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SENECA STUDENT FEDERATION INCORPORATED Central Level Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 17, 2010 __________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
This meeting is called to order at 6:28 p.m. and chaired by Oscar Bobadilla. The meeting is held at Newnham campus.
2. Roll Call Oscar Bobadilla President, Newnham/SSF Inc. Andrew Robinson President, Markham Aren Bedrosyan President, King Daniel Stern President, Seneca @ York Japneet Marwah Vice President, Seneca @ York Kaitlynn Fennell Vice President, Markham Nagraj Tut Acting Vice President, Newnham
Guests Kevin Rajpaulsingh Manager, Student Services/College Mario Di Carlo Director of Operations/SSF Inc. Felisha Ali Alumni/College
Minutes Taken By Brenda Fairbanks-Smith Manager, Corporate Administration/SSF Inc.
3. Absent Sapir Chocron Vice President, King
4. Announcements
· Felisha Ali, representative from Alumni is introduced. A representative from the Alumni office will be attending future Central Level meetings. A Central rep will also be attending Alumni meetings. · Reminder to members that the last LEAP session will take place on February 25, 2010. This will be a networking event with Alumni. · A Leadership Conference open to all full time students will be taking place at Newnham campus on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The SSF will be doing a workshop. Members are encouraged to promote this conference to students. Glenna Thomas may be contacted for further information. · Kevin has only received two applications for the Central Level “Outstanding Contribution Award”. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 19th. Members should forward their applications to Kevin a.s.a.p. · Co-curricular Record is now available on line. Members are encouraged to create their own co-curricular transcript.
5. Confirmation of Agenda for Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Motion: “to accept the agenda for Wednesday, February 17, 2010 as presented”.
Motioned by: Nagraj Tut Seconded by: Kaitlynn Fennell
Amendments Additions to New Business: Security/Classified Concert Swear Jar Additions to Business Arising: Volunteer Tax Clinic Budgets Haiti Fundraising CSA Food Services
Daniel Stern ENTERS meeting at 6:34 p.m.
Motion: “to accept the agenda for Wednesday, February 17, 2010 as amended”.
Motioned by: Nagraj Tut Seconded by: Kaitlynn Fennell
All in Favour 4 Opposed 0 Abstained 0
C A R R I E D
6. Confirmation of Minutes for Monday, February 1, 2010
Deferred.
Confirmation of Minutes from Monday, January 18, 2010
Motioned: “to accept the minutes from Monday, January 18, 2010 as presented”.
Motioned by: Japneet Marwah Seconded by: Kaitlynn Fennell
Errors/Omissions None.
All in Favour 4 Opposed 0 Abstained 0
C A R R I E D 7. Member Reports
Japneet Marwah · Attended CSA conference · Spoke to Jason re. latest BUZZ issue · Attending York events · Getting back on track
Kaitlynn Fennell · Helped with Classified concert including promotions · Met with Steve Mattar, website designers, as well as the student who is working for them. Will be meeting again this week to do a tutorial with designers · Recruiting new members
Aren Bedrosyan · Attended CSA conference · King’s office will begin renovations next week · Has visited Newnham three times and Seneca @ York once to get a better understanding of how the other campuses operate as well as how the SSF is working
Daniel Stern · Prepared tonight’s agenda
Oscar Bobadilla · Attended CSA conference · Working with clubs (provided a $100.00 donation to Legal Studies Student Association)
Andrew Robinson ENTERS meeting at 6:40 p.m.
· Attended SMILE conference and tried to help firefighters re. workshop · Working with Accounting club re. tax clinic · Attended student recruitment project · Promotions for the public address on the radio station at Newnham. Should cost less than $500.00 to set up the radio station
Andrew Robinson · Student Rights and Responsibilities panel · Going through Central minutes from last year re. part time student union. Will be setting up a meeting with Peter Agaliotis re. this
8. Business Arising
a) Haiti Fundraising
A cheque to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Relief in the amount of $24,539.58 was hand delivered on Friday, February 12, 2010 to ensure we would meet the deadline for the government matching. This amount does not include the $3,128.00 also donated through personal cheques which the SSF also matched. Another donation of $773.55 was made on the evening of Friday, February 12, 2010 (done on line). This donation was raised through a SMILE event and was matched by the SSF with a final total being $1,547.10. The SSF’s final donation is $29,214.68 and with the government’s match, equals $58,429.36.
