URGI Minutes 2/15/10

Theme this month: Haiti

HIGHLIGHTS
-NEON PARTY: THIS Saturday Feb. 20th at Alpha Del.
- Sign up to table at the party or in Wilson Commons in the available time slots below!

How did things go?
-Awareness Mixer- 12 total in attendance. Successful aspects: card games, meeting people from other clubs
-Museum of Play- 9 total in attendance. Successful aspects: it was fun!
Next time: laser tag?

Neon Party – Adge, Luke, Bridget
Donations – through UNHCR to Sudan, (97% goes straight there!)
- starts at 10:30pm in Alpha Del
-Adrienne – tables, non flex (beads and potentially glowsticks?, petitions)

Fliering:
Rush Rhees/Gleason! /ITS: Julia
Latt. And Morey:Bridget
Dewey, B&L, Hoyt: Cassie
Hutch, Hylan, Carlson, Goergen: Suresh
Phase: Adrienne
Towers: Elena
Sue B.: Luke

Party Volunteers:
10-10:30:---
10:30-11: Brinda and Danielle
11-11:30: Adrienne
11:30-12: ---
12-12:30: ---

Tabling Volunteers:
Thursday: Friday: Saturday:
11am-12: Elena and Bridget Bridget -
12-1pm: Luke - Rob
1-2pm: Adrienne - Rob
5-6pm: Kelli



Movie in Gleason – Brinda
-Thursday 03/04! 7:45-10pm.

Refugee tutoring – Suresh
- f! inalize who can still volunteer by next Monday, who can come Saturday the 27th! ---EMAIL JOE OR KELLI BY NEXT MONDAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!
- Saturdays 2pm à 1-2 hours

Mini-Jumpstart
Location: Lincoln School #22
When: Feb. 18-20
Time: 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
- used to help newly arrived refugees to acclimate to school environment students from kindergarten-12th grade. 9am-2:30pm
- Three different days: first two days volunteers will have breakfast at 9am, field trip to Rochester Museum and Science Center, return by 12, lunch then class again. Third day is parent lunch and visit in the afternoon


Falling whistles
- movement to support international peace. (whistles were for 3-4 year olds too small to carry guns, job was to blow whistle when enemy was in sight and to take bulle! ts as bodyguards,) The speaker, Sean, went to DRCongo and is coming to Geneseo on April 10th. Joe will be in contact with him to sponsor him as a speaker!

Next Douglass Advocacy event
-guerilla theater, volunteers: Dimitri
- JOE! talk to IBTL, Todd theatre

Sweatpants
- somewhere between $20-30


Awareness Discussion – Suresh
- On the Healthcare system and effectiveness of relief aid tie.
- See this website for a great visual of relief facts: http://infobeautiful.s3.amazonaws.com/haiti_550_2.gif
- Wealth in Haiti is very shifted- a lot of the money is concentrated to top 1% and most of these people are centered in Port au Prince. Considering this and corrupt government shows even healthcare/medical system is bad, even in capital.
Health care affected by
o imbalance of wealth
o economic instability
Effectiveness of aid is centered upon
- transportation/infrastructure (ex. One road coming into port au prince from airport but split by earthquake- no way in)
- machinery to communicate at airports. *importance of communication(air traffic control issues)
- took the united states 3-4 days to get in
- Iceland and China were able to get in so quickly because of ships around Haiti

Least obvious effects of bad healthcare
-more deaths/births
-sanitation**- direct link with poor health. Perpetuates illness.
- Worldbank (an NGO) listed Haiti’s healthcare at bottom of Western hemisphere ( including south American countries)
-emergency care is available only to private institution! s ( again, the top 5% of population has access to these private institutions)
- US was largest donor to Haiti for relief efforts
- Dominican Republic helped facilitate aid ( airports and transportation)

Ongoing projects:

· Refugee CAMPus – Joe and Kelli

· Refugee crafts – Joe with Emergency

· Banaa.org – Bridget and Joe and Luke

URGI Minutes 2/8/10

This month’s theme: Haiti

HIGHLIGHTS
- Awareness Mixer, TOMORROW February 12th at 10:30pm, the floor above MIF
-Museum of play February 13th! 4pm at ITS
- if interested in volunteering contact us! first session is open, no need to commit upfront

Awareness Mixer
o Feb. 12th at 10:30 pm in the floor above MIF

Museum of Play – Julia
- February 13th
- Meet at 4pm outside ITS
- $8.50 a person

