GSA MEETING MINUTES

Date:  3/1/2007

Time:  3-4:02 pm

Location:  Broughton 3217, Duke Conference Room

Attendees: Aaron Cusher, 

Antonio Jose Gonzalez, 

Keith McDaniel, 

James Deon Pearson, 

Time:3:00

Discussion

• Introductions and greetings
• James Pearson relays Dr. Nagel's information concerning the 8th annual graduate student poster competition.

Time:3:30

Discussion

• Aaron Cusher suggests giving incentives, such as pens or shirts or ribbons, to the judges in order to excite them about judging.

Time:3:35

Discussion

• Decision is made to recommend increasing the prize amounts from $100 to $150 dollars for all winners, with the understanding the MAE department will contribute $800 ($600 last year + $200 additional this year) and the GSA will contribute $100. (May change later depending on number of entries)

• Suggestions are made concerning prize distributions:

1. Divide contestants into MS and Ph.D. categories and have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each. (same as last year).
2. Divide contestants into MS and Ph.D. categories and have a 1st and 2nd place with two separate overall winners among both MS and Ph.D. for best poster (artwork) and best technical work/innovaiton.

• Suggestions are made concerning judging:

1. Each GSA member picks one judge individually and all GSA members decide collectively on 2 additional judges.
2. Replace six faculty judges with four faculty and two graduate student judges.
3. Open judging up to all graduate students by having a popular vote for best poster among the students.

Time:3:40

Discussion

• Antonio Gonzalez suggests posting the winners pictures and posters on the GSA website.
• Antonio Gonzalez suggests placing a link from the GSA website to the MAE departmental web-page which has the graduate student poster competition deadlines.
• GSA members agree to post all graduate student poster competition competitors abstracts on the GSA website.

Time:3:45

Discussion

• Aaron cusher suggests the MAE GSA start a universal Gmail account with the name 'MAE_GSA@gmail.com'.

Time:3:47

Discussion

• Antonio Gonzalez suggests using bullets for the minute format to make for easier reading. 

Time:3:50

Discussion

• Keith McDaniel discusses the University wide research symposium to be held this year and suggests the GSA publicize the event to increase MAE attendance.
• Keith McDaniel agrees to publicize the event with flyers as appropriate.

Time:3:55

Discussion

• Aaron Cusher suggests the GSA consider donating a small financial gift to Sigma Gamma Tau in order to help the organization in it's efforts to spread engineering to middle school aged childern.
• GSA member agree to reconsider the request at a later time (after the MAE department has acted).

Time:3:57

Discussion

• James Pearson agrees to email to Keith McDaniel for posting to the GSA website the 1) poster competition schedule and prepared emails for dissemination, 2) the updated GSA constitution.
• GSA members agree to review the updated constitution and poster competition schedule individually and suggest improvements.
• James Pearson agrees to update Dr. Robert T. Nagel on 3/2/2007 with the suggested increase of prize amounts from the GSA and MAE department.
• James Pearson agrees to set up the MAE GSA Gmail account.

Time:4:02

Discussion

• Meeting End.
• Next meeting to update the constitution, discuss the poster competition improvements and decide on prizes and judging.