Butler Committee Meeting Minutes 2.4.08

Submitted by Jane Phillips, Recording Secretary

Committee members present: Jane Phillips, Audra Pompeani (Bugle Editor), Dante Ricci (GSG Rep), Shannon Hughes (Chair), Nicole Jui (Garden Co-coorinator), Jeffrey Dwoskin (Housing Rep), Andrew Owen (Webmaster), Rodrigo Casassus Coke (Dolly Coordinator).

Community members present: Tao Long, Karl Zawadzki, Olivia Martel, Ryo Jinnai, Nick Kattamis, Rebecca Anawalt, Sofya

Meeting called to order at 9:04 pm.

Shannon (Chair): The committee first went over the elections to the garden co-coordinator position. Tao Long was named to the position (by show of hands) because she has been to three previous meetings and was therefore given priority. Shannon and Nicole explained the duties of the position and general duties of being on the committee. Shannon proposed changing the text of the bylaws regarding the garden co-coordinator position because she feels it is not informative enough. She wishes to change the wording to "The responsibility of the Gardening Coordinator(s) shall be to organize and distribute garden space to the Butler Community at large, to work with Facilities and the gardeners to ensure necessary maintenance on the garden (such as plowing) is performed, to maintain the garden tools and equipment, and to oversee the Butler composters." Nicole suggested that garden co-coordinators should be required to be gardeners themselves. There was some discussion, and it was decided that the committee would add a statement saying that the garden co-coordinator should have a garden plot and be involved in the garden. Shannon's suggestion passed by 8 committee members present (3/4 of total committee).

Shannon mentioned that her deteriorating insulation (see previous month's minutes) are a result of her particular apartment never receiving new insulation, so it is not a general Butler problem. Shannon spoke with Brian Ellis, who organizes a beer brewing group called PUB - she wanted to know whether people are interested in a beer tasting. Dante mentioned that the Flying Fish beer tasting worked out very well in Butler previously.

Nicole (Garden): Garden renewals are happening now, and there will be an ad in the upcoming Bugle with more information. The garden tool shed lock will be changed by Nicole. Last year, the gardeners voted to keep the garden unlocked, but the shed should always be locked.

Rodrigo (Dolly): Dolly has not been used much, as it is not move-in or -out time.

Andrew (Webmaster): Added a winterization page and information about composting to the website. Andy says that the laundry listserv is still working very well. Andrew will add Tao to the website and the Butler-Com listserv.

Tao: Thanked Shannon and Jeff for organizing the movie night in January. She said that it was a success.

Audra (Bugle): Downloaded the last four January Bugles, and it turns out that there is no new information in that issue compared to the September issue, except for the information regarding garden plots that is always in the January issue. Audra suggested that she make an online edition for January and then go back to the paper issue for May. Jeff agreed that the Bugle should be online only for January, since it costs at least $120 to produce and there is not much new information. Jeff suggested that Audra give Dwight a few hard copies to hand out to new residents. Shannon suggested that the Bugle be shortened to 2 pages for January, but it was decided that Audra would make an electronic copy only for January. Rodrigo suggested that we put a hard copy of the Bugle on the bulletin board in the Community Room.

Dante (GSG Rep): Nothing new from the GSG.

Jeff (Housing): The signage in the laundry room has been updated, but Jeff will work with Olivia to get them to be more clear. Jeff spoke with Mark Bianchi and the Office of Design and Construction is talking with the Township to get more one-way signs around Butler. Jeff noted that we have a new director of parking and transportation, and it appears that there will be a new shuttle system in the fall. There is now a Whole Foods shuttle from campus that includes grad student housing. Jeff noted that people who have had trouble with P-Rides Express should email him because the shuttle committee is trying to expand the P-Rides Express service. The University just announced the campus plan, and it has been stated that Butler will be torn down and replaced with staff housing probably by 2012. Hibben-Magie and Stanworth are supposed to become only grad student housing in the future. The GSG is meeting with Housing to discuss the draw - they are hoping to move to a retention-based system where if people are successful in the draw, they would retain their current unit if they wanted it.

Jeff suggested that the Committee set up event(s) for neighbors to get to know each other. Jeff suggested that the Committee or the GSG could fund events if individuals planned them to get to know their neighbors.

Olivia: Mentioned the Community Associate position, where student would work with the Grad School to plan events. Olivia is running a children's Valentine's Day event in the Community Room this weekend - she will send an email to Butler residents.

Sofya: The computer room door is still unlocked. Olivia will follow up.

Chin (via Shannon): Chinese new year cost a total of $550, and the Committee got $400 from the GSG for the event, so the Committee covered the remaining $150.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.