Finance Board 9/30
Call to Order
5:34pm
Roll Call
All members present
Pre-meeting discussion
Introduction to Student Ambassadors: Emily, Stephanie, Kathryn (spelling may be incorrect)
No time to approve them before the meeting.
Common ground
Equestrian Club Horse Show
Harsh reviews the situation with the Horse Show for Ambassadors
James: Since it’s a hobby club there are really no guidelines for competitions.
Yasmin: I voted against it because I didn’t think we could control the faculty advisor(s). Maybe if an agreement was made with the Club, stating that students would get priority, I would be fine with allowing it.
David: procedurally, someone would make a motion to override the veto. If that motion is seconded than the Finance Board can vote (2/3) to pass.
Move to override the veto – Yasmin, Second - Harsh
Stefan: Disagree with Yasmin, there are more people in the group who will not benefit from this event.
David: distinction between what you can do and what is a good idea to do. If you can approve it, doesn’t mean you should.
Harsh: They are still categorized as a hobby club – not our decision to make. Issue should be brought to student orgs committee.
David: Disagree, you can make decision.
Yasmin: If they compete they are considered a sports club, and we don’t fully fund sports clubs. If they have an event that is open to everyone, we would be more willing to fund it.
Override: For: 4, Opposed: 0,Abstaining: 1, Absent: 0
Allocations
Freedom Alliance:
World AIDS Day Concert
Benefit concert by voluntary donations. It will take place in the UC Ballroom. 400 estimated students will be advertising on and off campus. Marketing Patches. Ticked event free students.
Questions:
Harsh: Students pick up tickets via commons?
FA: Yes
How many UMBC students?
FA: Majority
Yasmin: Where are your quotes from?
FA: Taken mostly from last semester
Yasmin: Have you been to scheduling yet?
FA: The event is already reserved.
Yasmin: Make sure your quotes are accurate. Things may have changed over the summer. Last year had issues with drag show, needed more money.
FA: Filling in request forms far in advance, just in case of hidden costs.
James: Did the marketing package not include flyers?
FA: Wanted to get larger size flyers.
Christine: What is the marketing package?
FA: Tickets, post cards for the commons, banner on UC
Silva: Maybe a marketing package that includes flyers as well, so you don’t have to get that separately.
FA: Were hoping to get larger than 8.5 x11 flyers
David: How much for people who are not students?
FA: Required donation. Maybe $2.
David: What about the $3350 you have in SGA funds?
FA: For future events. $1000 dollars for the Allies Dinner.
Yasmin: Issue about performer cost.
FA: Original request was denied because we didn’t have a performer.
Silva: The band gave you the quotes?
FA: Yes. $500
Harsh: How are you advertising off campus?
FA: HIV awareness centers.
Discussion:
Don’t understand the 3,000 they already had.
James: what they were allocated last year to pay for the things at the beginning of this year.
Harsh: Issues with individual items. Didn’t think they need marketing package and flyers.
David: Flyers are largely for off campus advertising.
James: could cut it for a marketing package that includes flyers.
Silva: there are other marketing packages they can use.
Yasmin: they have big events in the spring too.
James: what about the drapes?
Yasmin: Don’t need drapes. Took those quotes from the drag show.
New total $1,376
Decision:
Cut out flyers and drapes.
Vote:
Members for: 4, Against: 0, Abstaining: 1, Absent: 0
Allies Dinner
Had originally asked for $1000 because did not know what Chartwell’s prices would be. Quote for 100 people $1150. Allies dinner was placed under National Coming Out Day week. If reallocated all that money wouldn’t have enough for NCOD week.
Questions:
Harsh: so this is part of NCOD week?
FA: It’s actually the week after. Last year did it the same week. Asking for $150 for Allies Dinner and $250 for events during NCOD week.
Harsh: so you’ve already received funds for Allies Dinner?
FA: Yes, but under the amount needed.
FA: We have to reallocate NCOD week, since it’s during a different week?
Yasmin: will email you about it.
Discussion:
Yasmin: that’s a lot for food. They are also getting $1000. They’re getting a total of 1400 then. Not really their fault. Chartwells prices.
James: this issue has come up with Chartwells before. Orgs have had to adjust prices.
Harsh: groups have come back requesting more money.
David: remember she said that some of it was for NCOD week.
James: Only $150 is going to food. $250 is for NCOD week.
