1. Event Recaps

   1. International Student Orientation (Ruth)

                                                    i.     Dean of International Students (Ravi) is a resource

What issues are we interested in collaborating/working on with Ravi? Housing and childcare were offered as possibilities. Ruth mentioned working with CCIA (Community Council for International Students). Spouses of I.S. cannot find jobs nor take ESL classes; thus, there is a need to tutor them in English. Ruth will publicize and follow up.

2. General Grad Student Orientation (Kate & Megan)

                                                    i.     Need to process listserv and committee sign ups

Good turnout, lots of people signed up. Rebecca will process the names and send out with next listserv.

3. Budget meeting (Megan)

                                                    i.     Good news - we tentatively have $3250 for next year ($800 more than last year!)

                                                   ii.     TGS implied that we can collaborate with them on our big social events; may be combined with TGS Night Out

4. GSA 5K Fundraising (Kate, Jenn, & Megan)

We need everyone's help with this project. Please see the donation request letter and form. Visit local businesses especially popular among the grad student population. See the Northwestern.gsa Google Document with businesses previously contacted and continually update. Jenn will continue with Fleet Feet. We need to determine whether or not we can buy powder Gatorade there. Also, contact race organizers about where we can secure race bibs.

2. Evaluation

4. Publicity strategies (flyers, newsletter, postering, etc.)

5. Organization (now that all the officers are back in town!)

6. Quarterly Newsletter

7. Other comments?

1. Advocacy

4. Department Representatives

                                                    i.     How are we going to get reps from each dept?

Kate will send out a separate email after the listserv is sent this week.

                                                   ii.     Work with CGSA

                                                  iii.     Plan Kick off meeting

Mid-November after the first years have had the opportunity to settle in. We will need to give department reps packets. Be thinking of items that should be placed in the packets.

2. Advocacy Committees

                                                    i.     Decide structure (esp. chairs)

Non-GSA members; however, a GSA member should be on each committee. We will be looking to build the structure then off-load it.

                                                   ii.     Work with CGSA

                                                  iii.     Plan kick off meetings

3. Health Care

                                                    i.     Current GSA people - Kate & Megan (anyone else interested?)

                                                   ii.     Meeting with Ryan Hobbs (CGSA) Wed @ 5pm

                                                  iii.     Any suggestions/complaints?

When are people enrolled? When are cards to be mailed out? The information is a bit inaccessible and confusing. Talk to a lawyer about the information on the site, does it need a disclaimer? Health services should provide the costs f lab testing-this information is more or less being kept from students.

4. Other items brought to us

                                                    i.     Intercampus shuttle - pple want new stops (should we collaborate with faculty, staff, postdocs?)

We will have a survey. Everyone needs to encourage other gradate students to complete the survey as advocacy issues depend on evidence and quality data.

                                                   ii.     Housing

Are our websites good enough?

                                                  iii.     Indoor bike storage

None available at the moment; however, we are assuming that enough people would be interested in paying for such storage. Dave will follow through with Norris and other possible locations.

4. Socials

   1. GSA 5K

                                                    i.     Registered runners/walkers: ~300

                                                   ii.     Registered guests: ~250

                                                  iii.     Volunteers: ~ 20 (still need 10-15 more)

                                                 iv.     T-shirts ordered (120 purple for runners, 40 burgundy for volunteers)

                                                   v.     Need Donations!

1.      Money

2.      Gift Certificates/Merchandise

3.      Food & drinks

4.      Track donations - online spreadsheet

                                                 vi.     Meeting with TGS Tues @ 1pm to review GSA 5K

2. Brainstorm large social events to propose to TGS

We discussed the possibility of having one large (500-ish) event and one smaller (100ish) event each quarter. The large event should be on or very near campus. The smaller event may involve travel downtown, etc. Ideas discussed include Chicago Fire, Game night, bowling, mini golf, a Museum trip (family friendly), play trip, and bringing Second City to NU. Jenn will follow through with a Second City proposal for winter.

2. One idea: Second City performance & reception

4. Community Service

2. Cradle Ball Update

3. Fairy Tale Trails

4. First Look For Charity (February event with Cradle?)

Ruth is looking for volunteers for a pre-auto show auction event. She will begin publicizing two months prior to the event in February.

4. Communication

2. T-shirts & hoodies - pick them up from Kate

3. Banner

4. NU Link update

5. NEW - Grad Students to get @ u.northwestern.edu (gmail accounts)

Graduate students will be able to forward mail from existing accounts into u.northwestern.edu accounts. Need to verify the particulars (ie: opt-in/out). Everyone what are other questions we need to have answered prior to TGS's presentation?

2. Website

4. Next Listserv

2. Send out week of Sept. 24

3. Discuss contents

4. GLC Survey & Annual report

2. Survey coming out Oct. 1

3. Annual Report - will need all officers' help (even if just editing)