Brenda and Aren are working on a cheque presentation to the Red Cross. Photos will be taken and used for SSF promotion, including on My.Seneca.
Kevin has sent a notice to be posted on My.Seneca for the SSF to be recognized in their Haiti fundraising effort. Kevin is still waiting to hear back from Marketing and will let the SSF know when the notice is posted.
b) CSA Conference
The CSA conference was held in North Bay on February 4, 5 & 6, 2010. The conference was attended by some Central Level members to gather information on the CSA and determine if membership would be worthwhile. A decision on membership has not yet been made since discussion needs to take place with each of the Local Branch Councils. Oscar also has a CSA Conference Report and will send out via e-mail. Those who attended the conference should review the report. Any additions to the report should be sent to Japneet and also to Brenda. This report should be sent out prior to having a CSA representative attend a future Central Level meeting.
It is suggested that a CSA representative be invited to a future Central Level meeting so questions can be answered. LBC members may also attend this information session. The final decision on membership will be left to the Central Level members.
Membership costs would be approximately $4.00 per student ($4.00 per student X 20,000 students = $80,000.00). Mario reminds members that for the next two years, the SSF will be limited in raising the Student Activity Fee.
Information is also needed as to what the CSA provides us now, without membership and what they will provide if we become a member. If a decision is made to join, we will have to determine how the membership costs will be paid.
c) Volunteer Tax Clinic
Oscar reports that at this time, a request to the Faculty of Business/Accounting & Finance has been made asking to use their facilities.
Volunteers for this tax clinic will come from the Accounting club as well as the Canada Revenue Agency who will provide us with free tax software and training. Training will take place on March 6, 2010. Taxes will be done beginning Monday, March 8, 2010.
Liability has been discussed with Mario. The SSF has insurance coverage for activities we provide. It will be determined if this initiative falls under this insurance.
This tax service will be a free service for low income students only.
9. New Business
a) Student Handbook
Kevin reports that every year Student Services produces the Student Handbook with the SSF providing financial support. This past year, Student Services ran short of Handbooks due to an increase in enrolment.
With costs of producing the Handbook increasing, the SSF may be asked to contribute more funds. A breakdown of costs will be presented at the next Central Level meeting.
b) Security/Classified Concert
Concern is raised due to the security and entry process used for the recent Classified concert held in the Senecentre at Newnham campus on Friday, February 5, 2010.
Approximately 250 students arrived at the concert around 8:00 p.m. Since students were not immediately permitted into the Senecentre due to security screening, they were forced to stand outside on College property. Because of this, it appeared capacity had been reached.
Students seeing the large number of students standing outside assumed capacity had been reached and began sending text messages to this effect. As a result, students stopped coming to the concert. If not for the security procedures, it is felt maximum capacity would have been reached. Because of this, it is suggested that future events be taken off campus.
Mario reports that a meeting took place on February 3rd with Seneca’s College Services, SSF management, and police from 33 Division. This meeting was requested by 33 Division and stemmed from a list of police complaints with regard to night pubs. To appease these complaints, it was agreed that students would have to line up outside of Building F prior to security screening and admittance. Additional outside licensed security was also added.
Oscar asks for a breakdown in costs from previous years prior to the changes in number of security/police requirements. This will also be discussed at the upcoming Alcohol Events Committee meeting. Members are also asked to write down their concerns which will be taken to the AEC meeting on Thursday, February 25th at 3:30 p.m.
Mario will outline all security/police details we must comply with and will send out the information to members via e-mail.
c) Swear Jar
Japneet has suggested a Swear Jar be introduced at all campuses, beginning in the Council offices. Anyone who swears would put 25 cents into the jar. Proceeds from the jar could go to promotions, charity or the Newnham build. Student Services will assist.
This will be discussed again at the next Central Level meeting. Japneet will take the lead on this project.
d) Budgets
In September of 2010, Oscar reports that student fees will be increasing by $100.00 based on the Build Project. Because of this increase, he would like to see more promotion of the SSF as well as more off campus events.
