GSO Meeting Minutes: 2006-2007

GSO Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at noon in room 240 Plant Biology Laboratory. Everyone is encouraged to attend and give their input on some important issues. The minutes of the meetings will be sent out to the graduate students after the meetings and will be posted here as well.

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*Members present:*
Jason Martina, Molly Conlin, Malia Dong, Sara Kelzer, Jackson Gehan, Anne Royer, Raffica La Rosa, Jameel Al-Haddad, Christina Shyu, Abbie Schrotenboer, Jeff Evans, Bonnie St. John, Jarrod Morrice, Orlando Alvarez, and Mike Grillo

*Committee Reports*
Graduate Employees Union (Anne Royer): There was a membership meeting held last Wednesday, which was a success.  Also it is important for TA's to confirm that they are being paid at the correct pay scale because some TA's have not been moved to the next level if they now have their Master's degree or they have taught for multiple semesters.  Vision insurance will be available to apply for during April (check the GEU website).  Elections will be held and Layla (student in Dept. of Zoology) is running for president.

COGS (Jarrod Morrice): Thursday, April 19th COGS will be attending the Lansing Lugnuts game ($5).  Go Nuts!

*Announcements*
There was an i-pod stolen from the graduate lounge.  Please make sure the door to the lounge in always locked when you leave and do not leave items unattended.

Orlando has finished the Paul Taylor thank you.  It is in the grad lounge for people to sign.

Dr. Richard Allison requested permission for his undergraduates to have lunch in the graduate lounge.  We approved this request and decided to leave a key in the office or with the Allison Lab.

*PLB GSO Election Nominations*
Elections will be held at the beginning of next semester, but we have opened the floor for nominations.  Please send nominations to Sara.  Nominations thus far:

President: Mike Grillo (?)
Treasurer: Abbie Schrotenboer
T-shirt committee: Raffica La Rosa
GEU Steward: Jameel Al-Haddad
Retreat Committee: Anne Royer

It was proposed that we amend our by-laws to open committee and office positions to people who have not previously served in that position.  Malia proposed that we add a new committee: Social Chair.  It was also discussed that next year PLB should have a fundraising potluck similar to the Entomology Dept's "Crock-pot Cook-off."

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3/14/07

*Members present:*
Jason Martina, Molly Conlin, Sara Kelzer, Jackson Gehan, Anne Royer, Raffica Larosa, Jameel Al-Haddad, Orlando Alvarez, Grant Goddard, Jason Kilgore, Mike Grillo

*Committee Reports*
Graduate Employees Union (Anne Royer): There is an email survey that is being sent out for TAs, please participate (you may win a black i-pod video!).  Also, there may be a new rule that RAs will not reach work level III if they have not passed their comps.

DAC (Jason Kilgore): The ranking for the Wetland Biologist search will occur this week.  IT services for PLB will merge 11 servers into 1.  Renovations for Dr. Murphy's and Dr. Ewers' lab will occur in 2007 and 2008.  Dr. Weber is seeking adjunct faculty status with PLB.

Faculty Meeting (Sara Kelzer):  Andy Jarosz has been named the assistant chair for PLB.  PLB is now looking for a new graduate student director.

*News*
Jameel is now in charge of buying sodas to sell in the PLB grad lounge.  Thanks Jameel!

Orlando suggested that we thank Paul Taylor for his support of PLB grad students.  Orlando offered to replicate one of his t-shirt designs that we can all sign and send to Paul Taylor.

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2/7/07

*Members present:
*Jason Martina, Molly Conlin, Malia Dong, Jay Sobel, Sara Kelzer, Jackson Gehan, Anne Royer, Raffica Larosa, Jameel Al-Haddad, Orlando Alvarez, Christine Shyu, Grant Goddard

*New Year's Party/Potluck Recap*
The PLB GSO New Year's potluck was a success and we thank Grant and Raffica for organizing the event and Malia for providing the main course.  We plan to have another potluck-type social next year.

