Butler Committee Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2007
Submitted by Jane Phillips (Secretary)
Committee members present: David Inglis (Community Room Coordinator), Juan Melli (Webmaster), Laura Soltesz (Social Chair), Shannon Hughes (Garden Co-Coordinator), Dante Ricci (GSG Representative), Nicole Jui (Garden Co-Coordinator), Rodrigo Cassasus (Dolly), Joshua Podolak (Chair), Patrick Ross (Bugle Editor).
Community members present: Amanda Bowers, Dan Bowers, Kristine Markatos-Soriano
Meeting called to order at 9:35 pm.
General Committee business:
Joshua Podolak is retiring as Committee Chair, and it has been decided that Shannon Hughes will take over the Chair position. This opens up a Garden Co-Coordinator spot on the Committee. Community members present declined to run for this position; Shannon will send out email to Butler community advertising the position.
Butler Committee received an email from a resident on 2/6/07 stating that the pipes in her apartment had frozen on 2/5/07 even though heat was kept at 70oF. Facilities fixed the problem and stated that several other Butler units also had frozen pipes. Committee members discussed whether all Butler residents should be notified of problem, and whether they should be given guidelines for how to avoid the problem (keep heat up, keep faucets dripping when away). It was suggested that the Committee check with Housing to determine whether they wanted to make official recommendations for Butler residents regarding pipes.
Committee reports
Laura (Social Chair)
Chinese New Year: Grad College Valentine’s Day dance is on the same date (Feb. 15) – committee members decided that there would not be much overlap between the two events. Laura asked whether 8:00 pm was too late of a start time for the event, and it was agreed that the time should be changed to 7-9 pm. Dante agreed to ask the GSG for ~$400 for the event.
Community members Amanda and Dan Bowers proposed holding bi-weekly cards and games night in the Community Room for Butler residents. David stated that open evenings in the community room are Thursday, Saturday and Monday. Amanda and Dan are willing to organize the event. Community members noted that the Committee has several games in storage room; Laura will follow up. David will send email to follow up on reserving Community Room.
Community member Kristine Markatos-Soriano proposed organizing and holding a monthly book club for Butler residents in the Community Room. She is willing to organize, and would need the Committee to send out emails with details to all Butler residents. David will follow up on reserving Community Room.
It was proposed that the Committee should send out regular (monthly or weekly) emails to Butler residents notifying them of events in Butler. Juan will follow up. It was also decided that in order to get word out to spouses/partners about butler-res mailing list, a prominent notice would be put in the next issue of the Bugle regarding how to sign up.
Shannon Hughes and Nicole Jui (Chair and Garden Coordinator)
We have 1.5 plots remaining in the garden, the most full the garden has ever been. Two-thirds of gardeners are new. Coordinators are waiting for ~$80 from gardeners for plot reservation fees.
“Trash” can at Community Room is now back to being used for composting.
Garden will be plowed in March.
Money in gardening account is for general Butler Committee use, but gardening gets first priority for equipment, repairs, etc.
Joshua Podolak (Former Chair)
Kelly Krantz (treasurer) gave monthly update via email to Committee members. The total funds in the Butler accounts are at about $600 more than previous year. More events should be planned to use extra funds.
Jeffrey Dwoskin emailed to say that triple loader washer is broken, and Housing has proposed that they replace it with a regular washing machine. Rodrigo and David suggested that the Committee request to keep at least two large washers, as they are very useful.
Patrick (Bugle Editor)
Winter issue of Bugle is out, total cost was $70 for whole order; all printing was done at Staples.
Patrick suggested putting insert in next Bugle for residents that would be a reference for common issues in Butler (would include contact information for Dwight, Housing, Facilities, also recycling information, etc.).
Next Bugle will be out in April or May
Patrick noted that doors on apartments are different – some lock with key, some without. David noted that residents can call facilities if they want their doorknobs changed.
Rodrigo Cassasus (Dolly)
The Committee has ~150 VHS tapes in the storage room. Rodrigo suggested that we put them out in the Community Room for general use. Committee members agreed.
David Inglis (Community Room)
Requested that the Committee get another bookshelf for the Community Room, for VHS tapes and other storage. He will follow up with Dwight to request permission, and will look at Princeton University surplus for bookshelf. The Committee would provide funds.
Juan Melli (Webmaster)
Non-Butler resident has emailed him asking him to send out an email to Butler residents about a missing cat. Committee decided that it would be appropriate to send out email.
Dante Ricci (GSG Rep)
Director of Housing is coming to the next GSG meeting (on 2/14/07). Dante asked if there were any issues that she should bring up at the meeting. It was suggested that he ask about rents in Butler (which have gone up 9-11%, depending on the unit). Nicole asked Dante to bring up issue of insulation in units – many units do not yet have insulation, many have it only partially installed, leaving units open on the bottom for an extended time. Any more issues for the Director of Housing can be sent to Dante.
Meeting adjourned at 10:34 pm.