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 (Chair), Dante Ricci (GSG Representative), Nicole Jui (Garden Co-Coordinator), Joshua Podolak (Chair Emeritus), Jeffrey Dwoskin (Housing Representative), Kelly Krantz (Treasurer).

Community members present: Angela Ross (wife of Patrick Ross, Bugle editor), Tara Kitley, Agatha Lenartowicz, Boris Krantz.

Meeting called to order at 9:35 pm.

Butler Committee needs to get new people for Garden Coordinator and Community Room Coordinator, and Agatha Lenartowicz (former Garden Coordinator) nominated herself for the open Garden Coordinator position and the motion was passed by the Committee.

Shannon (Chair):

Card and Game night:  Shannon brought up issue from last meeting.  Butler Committee has some games in storage, and Agatha suggested that Butler Committee get in touch with D-Bar people to see what games they have at the GC to see if we can have some of the unused games.  Dan Bowers (community) requested about $40 per night for the card and game night.

Kelly says that until we get money from the GSG, we are low on funds, so she suggested that we take $30 from the garden account for the first game day.  Joshua and Kelly suggested a trial run to see what the interest is, and then see if it should be funded by the Committee for future meetings.  Committee agreed that we would fund small amount for snacks at first meeting (~$30), and see how successful the first meeting is.  Committee would look at receipts and attendance.  Could suggest to them that they ask the GSG for funding (if all grad students were invited).

First book club meeting was sparse.

Dante Ricci (GSG Rep):

Dante says that the GSG will not be reimbursing the Committee for Chinese New Year (as the Committee did not ask for funding), but we would be getting money for the wine and cheese, for which Damien Madan (former Social Chair) needs to submit receipts.

Dante mentioned that he thought that the surplus in the Committee budget was all going to the Chinese New Year, so did not ask for funds from the GSG, so future events will need more funding from the GSG.  Last year, Cinco de Mayo was about $500.

Kelly Krantz (Treasurer):

Combining the two accounts, we have $700.39.  Money will be coming into the garden accounts for reserved plots so the total will soon be higher.

Angela Ross (Bugle):

New Bugle will be out by end of semester.

Juan Melli (webmaster):

Website gets about 15 people visiting per day.  Dante requested an updated link to the shuttle schedule.  Shannon asked about having a bi-weekly Butler events bulletin, as mentioned last meeting, but it was decided to not send out regular emails.

Nicole Jui (Garden):

Garden is full.  Nicole is setting up a waiting list for people who want extra plots.  Nicole has a list of things to have by March to clean up garden.  Thinking about having a donation box of vegetables, etc. for extra food from the garden set up in the Community Room or some central location.  Kelly suggested that we have a scheduled time for donation/sale of excess goods.  Would need to advertise to Butler community.  Also, Nicole is thinking of having a meeting to welcome all gardeners (have 18 new gardeners this year).

David Inglis (Community Room):

Need new Community Room coordinator as David will be leaving soon.

Jane Phillips (Secretary):

Butler residents can call 8-8000 or Dwight for snow/ice removal.

Dante Ricci (GSG Rep):

GSG elections finished today.  Will start requesting money for Cinco de Mayo.  Total cost should be $500, so Dante will ask for the total cost since we did not get any money for Chinese New Year.

Laura Soltesz (Social Chair):

Wanted to know if the phone in the lobby of the Community Room works, as there is no dial tone.  Will call 8-8000 to get the phone serviced.  Laura wanted to know if we have first aid kits for the Community Room, for social events and child playtime.  Could put kit on the wall.  Tara Kitley agreed to buy first aid kit for Community Room.  Laura asked who is responsible for washers/dryers, esp. emptying quarters.  Two dryers were working last Tuesday.  Bulletin board closest to bus stop has outdated information.  David Inglis will follow up.

Jeffrey Dwoskin (Housing Rep):

We have to tell housing who gets priority for the room draw.  We have 10 committee members and 10 spots, but only need 9 as Dante and Nicole did pre-draw retention.  The deadline for submitting the list is the 29^th.  At shuttle meeting, residents mentioned that shuttle blocks King Street; thinking about putting shuttle on Butler Ave, maybe in front of the Community Room, but the fact that the bus door opens on the right is a concern.  For next year, there might be two stops within Butler.  Should recommend that the stops not be in front of residents’ houses.

Tara Kitley:

No update on the shed in Halsey Ct., no update on the soda machine.  

Meeting adjourned at 10:28 pm.