*Committee Reports*
Applications and Admissions (Janet Paper):  The committee is in need of graduate students to take applicants to lunch and/or dinner on February 16th and 23rd.  Please let her know if you are available.  The schedule for the recruiting weekends is below, it would be great to see PLB grad students at all or some of these events:

Friday, February 16th and 23rd
1.      Noon:  Lunch with the prospective students
2.      3:00:  Coffee break with prospective students (Feb 16th only, coffee provided, PLB GS lounge)
3.      5:30:  Happy Hour / Reception: Harper's in downtown East Lansing (drinks and appetizers)
4.      Dinner with students 

Saturday, February 17th and 24th
1.      Noon: Lunch and campus tour
2.      Potluck:  Janet Paper's house (17th) and Jameel Al-Haddad's house (24th)
(Please bring a dish to share)

DAC (Jay Sobel for Jason Kilgore): The Systems Biologist search committee has decided to hire two candidates.  The department is starting a new evaluation process to document progress the department has made from year-to-year.  Dr. Triemer finished negotiations with CNS and it was decided that both Dr. Ewers' and Dr. Murphy's positions will be filled within PLB department.  We will re-hire a Functional Ecologist and Plant Ecologist in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Faculty Meeting (Sara Kelzer):  The faculty did not meet last month.  The American Society of Plant Biology meeting will be in East Lansing on March 24th.  There may be funds from the department for graduate students to attend this meeting.

Graduate Employees Union (Raffica Larosa for Anne Rpyer): There will be a membership / bowling meeting on February 22nd at 9pm at Marvelanes (shoes, lanes, food, drinks = FREE).  The GEU is looking for volunteers to be on the bargaining committee, contact Anne if you are interested.

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1/10/07

*Members present:
*Jason Martina, Molly Conlin, Malia Dong, Jay Sobel, Sara Kelzer, Jackson Gehan, Jason Kilgore, Orlando Alvarez, Jameel, Christine, Abbie Schrotenboer

*T-Shirts For Sale*
New Plant Biology T-shirts are being sold for $10. Previous years t-shirts are also on sale for $5. Contact Emily Grman if you are interested.

*Committee Reports*
DAC (Jason Kilgore)- Jason sent out an email a few days ago concerning the management of sensitive data. Teaching assistants need to know that the university does not allow the posting of any personal information (including grades) for students. Contact Jason Kilgore for more information.

*PLB GSO New Meeting Time
*Due to a class conflict, the PLB GSO meetings will now start at 12:00 instead of 12:30. They will still be held on the first Wednesday of the month, but the time has been moved up.

*PLB New Year's Party 2007*
The PLB graduate students are organizing a party for everyone in the department on either January 22nd or January 29th from 5-7 pm. Malia has volunteered to organize the main dish, which will be pot stickers. All graduate students are asked to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. Jameel volunteered to open the door before it is locked at 5:00. Orlando will bring salsa music and teach some impromptu dance moves. Contact organizers Grant Godden and Raffica Larosa for more details or ideas.

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12/6/06

*Graduate Employees Union (GEU) Representatives*
Two representatives from the GEU attended our meeting to learn about issues that PLB grad students have pertaining to teaching assistantships. Following is a list of some of the issues discussed:
- Parking
- Insurance- if you are interested in signing up for dental or eye insurance, contact the GEU
- ANGEL- there will be a meeting with the administration on December 19th
- Yearly amount of credits- currently, TA's get 9 credits per semester paid for, the GEU is interested in changing this to a year-long average
- TA Obligations- is there a contract that is discussed at the beginning of the semester?
- Students with fellowships who are required to teach- do they get paid?

It is important to discuss problems/concerns that you may have with the GEU. You can email them, stop by their office, attend the membership meetings, or talk to Anne Royer, PLB GEU steward.

*PhDcomic.com*
The GEU is bringing in a comedian for graduate students on January 31st.

*PLB Party*
We decided to have a party on either the 3rd or 4th week of January. Malia Dong is in charge of the food and Raffica LaRosa and Grant Godden are in charge of the planning.

*Committee Reports*
Dean's Student Advisory Council (Janet Paper)- The dean retired and there is a search committee that will hold interviews in February – April.

Applications and Admissions (Janet Paper)- Plant Science recruiting weekends are being organized. Janet will need help with this.

Faculty Meeting (Sara Kelzer)- There is a Systems Biologist search that is coming to an end.

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11/1/06

*Members present:
*Mike Grillo, Molly Conlin, Bonnie St. John, Malia Dong, Sara Kelzer, Jason Kilgore, Anne Royer, Raffica LaRosa, Orlando Alvarez, Jameel Al-Haddad, Kim, Christine Shyu, and Jarrod Morrice.

*Student Selected Speaker- Dr. John Willis
*The PLB student-selected speaker will be on campus November 6th and 7th. It is important the graduate students meet with him to discuss research and the plant biology program. Dr. Schemske will have a reception for Dr. Willis Monday evening after the seminar at his home. If you are interested in a ride to the reception contact Anne or Mike.