David: the money used for the dinner is in another account, if you give them this money then they only have to use $750 of this money you have given them for dinner and $250 for other events.
David: they have $1000 they can use right now for the other events that week or for the dinner taking place in a different week. Don’t know what they would choose to do if we turned down this allocation. $400 contribution for the dinner on top of $1000 that has been given to combination of those events.
Stefan: well we know $150 is going to the dinner.
Harsh: we don’t know.
David: That is the cost they’ve been quoted for the package. Have $1000 for the whole week. They may spend $1150 diner and spend nothing on NCOD week.
Harsh: If we do approve it, they can spend it anyway they like.
Yasmin: $400 has to be spent Oct 13th
David: don’t know how the other $1000 would be spent.
Yasmin: if they reallocate it, they would have to use it for Allies dinner.
Would need to submit two reallocation forms. One just for allies dinner and one for NCOD week.
FA: Would we be able to resubmit it in time?
Harsh: would have to be soon.
David: clase in budgetary statutes that allows you to consider requests that relate to an earlier request that you funded – which this is. Requires unanimous vote of the finance board to approve it.
Decision:
Group will resubmit allocations for each.
Members For: 0, opposed: 4, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Gayme Night
Requesting bracelets for Gayme Night. Game room is technically for all UMBC students. The rainbow bracelets would identify people who were there for the event vs. people who are just taking up table. Could use them in other events during the year.
Questions:
Stefan: about how many bracelets would that be?
FA: 250 for $200
Harsh: how many people are you expecting?
FA: About 50. Should last us a couple years at least
Discussion:
Christine: Couldn’t they get it for cheaper?
Harsh: but she mentioned she could get more for a cheaper price that can be used in the future.
James: May turn into the “sticks” incident last week where the bracelets will disappear before last year. But idea of using them for events this year sees like a good idea.
Yasmin: we are funding this event that would be open to everyone. Some people going may not want to support freedom alliance. Can’t really force someone to wear bracelets. Seemed to be an understanding that everyone would wear it to show support for the event. Could get paper bracelets for free.
Stefan: could cut cost.
Tokunbo: don’t need bracelet to be part of the event. Students are part of the event just by being there.
James: equity. Is this much money really worth something that only benefits the org?
Decision:
Members for: 0, opposed: 4, abstaining: 1, absent 0
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Cost of speaker $1500. Have already received $300 from pledges.
Wasn’t sure what to do and asked Yasmin. She said to ask for the amount we would need and would give the money back. We are only asking for $900. Speaker says she usually charges $1250 plus traveling, but may make an exception for a school event. Reserved LH9
Questions:
Harsh: how many people are you expecting?
FA: 50-100
How are you advertising?
FA: Free SGA flyers
James: The speaker quoted you $1500?
FA: She said $1250 plus traveling is what she normally charges. She also said she was willing to be flexible for a student group.
James: when will you have an exact quote?
FA: Didn’t give us one, but if we cant get the $1250 she will work with us on costs. $1500 is an estimate with travel.
Harsh: you defiantly have $400 currently.
FA: Yes.
Silva: how long is she speaking?
FA: At least an hour maybe 2. Planning to include some sort of workshop.
Discussion:
Harsh: $900 for the speaker. Seems like a lot of money.
James: don’t like the fact that group is not sure about how much the speaker costs. Think it should be tabled.
Yasmin: this event will be informative to students.
Silva: not very interactive. Just a speaker.
Kathryn: said something about a workshop.
Harsh: agree to table the event.
Harsh: Need to come back with an exact quote.
FA: What should we tell her?
David: could argue that the finance board was waiting to see if there was a lower offer.
NCOD Week: (see Allies Dinner)
Genesis Toastmasters: Toastmaster Yearly Dues
We need to pay our dues for last year and this year. It says 162, but we will probably need more than that. More like 270 dollars. They didn’t pay last years dues for some reason.
Questions:
Harsh: So we would be paying for both years?
GT: Yes
Harsh: Our policy prevents us from funding
Yasmin: Does your org have carryover money?
GT: I don’t know
Yasmin: see business services center on this floor
GT: There are a total of 10 people who want to join this year and last year.
Harsh: What does you org do?
GT: We are a public speech club.
David: what are the dues for?
GT: Toastmasters is an internationally recognized org. The group pays dues for affiliation. Recognition for speeches.
David: Why are the dues made out to individuals instead of the club? The orgs relationship is with the individuals?
