Minutes
Nov. 28, 2005
We (unfortunately) had an opportunity for a regular steering committee meeting when no science grad students responded to our invitation to talk about the problems in their departments. Adrianne, Ursula, Elizabeth, Jeff, and Sharyn were present; Morgan was presenting to Ed Burmila's Labor Studies class.
We started off with some loose brainstorming about what *else* we can try to do about the sciences, most of which I didn't get down in my notes, but we did discuss maybe trying to have one-on-one conversations with science people, either those we might happen to know or possibly calling people and trying to get them at home. That's difficult because we don't have home phone numbers for most of the science grads on our membership list. We also talked about trying to physically go to labs, offices, etc. in the science buildings.
Adrianne also reported that it looks like we have a Math steward now, or are very close to having one; she has a dinner appointment with this Math person.
The actual agenda part of the meeting:
I. Poker Night
We decided to go ahead with the Poker Night idea early next semester (probably Friday, Jan. 20) so we can invite those who come to it to come to our mass meeting 1-2 weeks later. We plan to ask volunteers to print and post flyers and to ask stewards to bring someone to the event. Jeff will make the flyer. Jeff also offered his house as a location (which would mean we could have alcohol, and might be more comfortable than a campus location). Sharyn can bring one poker set; maybe Math people can help round up another? We talked about the idea of having a 'novice' tournament as well as one for more experienced players. Food: pizza? potluck? (no decision) Sharyn suggested having some kind of party favor that people can take away with them that would include information about GEO ( i.e. web address, email, date of mass mtg.)--might be more inviting than just FAQs.
II. Study of working hours: the group doing this have gotten some indication that they can get a list of all grad students/employees in order to do random sampling IF they prove they have a secure place to store it where only they can have access to it. Jeff says they can easily get a Veritas account and set it up with their own password.
III. Mass meeting
Date? Main factor will be the health committee--when do they feel comfortable presenting, and maybe when SAA committee deliberations begin (tho' this may not matter). Our own schedules are not set yet anyway. But we're aiming for late Jan./early Feb. Elizabeth brought up the question of when officer elections will be held on an ongoing basis--April or September? We may want to bring this up at the meeting, time permitting? (Something to start thinking about, anyway.)
IV. Organizing: People who checked "get more info" at the presentations in August
Ursula will get the list of these people. We need to send the names of those that are in depts. with stewards to those stewards. We will divide up the rest among ourselves and try to contact them all next semester.
V. Assorted computer stuff:
A. will keep forwarding CGEU info to Jeff for the non-IU news section of the website. U. will look for videotape of news broadcast about grade-in, now that we've got video streaming capability. This summer, we should go through the archives of WFIU etc. and see if we can find other stories to fill in our history. U. also has pictures from the grade-in, some of which may be worth putting on the website; we should remember to take pictures at the Poker Night.
The FAQ on the website right now is an old version; Jeff asked that someone send him the updated version to post.
Online 'straw poll' idea: could have people 'vote' on unionization and use that to get the lay of the land before our regular organizing work, but we don't want it to replace face-to-face organizing, nor do we want to make it seem like it's an official unionization vote; the data would not be statistically valid and could be dangerous if it were public (could be misused). Probably don't do on unionization per se; could possibly do on dental, but again, how useful would it be if not scientific? We need a better survey on dental than the GPSO's, but won't have time to do one before the committee meets this spring.
Forum up on website--could start a thread on issues in the sciences, maybe another on dental (A. has gotten some feedback via email from folks who aren't interested in serving on the committee but had opinions to share). Announce this plus other changes to the website to members via email--probably combine with other announcements early next semester.
VI. Affiliation
We need to talk seriously to CWA about affiliation--it's time to make things official or pursue other options. We need money and an organizer. We should look like a better bet now than the last time we talked to them (or other unions); we should go into the discussion explaining what we've done on our own and what we're planning to do. Try to set something up next semester.
We were talking about going to social functions in order to
network with other grads (esp. in the sciences), and I noted that
there's a GPSO Happy Hour.
VII. Note re next summer:
Prioritize orientation presentations in the sciences--start early (April) as some departments set the agenda by May!
Next meeting: Mon. Dec. 5, 5:15 p.m., IMU dining area