NEON Party – Adge, Luke, Bridget
- Feb. 20th
-Alpha Del will print/design flyers
-decorations: Casey will speak with the brothers (budget: $75)
-flex machine/cashbox (Luke!)
-no tickets, just donations at the door

Movie in Gleason
- 03/04 7:45pm-10pm
- possibly showing the investigative report on DR Congo’s tin mine workers entitled “Congo’s Tin Soldiers”

Refugee tutoring – Suresh
- Every Saturday 2pm-ish?
- Robert! Check Sig Ep ad Sig Nu
- Possible volunteers: Brinda, Luke, Danielle, Adrienne
+ Volunteer sign-up (AEPI – Luke!)

Next Douglass Advocacy event:
- 02/18/10.
- TOOP?
- addressing issues in the DR Congo

CCC
– Elena! Add some pizzazz
- Event updates also (FB & CCC)


STAND’s Refugee CAMPus
-Concept: living like a refugee for a week.
- co-sponsor with Emergency?
-meet with Emergency- ask how we can support them and work together
- this is part of our mission statement!
Want more information? Email Joe!

Awareness Discussion

Luke on politics/economy of Haiti:
-Government is semi presidential republic (President elected popularly and PM appointed by president)
-democratic on paper, authoritarian in practice
- Cite Soleil is largest slum in capital city (UN declared as most dangerous place on earth)
-2008 government issues- PM removed from office, proposed replacement reje! cted and then long period without governing figure
** High price of food is main political issue!***
- economy: poorest in Western Hemisphere
- susbsistence farming (mostly)
- MANY college graduates emigrate.
- Top 1% own nearly half of the nation’s wealth- results in extreme poverty.
- Average Haitian lives on $2 a day.
- Militia is dismantled, only national police force
- National knowledge that nation was only successfully established country by slave rebellion and that leader is authoritarian not democratic

02/02- ICC reversed decision not to charge Bashir with genocide. He is being charged now.

General Fonseka of Sri Lanka(who led the extinguishing of Tamils) was charged with plotting to overthrow the government and was arrested.

! Next week: effectiveness of aid to Haiti/ health care- Suresh?

Ongoing projects:
* Refugee crafts – Joe with Emergency
* Banaa.org – Bridgette and Joe and Luke

URGI Minutes 2/1/10

SPEAKER: JIM NOWAK
*believes education is the key for sustainability in the developing world, currently building schools in Kenya
cost: $1000-$1500 airplane ticket. $2000 total?
-best to work in dyads ( Bring a friend!)
- Building Futures, Inc. ( over 10,000 people)
-Contact info: jamesbnowak@yahoo.com

Awareness Mixer
o Feb. 12th? Emergency/Amnesty International 10/11pm

Museum of Play

o Feb.13th ~meet at 4pm at ITS $8.50 a person- group discount!

Neon Party– Adge, Luke, Bridget
o The new and improved Mardi Gras party
o Club DJ?-Bridget!
o Alpha Del
o Flex times: earlier that weeko Feb. 20th
Movie in Gleason
o Congo’s Tin Soldiers?
o March 2nd at 8 pm

Refugee tutoring – Suresh and Luke
-Kohjy’s portfolio review for non-native speaker? Saturdays are fine she can bring them to campus, high school students whose English isnt that great- transfers from Jefferson or school without walls. Time commitment. Provide members, if interested email Suresh

Next Douglass Advocacy event: ideas
o Demonstration? Have conversation across the cafeteria. Co-sponsor with Toop? !
o Texts/emails that donates $5 / $10 to Haiti

Fundraising

Possible ideas? Sweatpants! Pictures attached ( ones with URGI written on side come in multiple colors)

http://www.customink.com/designs/sweats04/15777508-3422433/hotlink?cm_ven=hotlink&cm_cat=2&cm_pla=Body_txt&cm_ite=button

Awareness Discussion Haiti- brief history. French owned- Plantation economy powered by slaves, 1789-3/4 of sugar brought money into France (used African slaves)
o 1794 uprising leading to independence of Haiti
o 1915-1937 US occupied Haiti because they were in economic trouble. Haiti and DR share border, when US left power in Haiti, DR dictator ordered murder of Haitians in DR.
o military coups, no stable leadership but Papa Doc/Baby Doc ruled until 1986.
o Baby Doc got kicked out, military ruled until 1990. Election where Jean- Bertrand Aristide won- ended in 1996. Re-elected in 2000. This whole time violence, instability, corruption.
o Class syste! m- how is there such a huge class difference? Very rich and very poor. Educated Haitians have money outside Haitian. Remittances second to Latin America. Infrastructure is weak.
• IN THE FUTURE- presenters perhaps come with a few questions for discussion? Or other members email questions to presenter.
• Next week- Luke!