GT: Yes, each individual has to pay dues.
Harsh: is this under UMBC’s name?
GT: I don’t know, I just joined the club.
Harsh: Benefit would only go to people listed on allocation?
GT: Yes, our club would be kicked out of the toastmasters if we don’t.
David: How many people would have to pay dues?
GT: At least 5 administers of the club.
David: 5 officers is what UMBC requires on its forms.
James: the way you could get around this is avoid listing dues to individuals, instead just the sum.
Harsh: currently seems as if only the people listed would receive the benefit.
David: in such cases individual members can pay the fees out of pocket.
GT: This is what we will probably have to do.
David: recognize the name Rich Golman as a graduate student.
Discussion:
Tokunbo: it seemed to me that our treatment of toastmasters might have been discouraging. We might not have been very helpful.
We probably should have given him more information, but he seemed in a hurry to leave.
Emily: as president its his role to know everything before coming to a meeting.
Yasmin: I don’t have any of the carryover information to give him.
Tokunbo: Could have said it in a less intimidating way.
Harsh: we did try to give him some information. Seemed like when he realized he couldn’t get any money he didn’t want to stay anymore.
Stefan: many people come to the Finance Board with that attitude.
Yasmin: it’s hard to be nice when talking about polices. Don’t want to sound flip-floppy.
James: It makes the policy unclear if you’re not firm.
Kathryn: can try to be more helpful in the future.
David: many orgs probably come in here less informed then they should be. Don’t always have time during meetings to fill people in on information.
Stephanie: Is the SGA allowed to fund this?
Stefan: don’t pay for grad students.
Yasmin: we don’t pay for past dues.
Decision:
Vote members for: 0, opposed: 4, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Students for environmental Awareness: One Night Stand
One night camping trip planned to Patapsco state park.
Questions:
Stefan: How many?
SEA: 36 have shown interest, 20-25 may actually go.
Silva: are these people in the organization?
SEA: Yes. People who came to meetings, but we will still advertise.
Harsh: How are you advertising?
SEA: Posters, UMBC spotlight.
James: is it a first come, first serve basis?
SEA: Yes.
Yasmin: If more people wanted to go would you just split the cost among everyone?
SEA: Yes.
Harsh: You had a similar event last year during spring break?
SEA: Yes.
Harsh: you said you used spotlight, but when I clicked on the link it took me to a dead page.
SEA: OSL just fixed that link.
Decision:
Vote: members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Omicron Delta Epsilon: Banquet
Couldn’t come. Not failed because they contacted Yasmin
Korean Student Association: Annual Bowling Night
Every year go bowling in Ellicott City. Getting a discount for 39.99 for 7 lanes plus 20 for refreshments.
Questions:
Harsh: Is it only for club members?
KSA: No, club members can bring friends.
Yasmin: So about 42 people will go?
KSA: Yes
Stefan: How are people getting there?
KSA: Carpooling
Yasmin: your price has doubled since last year.
KSA: This is my first year, don’t really know about pricing then. We have a lot more members this year.
Yasmin: Do you have the exact date of the event?
KSA: No, not yet. We know we want to do it within the next month (October).
Yasmin: we need an exact date. If you use the money tomorrow it would be breaking our deadlines.
KSA: Going to be at least 3 weeks. Will let you guys know when we have an exact date.
David: write in the legislation that the event cannot take place before two weeks.
Harsh: would have to have it at least two weeks after the 19th of September (date form was filled out).
Yasmin: what is the purpose of this event?
KSA: A lot of new people coming in. This event will help us get to know everyone.
James: 7 lanes comes out to be $260?
$280
James: Where is the extra money going?
KSA: We were hoping for refreshments.
Harsh: Would it be ok if I changed it to two columns. 280- lanes and 20 – food.
KSA: Yes.
Discussion:
Seems like they could do something on campus.
Tokunbo: groups like this have used social events to raise interest in a club in the past.
James: about $6.25 per person
Kathryn: We could partially fund them.
Yasmin: but then they might just take less people. They also didn’t ask for shoe rental.
Emil: Add the shoes in with total.
Yasmin: We will have to back up our decision. We funded paintball last year for the Chinese student Association.
Silva: their not advertising.
Decision:
Members for: 0, opposed: 4, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Invisible Children United: Go! Schools for Schools! Film
Lecture sound for the sports zone will be needed.
