Meetings

1/27/06
AGSO Update:
Meeting Times: I’d like to thank everyone who showed up for the first meeting of the semester. It was very well attended. Future meetings will be held in the Wednesday 12:30-1:30 time slot as there doesn’t appear to be any classes at that time and I’ve heard from many that they would prefer meetings to be in the middle of the week. In the future I’ll try to schedule meetings with more notice than I have in the past.
AGSO Student Research Symposium: March 24th. The call for abstract submissions will go out this week. More info then. Is there any interest in having a poster session as well? Get back to me on that. There’s the possibility of running it concurrently with the symposium or making it a regular 1st semester event every year.
NEAA’s: May 5-7th. Kris Primeau is running the show on our end. I encourage everyone who is so inclined to volunteer for the NEAA’s to contact her so she can start a list of people to draw on. Our main responsibility is a luncheon for grads and undergrads sometime during the meetings. Kris knows more so I’ll stop blathering about this.
1st Year Packet: Jason has added a good deal of info to the 1st year packet we’ve been creating for incoming students. At this point if you have any ideas for additional material or info get/write up the actual and send it along to Jason complete and ready to be included.
AGSO Speaker Series: It’s not really a series; we just call it that to sound cooler. The AGSO is helping to bring in a speaker, Alan Simmons (UNLV), probably sometime in March. More info as it becomes available.
Photo Board: Ama is going to be taking new photos for the board. If you are already there and wish to keep your present photo let her know. Photos and accompanying blurbs need to be kept pretty small so we can get as many current students up there as possible. The AGSO will be paying to have new photos printed out.
T-shirts: We’re certainly going to run Tim’s idea but it wouldn’t hurt to have a couple other patterns to display at the NEAAs as a fund raiser.
Movie Series: Edgar will send out a list of movies brainstormed at a meeting past. Get back to him about which movies you would most prefer screened and the top 2 will get aired.
AGSO’s RGSO’s Website at the GSO: Elena is looking for a brief write up of some AGSO events and pictures of intrepid young anthropologists about campus. If anyone has any pictures from a recent AGSO event could you send them to her with a brief description of what was going on. If no one has anything then someone is going to have to remember to bring a digital camera to the speaker series and symposium.
Relay for Life: March 25-26th. Jess is going to set up an AGSO team. Volunteer. We all know you’ve got some karma to work off. That’s it for now. It’s going to be a busy semester.
-Steve

Just an update to let everyone know where we are going into the end of the semester: AGSO Student Research Symposium: Friday, March 10th, 3 or 4pm The AGSO Student Research Symposium is an opportunity every year for graduate students in the anthropology department to present their work in a conference format but informal atmosphere. Presentations are 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions, and can be on any topic. In the past they have been used to present interesting papers prepared for class, dry runs for papers presented at major conferences, and a way of showing other students and faculty what research the student body is doing. Also there's free food. A deadline for abstracts hasn't been set yet, and won't be until we get back, but will probably be in the middle of February. If you're thinking about it now, abstracts should be no more than 150 words, can be submitted to me, and should include a separate note that details what sort of tech you'll be needing (slide projector, computer for power point, etc....) If you want to see what kind of presentations we had last year there are programs in the file cabinet marked AGSO in the mail room. AGSO Speaker Series: No Date Yet The AGSO is going to be bringing in Dr. Alan H. Simmons of UNLV next semester for a special lecture. Learn more here: http://anthro-ets.unlv.edu/simmons.html More details as they're available. NEAAs: May 5-7 The Northeast Anthropology Association meetings are going to be held in Albany this May and are being run by Sean Rafferty. The meetings aren't for anthropology of the northeast as much as they are for anthropologists in the northeast, so all are welcome. If you wish to present at the meeting you'll need to be a member of the NEAA (it costs like 10$). If you want to help organize/run the event, drop Sean an email (rafferty@albany.edu). There isn't much to do right now, but he'd like to have a group of people he can call on when there is. T-Shirts: When we get back from break we're going to try to come up with some new T-shirts. We probably don't need to settle on only one, but have a couple for folks to choose from. You can send any ideas my way or bring them to the next meeting. Holiday Party: There's going to be a department holiday party at Jason and Justin's on Saturday, December 17th. They'll send you more details. That's about it for now. If I think of anything else I'll send it along. Good luck during finals week and have a great break. -Steve

Fri. Sept. 30 @ 3pm
Agenda (tentative, and in no particular order):

I: Go over the funding package -We were funded for everything, including almost a 1,000$ to bring a speaker in, should we so desire

II: AGSO Symposium Dates -Let's start scouting dates now so at the last second we don't find out its the same weekend as the Mayan Forensic Anthropomorphology and Ethnomycology meetings in Branson.

