June 22, 2018

Marianopolis Student Union Congress

 2018-2019 Academic Year

1st Meeting

Agenda Items

 Call to Order

The Regular Weekly Marianopolis Student Union (MSU) Congress Meeting of June 22nd, 2018, was convened at 10AM by President David Cao.

Roll Call of Members

The MSU Congress Members who are present at this meeting are: David Cao, Meghan Couture, Thomas Braun, Mia Chen, Si Ming Lin

Guests presented by David Cao

The guests who are present at this meeting are: [n/a], and Trudy Sainte-Croix, the Student Services Representative.

Approval of last meeting’s Minutes (n/a)

Approval of the Agenda

The Agenda of this day’s meeting has been unanimously approved.

Unanimous

Unfinished Business and General Orders (n/a)

New Business

Self Introductions presented by Everyone

Trudy: Student Life Animator, Congress executive advisor, resource person, official liaison to Student Services

 Rundown presented by Meghan Couture & David Cao

How Congress Runs:

• Fall semester: Elections for Charities, Internal Affairs, External Affairs, Member at Large, Administrative Assistant

• New: Coordinator Student Advocacy has a sub-committee (can be invited to meetings)

Meetings:

• Usually on Fridays from 4:15-6:00PM

• Send schedules to Meghan
• Administrative assistant posts the Agenda on FB group (Google Doc) a few days prior – points can be added
  • Things can be discussed outside of meetings, but important points to be voted on

[Motions and decisions…………………………….]

MSU App presented by David Cao

Meghan and David will be working on it – in progress already

• Reasons: increase visibility, another tool to promote events and Congress, gateway to send what Congress is doing, platform for students to send in forms/complaints
• Progress: developer made good progress on iOS
• Planned deadline: August 10th – to launch at Orientation
• Main features: news feed and forms
  • Congress page – introduce members
  • Calendar page – visual
  • Forms – suggestions for activity, complaints
  • Suggestions: budget requests
  • News updates – linked website where Congress can update
• Developer: Chang Heng Mo (executive of Programming Club)
  • Costs: ~100$ for structural, 100$ for annual Apple Store fees, less than 1K for development

Party presented by Meghan Couture

Beginning of Semester Party

Concerns:

• Exclusive to second years or not (since first-years are minors)
• Lack of alcohol could be less inviting and hyped up
• Smaller impact than end-of-year party
• Budget – should be less than 4K

Suggestions:

• Exciting activity that could be inviting for both first-years and second-years (on or off-campus) to make it inclusive
• Not necessarily a party, more of an event
  • Free Food, iSaute

Parties: at least 2 during the year

Motion to vote to have an event over a party – unanimously passed

Student Cafe presented by David Cao

Meghan and David are working on it

Co-op structure where no one really owns the cafe – profits would be redistributed

Obstacles:

• Negotiations with catering service to not have a non-compete clause
• Suppliers for the food itself to be determined
• Hiring third-party or students to work in the cafe

Organization called COOPSCO that helps co-ops start

Costs: minimal

• To be a member: 50$

New cafeteria: catering service contract to be determined

Ideas: collaboration with clubs

Waiting for the clause to be able to get into COOPSCO

“Door needs to be open to walk through it” – David Cao 2018

Parking presented by Meghan Couture

To have parking around the school

• Confirm the interest to “rent” homeowners’ parking spaces – minimum of 25 people

Complications:

• Unpredictability of students (parking when they’re not supposed to)
• Liability of Congress if there are problems
• Costs

Suggestions:

• Discuss with students who had developed an App for parking
• Discuss how to ask and present the idea to the  homeowners in a way that is professional
• Door-to-door or sending letters – first send out letters

Go see Louise (responsible for parking on campus)

Motion to draft a letter – unanimously passed

Orientation Day presented by Meghan Couture

Have all members of Congress to be there and present themselves and what they do

• Promote Congress

Orientation 102 on August 14th

• In the Gym
• 4 sessions as opposed to 2
• F-105: important people and services
• Free bottles and T-shirts (probably in F-105)

Suggestions:

• Set up a Congress table in the F-105 (see Trudy)
• Meet-and-Greet with Congress
• Congress Booth
• Potential food: Bad Monkey Popcorn, candy bars
• Giveaway at the Booth to attract people
• Ask for volunteers to help out
• Photos and videos (by August 6th)
• Limited number of bags: “Show that you have the App and get a bag!”

Free water bottles

• Different design that doesn’t leak
• Price
• Make sure to know who the provider is
• Si Ming and Thomas will be in charge of getting samples

Motion to give out free water bottles at Orientation – unanimously passed

Varia

Welcome Back Day on both August 21st or 23rd (tentative, to be discussed with Neil)

Suggestion: separate days for Student Services and Congress

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn – Passed unanimously

This meeting was adjourned at 11:53AM

Total duration: 1 hour and 42 minutes