ICU: How do we get free flyers?
Steve: send me an email, I will give you code.
Decision:
Members for: 4, against:0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
National Pan Hellenic Council: Masquerade Ball (?)
Skydiving Club: Chambersburg Skydiving Trip
Couldn’t come. Not failed since they Contacted Yasmin
Go Club: UMBC Fall Tournament (resubmitted allocation)
Go tournament on October 12th. Open to all UMBC students, 20 for non-students. Would like to have free pizza with the event. Also want to pay registration fees.
Questions:
Stefan: is the fee a general fee, or is it for a certain number of students.
GC: Each student is $10
Harsh: If more come will you split the cost between students?
GC: Yes. We have some carry over.
Silva: where is this being held?
GC: The skylight lounge
Yasmin: have you reserved that room yet?
GC: Yes.
Yasmin: is there additional cost for setup?
CG: We were going to leave the room setup as it is.
Anyone can attend?
GC: Yes. Plan on making flyers.
Discussion:
Stefan: why do 15 people need $175?
David: the registration was not connected to this even. Was separate. A bit like the toastmaster requests.
Kathryn: could remove the registration fee
James: why is the registration being removed?
Harsh: Almost exactly the same as the toastmasters.
James: Go Club has to be registered in these events to compete throughout the rest of the year.
Harsh: ditto toastmasters.
James: if not for the grad student and the back dues would you have funded?
Harsh: listed individual names, would only benefit those people;
James: tournament dues are pretty common, we have funded them in the past.
Silva: the event wouldn’t totally be free. Because in order to play you have to register.
Yasmin: if we stop paying registration fees, a lot of people wont be funded. Toastmasters was a bit different. They can still function, they just aren’t recognized.
David: Have to ask yourself what benefit is going to the individual, and which part is going to benefit community. Might not want to have a rule restricting registration fees, but might want to consider what the money is going towards. This is not a tournament registration fee, this is a fee associated with the affiliation of national organization
Harsh: I don’t think we should consider funding them just because they listed it differently then the Toastmasters.
Stefan: if new students joined they might not be able to participate without paying the fee. Would not have benefited from our funding.
David: $10 to have a student in a national affiliation does not seem unreasonable.
James: this doesn’t seem fair. Could argue that contribution at the door would not be unreasonable for other events like Jambo night and Pho night.
Harsh: these events contribute directly to students, no one else would be able to make use of these registration fees.
Yasmin: anyone can join the group.
Christine: he said if more people came he would distribute money.
Yasmin: they have a lot of carry over.
Christine: are we deciding not to fund registration fees for the rest of the year?
Harsh: would not be opposed to fund an organization to be affiliated with a national group that would help any UMBC student join.
Yasmin: this is what the Go Club does. Need to pay fees to be the Go Club.
Tokunbo: Think that this is exactly the same thing as the toastmasters.
Kathryn: I don’t think it’s all that different either. If we didn’t fund the individuals in toastmasters, why should we fund the individuals in the Go Club?
Stephanie: the only difference seems to be that the Go Club is going for everyone, whereas the Toastmasters would just benefit the 5 leaders.
Yasmin: the Go Club needs this more. Will limit their participation in tournaments.
Steve: hate to tell the go club they cant go to tournaments and give Common Ground uniforms.
Kathryn: how does that work? What if someone joins the club later but the registration fees for 15 people had already been paid?
David: if the $150 is not tied to the number of people then its arbitrary.
Move to vote.
Decision:
Vote on $325.
Members for: 3, opposed: 1, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Colleges Against Cancer: Pizza Party
New club on campus. Had first meeting two weeks ago. For our next meeting having a guest speaker. Organ donations. May not be able to get funding for this week, but want to get it for the next. Want pizza for the people who might be coming and volunteers.
Questions:
Yasmin: You don’t want to get funding for this Friday?
CAC: No, hoping to have pizza for next Friday.
Harsh: Is it just for people who volunteer?
CAC: Any one who comes to the meeting.
Yasmin: how many pizzas does 200 buy you.
CAC: Don’t know. Was told highest amount.
We can fund the pizza for the 17th. Have to change the amount.
Yasmin: Are all the people coming students?
CAC: Yes
Harsh: How much do we want to cut?
CAC: Would it cover drinks?
6 pizzas is 50
Decision: to change amount to 50
Members for: 4, opposing: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Gospel Choir: Karaoke NITE
October 11th. The event is not just for gospel choir. Wanted to have and event where new members can get to know everyone.
