January 12 General Body Meeting

Blackburn Center Forum

The meeting began at 8:14 pm with President Keith Laing telling members how excited he was about second semester because it contains all the events the club is most known for. He then introduced the new Fundraising Committee Chairwoman LaResha Ross.

Next, Vice-President Natalya Bodrick informed members of the attendance report from the most recent Officers' Meeting. For the meeting on January 9, she said the following officers were present:

President Keith Laing
Vice-President Natalya Bodrick
Secretary Shante Johnson
Treasurer Angela Harris
Recording Secretary April McCowen
Parliamentarian Edith Turboh
Social Committee Chairwoman Arian Thomas
T-Shirt Committee Chairwoman Tosha Holmes
Fundraising Chairwoman LaResha Ross
Public Relations Chair Megan Lymon

When she finished, the committee heads proceeded with their committee reports.

*Commitee Reports: The reports were as follows:

Social: Chairwoman Arian Thomas asked for more volunteers to sign up for the social committee because the workload for the second semester was too much for her to handle by herself. Members who were interested in helping with ideas for Georgia Week were asked to put their names on the sign up sheet.
Community Service: Chairman Eric Hall stated that the club would host a bottle water drive for the tsunami relief later this month. He said that the Committee would be collecting the water in the bottom of Blackburn. He also said that HUSA is putting on a program where organizations host lectures at the area high schools and that it would be good for the club to participate in the program. He will check for more updates about the program. Finally, he said that he would like to welcome the Georgia Southern Gospel Choir when they arrive March 11-13.
T-Shirt: Chairwoman Tosha Holmes was not able to attend the meeting so President Keith Laing spoke on her behalf. He told members that the club will not re-order hoodies for this semester. He then said that Tosha is accpeting ideas for the T-Shirts this semester. The deadline for T-Shirt designs is Feb. 2. Once the designs are in there will be one week of voting on the designs that will be held online. He said that after the design is selected, the T-Shirt Committee will start taking payments for two weeks. President Keith Laing talked about ordering extra T-shirts for the kids that come on the Welcome to the Mecca trip.
Welcome to the Mecca: Chairwoman Stephanie Erhueh was not able to attend and President Keith Laing spoke for her as well. He told members that the detailed planning for the 14th annual Welcome to the Mecca Weekend will be starting soon. Members who want to help Stephanie to send her their e-mails.
Public Relations: Chairwoman Megan Lymon told members that there will be a public relations committee meeting Jan. 31 at 6:30pm in UGL. She also stated that is it crucial for the committee try their best to help promote upcoming events because second semester is the busiest semester for the club.
Fundraising: Chairwoman LaResha Ross introduced herself and requested for members to sign up for the fundraising committee. She said she will contact everyone interested with the information for their first meeting.

*Upcoming Events:

Georgia Week 2005: President Keith Laing announced that the theme for Georgia Week 2005 will be "Furthering the Legacy of Remarkable Georgia Bison." He then gave members the dates for Georgia Week, which are Feb.27-March 6. He also stated that the video of "Put Yo' Hood State Club" Talent Show from Georgia Week 2004 will shown during the club's next General Body Meeting. He once again went over the concept of the State Club Talent Show, which is to use the talent of your club to showcase a cohesive creative expression of your state or region. He said that each team will consist of 5-10 members from each club that participates. He mention that the club finished in 2nd Place during last year's talent show and how much he would like to win this year's, so he requested that members who were interested in being in the Talent Show to meet with Arian after the meeting.
Falcons Playoff Tailgate Party: President Keith Laing explained that the second Falcons Tailgate Party will be held at The Front Page Restaurant in Dupont Circle on Saturday Jan. 15. He asked for members to meet at the Architecture Building at 6:45. Paid members get to eat for free but non-paid members will have to pay for their meals. Members will receive an e-vite that will have the location and directions.
Spirit Day: President Keith Laing explained that starting this Friday, Jan. 14, the club would hold a Spirit Day on the Friday after each General Body Meeting. He said that the point of Spirit Day was to show the campus how large the club is and to show off our various shirts. With that in mind, all members were asked to wear their Georgia Club hoodies, t-shirts or any other Georgia paraphenalia.
"Ridin' Dirty on 85" Skate Party: President Keith Laing told members of the skate party the club will be holding in conjuction with the North Carolina Club. It will be held at Skate Palace in Temple Hills, Md. on Jan. 29 from 4:30-7:30. Skate Palace is located across the street from the Branch Ave. Metro stop. He said that General Admission is $5 and because of the rink's rules, the doors close at 6:30. He also said that the first 100 people who are paid members of the Georgia or North Carolina Club get in free.

Members said that other events the club can do is got to a Wizards game together during a home game. Tickets for students cost only $10. Some members wanted to have another game night. Also the club could sit together for one of the basketball games.

*Bison 2 Bison Mentoring Program

B2B Coordinator Stephanie Erheuh was not at the meeting, but President Keith Laing said that the first tier pairs have been completed. The pairs will be posted on the website for members to see. Click here to see them. Because of some shifting in the officers of the Alumni Association, the second tier Alumni pairs have yet to be completed, but Keith said that more details as they became available.

*Announcements

• Social Chairwoman Arian Thomas told members about the School Supplies Scholarship Drive.The School Supplies Scholarship Drive is open to members of the Georgia Club and the E-board is ineligible to enter. Members are to write a 250 word essay on "Why I need school supplies".The essays can be e-mail to the clubs address hu_gaclub@yahoo.com.The essays are due by Jan. 28. The winner will receive a pack of school supplies and runner-up will receive a portfolio from the bookstore. The winners will be announced at the next meeting.

• Arian also proposed the club create a Hospitality Committee. The committee would keep in touch with new and old members via phone rather than e-mails. She asked those who wanted to be on the committee to speak to her after the meeting.

• President Keith Laing then closed the meeting on a somber note by informing members that Charreah Jackson, who was voted last year's Member of the Year by the General Body, found out over the break that she was sick and did not return to school this semester. He said that he spoke with her and that she was in good spirits. He then said that the club would be sending her 2 cards, one from the officers and one from the General Body. He asked members to make sure they signed the card before the left the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.

-April McCowen, Recording Secretary

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