III: Film Series -Looking for someone to take command of this. This year with pizza money.

IV: Adding bells and whistles to the first year info packet. -Let's see if any current first years have anything they want to add (i.e. maps, important numbers, directions to the bar, etc...) as well as make sure next year's batch actually gets it.

V: Workshops. -We're funded for two workshops, one on grant writing, and one on anything our little hearts may desire. We'll need possible topics and organizers.

VI: T-Shirts. -For starters, we have T-shirts. Now do we want to change the design?

VII: GSO duties. -To maintain our funding we need to do a couple of things for the GSO. Someone from the AGSO has to sit on a GSO committee, and someone in the AGSO has to attend a Multicultural and Affirmative Action (MCAA) event each semester. Would someone in the Anthropology Department, please do something multicultural.

Minutes
Hey all. There's a fair bit to report here so I'm going to be brief. If you hanker for a little more elaboration on any of these points, or something I right neglected to include here, email me or give me a call at (315) 868-3996. Here's how it is:
1) NEXT MEETING: There's already been a request to change the meeting time from Friday to sometime midweek. Haven't come up with a good time yet, don't think I will either, but we're going to try anyway. The next meeting will be at the end of the month and I'll let everyone know as far ahead of time as I can.
2) AGSO STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: No need to start thinking about paper topics yet but start thinking about the date. MARCH 10, 2006. That's our starter date. If it conflicts with anything (meetings, holidays, etc....not your 2nd cousin's wedding in Morocco) let me know ASAP. I want to get this scheduled as fast as possible so we don't have to change dates at the last minute.
3) THE PHOTO BOARD: The photo board is being updated. Pictures and Blurbs are, by necessity, going to be small. Keep your blurb down to name and areas of interest (no dissertation abstracts) and your picture down to wallet-sized. The faculty would like the pictures to be of our faces to help identify us, but I say they can introduce themselves like anyone else. These aren't passports or mugshots. Ama (al859699@albany.edu) has graciously offered to use her digital camera and her time to take and print photos for the board. If you want your photo taken please let her know soon. Alternatively, if you have a photo you want to use for the board, also contact her soon. Larger pictures and longer blurbs could probably make it onto the student website (http://www.albany.edu/anthro/graduate/gradstuddetails.htm) if you ask Chris (cl1288@albany.edu) nice.
4)FILM SERIES: As you no doubt have read, Edgar (VucubCaqix@aol.com) is in charge of the Film Series this year. There'll be popcorn and such and it'll be a rip-roaring time. The first movie date (of 3) is targeted for around Halloween. If you have any ideas for movie to be shown in the series send them to Edgar, and he'll bring them to the next AGSO meeting so we can vote on titles.
5)LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD VOLUNTEERS: The AGSO is apparently not done looking for some people to fill important roles in retaining our funding/union representation. To start, we need someone to fill the role of GSEU Rep. I don't know what this person does, but I suspect all it means is attending the occasional meeting and eating the free pizza therein. If you care to help out in this fashion, email me and I'll get you in contact with the right people (The GSEU isn't an AGSO thing, its for Graduate employees and you don't have to be an active AGSO member to volunteer for this. The AGSO and the GSEU Rep don't necessarily have anything to do with each other, but you'll have to pardon me for avoiding the extra level of bureaucracy by advertising for a volunteer in this manner) Second, we need someone to serve on a/any GSO Committee this semester. They're filling up quickly, so if you're interested, contact me or Elena (es7714@albany.edu). Thanks for your help ahead of time.
6) FIRST YEAR FLIER: As most of you know, last year we (Liz) put together a bit of need to know information for incoming students. I don't know that any of them received it prior to coming here, but that's a matter we can solve later. For the time being, Jason (jp544572@albany.edu) will be in charge of improving it. If you think anything should be added let him know.
7) HELGA'S RETIREMENT: Helga is retiring in January, likely plunging our department into the dark ages. The Department is attempting to hire a new Administrative Aide soon so Helga can train him/her prior to her retirement though, so hopefully that will smooth the transition. Starting closer to the end of the semester we should start pooling some money together to get Helga a gift. Like a Ferrari. Seriously, if you've been here for more than 3 days you owe Helga big-time. If you have any gift ideas send them my way, and we'll figure things out at the end of the semester.
8) LINDA: A while back the faculty asked us for feedback regarding Linda as departmental secretary. News from the last faculty meeting is that she's staying. 9) NEAA's: That's Northeast Anthropological Association Meetings. They're coming here from May 5-7. The NEAA's are a small meeting and its not just anthropology in the Northeast, its anthropologists in the northeast, so all you meso folks don't need be left out. I've got a couple old sets of abstracts I'll leave in the mail room if I can find them and remember that I said this. Anyway, Sean's (rafferty@albany.edu) in charge of the setup and organization and he's asked for our help. This is more of a heads up than a request for help. The real nuts and bolts of the event won't get planned for some time yet. Volunteering to help with the NEAA's can get your registration/speaking fees waived. And Sean will give you 5$. Totally.
And that's it. I know. It seems like a lot, but you should have been to the meeting. Please read this and consider the points though, I'd be much obliged. This is a lot of work for a few but it ain't so much for the many so step up. Thanks, That's right, I said brief. -steve