Questions:
Harsh: where in the commons is it?
GC: Sports zone
Harsh: how many.
CG: 50-75
Christine: How many are members?
GC: About 60
Yasmin: are you advertising?
GC: Word of mouth. People can bring friends.
David: is the org open to everyone or do members have to try out?
GC: Any one can try out, just have to come to practice.
Decision:
Members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship: Fall Conference
Scholarships fall conference will be split among all attending students. Fee for event is $80, scholarships would lower the cost for UMBC student
Questions:
Harsh: You have 30 students?
Silva: so you charge students?
ICF: Yes. Event is run by intervarsity regional office. Off campus and pay for lodging.
Harsh: Would $2400 cover the cost of all the students?
ICF: Yes
And if more came would you split the cost among all attending?
ICF: Yes
Harsh: anyone can go?
ICF: Yes
Yasmin: How many club members?
ICF: About 30 club members and 10 others.
Harsh: How would non-club members find out about this event?
ICF: Facebook sending out email to interfaith center.
Harsh: Are you deciding who gets the scholarships?
ICF: No, will be split evenly between everyone.
Yasmin: you guys were given the $1000 for conference fees?
ICF: For the winter conference and the one next semester.
$1000 not for this conference?
ICF: No
James: what do you mean by scholarships?
ICF: Didn’t know what else to call them, just charges for the conference.
Discussion:
David: $78 is the annual amount paid by the undergraduates for the entire year. Not necessarily a fair comparison, just a way to scale a request like that.
Yasmin: already have $1000 for fall conference. Might make more sense for us to use it now. We could give $1400 and then come to us for more when needed.
David: it sound like this event is going to happen one way or another, the issue is how much each student will have to pay.
Harsh: could try to subsidize. Cut amount down to half.
Silva: Have you done any fundraising?
Working on it. Have a scheduled table every Wednesday where things get planned for fundraising.
Silva: do you have anything else coming up this semester?
No
Harsh: could give them $500 that would come to about half. Could then charge only $30(ish) per student.
Yasmin: do you feel the $80 is worth it? I think an event like this would be beneficial enough for $80.
Kathryn: If 40 people wanted to go, what would happen?
Would be split among however many people would go. The rest would be paid by the individual student.
Silva: seems to me that only club members would be seeing the benefit.
David: not necessarily a problem. Membership is open to anyone.
Harsh: $2500 would probably fund a much larger event on campus. Might be more willing to fund it if it were cut down.
Stefan: Do you all have any events coming up?
Last Thursday of every month is an outreach program. Geared towards more UMBC students and is not as expensive.
Assuming paying $30 for each, $1050 is the average for 35 people.
Harsh: fund $1000 instead of $2400
David: moment when a more formal process would be helpful. One of you need to move to approve the amount, then someone else could move to amend it, and then have a discussion.
Harsh: does anyone want to move to cut it down to $1000?
Yasmin moves, Harsh seconds.
David; no motion has been made, someone now has to say that they want to allocate a certain amount of money to this event, and then move to approve allocation of new amount.
Yasmin: a total?
David: someone can move to amend this amount if they disagree.
No one wants to move to do this
Decision:
Vote: Members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Capoeira: Unnamed Event
Name of the event should be Batizado e. Translate to baptism. Have 10 students at UMBC. First chance to meet instructor. Capoeira is a Brazilian dance fight. Students get new belt based on what they’ve learned. Get an amount of cord, cut it up and dye it. Comes directly from Brazil.
Questions:
James: about the instruction fees, why are there three and why are they different amounts?
CAP: They are for different instructors. Should be names associated with these. Will be workshops associated with it.
Harsh: what’s the date?
CAP: November 15
Yasmin: are the workshops open to everyone?
CAP: Open to anyone, but there are physical limitations.
Harsh: cords and belts only for people graduating?
CAP: Yes, there is a certain amount of commitment and training that goes into the belts. The price estimate is a bit higher- new students need cords too.
Yasmin: so anyone who is interested in your group can join?
CAP: For some reason are listed as restricted club, but in our bylaws it says anyone can join. Trying to get this changed.
Harsh: How many are you expecting?
CAP: 60-70
Harsh: how many are UMBC students?
CAP: These are just people in the community, hoping to get more flyers out.
