[999] in UA Senate
Re: Senate Announcements for IAP and Spring
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tim Jenks)
Fri Jan 14 10:58:06 2011
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=+Hmg8CmW+GJxD_=VKdM1Zo8=9DNZ7d5UUM_Hr@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:58:02 -0500
From: Tim Jenks <tjenks@MIT.EDU>
To: ua-senate-officers <ua-senate-officers@mit.edu>
Cc: ua-senate <ua-senate@mit.edu>
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Hi all,
I think the caucuses are a great idea for the spring term. I think using
some of the time we have in brainstorming sessions like we did on retreat
would be immensely useful, and allow Senate to address concerns that our
constituents may have, instead of addressing internal issues. I think I
still have some of the sticky notes left over from the retreat if y'all are
curious about those.
Also, if you're interested in Vice Speaker at all, drop Jonte or I a note
and we'll be happy to give you any and all the information you may want
about this awesome position. I really enjoyed my time as VS, and I'm sure
you would too!
Lastly, something that Senate has done in past years has had a guest speake=
r
at the beginning of every meeting. By this time we've usually had Colombo,
Hockfield, and some other rather important people at MIT come before Senate=
,
just so we get face time with them and vice versa, and this didn't happen
last semester. The guest speakers don't take much more than an hour, and
now that we've trimmed up meeting efficiency, the guest speakers are well
worth the time they'll spend in Senate. Also we could use the caucuses to
chat about what each administrator oversees and what they can do for
students so we can have a productive conversation with them when they come
to a meeting.
I'll second that "use the mailing list!"
--Tim
On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 1:26 PM, Jont=E9 Craighead (UA Speaker) <
ua-speaker@mit.edu> wrote:
> Also, use the mailing list!
>
> Feel free to criticize, endorse, or ask questions about anything in this
> set of announcements.
>
> Thanks,
> Jont=E9 Craighead
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 1:16 PM, Jont=E9 Craighead (UA Speaker) <
> ua-speaker@mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi, everyone:
>>
>> I hope you are all having an enjoyable IAP.
>>
>> There's still plenty of activity with the UA this IAP, and I wanted to
>> take this opportunity to get everyone up to speed on a few points:
>>
>> *Senate Staff Assistants *[http://ua.mit.edu/senate/staff]
>>
>> As I mentioned at the final meeting of the term, I will be appointing
>> three Staff Assistants this Spring to assist myself and the new Vice Spe=
aker
>> in managing many of the operations necessary for a healthy, productive
>> Senate. The positions available are Program Coordinator, Intelligence
>> Coordinator, and Policy Coordinator-- you can read more about what I hav=
e in
>> mind for each position at http://ua.mit.edu/senate/staff. There are no
>> eligibility requirements for these positions, so I encourage you to let =
me
>> know if you are at all interested. *The deadline for expressing interest
>> is this Tuesday, January 18th*, and I hope to make the final decision
>> before the conclusion of IAP. Note: if you're worried about time
>> commitments, these positions take the place of the committee or project
>> requirement for Senators.
>> *
>> Senate Vice Speaker*
>> *
>> *At the first meeting of the term, 42 UAS 9, we will have nominations an=
d
>> elections for the next Vice Speaker, and it will be our first order of
>> business. Nominees, who must be current voting members of Senate (i.e.
>> Senators), will be given the opportunity to discuss their reasons for
>> interest in the position and their goals for the semester. After Q&A, Se=
nate
>> will enter closed session, and a vote will be taken via secret ballot. I=
f
>> you're interested in the position, speak with myself or Tim Jenks to lea=
rn
>> more about what's involved.
