Association of Harvard Asian & Asian American Faculty and Staff (AHAAAFS)

Planning Meeting Minutes

Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Barker Center, Plimpton Room 133

Tea Tasting at CGIS - Mary to plan  Funding approved!  Aiming to cap RSVPs at about 15-20 people  Scheduled for February 11 from 1-2pm in CGIS South S153

Holiday (New Years ?) Lunch Social + Planning Meeting  Will aim for a meeting on January 19, 20, or 21- Neal to do a doodle poll  Brown Bag/Pot Luck - hoping to engage members on these different events/issues  Need to find a space. Meeting at Dudley House has worked well in the past as we can reserve the private dining room.

Anti-Muslim Discrimination/Racism Event  There’s been a move away from using Islamophobia: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/11/26/1239301/ap-drops-homophobia-and- islamophobia-from-its-style-guide/  The Harvard Chan MSA in collaboration with ODI is planning a series of events this spring (Feb-Apr). They are in the preliminary stages of planning workshops/panels and possibly a comedy night that is also a fundraiser. More info will become available soon as they seek co-sponsorship for the event. AHAAAFS could possibly be a co-sponsor by name without funding involved.- Kim to follow-up  KIm also has some ideas of possible speakers (Sam Museus & Vichet Chhuon)  Reema also mentioned possibly doing a fundraiser or donation drive for materials to send to Syrian refugees (through http://www.nudaysyria.net/).

Supporting a AA Cultural Center (Student requested)  Focus of AA Cultural Center would be on mental health and suicide prevention (‘safe place’ for AAPI students to gather.) Dean Kurana is aware though questions remain regarding space, purpose, membership fee, funding...  May be an avenue to set up AHAAAFS member mentorship with students. Note: We may also want to reach out the the AAA Alumni group. I believe they have already started a mentorship program.  Next steps: Josephine will ask Matt for proposal, questions, and availability; Reema and Neal will circulate documents to gauge membership/committee interest; select date to meet with students (perhaps headed by Loc?)

Career Development Events- Dami & Victoria (from HHR Recruiting) are do the planning  Planning meeting set up on Wed Jan 27 from 12 – 1 pm at the SCC rm 704  Event(s) to be planned with HHR Recruiting and all ERG’s will be invited to participate  May be connected with event below (Michelle Gordon-Seemore event)

Next Brown Bag Speaker Event  Michelle Gordon-Seemore, HHR Director of Recruitment Services has been invited. Potentially planned for mid-late Feb - Stella to follow-up

Co-Chairs for 2016/FY17  Should we transition to new leadership?

Executive Committee members for 2016/FY17  Should we transition to new members?  Should members need to commit some amount of involvement during the year?

Picking a regular meeting time  Having regularly scheduled planning meetings may be helpful to keep momentum going

Adding some features to our website (i.e. job postings, AARW event schedule, links to articles…)?  Need to discuss role of social media (Facebook, Linkedin group?)