 50 a gallon. $60 has enough benefit to pay for the 10 non-competing UMBC students
Erica: are you paying by gas or mileage? Mileage times government rate is a different number than $60. Could submit mileage reimbursement.
Yasmin: Would need recites to prove they spent 60 dollars on gas.
Erica: Federal government stipulates every year that mileage gets reimbursed. Based on gas prices plus the cost of maintaining the vehicle for 1 year.
If you reimburse based on mileage, you take the number of miles driven times the mileage rate (currently at either 51, 51, 58). This is different then paying for the gas to get them there.
Harsh: Are we required as the finance board to follow this?
Erica: Don’t think so.
Yasmin: Have done it this way before (just give amount of money), but still don’t know if we actually want to fund or not.
Harsh: Comfortable voting on 60 dollars?
Yasmin: Remind the group via email that the $60 is to be used for students only, not faculty advisor. Students have priority.
Silva: Maybe if advisor drove their car and took students with.
James: Concern that if we cut down funding to 60, they think they can’t take everyone.
Silva: Probably planning on taking same people regardless.
Cutting down amount to 60 dollars
Vote for 60 dollars (for both trips).
Are we ok with funding this?
James: Keep in mind we funded common ground.
Yasmin: Common ground was on campus.
Vote
Members for: 2
Members opposed: 1
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1
Pass

Hindu Student Council
Garba
$2200 new estimate for cost.
Questions/Issues:
Yasmin: Why don’t you have the sticks from last year?
Hindu Student Council: People take them
Silva: What happened with the money you didn’t give back?
Yasmin: Don’t feel comfortable asking students for deposit for sticks. Maybe for off campus people.
Harsh: Is there a way to mark the one that you buy so that you can collect every one that goes out?
HSC: We could do that
Tokunbo: Could collect student ID and give out the sticks?
Nayana: Too much hassle.
Harsh: Can’t sell the ones we paid for to off campus guests.
Try and figure out some system where students do not have to pay so finance board does not have to fund them every year.
Yasmin: Don’t mind funding them every year if students keep sticks. But since they were collected back, why should finance board fund them again?
Harsh: As long as students get them, finance board can fund every year.
Harsh: Try to get back as many as possible. Or try and give them out only for student.
Stefan: Could just give them out to everyone, and request money every year.
Yasmin: Are they essential tot the event?
HSC: Yes
Harsh: Deposit idea?
Yasmin: Students might not take money to event.
Silva: How long is the event?
HSC: Starts at 7 and ends at 1
Yasmin: Could you give out sticks to off campus people as well, since their paying ticket prices anyway?
HSC: Ok, deposit for off campus give out to students
Harsh: Anyway UMBC students can have preference?
Silva: Will there be tables?
HSC: No
Silva: Where is this being held?
HSC: UC Ballroom
Yasmin: What date is it being held?
HSC: October 18th
Erica: Needs to be made clear that this is a binding agreement. Charging for sticks would be breaking the agreement.
Harsh: Can charge ticket admission for non-students.
Voting $2200
Members for: 3
Members opposed: 0
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1
Pass, under the condition that sticks will be given out to everyone.

7:33 Go Club has missed two meetings so finance board will vote against them. Any org that misses two meetings will be voted against (as was established last week).
Vote
Members for: 0
Members opposed: 3
Members abstaining: 1
Members absent: 1
Not passed

The following groups did not show and requests will be tabled until next week:
Pre Dental Society
Korean Student Association
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Skydiving Club

Post Meeting Discussion

Every one knows office hours?
Deadline for requests no later than Monday at 2pm.
Yasmin: Email people by Monday morning?
Harsh: That’s fine.
Packet should be ready by Monday afternoon.

Decision of who is contacting whom:
Harsh
Go Club
Hispanic Student Union
Equestrian Club
Yasmin
Pre- dental
Korean Student Association
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Skydiving Club
Stefan
SASA
HSC
Christine
Vietnamese Student Association
Silva
Common ground
Musical theater

Keep a closer track on legislation. Make line-by-line account of where money goes so that it cannot be spent on anything other than what it is designated for.

Roll Call

All present except Christine

Meeting Adjourned at 7:46pm