>> *
>> **Informal Senate Meetings ("Caucuses")
>> *
>> The schedule for Senate next semester has not yet been finalized, but
>> based on the feedback I received from the Senator Self-evaluations, it i=
s
>> clear to me that Senators would like to have more of an opportunity to (=
1)
>> get to know one another, (2) collaborate on policy & events, and (3) hol=
d
>> discussions in an informal setting. The retreat, my office hours, and th=
e
>> mailing list were designed to meet these objectives, but I would like to
>> propose a new idea--informal, time-limited (< 2 hour) Senate meetings on=
ce
>> every 2-3 weeks throughout the next term. At these "caucuses" we would
>> engage in small-group, action-oriented brainstorming meant to generate i=
deas
>> for projects and legislation that would be introduced at regular meeting=
s.
>> This is very much a heads-up announcement, so please feel free to
>> communicate any specific ideas that you may have about these events.
>> *
>> UA Website *[http://ua.mit.edu/senate/speaker/website]
>>
>> Throughout IAP I am going to be involved in work on a web application th=
at
>> will allow us to keep track of attendance, e-mails to constituents, and =
the
>> status of constituency events/projects. Depending on the features that c=
an
>> be implemented by the end of IAP, I can also foresee this application
>> enabling the creation of bills and reports from the web without any
>> knowledge of LaTeX. Further development (likely not feasible by the end =
of
>> IAP) would be directed towards developing a blog that leveraged committe=
e
>> updates, bills and reports, links to articles from the Tech and outside
>> reports to create an information stream on issues that could be used to
>> better inform students and members of the UA. I have posted more details=
at
>> http://ua.mit.edu/senate/speaker/website.
>>
>> Most of the development will be done in Ruby on Rails and it would be
>> great to have contributors either on the development or the design/produ=
ct
>> testing side. Again, if you're interested, please let me know.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have a couple more announcements for specific groups-- I will
>> communicate those individually.
>>
>> Thanks for your time, and enjoy the snow,
>> Jont=E9 Craighead
>>
>> Speaker of the Senate
>> MIT Undergraduate Association
>> Course 1C: Class of 2013
>>
>
>
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Hi all,<br>I think the caucuses are a great idea for the spring term.=A0 I =
think using some of the time we have in brainstorming sessions like we did =
on retreat would be immensely useful, and allow Senate to address concerns =
that our constituents may have, instead of addressing internal issues.=A0 I=
think I still have some of the sticky notes left over from the retreat if =
y'all are curious about those.<br>
<br>Also, if you're interested in Vice Speaker at all, drop Jonte or I =
a note and we'll be happy to give you any and all the information you m=
ay want about this awesome position.=A0 I really enjoyed my time as VS, and=
I'm sure you would too!<br>
<br>Lastly, something that Senate has done in past years has had a guest sp=
eaker at the beginning of every meeting.=A0 By this time we've usually =
had Colombo, Hockfield, and some other rather important people at MIT come =
before Senate, just so we get face time with them and vice versa, and this =
didn't happen last semester.=A0 The guest speakers don't take much =
more than an hour, and now that we've trimmed up meeting efficiency, th=
e guest speakers are well worth the time they'll spend in Senate.=A0 Al=
so we could use the caucuses to chat about what each administrator oversees=
and what they can do for students so we can have a productive conversation=
with them when they come to a meeting.<br>
<br>I'll second that "use the mailing list!"<br>--Tim<br><br>=
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 1:26 PM, Jont=E9 Craighe=
ad (UA Speaker) <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:ua-speaker@mit.edu"=
>ua-speaker@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; borde=
r-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">Also, use the mai=
ling list! <br><br>Feel free to criticize, endorse, or ask questions about =
anything in this set of announcements.<br>
<br clear=3D"all">Thanks,<br><font color=3D"#888888">Jont=E9 Craighead</fon=
t><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On W=
ed, Jan 12, 2011 at 1:16 PM, Jont=E9 Craighead (UA Speaker) <span dir=3D"lt=
r"><<a href=3D"mailto:ua-speaker@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">ua-speaker@m=
