Board Meeting Minutes (Meeting 1)
Black Law Students Association
June 20th, 2009 at Spot Coffee, 6 p.m.
Board Members Present: Chenoa Maye, Kasia Mcdonald, Atinuke Awoyomi, Mitsie Smith, Jonathan Pollard, Jacqueline Mathurin Absent: Wesley Miller
Proceedings: Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm by the President, Chenoa Maye
President's Report (Chenoa): - Vision and expectations: Chenoa mentioned when correspondence is sent out, Board members must state their name, email and BLSA position in the email. She also stated members must maintain general integrity by responding to all emails, and maintaining communication. Chenoa also stated members may be required to step outside their roles. She mentioned keeping information and communication within the Board. Also, persons with cars may be required to help – Wes/Tinu/ Kasia to pick up a card at Wegmans and advise Chenoa who can do this.
- Separation of Powers: Chenoa stated members are required to go to the specific Board member responsible for a task/ role to ensure accountability and maintaining a status of all projects.
- BLSA Orientation: Suggestions included showing a 7 minute video of the history of BLSA, Speakers (Tasha Moore, Siana Mclean), possibility of someone from NBLSA coming to speak.
- Membership Guide: Chenoa discussed the possibility of creating a pamphlet/ on the website. She also stated Board members are to submit their schedules and contact information to the Secretary. Also members are to write bios and submit to the Secretary/ President by the end of the month.
- Membership Classification changes: Board members discussed and agreed on the following changes. To be an active member of BLSA members are required to 1) Attend 2 general body meetings, 2)Attend 2 BLSA activities per semester and 3) Participate in two community service events per semester.
- Clean up: Chenoa discussed the need to clean up the Office before the beginning of the semester and asked for volunteers.
- Mentor/ Mentee Program: The program is for 1Ls and transfer students. The Vice President suggested a Law Review mentor. Professor French was also suggested as a possible mentor. Chenoa and Jonathan are to provide further information on this program to the Board.
- Scholarships – Possibility of creating a scholarship as a form of incentives to BLSA members.
- Advisory Committee: Tentative list includes Dean Upshaw, Tasha Moore and Siana Mclean. Chenoa suggested Board members attend MBA meetings when possible to build relationships and for networking.
- Other Ideas:
Black Film Fest: Members suggested films like The Wiz, Mahogany, Lady Sings the Blues, Raisin in the Sun, and comedies. Market Arcade was suggested as the location.
Faculty/ Staff Brunch: Chenoa stated the purpose was to start/ maintain a relationship with the Faculty, she suggested the outside patio as the location. She also suggested sending something to Dean Saran which would go out to the Faculty and act as an invitation.
Health Fair: Chenoa discussed possibly forming a Health Committee, and Professor Yearby was suggested as a speaker.
Vice President's Report (Jonathan):
- Book Drive / Outline Bank: Jonathan suggested starting the Book Bank with Board members contributions. Jonathan also suggested all contributors could get books back, as we would keep track of the Contributors and Borrowers in an Excel Sheet. Jacqui will assist Jonathan with this initiative.
- Law Review Advice Program: Jonathan suggested getting a member of the Law Review Board to come speak at the BLSA meeting about how to get on Law Review, etc.
- Increased Involvement with other Graduate Organizations for Students of Color: Jonathan suggested fostering relationships with other graduate schools at UB.
Treasurer's Report: (Absent)
- Budget Overview
- Dues Update
- Haiti Fundraiser: Chenoa discussed a national mandate to raise a certain amount of money for Haiti. She suggested the Board could raise money by Café nights in the Fall and Spring.
Secretary's Report (Jacqui):
- Outline/ Book Bank: Jacqui will follow up with Jonathan on developing the program. Jacqui discussed possibly setting up requests via Listserve/ the website.
- NBLSA updates: To be added to NEBLSA group membership. Jacqui to ensure emails from NBLSA gets out to the general body.
- Jacqui to send an email to past members to find out if they would like to remain on the list serve. Jacqui will also be working with Mitsie to add BLSA to TWEN instead of using yahoo.
Community Outreach (Kasia): Goldilocks
NEBLSA Rep's Report (Tinu):
- Convention
- Other updates
WEBMASTER Report (Mitsie):
- Mitsie sent out two applications in May but hasn't received a response from UB IT re: registering the website and uploading on the server.
- She also contacted Ms. Lively (UB webmaster) about the application and the lack of response from UBIT.
- She will contact Candace & Henderson about pictures for the website. She'll also see what I can do about a listserv as well.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30pm