URGI Minutes 10/20/09

Awareness Update
- General Scott Gration released his policy on Darfur
- ICC will begin confirmation hearings in next week
- Uganda willing to hold peace talks between Sudanese govt. and Darfur

Volunteering
- ask any other frats if interested in doing rides? Luke! (AEPI), ELENA! (SIG NU)
- merge with Emergency for Sports nights? (Adrienne!) Early evening Friday/Saturday nights. Shuttle kids over to play in gym,

Douglass Advocacy Event 10/23 12pm-2pm
- Have people take their picture with poster asking Senators/Obama to take action in Darfur
- send picture to Senator via email/print them out or post on URGI’s facebook page
- Permission sheet for people to sign if willing to use photo on facebook/sending to senator (Cassie! Lizzy!)
- Make flyer (Lizzy!) Ask people at register/food places to put them up before event. “picture petitions” event on facebook

Banaa Project
- SUCCESS!!!!!! Sudanese student will most likely be attending U of R next fall with full tuition paid, and cost of living and stipends provided Student
- Bringing student requires school to have Banaa chapter- we provide support, friendly atmosphere and connections and answer any questions they may have.
- One idea: create one E-board position and have sub-committee working in conjunction with URGI
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Yearbook Pictures
- NOV 10th after regular meeting

Sudanese Sunrise Event – Nov. 3rd at 7pm in Interfaith Chapel
- ex-NBA player trying to go back to Sudan and start forming schools in Southern Sudan. Coming to UR to speak about organization he is creating! , work he wants to do and life in the NBA.
- Kelli is speaking at this event! About URGI’s past and future events and the club in general.

Nazareth College’s Refugee Youth Event – Nov. 13th 8:45am-12pm
- for more infor email Joe!

Address Unknown Toop – Nov. 20th
-play about pre-holocaust. After the show we are having a talk about contemporary genocide and how it affects a community, individuals. Affects on people, etc.
- Suresh, Brinda, Joe, Cassie

Museum of Play
-red line goes there, call 2 weeks in advance (Julia!)
- November 14th

Dodgeball tournament
- Cassie and Luke
- Dodgeball Team co-sponsor? Or with D-lions? Regulation size 10 people.
- Talk to each fraternity/sorority and make a team.

STAND Fast Update !
– Beth and Morgan
- movie about interviewing refugee students in Rochester community Suresh and Adrienne!
- possible idea? Strong showcase of student talents. “UR’s got talent” Open to every student/every group. Videotape/auditions. Winners get a prize, audience votes. Thursday or Friday. Kick off with the show and after party. Judges are deans
- alternative is IBTL as hosts.
- Subcommittee? Suresh, Morgan, Lizzy, Julia
- donated t-shirts. coca-cola? Logo on front..
- bi weekly meetings for subcommittee

Ongoing Projects:

· Volunteering – Adrienne Hloderwski and Joseph Gardella

· Kenya school building – Suresh (suresh@math.rochester.edu)

· Banaa Project – Joseph Gardella

· Family Refugee Pairing – Adrienne Hloderwski

· Get author of Memoirs of a Child Soldier to UR

· Can Collecting – Elena