GSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

March 2^nd 2000

PRESENCE

Directors present:

Alex Backer, Magali Billen, Marco Casari. Catherine Cornu, Serena Guarnaschelii, Ying Huang, Oleg Kovrijkine, Fok-Yan Leung, Piet Moeleker, Sergey Pekarsky, Steven Pracko, Cindy Quezada, Sandeep Sane, Claude Seywert

Directors absent:

Ioannis Chasiotis, Bob Gingrich, James Harrington, Anil Hirani, Athanasios Nenes, Adam Rasheed, Georgios Zamanakos

Guests:

Diego Dugatkin (CHCC), Melinda Turner (ASCIT social director)

Chair Piet Moeleker presiding

PRELIMINARY BUSINESS

A. Introduction of Guests

B. Additions to the Agenda

Update on campus center committee added to old business.

Update on GRB added to new business.

Since Melinda came, the ASCIT/GSC Formal is moved up to the first item on the Agenda

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes are approved (1 abstention: Fok)

ISSUES INVOLVING GUESTS

A. ASCIT/GSC Formal

Melinda informed the BoD on ASCIT’s preliminary plans for the formal. The intended date is Friday, May 26 (before Memorial Day). Among the places considered (and being looked into by ASCIT, Melinda had portfolios of each hotel to show us) are: Ritz-Carlton Huntington, Ritz-Carlton Laguna-Niguel, Doubletree Pasadena, Hyatt West Hollywood, Hyatt-Regency, Hornblower Dining Yacht, Courtyard Mariott, Century Plaza, …

The estimated overall budget for the event is $22,000 (most of which comes from sponsors, some from ticket sales and some from ASCIT -last year ASCIT contributed $4,600). Last year each ASCIT member paid $40 and they had about 160 people. The BoD estimates that we could probably expect about 80 graduate students to attend. Note that there is poll going on among the undergraduates in order to decide whether they want graduates to participate or not. The contribution from GSC will have to be decided later (once the final budget is in).

Jim, Sergey and Fok have volunteered to work with ASCIT on this formal.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Announcements

Piet summed up what happened last month:

· The last Jazz night was good, everyone present liked it but the turnout was not terrific (it’s the first time we have wine left). Probably Saturday night is not the best day, also having the same band as the GUSH the day before might have been a factor.

· The turnout for Ice-Skating was huge; Sunday nights seem to work fine for this event.

· We had the BoD dinner were most of the directors attended and got to know each other better.

· The Canadian ClubGUSH attracted about 50 people. That’s less than the usual number, but the crowd was different from normal GUSH, something we wanted to achieve. People seemed to like it as it went on rather long.

· The new parking structure was christened by an always popular GUSH (with band).

· The ELS lecture was awesome and had a good attendance. Only comment: maybe the posters should be up earlier next time.

· Some of our directors are still working on getting the submissions for the catalogue from the 4 options that needed improvement.

· The committee looking for a new dean is done; it submitted 5 names of candidates (confidential) to the administration, which will pick one. (According to Magali somebody not on the list got asked ??)

· The commencement speaker is still not decided upon; currently Caltech is pursuing 3 persons simultaneously (names omitted because they are confidential).

B. Women’s Health / Repetitive Strain Injury follow-up

Piet spoke with Sharyn / Parandeh / Kevin. PAP tests and contraceptives will be treated in the health committee (in which the graduate students are represented by Emily). A different (new) insurance plan will come before that committee by mid March and will be discussed there. Note that contraception coverage is already available for $6 / month. Furthermore Caltech is apparently the only university paying the health insurance for their students.

As for the RSI issue, student affairs will look into what needs to be done and the safety office will be working on awareness of this problem. They do not want to make an institute wide survey, but rather they will use GPS as a model. They will hire someone from workers comp to do the study.

C. Catalina Housing Update

Ying reported on the activities of the CHCC:

· They had some social events last month: a table tennis tournament (24 players) and a movie night (15 people showed up). Furthermore the pool tournament is still going on. A rugby party (cosponsored by them) was cancelled due to bad weather.

· In March they will have an outing to see STOMP at the Pasadena Civic auditorium (the Cats purchased 25 tickets); there will be a boardgame tournament (either Risk or Settlers) on 3/18 and a movie night on 3/26.

· During springbreak another Ski trip might get planned and maybe an outing to a sport event in the Staples center.

D. Party Lights

The GSC now has a full set of party lights (including cables) stored in the office. These lights can be used free of charge for GSC sponsored events (only!) and there needs to be each time a responsible from the BoD who checks the material out, resp. in.

On the same subject: the penthouse can be used by graduate students for meetings (or dinner) but not for parties. Out of concern for the neighbors (families!) it should be quit, i.e. no loud music and no dancing.

E. Campus Center Committee

Adam and Claude have resigned from that committee (time constraints) and are replaced by Ying and Tina. It seems as though this center is aiming for 2 functions: performing arts and service center. Adam made a handout with graduate students requests. A discussion followed about whether the GSC should push to get an office there or not. While there were different opinions, the consensus was that we would be satisfied with a mailbox and a bulletin board in the campus center.

NEW BUSINESS

A. GRB

Adam is leaving for 2 month therefore he cannot be GRB secretary anymore. Magali would like to take that responsibility. The BoD decided to make Magali acting secretary of the GRB until the next elections (which are next month anyway).

B. Technique

Shannon is organizing various contests to get reviews. She’s also offering $5 for each review of a restaurant within walking distance (there’s a list of them on the web). The grad office is probably paying for this (or some of it), but the BoD voted to cover the remaining part (the total money involved is $370)

C. Company Visit

Honeywell apparently is very slow, thus the organization is still ongoing. Same thing for Amgen (Cindy gets some help for this one form Karen at the Alumnis).

D. Term Party

Same as last time: where’s George? Piet will contact him.

E. Ice Cream Social

The Ice Cream Social had to be postponed by a week. Marco, Serena and Magali are helping Piet for this one.

F. ClubGUSH

The next ClubGUSH should be an Italian one. However there’s some confusion about dates (there’s lent), maybe a switch with regular GUSH. Ying will keep us posted on the final outcome.

G. GSC positions

The elections will be on April 6. Everyone on the BoD should send out recruiting emails to their respective options. As candidates for officers we have so far: chair – Alex; vicechar – Catherine; secretary – NEEDED; treasurer – Steve.