URGI Minutes 1/19/10

HIGHLIGHTS

-NEXT MEETING/Weekly meetings for the semester: Mondays at 9pm in Wilson Commons 122
- Mini-elections will be held at next week’s meeting: bring a prepared speech if you are interested! (Awareness, Social & Fundraising and Banaa positions available)
- General Interest Meeting was held 01/22 in Ruth Merrill- covered topics of goals of group (awareness, advocacy, service), past events, future goals/events.

Goals for the Semester

-More awareness on campus
-Presentations to other groups and have presentations from other groups
-More speakers (discussions afterwards)
-Recruit more members
-Put up fact fliers throughout the semester
-Less tabling (not Douglass)
-More fundraising (paired with more awareness)
-More frequent newsletters
-Money for the club

Recommendations

-Monthly Themes
-Themes can include countries, regions, time periods, events
-Discussion Presentations
-Monthly newsletters – summarize the month
-Try for the 1st of the month
-“Crafty” Advocacy/ Volunteering
-Amnesty craft night
-Arts and crafts with refugees
-Documentaries in Gleason
-Mixers/ Museum of Play
-Mixers with emergency/ amnesty
-Museum of Play
-Mardi Gras Party

Comedian
-Cassie and Sunny!
-Thinking about next spring
-Talk to CAB – maybe co-sponsor?
-Fall is a good idea – start planning it this semester
-In between the lines show instead?

URGI Minutes 11/17/09

Upcoming Events:

-UR Hip Hop’s screening of BLING: a planet of Rock 5pm Gowen Room
-Douglass Advocacy Event- Thursday Nov. 19th 12-2pm in Douglass
-Address Unknown TOOP: Nov. 20th at 8pm in the Drama House
-Talk-back session post show
-RSA General Interest Meeting Thursday Nov. 19th Gowen Room 6pm
-pizza, short video clip and 2 refugee student speakers- talk about tutoring/family pairing volunteering

Meeting:
* Museum of Play-move to next semester January or February?

* Volunteering Update – Luke, Cassie, Adrienne, Elena
-RSA looking at Jefferson and Edison for tutoring (school 15)
- Emergency is going this Saturday to tutor at school 12pm

* Douglass Advocacy Event – Thursday Nov. 19th from 12-2pm
12-12:20pm: Luke
12:30-1pm Adrienne and Suresh
1-1:30pm: Adrienn! e and Kelli
1:30-2pm: Sunny and Luke

* Be the Change workshop December 3rd 7:30pm at 108 Goergen Hall

*Thursday 11:45am Refugee Symposium at Lake Ave Baptist Church- updates on refugees in community

* interested in cleaning up river? Saturday 11am at Interfaith Chapel

* Awareness Discussion
- the context of giving aid- richer areas helping poorer areas and what’s an effective means? The outlook on Western world, feel obligated to help? Or personal desire?
- censored material from the government or just access to information is difficult

SOMALIA- without govt. for 15 years, pseudo elections over past 3 years because of rival clans/soldier factions, larger militia joining together that’s gaining power but they use aggressive tactics, a lot of money comes from remittance companies- one in particular was a trade company, goods would be underpassed by govt and sent to repressed clans. Now, because o! f UN they can actually take donations and distribute it but take a certain percentage otherwise they wouldn’t be able to cover expenses.

Ongoing Projects/ Reminders:

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

Family Refugee Pairing – Adrienne Hloderwski

URGI Minutes 11/3/09

HIGHLIGHTS:

Advocacy: 11/12/09, 12-2pm Douglass, sign banner/petition

Yearbook Pictures: 11/10 after meeting

Museum of Play: Nov. 14th 4pm ITS

Address Unknown Toop: Nov. 21st in the Drama House

Awareness Update
→ National peace council in Sri Lanka, LTTE rebel group defeated, recently government has tried to weed out more LTTE by putting Tamil people in concentration camps. The government hasn’t been letting in any UN officials which raises suspicion, they continue to keep people in camps, most tamils happy war is over but problems tamils face aren’t over! There has been no support/funding for resettling.

