FSMEPC Minutes, 12/03/2003

Kathleen Gallagher (kgallagh@library.berkeley.edu)
Fri, 23 Jan 2004 10:29:03 -0800

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FSM Cafe Educational Programs Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003
Krouzian Room

Present: Joan Bieder, Amy Cucinella, Stephanie Diaz, Dave Duer, Brendan
Furey, Kathleen Gallagher (chair, recorder), Steve Mendoza, Beth Sibley

Absent: Margaret Phillips, Nadia Selim, Cara Stanley, Lisa Walker

1. Introduction of new student members

New student members Amy Cucinella and Stephanie Diaz introduced themselves.
Amy is a first year law student at Boalt Hall. Stephanie is an
undergraduate and coordinator of the ASUC Intellectual Community Fund, a
grant awarded to student groups in support of collaborative events that
foster critical intellectual exchange on campus.

2. Ecuador & Oil - Program Assessment

The group went around the table and commented on impressions of the Nov. 14
event and the lessons learned in organizing the first program. There was
consensus that the program was a success, with near standing room only
turnout, two excellent documentary films, lively audience-panel discussion,
and a satisfying "menu" of food and drinks.

Program Stats: Kathleen reported a head count of 77 (taken by Lisa); Beth
reported that the final cost of catering was $464.12; Brendan reported that
the final ETS charge on equipment and set-up was $237.

Three areas were identified where "lessons were learned": AV, Publicity,
and Communication

AV: Brendan noted the feedback from the PA equipment at the start of the
program, and emphasized the need for the designated "logistics coordinator"
to be thoroughly familiar with FSM-owned equipment in advance. We were
unable to get an audio recording of the program, since our digital recorder
seemed to be the source of the feedback.

Publicity: The publicity effort was strong and netted a good turnout. The
following publications, however, require a longer lead than we had (or
knew) to give (as reported in an email by Margaret): SF Bay Guardian
publishes on Wednesday and requires 2 week advance submission; East Bay
Express requires 3 weeks; and KPFA Community Calendar, three weeks

Communication: Better communication of expectations between the student
program coordinator and panelists - especially on speaker sequence, the
specific issues each would address, and length of their discussion - would
have made for a tighter program. In the future, the committee (through its
designated coordinator) may choose to assume a more active role in grooming
of content, moderation of discussion, etc., to ensure overall program quality.

3. Planning for Spring: Status of Applications

To date, we have no events secured for spring. The status of all three
applications on the table (USA Patriot Act - Berkeley ACLU; Grassroots
Activism vs. Political Apathy - Students for Dean; File Sharing Debate &
Nerdrock Concert - Nerdnoise) are still up in the air, as we await
follow-up information from the applicants.

Kathleen reported that a new email announcement would go out next week to
registered student organizations.

ACTION ITEMS:

Beth will follow up again with the ACLU student contact about a possible
February program.

Joan will speak to her Journalism School contact, a student whose film has
been accepted at Sundance, about the possibility of a film screening.

4. Boalt Int'l Human Rights Student Board - Spring Conference Program

Amy brought forward the abstract of a program the Boalt Hall International
Human Rights Student Board (BHIHRSB) is already planning for the spring.
Discussion centered on the compatibility of the FSM series with the
proposed event, and the best way to frame the issue to reach the broadest
possible audience.

ACTION ITEM:
Amy will propose the idea of a Friday night tie-in event (with funding from
the FSMEP committee) to the BHIHRSB and will report back in January.

5. Announcements

Brendan is interested in investigating the cost and feasibility of filming
FSM events for possible broadcast on UCTV, the University of California
satellite television channel. Members expressed both enthusiasm and
concern, and finally recommended that Brendan go forward with the
understanding that the committee would not be able to undertake any new,
non-core activities that required a significantly greater investment of our
(individual and organizational) time.

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FSM Cafe Educational Programs Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003
Krouzian Room


Present: Joan Bieder, Amy Cucinella, Stephanie Diaz, Dave Duer, Brendan Furey, Kathleen Gallagher (chair, recorder), Steve Mendoza, Beth Sibley

Absent: Margaret Phillips, Nadia Selim, Cara Stanley, Lisa Walker


1. Introduction of new student members

New student members Amy Cucinella and Stephanie Diaz introduced themselves.
Amy is a first year law student at Boalt Hall. Stephanie is an undergraduate and coordinator of the ASUC Intellectual Community Fund, a grant awarded to student groups in support of collaborative events that foster critical intellectual exchange on campus.

2. Ecuador & Oil - Program Assessment

The group went around the table and commented on impressions of the Nov. 14 event and the lessons learned in organizing the first program. There was consensus that the program was a success, with near standing room only turnout, two excellent documentary films, lively audience-panel discussion, and a satisfying "menu" of food and drinks.

Program Stats: Kathleen reported a head count of 77 (taken by Lisa); Beth reported that the final cost of catering was $464.12; Brendan reported that the final ETS charge on equipment and set-up was $237.

Three areas were identified where "lessons were learned": AV, Publicity, and Communication

AV: Brendan noted the feedback from the PA equipment at the start of the program, and emphasized the need for the designated "logistics coordinator" to be thoroughly familiar with FSM-owned equipment in advance. We were unable to get an audio recording of the program, since our digital recorder seemed to be the source of the feedback.

Publicity: The publicity effort was strong and netted a good turnout. The following publications, however, require a longer lead than we had (or knew) to give (as reported in an email by Margaret): SF Bay Guardian publishes on Wednesday and requires 2 week advance submission; East Bay Express requires 3 weeks; and KPFA Community Calendar, three weeks

Communication: Better communication of expectations between the student program coordinator and panelists - especially on speaker sequence, the specific issues each would address, and length of their discussion - would have made for a tighter program. In the future, the committee (through its designated coordinator) may choose to assume a more active role in grooming of content, moderation of discussion, etc., to ensure overall program quality.


3. Planning for Spring: Status of Applications

To date, we have no events secured for spring. The status of all three applications on the table (USA Patriot Act - Berkeley ACLU; Grassroots Activism vs. Political Apathy - Students for Dean; File Sharing Debate & Nerdrock Concert - Nerdnoise) are still up in the air, as we await follow-up information from the applicants.

Kathleen reported that a new email announcement would go out next week to registered student organizations.

ACTION ITEMS:

Beth will follow up again with the ACLU student contact about a possible February program.

Joan will speak to her Journalism School contact, a student whose film has been accepted at Sundance, about the possibility of a film screening.


4. Boalt Int'l Human Rights Student Board - Spring Conference Program

Amy brought forward the abstract of a program the Boalt Hall International Human Rights Student Board (BHIHRSB) is already planning for the spring. Discussion centered on the compatibility of the FSM series with the proposed event, and the best way to frame the issue to reach the broadest possible audience.

ACTION ITEM:
Amy will propose the idea of a Friday night tie-in event (with funding from the FSMEP committee) to the BHIHRSB and will report back in January.

5.  Announcements

Brendan is interested in investigating the cost and feasibility of filming FSM events for possible broadcast on UCTV, the University of California satellite television channel. Members expressed both enthusiasm and concern, and finally recommended that Brendan go forward with the understanding that the committee would not be able to undertake any new, non-core activities that required a significantly greater investment of our (individual and organizational) tim
e.
 

 
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