February ED Update
Executive Director Update
February 2008
General
First, I'd like to welcome everyone back from winter break. I'm really excited about all of the campaigns and events coming up in the next few months - this semester is going to be packed with both work and fun. Remember to help out recruit to our events and our days/weeks of action, etc. With all of your involvement as students, we have a great opportunity this semester to really affect change and make positive steps forward for access and affordability in higher education!
Staff
In January, the search and screen was able to hire a new Gender and Women's Issues Director, Amanda Evenstone. She is a graduate from UW Madison and was involved in the SGA finance committee, the campus women's center, and many other student organizations. I'm very excited to introduce you all, but unfortunately she will not be here at the General Assembly due to prior obligations. For those of you who are attending the Intersecting Allies Training, however, you will have the opportunity to meet you then! She's already been on campus visits to Stevens Point and Oshkosh, and will be heading to Marshfield and Marathon within the month.
Also, as most of you may be aware; our University Affairs Director Ian Welsh has submitted his letter of resignation and will be moving on from United Council at the end of February. UC will definitely miss his contributions to the organization and the student movement in Wisconsin, so make sure to say good-bye! There will be a search and screen elected at the GA this weekend to find Ian's replacement - the timeline will be discussed by the board.
Budget (internal)
Rebecca and I have been working on the next United Council Budget and will be discussing priorities for the budget at Executive Affairs committee of the GA.
Board
I've been working with Jeff, Josh, and others to get the agenda and materials ready for both the board meeting this weekend and the budget board meeting in March. I've gone through and made the changes to the Board of Directors Bylaws as they had instructed me to in December, and updated the GA and Corporate Bylaws that had been voted upon in December as well. The board will be voting in a new Secretary as Molly Smith has resigned her position. Also we will be going over the new election process to be taking place in April at the GA at Steven's Point.
Buddy Visits
By the end of February, I will have visited thirteen member campuses (Stout, La Crosse, Richland, Marshfield, Barron, Fox Valley, Marinette, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Madison, Washington County, Parkside, and Rock County). Through referenda, events, and other means, I hope to visit a handful more campuses by the end of the semester. Hopefully I'll work it out so that I will be able to visit when those campus' buddies are making trips there. If there is anything specific that you'd like us to visit for, remember to let us know and we'll try our best to work it out. Also, for those of you that have referenda this semester - please let me know the dates of the referendum as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly.
Alumni
Rebecca put out a winter newsletter to the alumni list right before we left for winter break and it is also posted on the website if you'd like to take a look. UC also had an Alumni Happy Hour in mid January and were able to meet a group of folks who use to work for UC.
USSA/SSA
We will be sending a delegation to USSA's Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. the dates are March 13-18. If you are interested in being a part of the delegation, please come see me. We will have applications at the registration desk at the GA
Schedule/Events
QPOC Summit and Intersecting Allies Training: February 29th - March 1st @ UW Madison
USSA's LegCon - March 13-18
Building Unity Conference: April 11th- 13th @ UW Madison
April Elections & General Assembly: April 25th - 26th @ UW Stevens Point