James: is the event itself competitive, or is everyone doing what they want and being evaluated.
CAP: No competition.
Yasmin: cords and bets for everyone including UMBC student?
CAP: Mostly for students.
Is this essential that you have all the instructors?
CAP: They will be here whether or not SGA funds them.
Yasmin: you had an event last year?
CAP: Yes, also requested funding for that.
Yasmin: did you have it?
CAP: No, that request was for this event. Last spring, thought that was the last time to get money for the form. Tried to reevaluate list for Finance Board.
Silva: is the group master staying all three day?
CAP: Yes. Still a lot of things are still being resolved.
Harsh: will it be a one-time fee?
CAP: Yes.
Silva: will non-UMBC students have to pay?
CAP: I don’t know, I don’t think so
Stefan: How many UMBC students in group?
CAP: 10 for now.
David: of the 60 people who attended the event, how many were UMBC students?
CAP: About 15
David: how come we haven’t seen a member of the org here when submitting the request.
CAP: Club president stopped communicating with me.
Silva: If we were to partially fund the event, could you fund raise?
CAP: We are going to try to fund raise.
Harsh: we could probably fund the items on the list that would benefit UMBC students. You could charge the people who were non-students and this would help cover the rest of your costs and we could fund the rest.
CAP: Wondering how to access resources for treasury training. Yasmin: you can email me with regards to SGA funds. Can go through processes with treasurer.
James: also an event-planning guide the office of student life puts out
Harsh: from this list, what do you think would benefit UMBC students the most and what would you charge non-UMBC students?
CAP: Could charge non-UMBC students for everything. Last event was 40 per person and free for UMBC student. Having 3 nights, Thurs, Friday, Sat. Thursday will be mostly for UMBC students
Yasmin: List is supposed to be from the highest priority down, is this list?
CAP: Yes.
Silva: have you tried fundraising in the past?
CAP: Not yet, haven’t had a reason to.
If we were to fund half of this how hard would it be for you to hold the event?
CAP: Event will go on regardless. It’s doable.
Emily: Are the flyers for outside, or off campus?
CAP: Mainly on campus. Trying to get more students involved.
Decision:
Harsh: since event is not until mid November, you can have treasure talk to Yasmin to figure out the best way to fund this. We can table event for now.
Biodiesel Project:
Constructing Biodiesel Processors.
Found farm where group can produce biodiesel, trying to expand this. Made a 150 gallons so far.
Questions:
Harsh: This is already up and running?
BP: Yes, but there is a lot of cost involved in maintaining the project
Harsh: what happens to the oil?
BP: Working on short term right now. Will be tested on farmer’s tractors, etc. Once we prove it is economic we hope to bring it to UMBC and use for buses.
Yasmin: What is the difference between the money you requested last year, and the $600 requested this year (more).
BP: Trying to make processes more efficient and continuous. Less human intensive.
Yasmin: right now it’s being run off campus?
BP: Yes. Nowhere on campus to do it. 5 people know the process well and trying to get more people involved.
Harsh: You have students going to the farm?
BP: Yes, we want the process to be more permanent.
Discussion:
Silva: Is this any different from common ground asking for props?
James: this group is open to everyone, don’t need to do any sort of audition.
Harsh: we actually funded the startup of the project last year.
James: think the money was used well, did not disappear.
Harsh: would have a long-term beneficial effect.
Decision:
Members for: 4, opposing: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Let it be noted that at 8:13pm Harsh uses the gavel to for the amusement of the members of the Biodiesel Project.
Promoting Bone Marrow Registration Drive
November 11. Mainstreet commons. Trying to get at least 1000 people. Its easer than the blood drive. Free for UMBC students.
Questions:
James: what is commons equipment?
BP: Some people come off campus to do PowerPoint presentations. Wasn’t sure of the cause.
Yasmin: Why biodiesel club asking for bone marrow?
BP: Sort of a side thing that we were interested in.
Yasmin: could talk to people who run the blood drive.
Silva: had you done this event before?
BP: Had one about 4 years ago.
Christine: Why only fraternities?
BP: Tried reaching out to sororities, but no response so far. Sent some email.
Harsh: could maybe group up with another org whose mission statement was more related to blood drives, example: students against cancer. Would be willing to fund this event. Can t fund t-shirts or giveaways, but can fund food.
Decision:
If you wanted to apply for this again with another org, we would be willing to fund it.
AEPi: PiFest!