Members are asked to be more aware of the events/activities coming up and to promote these to students. Oscar also asks members to give back to the students and let them know who we are. Members should also be aware of what’s left in their budgets and to use the funds for student activities.
Mario reports that some areas are over budget. Detailed spreadsheets, currently stored on the Executive Director’s computer will be acquired soon. Oscar would like to have a rough idea of where the budgets stand by the end of the week.
Mario will take a look at the budgets and report back to members.
e) Food Services
Oscar reports that students have been requesting Halal products and that Newnham is moving forward with this request. Bringing students what they want should be an ongoing initiative. Members are asked to bring back to the Central Level, any ideas they have with regard to food services.
Daniel reports that he had brought issues (request for Halal) to Jim Hutton, past Director College Services as well as to a representative from Aramark who never replied to him. Kevin informs members that he had also attempted to get a College Food Services Committee meeting scheduled last year but was unsuccessful. There is student representation on this committee. Members are asked to determine what their student population is looking for and if the College is not supplying this, the Federation will.
Markham has been discussing the introduction of a sandwich stand in the Kickback. They will try to have this in place by the end of the year.
Kaitlynn proposes the creation of a Services Committee. Members are in favour of this with Aren chairing and Andrew co-chairing. Each Local Branch Council should decide what they would like to do and provide representation at this committee to develop a plan.
10. Committee Reports
· Alcohol Events Committee will be meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2010. · Academic Council will be meeting on Monday. · Student Rights and Responsibilities met last week.
11. Honorariums
Mario reports that more than one campus has not completed their Summer 2009 Honorariums. As well, some Local Branch Council’s Fall 2009 honorariums have not yet been done. Members who have not received their honorariums are asking why.
The onus to complete these honorariums rests with the members. It is suggested that these honorariums be completed and submitted by March 5th so payment falls within the proper fiscal year.
Although there is discussion on revamping the honorarium system, the system in place now must be followed.
Presidents and Vice Presidents are asked to put this on their LBC agendas and to speak to those who have not completed the Summer/Fall honorariums.
12. Clubs & Associations Report
Newnham · Have approximately 32 clubs/associations. · The Aboriginal Student group has changed their name to First People. · Events coming up: Students Exceeding Expectations; LSSA fundraiser to build school in Africa; HRSA holding case competition on March 22nd; South Asian Society will be hosting a henna fundraiser; fire protection trade show/job fair planned for April 6th; Liberal Arts holding “Spoken Poetry/Love Jam”.
Seneca @ York · Black Students Committee will be hosting a fashion show tomorrow, in the Hive. They have already put on one event so far which was very successful and well supported.
Markham · Currently does not have a Coordinator, Clubs/Associations. Andrew and Allan are working on this.
Members are asked to send their Clubs/Associations Report to Sapir and Brenda.
13. BUZZ Report
Any ideas for the BUZZ should be directed to Japneet, Director, Communications & Student Publications who would like to see more content added and suggests having Journalism students write articles for the paper.
Daniel feels the content of the recent newsletter was good, however; suggests hiring a graphic designer to lay out fonts, etc.
Jason, BUZZ Editor should be informed of students making exceptional contributions to the community. Articles could then be written about these students and published.
14. Director of Operations Report
· The King liquor license was renewed on January 20, 2010 · Members are asked to e-mail their profiles to Steve Mattar for the SSF website. The prototype of the website is complete. · Met with ACL (student health care provider). Looking into adding international students to the plan including fees and increases and how they will play out over the next three years; coverage for interns and co-ops; and the addition of athletic therapy. Looking at going to annual coverage as opposed to semester coverage. Seneca is one of the few schools who provide coverage by semester. Also looking at death benefits since now students are only covered for accidental death and dismemberment and not for death caused by illness. · New HST will affect our budgets. · King council offices will be undergoing renovations. · Members are asked for feedback as the three Programmers trial period comes to an end. · Performance reviews for the Operations Managers will be sent out shortly.
15. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Monday, March 8, 2010 King Campus 6:30 p.m.
16. Adjournment
Motion: “that no further business is discussed and this meeting is adjourned at 7:59 p.m.”.
Motioned by: Andrew Robinson Seconded by: Daniel Stern
All in Favour 4 Opposed 0 Abstained 0
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