*T-Shirt Design Competition
*Emily has posted four t-shirt designs on-line. Don't forget to vote for your favorite design before Tuesday, November 7.

*Committee Reports*
DAC (Jason Kilgore): There was overwhelming support for Dr. Triemer's reappointment as PLB chair. Holly has begun her position in the clerical office. PLB is beginning the search to fill a wetland ecologist position (joint with FW) and a systems biology position (Andreas Weber is the chair). The department is also facing some teaching challenges and is considering hiring a non-tenure track employee to fulfill these challenges.

GEU (Anne Royer): There was a GEU membership meeting last week. Next year is a bargaining year for the union, so the GEU is interested in doing a "listening tour" throughout the departments on campus. Next meeting there may be a few representatives from GEU at the GSO meeting to hear what our priorities are. There is also a dental program for graduate students (see GEU website for details).

COGS (Jarrod Morrice): COGS minutes were emailed out to all PLB graduate students. If you are interested in the MSU Union Activities Board or the United Way- talk to Jarrod- he sits on these committees.

*Plant Biology Retreat Feedback
*Remember to e-mail Jill feedback on the retreat: what you liked, disliked, improvements, etc.
Highlighted Research: Anne Royer (Conner Lab) Special thanks to Anne Royer for outlining her evolutionary ecology research.

*Next Month*
PLB GSO will meet next month, Wednesday, December 6th at 12:30. A GEU representative will be present to hear feedback on what the union can do for graduate students. Pizza will be served (please bring $3).

*Don't forget to pay Sara $4 for pizza- Orlando and Jameel

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10/4/06

*Members present:*

**Jason Martina, Molly Conlin, Mike Grillo, Malia Dong, Jay Sobel, Sara Kelzer, Jarrod Morrice, Ailing Zhou, Jackson Gehan, Jason Kilgore, Anne Royer, Raffica

*PLB Fall Retreat*

**October 20-21 @ KBS. There will be a bus heading out to KBS on Friday at 2 pm. Students interested in attending and those interested in presenting a poster of their research should contact Jill Richey (jrichey@msu.edu). PLB T-shirts from past years will be sold at the retreat for $5 (Raffica volunteered to organize this).

*T-Shirt Design Competition*

**Emily and Raffica are accepting designs for the new PLB t-shirts until October 20. Everyone is encouraged to submit a design (even non-PLB people).

*Committee Reports*

DAC (Jason Kilgore): Dr. Triemer's review for reappointment is currently taking place. This review will be submitted to the Dean's office later this month.

Faculty Meeting (Sara Kelzer): The conference room across from the PLB office is being converted into secretarial office space for Jan and Jill. There is going to be a search for two new PLB professors upon leave of Drs. Weber and Ewers.

*PLB GSO Activities*

Currently the GSO is a clearing house for committee reports and a chance for graduate students to interact. In the past the GSO has had fundraisers and service events. We discussed the importance of maintaining this and suggestions were made for PLB GSO future activities:

1. Bring in people from other universities to give talks / discuss research
2. Bowling
3. Baker Woodlot Plant ID Hike
4. Make the PLB GSO meetings a place to discuss research ideas / practice talks

*Fenner** Nature Center** Service Project*

The first Saturday of every month PLB graduate students meet at Fenner Nature Center to volunteer (maintain paths, invasive weed control). Contact Abbie (gosseli9@msu.edu) for more details.

*Next Month*

PLB GSO will meet next month, Wednesday, November 1st at 12:30. Anne Royer, a new graduate student in Jeff Connor's lab, will discuss her research ideas. Please come to listen and provide input. Pizza will be served (please bring $4).

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08/30/06

*Elections and appointments were made for the various offices and committees. Thank you to everyone who volunteered.*

*Dates to remember:*

Plant Biology Fall Picnic- Thursday, September 7 (5 pm) @ Patriarche Park. Burgers / Hotdogs / Drinks are provided; please bring a dish to share. Thanks to those who volunteered to help (Peter, Jay, Jason, Orlando, Mike, Molly). Plant Biology T-shirts will be sold at the picnic -- don't forget your $.

Fall Retreat- October 15th @ KBS

Also, please feel free to use the graduate student lounge (PBL 240) at any time whether to eat lunch or for meetings. Keys may be obtained from Jan in the main office.

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2003-2004 Minutes

2004-2005 Minutes