Pie and pizzas given out to public to get to know our group. Not for recruitment.
Questions:
Harsh: when was request submitted?
AEP: Last week
Silva: how many are you expecting?
AEP: 50 – 100, located in the sports zone.
Silva: have you reserved a spot?
AEP: Currently coordinating with Greek life.
Stephanie: Are you doing a lot of advertising?
AEP: Not much advertising. No need, want to make event spontaneous.
Silva: Is this during free hour?
AEP: In the evening 6-8.
Silva: will there be a lot of people around then?
AEP: Can change the time to free hour.
Discussion:
James:222.99 total.
Christine: might be too crowed.
David: request by a restricted organization, as long as the event is open to all UMBC students you are allowed to fund it. But, what is the point?
Can support campus community, interaction with other students.
Decision:
Members for 3, opposed: 1, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Not Attending Allocations
Pre Dental Society
VCU Dental School Recruiter Talk
Did not attend, but submitted request. Need parking tickets and gifts for recruiters.
Harsh: they don’t need a gift and a lunch – just one or the other.
James: lunch would be more appropriate.
Harsh: board members are students, only $8
Stefan: in regards to the flyers, we can encourage them to use 100 free for both events.
Decision:
Removed gift. Lunch reduced to $8, advertising reduced to $5
Total cost: $78
Members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
UMDNJ Dental School Recruiter Talk
Decision:
Removed gifts for recruiters. Lunch reduced to $8
New total $68
Members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Quiz Bowl: Wake Forest, NC Quiz Bowl Tournament
Not enough information, event tabled.
Engineering CoM: ECM Lunch
Decision:
Members for: 4, opposed: 0, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
Post Meeting Discussion
Complete Discussion of Vetoes – rather long discussion so I just included the points made by the main participants.
Yasmin: I stand by my decision that we should fund them. Benefit to UMBC students.
(In response to Steve) I argue that every event we make is at our discretion. While our current policy may allow us to fund something, it is always at the discretion of the Finance Board. 5 people were elected to make these decisions, should always be clear about the Finance Boards discretion. We didn’t ask Common Ground to tell us about their org. Sat there and told us about events for 10min, until someone stopped them. I think we still would have voted the same way.
(In response to Tokunbo)We don’t close our eyes and pick a decision. In this case we thought the benefit outweighs the cost. Can’t quantify benefit.
Christine: agrees with Yasmin, but brings up Mama’s Boys as an example of a group that we do not fund uniforms for.
Harsh: at our discretion. Team of 40 affects more students. This event is comparable to the “sticks”. They relate directly to the success of the event, like the costumes used by Common ground. We have funded costumes for previous events. I would compare it to decoration.
James: uniforms aren’t just for the people who wear them. This is like saying to a musical theater group that the costumes that they use are only beneficial to the people who audition. Costumes in the case of Common Ground ads something to the event. If Mama’s Boys were doing a Christmas event and wanted Santa hats, that case would be similar to this.
There is a distinction between uniforms and costumes. If another org asked for shirts, that’s not really adding to the event.
It is important to keep a track record of events for an organization and not just look at events.
Steve: I’m still not sure. When you use the term “at our discretion” it sounds like the Finance Board is bias towards whatever group it decides to fund. Worried that the Finance board is going to start looking more at orgs, instead of the events they are holding. Can use discretion on events, but it becomes harder to do so with orgs.
Silva: I side with Steve, I think it will cause too many problems in the future and I don’t think its something that’s hard for them to come up with. They could fundraise. These uniforms can’t be passed down, they will only be benefiting the same people.
To: When you use the word “discretion” have to be able to tell people what kind of decisions you make. Can’t be sporadic. Has to be some sort of consensus, think about things as a group. How do you quantify benefit?
David: agree with everyone. Finance Board is elected to use its Judgment, but you need to be firm about how you’re applying that judgment, the more you can articulate groups distinctions. You will get more requests. Don’t want to react to every request as if it was the first time you had seen something like it. You will get better requests, doesn’t mean your not using your judgments, means your articulating more clearly the basis for said judgments.
Christine moves to override the veto, Yasmin seconds.
Final Decision:
Override: Members for: 3, against: 1, abstaining: 1, absent: 0
First Year Ambassador Confirmations (postponed till next week due to time constraints).
Roll Call
Everyone present (at least physically speaking)
Adjournment
9:06 pm