SPA Meeting Notes

Due to the absence of the majority of the SPA membership at the 12:30 meeting today, I'm taking to the internet to bring the meeting to everyone. There are some minor issues we needed to discuss, but will have to be brought up next meeting. This meeting that was to be held today had on the agenda to allow the opening of slates for SPA Exec board next year. That of course did not occur, thus delayed now until the next meeting.

Anywho the main points for the meeting:
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PRESIDENT REPORT:

2008 NATIONAL APA CONFERENCE
Have 5 definates paid to go to the conference
Have 6 interested to go (non 1st years)
Have 4 interested to go (1st years)

Need to discuss lodging with those going for sure.
Possible reimbursement (see treasurer report)

2008 FAPA CONFERENCE
10-13 September 2008
Need to work out hotel logistics (postponed to next meeting)

FACULTY MEETING REPORT
Working on setting up Bartley memorial - SPA working on plaque on door (issues with fire code - working alternate plaque location). Some issues FAPA dealing with family approval about some fundraiser in Bartley's name.
Admission caps on new admits
DCP Research Day - April 4th (possible excused from classes on Friday to attend event)
Specializing knowledge sectors (Housing and Community Development, Info Tech for Planning, Int'l Planning, Transportation & Growth Management, and Urban Design)
Web page committee- dealing with delays with consultants on updating website
SPA report - discussed recent events, and proposed orientation picnic

PLANNING DAY (SUBSET OF FACULTY MEETING REPORT)
April 18th (all day)
Florida Growth and Hometown Democracy theme
Speakers from both sides
Roger Caves - keynote
Working on fundraising (SPA submitted request for ACCENT support)
Department banquet in evening (proposed $10 fee for students to go (traditional fee in years past)).
Project gallery of student work
Excuse URP classes on Friday and have students go (discussed at faculty meeting).

SPA ELECTIONS
Late March, Early April
Presentation of Exec Board at Dept. Banquet

SERVICE PROJECT
Working wtih Earl Starnes for service project at Cedar Key.
Beach project / picnic in late March / Early April

SG ELECTIONS
Please remember to vote in the Student Government elections scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday. This might change, as there is a lawsuit pending against the university pertaining to the elections. For those of you interested in what the parties stand for, I would like to direct your attention to the following links:

http://www.gogatorparty.com/?page_id=5
Gator Party platform

http://www.orangeandblueparty.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
Orange and Blue Party platform

Ensure to vote, for Graduate Students have a say as well, and it is especially important to respect your tuition and fees you pay. Just remember that SPA did not have a budget this year (though we will next year), and this correlates back to SG.

Voting for all Graduate Students (except Law Students which is at Levin Law School) happens 2nd floor of Turlington. Bring your Gator 1 ID Card.
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VICE PRESIDENT REPORT

Next SPA Meeting March 24th 3 PM (Location TBD)
Next SPA Exec Board Meeting March 2nd or March 23 5:30 PM (Exec Board please review and respond)
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TREASURER REPORT

As of Friday, February 22, 2008, the SPA External Account with Student Government has a balance of $949.67. I made a deposit of $500.00 on Friday, which is last year’s funding from the San Felasco section of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association. We have approximately $132.00, which represents profits from t-shirt sales. As of the last ACC meeting, we conducted one last review of the 2008/09 budget, and it will be submitted shortly to the Board of College Councils (BOCC) for final review and funding. I will be attending the BOCC Executive Board Meeting on February 28 to request funding for students traveling to the National APA Conference in Las Vegas.
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ACC REPORT

Met to discuss recycling initiative
Guest speaker on a project initiative for Graduate students (see blog for more details)
Preliminary budget presented (no major changes from SPA submittal in December)
SPA getting funding for assisting in Career Fair (THANKS EVERYONE WHO HELPED)
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GSC REPORT

No travel grants for rest of semester
No Report
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SECRETARY REPORT

No Report
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SOCIAL CHAIR

Department Banquet - Superlatives / Top Ten List (Need to decide format as a group)
Fall Welcome Picnic - move orientation to Lake Wauberg / Dept. Icebreaker
March Social - TBD
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FAPA REPRESENTATIVE

No Report
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WEBMASTER

Pending website revisions
No Report