it.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; borde=
r-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">Hi, everyone:<br>=
<br>I hope you are all having an enjoyable IAP.<br><br>There's still pl=
enty of activity with the UA this IAP, and I wanted to take this opportunit=
y to get everyone up to speed on a few points:<br>
<br><b>Senate Staff Assistants </b>[<a href=3D"http://ua.mit.edu/senate/sta=
ff" target=3D"_blank">http://ua.mit.edu/senate/staff</a>]<br>
<br>As I mentioned at the final meeting of the term, I will be appointing t=
hree Staff Assistants this Spring to assist myself and the new Vice Speaker=
in managing many of the operations necessary for a healthy, productive Sen=
ate. The positions available are Program Coordinator, Intelligence Coordina=
tor, and Policy Coordinator-- you can read more about what I have in mind f=
or each position at <a href=3D"http://ua.mit.edu/senate/staff" target=3D"_b=
lank">http://ua.mit.edu/senate/staff</a>. There are no eligibility requirem=
ents for these positions, so I encourage you to let me know if you are at a=
ll interested. <b>The deadline for expressing interest is this Tuesday, Jan=
uary 18th</b>, and I hope to make the final decision before the conclusion =
of IAP. Note: if you're worried about time commitments, these positions=
take the place of the committee or project requirement for Senators.<br>
<b><br>Senate Vice Speaker</b><br><b><br></b>At the first meeting of the te=
rm, 42 UAS 9, we will have nominations and elections for the next Vice Spea=
ker, and it will be our first order of business. Nominees, who must be curr=
ent voting members of Senate (i.e. Senators), will be given the opportunity=
to discuss their reasons for interest in the position and their goals for =
the semester. After Q&A, Senate will enter closed session, and a vote w=
ill be taken via secret ballot. If you're interested in the position, s=
peak with myself or Tim Jenks to learn more about what's involved.<br>
<b><br></b><b>Informal Senate Meetings ("Caucuses")<br></b><br>Th=
e schedule for Senate next semester has=20
not yet been finalized, but based on the feedback I received from the=20
Senator Self-evaluations, it is clear to me that Senators would like to=20
have more of an opportunity to (1) get to know one another, (2)=20
collaborate on policy & events, and (3) hold discussions in an=20
informal setting. The retreat, my office hours, and the mailing list=20
were designed to meet these objectives, but I would like to propose a=20
new idea--informal, time-limited (< 2 hour) Senate meetings once=20
every 2-3 weeks throughout the next term. At these "caucuses" we =
would=20
engage in small-group, action-oriented brainstorming meant to generate=20
ideas for projects and legislation that would be introduced at regular=20
meetings. This is very much a heads-up announcement, so please feel free
to communicate any specific ideas that you may have about these events.<br=
><b><br>UA Website </b>[<a href=3D"http://ua.mit.edu/senate/speaker/website=
" target=3D"_blank">http://ua.mit.edu/senate/speaker/website</a>]<br><br>Th=
roughout IAP I am going to be involved in work on a web application that wi=
ll allow us to keep track of attendance, e-mails to constituents, and the s=
tatus of constituency events/projects. Depending on the features that can b=
e implemented by the end of IAP, I can also foresee this application enabli=
ng the creation of bills and reports from the web without any knowledge of =
LaTeX. Further development (likely not feasible by the end of IAP) would be=
directed towards developing a blog that leveraged committee updates, bills=
and reports, links to articles from the Tech and outside reports to create=
an information stream on issues that could be used to better inform studen=
ts and members of the UA. I have posted more details at <a href=3D"http://u=
a.mit.edu/senate/speaker/website" target=3D"_blank">http://ua.mit.edu/senat=
e/speaker/website</a>.<br>
<br>Most of the development will be done in Ruby on Rails and it would be g=
reat to have contributors either on the development or the design/product t=
esting side. Again, if you're interested, please let me know.<br>
<br><br><br>I have a couple more announcements for specific groups-- I will=
communicate those individually.<br><br clear=3D"all">Thanks for your time,=
and enjoy the snow,<br>Jont=E9 Craighead<br><br>Speaker of the Senate<br>
MIT Undergraduate Association<br>Course 1C: Class of 2013<br>
</blockquote></div><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>
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