Halloween Party Review
- 95 people attended, 18 volunteers!

Go Hungry for Hunger
- 30 hour fast, to raise awareness about hunger, money goes to Rochester Roots charity(work on integrating agriculture, sustainability and education! into one)General interest meeting in Interfaith Chapel Friday Nov 13th at 5pm,
-fast 11/20-11/21
- interested in participating? Email Joe!

Newsletter
can anyone help? Write a 1 paragraph article on an event you attended or current issue you want to address
Email CASSIE! (cgorman3@u.rochester.edu)

Volunteering
-Sig Nu interested
-Emergency still working on shuttle to bring kids to UR, RSA working on stuff too.

Douglass Advocacy Event
-next Thursday 11/12
* Banner hand tracing. “we support giving a hand to victims in sudan”
* http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/obamachina ?
- facebook crusade! Everyone put this link on their status/share


Museum of Play
- bus that leaves at 4pm(?), $7.50 per person, 11/14. Meet at ITS!

Dodgeball tournament
-Saturday December 5th 4-7pm.

The Refugee Experience Vid! eo
- met with Sandra at Lake Ave Baptist, contact info with Burmese, Somalian refugees who can speak English.

Next Stand Fast meeting: Tuesday, November 10th 10 pm WC 121, post meeting is pictureee!

Sudanese Sunrise Discussion
- Kelli gave a great speech! Thanks for coming!

Ongoing Projects / Reminders:

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 - Livnat

Can Collecting – Elena

Sign up for Approaches to Conflict, CAS 230, 2 credit course – Joseph Gardella

Literary event, Movie in Gleason, coffee house event – Kelli Summers and Joseph Gardella

URGI Minutes 10/27/09

Upcoming Events:

• Refugee Halloween: Oct. 31^st (contact Brinda for a ride)
• Sudan Sunrise: Nov. 3^rd at 7pm in the Interfaith Chapel
• Yearbook Pictures: Nov. 10^th after meeting
• Museum of Play: Nov. 14^th
• Nazareth College’s Refugee Youth Event: Nov. 13^th at 8:45 am – 12pm (East Ave)
• Address Unknown Toop: Nov. 21^st in the Drama House

Meeting:

• Awareness Update
  • White house released its Sudan policy
    • Main goals:
      • End conflict
      • Get peace agreement that everyone’s happy with
      • Make sure Sudan doesn’t become a safe haven for terrorists
• Somalia
  • 50,000 people displaced
  • Nate: Vote of No Confidence
    • Yes to remove him
    • Gandhi Service Fellowship – Joe
      • Mission: Following principles of Ghandi
      • Let Joe know if you want to apply for scholarship
      • It requires an application and 60 hours of community service per year
      • Volunteering
        • Other frats? – Luke and Elena
          • Elena: haven’t heard back
          • Luke: already in contact with rotarac, but will work out details
• Merge with Emergency? – Adrienne
• Douglass Advocacy Event Evaluation
  • Evaluation:
    • Went really well
    • Elena will put pics on facebook
    • Choose rectangular tables
• Other creative thoughts?
  • Coloring?
  • Handprints?
    • Paint? Trace
    • Trace out a message and fill it with fingerprints until it’s filled
    • Red handprint for STAND Fast?
  • Advocate to our school
    • Get a long sheet that everyone signs with a message and put it up as a banner
    • “We support ____”
    • Put up right after Thanksgiving break

• Museum of Play – Julia
  • Nov. 14^th : Take Red Line
  • Dodgeball tournament – Cassie and Luke
    • Have D’Lions support
    • Jane Posse
    • Have everything pinned down by next week
    • Next Event: ideas?
      • Suresh: Nazareth Event – Sri Lankan Professor
        • She had a varied crowd: professors, students, community members
        • Spoke about government acts and history
        • Have her give a talk here
        • Suresh talk about having her come here
        • Want more interactive like the literary event
          • Have both a discussion and lecture
• Gleason theatre movie
  • Nov. 12^th (Thursday) at 8pm
• Literary event? Movie in gleason? Discussion with speaker coffee house events?
• All those who want stay after for the STAND Fast Meeting

• Joke!!

Ongoing Projects:

• 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