Butler Committee Meeting Minutes 6.2.08

Submitted by Jane Phillips, Recording Secretary

Committee members present: Jane Phillips, Dante Ricci (GSG Rep), Shannon Hughes (Chair), Jeffrey Dwoskin (Housing Rep), Patrick Ross (Treasurer), Tao Long (Garden Co-coordinator), Chin Jou (Social Chair), Audra Pompeani (Bugle Editor), Nicole Jui (Garden Co-coordinator), Bronwyn Smith (Community Room Coordinator), Anna Frost (Dolly Coordinator).

Community member present: Nancy Jones, Olivia Martel.

Meeting called to order at 9:04 pm.

Shannon (Chair): Social events are coming up.

Dante (GSG Rep): Got money ($350) for the Cinco de Junio from the GSG, and the letter writing campaign is starting for the GSG.

Audra (Bugle Editor): Bugle will be coming out soon. Audra mentioned that she is not sure that the Bugle is a necessary expenditure for the Committee, since we now have the website for all updates. Anna mentioned that when she moved in, she appreciated having the information in the Bugle. Nicole suggested that the Bugle be changed to only one page to conserve paper. Bronwyn and others suggested that there be a move-in issue of the Bugle for new residents. Audra mentioned that the winter edition of the Bugle has not yet been put onto the website. Jeff will talk with Housing about the most recent edition of the Bugle for new residents. He also suggested that the Committee send out a PDF of the Bugle once per year. Patrick suggested that the webmaster be in charge of producing the Bugle in the future. Shannon and Anna suggested that in the fall, the Committee make an effort to make sure that significant others of students know that they can sign up for the Butler-Res listserv. Shannon decided that there would be a move-in Bugle, but no new Spring issue this year. Jeff asked Audra to set up a move-in issue to give to Housing, and Jeff will talk with Housing about distribution.

Chin (Social chair): Chin confirmed shifts for Committee members working the Cinco de Junio. Chin gave receipts for the event to Olivia. The money for the event should come out of the Princeton account. Chin has spent $697.01 for the event so far. Jeff suggested that we buy more food because we have some extra money (including the money from the GSG, the Committee will have ~$1000 to spend on the party). To reimburse Chin, the Princeton account will have to go into negative funds, which will be replaced by money in the garden account as soon as receipts are figured out. Food total from On the Border is $546. Chin also got Margarita mix and tequila. Chin is planning on having games if the weather is good. Jeff suggested that someone bring music in case the party needs to move inside. Chin will add 3 dozen more tacos to add ~$100 to the total. It was suggested that Chin get small plates for the food.

Shannon asked about the progress of the Yard Sale. It should be advertized in the local paper, and signs should be put up directing people into Butler. Jeff suggested that we get some tables for Buidling Services for the event. June 21st is the tentative date. Last year, the yard sale was held from 10a - 2p, and should be held at the same time this year. It was suggested that the event be posted on Craigslist, TigerTrade, and Facebook. Olivia will help Chin reserve tables. Chin will look into getting a group to pick up the things people leave behind at the yard sale (Anna will look on Craigslist).

Tao and Nicole (Garden): The composter was moved to the garden, but the area around where the composter was is very dirty. Tao and Nicole will ask Dwight to have someone clean it up. There should be instructions posted on how to use the composter. It was suggested that the new move-in Bugle include a map showing where things are around Butler (including the garden, playgrounds, etc.). Facilities still has not put together a new sign for instructions for the composter. Olivia, Tao and Nicole will follow up. Tao and Nicole are thinking that they might make a general rule that there be no commercial, synthetic fertilizers used in the garden. During the next off-season, they will put together guidelines for gardeners.

Tao suggested that Butler keep an air pump for bike tires, balls, etc. Tao will follow up with finding information about chaining down a pump near the Community Room.

Patrick (Treasurer): The Soverign account has $959 ($640 of which belongs to the garden), and the Princeton account has $640 - this does not include any money from the GSG events board. Patrick showed a handout with information about money in the accounts now, money spent during the year, and a proposed budget for 2008-2009. The Committee will vote on the proposed budget at the next meeting. He will also email out all of this paperwork to the Committee before the next meeting.

Anna (Dolly Coordinator): Has noticed that the dumpster right near her house is getting very smelly, and is full of maggots. She looked up information online and found that maggots carry diseases. Jeff will contact Building Services about this issue.

Bronwyn (Community Room): Mentioned that the mowers mowed down all of the flowers her family had planted around their house. Jeff said that residents are supposed to put in a short fence-type thing around their plants to protect them (this is according to Patti Smith). Olivia will follow up with Patti Smith, who will hopefully talk with the landscapers about having a more consistent mowing schedule, and how to demarcate areas that the mowers should not touch.

Jeff (Housing Rep): GSG e-bulletin has update about the shuttle. New shuttle service won't be put into place until the fall at the earliest, and probably not until spring.

Jeff talked with Dwight: all top-loading washers should be replaced with front loading ones within the next 3 months. Two new driers have been added. Emails to the laundry listserv have dropped dramatically. Dwight also said that they have spent ~$45,000 fixing sidewalks, and will be replacing more porches this year. No new lighting will be put into Butler before it is torn down. Shannon asked whether we could request more temporary lighting around Butler. She will follow up with Olivia. Stanworth has three different laundry rooms, wood floors and working fireplaces. Jeff wants to schedule a tour for the Committee members for Stanworth, hopefully for this summer. Stanworth does not have wireless yet.

The Housing policy committee is meeting again in June, so Jeff needs information about priority housing spots. Right now Housing is concerned that there is going to be fewer overall housing spots in the future, so they are asking Committees about opinions on how to hand out housing spots or whether to get rid of housing priority altogether. Shannon suggested that people think about this issue and email suggestions to Jeff regarding what should be done about the issue of reduction in housing priority spots. Shannon pointed out that having housing priority spots allows the Committee to recruit more people to be on the Committee. Anna agreed that without housing priority, it would seem that the University did not think that the Committee is important or worthwhile. Nicole suggested that there be rules in the by-laws for what is expected of Committee members. Chin noted that the proportion of people entering the draw who have priority housing is very small (44 vs. ~1500), and therefore probably not enough to make a significant difference. Jeff thinks that the Committee should wait to see the recommendations of Housing before trying to reorganize the Committee. Olivia would appreciate having the information about possible reorganization of the Committee soon.

Meeting adjourned at 10:35 pm.