Tues., Sept. 6 @ 10:15am
Next AGSO meeting will be this Tuesday at 10:15 AM in the Grad Student Mailroom. Again, sorry for the short notice, but we need to take care of some important business before Friday, or we won't have an AGSO.

Agenda items:

• Nomination & election of E-Board (officers) (1st 7 must be elected, last 3 are optional)
  • positions open are
    1. president,
    2. vice president,
    3. secretary,
    4. treasurer,
    5. webmaster,
    6. representative to the GSO (must attend first meeting on Friday, Sept. 9.),
    7. alternate GSO rep (one of these two must attend certain # of meetings or we lose funding),
    8. liaison to the Graduate Affairs Committee, &
    9. liaison to faculty.
    10. It has also been suggested that we elect a liaison to 1st year students.
• Determine events & budget for upcoming year & fill out paperwork to request funding. Paperwork due Sept. 12.

It is of course important to have as many anthro grad students as possible involved in the AGSO. The AGSO is responsible for orchestrating the receptions for speakers & anthro job candidates & the symposium, as well as whatever other activities are planned in any given year. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED & GET TO KNOW THE OTHER STUDENTS & FACULTY. Please do not be shy b/c you are new. We need blood to sustain the AGSO, & you need to learn the ropes--the best way to do that is by taking them in your teeth.

Minutes:

Thurs., Sept. 1 @ 4pm

Sorry for those of you in Dr. Burrell's course that meets at that time. We chose a time impromptu to resolve the GSO funding issue. If you can't attend but would like to submit an issue or advocate for or against a particular time, please email cl1288@albany.edu.

Agenda Items

• Choose GSO rep
• Determine when & where to have future meetings
• Plan election for 2005-06 officers
• GSO funding
• Cleaning up the Grad Student Mailroom
• Determine future agenda items that we need to begin thinking about

Minutes

met grad student mailroom 4-4:35. in attendance: fernando, justin, tim, elena, ama, jason, steve, chris, david, ann, liz, edgar. elena (GSO VP) gave us paperwork & explained what we needed to do to get gso $. need a rep to attend friday meeting, paperwork in by 12th. need to determine budget & events for next year & have e-board elected. need to contact andy re last year & recall all previous events. need to set meeting to elect e-board & fill out paperwork before friday. tuesday, 10:15. volunteers to be nominated for positions: fernando, justin, tim, elena for GAC liaison, chris for webmaster, courtney volunteered to be involved in absentia, nadia volunteered to be involved in absentia. desire to clean/redecorate mailroom. ama volunteered (& erin in absentia). ideas for movie series. tabled till tuesday. contact liz paris to be added to dept listserv. contact megan to be added to anthrogradstudent listserv. contact chris to have grad student info updated/added to website. liz flyering for next meeting. chris posting to web & listserv.