University of Toronto Environmental Resource Network Meeting Agenda No. 2

September 29th 2015

Present: Gabriela Ansari-Correa, Michelle Newson, Geneva Speakman, Nathan Warkentin, Monica Dairo, Elspeth Mathau

Regrets: Marina Freire-Gormaly, Daniel Jubas-Malz, Jessica Maitland, Alex Ali Dib

Meeting is called to an order: 2:09

Cheques ready to issue:

Approved, but waiting on balance sheets/receipts:

Planet in Focus & Vandana Shiva $1,500.00

Bug Bites $560.00

Toronto Seed Library $1976.64

Awaiting executive decision:

Pollution Probe Plaque $1,000.00

Item 1. Recap of Recent Events

1a. Service Groups Meeting

The Director of Technology will give an update on last week’s meeting.

- Elspeth states that a majority of the meeting consisted of an overview of the UTSU which included its structure and how it operates - Also, they discussed the student commons. Elspeth shares that there will be small office spaces as well as meeting rooms available for use - The student commons is expected to open in 2017 - Elspeth also mentions how they discussed printing and how many pages you are able to print for free - Elspeth states that they have changed the process to change your student levy to one that now requires 5% of the student population. This is also the same for other groups who wish to change yours.

1b. UTSU Sustainability Commission Meeting

The Environment Week Coordinator and External Executive Liaison will give an update on last week’s meeting.

-Geneva explains that there where 5 people at the meeting - The meeting included voting on an item in regards to the plaque as well as a discussion on how to get more people at the meetings - Geneva also states that they discussed new technology which can tell you if your building is environmentally friendly. This technology is a bulb which would flash either red or green depending on if the building was environmentally friendly - Geneva discusses Alice’s idea that once more people attend she wants a group talk where each group can discuss different environmental issues and possible related events - Gabriela reminds the executives that these meetings happen every week and your welcome to attend (every Thursday at 5:30PM)

1c. School of the Environment Open House

The President and Projects Manager will give an update on last week’s open house.

- Monica explains that there were not as many students compared to previous years - Gabriella states that they did receive emails from students expressing interest in UTERN - They explain that this was a good meet and great for first year students

Item 2. Pending Applications

The President attended a Committee meeting with the ENSU President to propose installing the Pollution Probe plaque on October 14th at the University of Toronto. The proposal was successful.

2a. Pollution Probe Plaque Amount Requested: $1000 Status: Pending

Emulating the original Pollution Probe plaque from October 14th, 1970, the Environmental Students’ Union (ENSU) and the School of the Environment are asking for funding to support the instalment of a new plaque. Has already received three votes thus awaiting three more votes for approval. - Monica explains that they are asking for $82 more than what was originally asked - Monica states that the original number was an estimate but they have since received an official quote for the price of the plaque and installation - Monica discusses how the plaque will not be ready for the Oct. 14 event so they will have a print out of the plaque in its place until it is finished

VOTE: 2/10

Abstain: Gabriela, Monica, Michelle & Elspeth

- Please email your vote for the updated price

Item 3. UTM, UTSC, GSU Representatives

Per the Constitution, UTERN has elected representatives for the UTM and UTSC campus. At the September 21st meeting, the Treasurer volunteered to be this year’s UTM representative. However, the UTSC representative is yet to be decided.

- Gabriela states that UTERN still needs a UTSC rep - Gabriela explains that this representative would help advertise and reach out to student on that campus - Elspeth discusses how having representatives at multiple campus would help get our name out - Monica wonders how we reach out and let Scarborough students know - Monica states how centralized UTERN is and she discusses if one person in Scarborough is really going to make a difference - Gabriela discusses how the elections would be held online and would include them sending a short blurb - Geneva suggests reaching out to environment-related student groups in Scarborough to see if anyone is interested - The executives discuss what would be involved in separating the funds that UTERN receives so that a group like UTERN in Scarborough and Mississauga would receive the student levies from the students on their campus - Gabriella states that she will look further into this

Item 4. UTERN Social Media

4a. About Section

A reminder that blurbs are due Friday, October 2nd to the Director of Technology. Please send using to the Director’s preferred method. - Elspeth suggests that we keep the blurbs short- approx. 200 words - Elspeth discusses everyone taking individual photos with same background next week to have on the website

4b. Newsletter

Discussion on when the first UTERN newsletter should be sent out, and how often.

- Executive agrees that next Friday we will start sending out the newsletter - Gabriela states that we will begin doing the newsletter bi-weekly - Send Elspeth any environment-related events on campus to be featured in newsletter - Elspeth asks to please send them by Thursday

4c. LinkedIn Account

Last year’s Secretary recently came across UTERN’s LinkedIn account. No password is required for access. To join the group, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home? gid=4896824. This will be an addition to the Director Technology’s responsibilities.

- Gabriela states that Elspeth is welcome to post updates, however it is not required

Item 5. Library

Proposal to start lending books from the office to students at the University of Toronto. This would be a joint library between UTERN and ENSU since the room is a shared space for both groups. Discussion to follow.

- Gabriela discusses the challenge getting books back and how will we keep track of them

- One idea was to hold a book sale, possibly during environment week - Everyone discusses the possibility of saving course reader to loan out to students - Monica states that we would need to decide on where we want the profits to from the book sale

Item 6. Constitutional Amendment

6a. Conflict of Interest

Proposal to add definition for ‘conflict of interest’ to the UTERN constitution. The current constitution only briefly mentions ‘conflict of interest’ twice, without much explanation. A few of this year’s executives are also involved with other extracurricular that are associated with the School of the Environment. Discussion to follow.

- To be discussed next week

6b. Quorum Proposal to add explanation on how the quorum should be used in meetings (executive members present versus total executive members). Discussion to follow.

- To be discussed next week

Item 7. Case Competition

Continuing last week’s discussion on a proposed “case competition”. Anne from the University of Toronto Energy Fair (UTEF) has kindly volunteered to help UTERN with this project. Discussion to follow.

- Monica shares that Anne thought it was a good idea to open it up to engineers and that they would be willing to participate - Monica explains that she would be able to understand the technical terms - Monica states how she doesn’t see how it is different from just applying for UTERN funding? - Monica states that one of Anne’s idea was to hold a fair were the winners will discuss their idea - Geneva states she has a contact in engineering that she can reach out to - Monica explains that ideally we should start promoting before the end of semester - Gabriela suggests that we ask some engineers how they would approach this including what the time commitment would be - Next week we will further discuss time frame and contacts

Item 8. Agenda Requests

If an executive would like to add item(s) to the agenda for the following week, please message [email protected] no later than Friday of each week.

Item9. Open Forum

- Gabriela asks that everyone make sure that they are on Dropbox and accepted to be on UTERN exec group

- Also, to be please read any new funding applications before the meetings

Meeting ended at: 3:21