The
Biology
Graduate Student Organization
at USF
BGSO meeting minutes
Biology Graduate Student Organization
September 9th, 2005
Minutes
Call To Order: 12:05pm
* Food was great!!
Welcome: Attendees:
*Susan Hilber, Kyle Mara, Dan Huber, Neal Halstead, Nick Curtis, Laura
Bedinger, Lisa Whitenack, Gabe Herrick, Celina Bellanceau, Stacy Villanueva,
Heather Jezorek, Robbin Capers, James McMahon, Kerry Bohl, J.P. Swigart,
Allan Franck, David Karlen, Sofia Hussain, Brian Badgley, Katie Basiotis,
Lance Arvidson, Samantha Mulvany, Teresa Piacenza, Sarah Smiley
Announcements:
1. Introduction of Officers:
Lance Arvidson , President;
Samantha Mulvany, Vice President;
Teresa Piacenza, Secretary;
Sarah Smiley, Treasurer.
2. Darwin information- contact Lance.
3. How to become a member of BGSO
a) Attend 2 functions and/or meetings per semester
4. Graduate Students lounge SCA310
a) Email Betty Loramm
5. Office Supplies are in the grey cabinet straight in the bio office
and there are some supplies in SCA 310 lounge.
Updates and Old Business:
1. Katie’s PPP of last year’s BGSO events- We had some computer
difficulties. Presented at end of meeting with visual aids. Would like
to put these pics on BGSO website.
2. Green Marshall Center Update – USF is in the process of designing
a new Marshall Center and Special Event Center. Several students are
petitioning to ensure that both the Marshall and Special Event Center
will be rebuilt or remodeled using “green” methods that meet
the standards of a LEED building. For more information on “green” methods
and LEED please contact Laura Bedinger.
3. BGSO volunteers needed for the following:
a) GPSC (Graduate and Professional Student Council) representative. Meetings
are on Wednesdays from 3-5pm. Anyone interested?
b) Safety Committee- Anyone interested?
Biology Department/ Faculty Committees
* Brown Bag – Tatiana Cornelissen
* GAU (Graduate Assistant Union) J.P. Swigart
*Seminar – Sarah Smiley,
* Seminar reception clean up crew- All students enrolled in seminar.
Please sign up for a date to help clean up after reception. Sign up sheet
to come soon…
* Graduate Administration and Policy – Lance is looking into this.
* Awards and Credentialing – Brian Halstead was on this committee
last semester. Lance is looking into whether Brian would like to continue
or not.
* Honors – Ali Meyers
* Curriculum – Susie Hilber
* Library – Mary Harmon. Need to confirm that Mary would like to
continue this position.
* Faculty Search (by subject) – Gabe Herrick
* Eco Area Steering – Neal Halstead
* Social – Neal Halstead and Teresa Piacenza
4. Budget Talk:
* Contact Sarah Smiley
* Welcome Back BBQ: $260.00
* Brown Bag: $297.50
* BGSO meetings: $ 297.50
*End of year party: $260.00
* Travel funds: $932.50 This money is reserved for students who are not
presenting at but who would like to attend a conference.
*Fundraiser startup (BGSO earned) $97.00 This money will be used to fund
T-shirt, bumper-sticker, and Nalgene bottle printing, and wine bottling!
*Questions/ Comments
Upcoming events:
1. Meeting Schedule (SCA 202 at noon)
* 2nd meeting - Oct. 7th
* 3rd meeting – Nov. 4th
*4th meeting – Dec. 2nd
2. Brown Bag presentations and dates
* Dates coming soon.
3. Tailgate Parties Neal Halstead
a) Sept. 10th – Florida A&M
* BGSO joins GPSC! Neal has given details. Free food and beer for donations!
b) Sept. 17th – UCF (beer and possibly food funded)
4. Tampa Baywatch is hosting The Pinellas Costal Cleanup at Fort de Soto
Park on Saturday, October 15th. Meet at the Bay Pier, shelter #12 at
9 am. Students may want to meet in the SCA parking lot and carpool/caravan
together.
5. Skipper’s 25th anniversary!! Saturday September 24th. No cover from 12pm-12am! Please come and help our favorite local bar celebrate!!
6. Komen Race for the Cure in St. Pete Oct. 1st
a) Captain Lisa Whitenack
b) Team= USF Biology
c) Must Sign Up by September 12th or fees go up
d) Link to signup
7. Fundraising! Need artistic design submissions to be voted on by next
meeting! Send ideas to Teresa.
a) T-shirts
b) USF Nalgene bottles
c) Bumper stickers
d) Wine/beer bottling! ?
8. Intramurals
a) Volleyball
*Captain: Lance Arvidson
* Entries due Oct. 24th, starts Oct. 31st
b) Soccer
*Contact Susan Hilber, Sarah Smiley, or Robin
* Entries due Feb. 27th, starts March 6th
c) Ultimate Frisbee? Anyone interested?
* Entries due Jan. 24th, starts Jan. 29th
d) Riverfront ropes course
* Anyone interested?
* Groups of 7-50
* High and low courses
*½ day program
* $10 per person, $2 extra for zip line
9. Events down the road…need dates
a) Katrina Help- Contact Dave Karlen
b) Eco area clean up/Earth Day- Contact Neal Halstead and Teresa Piacenza
c) Riverhills Park cleanup- Date to come.
d) Paint your heart out- Date to come.
e) Habitat for Humanity- Participants must complete a safety training.
Contact Dave Karlen if interested.
f) Day trips to beach, aquarium, zoo…
g) Kelly Browning has just opened a new charter school, Carl Sagan Academy,
for 6th and 7th grades in Hillsborough County. Contact Celina Bellanceau
if you are interested in volunteering at Carl Sagan Academy to talk to
young people about Biology!!
10. Website info/updates!! Sofia has updated our BGSO website! Please
contact Sofia for any questions or suggestions.
a. Questions/ Comments ?
Adjournment: Next Meeting October 7th 12:00pm in SCA202