AGSA Minutes - January 9, 2009

1. Attendance:
   Amber Kling, Patrick Fazzioli, Mike Rienti, Amy Jones, Kate Whalen, Darren Poltorak, Jennifer Odien, Mia Jorgenson, Ray Whitlow, Ben Kamphaus, Katie Neilson.

2. Spring Speaker Series- There will be three guest speakers throughout the spring semester, one from each sub-discipline of physical, cultural, and archaeology. No dates have been set. The club has received a programming grant and will be co-sponsoring with the undergraduate anthropology club and perhaps Classics.

   Voted to encumber $400.00 towards the Spring Speaker Series- Unanimous
   Physical- Meredith Small, Cornell University
   Cultural- John Omohundro, SUNY Potsdam
   Archaeology- George Cowgill, University of Arizona (tentative)
   

3. Volunteer Work- There is a non for profit opportunity available that can earn $250 for the club. In order to receive the money the club must send at least five people for a minimum of 50 hours. The organization is Hope Refugee Services, part of Jericho Road Ministries, Inc. and is located on Breckenridge St. in Buffalo. All work with the refugees will be supervised. The club is looking at volunteering Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

4. Computer Lab- The new computers are up and running. All are online and Ben is working on getting them to print. Currently one new computer and the old computer by the door are printing. Amber mentioned cleaning up the lab to provide study spaces and possibly putting in a bookshelf for storage. The club must provide a plaque for the sub-board in the lab since they paid for it.

   Encumbered $30.00 to purchase a plaque- Unanimous

5. Buffalo Museum- Kate is looking into getting the club a behind the scenes look at some of the collections at the museum, possibly in February. This will also be open to the undergraduate anthropology club.

6. Toronto- The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is featuring an exhibit "Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine" until March 22, 2009 and the Dead Sea Scrolls will be there in June. The club is thinking of taking a trip to the museum. It is free to students after 4:00 PM on Tuesdays and half price on Fridays after 4:30 PM.

7. Best of Buffalo- Kate will be heading an informal committee to revise the Anthropology Department's Best of Buffalo packet since many of the locations in it are now closed. Look for polls on the white board in the grad lounge and query emails.

8. GSEU- Spring 2009 meetings will be held on 1/29, 2/26, and 3/26 at the GSEU office suite in 200 A Commons. Lunch and Beverages will be provided. Mia has a petition for TAs and GAs concerning their contract and the letters written last semester will be delivered to President Simpson soon.

9. GSA- No meeting since last month.

10. Faculty Committee- Minutes from the last meeting will be obtained.

11. IEMA- There will be a lecture by Jennifer Cole on 1/23 followed by a wine reception in the Totem Pole Room.

12. Coffee Hours- Coffee hours will start again in late January or early February. The club is hoping to have 4 to 5 over the course of the semester.

13. Our previous secretary Katie Neilson can no longer perform the duties of AGSA Secretary. In a special election held during the meeting Mike Rienti was elected by popular vote.

Repectfully submitted,

Mike Rienti
AGSA Secretary