(AFSA)
(Informal Networking session and lunch—11:30am-12:00pm)
COMMUNITY MEETING
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 12:00pm–1:30pm
Location: Campus Center, Room 2650, RIT Campus
Welcome and Introductions
Candice Baldwin
Holiday Party Debrief
Candi Boston and
Natasha Rogers-Dailey
Financial Report
Venessa Mitchell
C.A.S.E Report
Communication
(Candice Baldwin)
Advocacy(Candice Baldwin)
Service (Natasha RogersDailey)
Engagement (Jonathan
Ntheketha)
VP Candice Baldwin called the meeting to order at 12:00pm. VP Baldwin
welcomed everyone and apologized for the mix-up regarding the room location.
All members present at the meeting introduced themselves to larger group.
The Holiday Party was a success! Thank you to all who planned assisted with and
attended the event. Approximately, 50 community members were in attendance in
comparison to the 37 members present at Holiday Party last year. AFSA was able
to provide coats and a $50 gift card to both of the families. The gifs were delivered
to the families on Saturday, December 20th. Members of both families were
surprised by the donations and grateful for the outpouring of love shown to them.
Members of AFSA thanked E-Board member Candi Boston and all who worked
to make the Holiday Party a great success.
Assistant Treasurer Natasha Rogers-Dailey provided the financial report. Assistant
Treasurer Rogers-Dailey indicated that we have approximately $4000 in our
account, including pledges. AFSA continues to minimize costs in carrying out
initiatives, but members are encouraged to continue to provide financial support
throughout the year.
Communication Updates (Candice Baldwin)
AFSA is still pursuing Constant Contact to maintain the AFSA distribution list and
communicate with the AFSA membership. Constant Contact will be a more
effective and efficient mode of communication than the current clipboard survey.
Among other things, the program can be used to opt in and out of AFSA, post
minutes, and announcements. In the meantime, potential AFSA members
should utilize the current clipboard survey to join the AFSA distribution list.
Community members shared issues with not receiving AFSA communication after
opting in via the clipboard survey. VP Baldwin apologized for the ongoing
frustration, and the E-Board is working hard to rectify the situation. Community
Members are encouraged to share concerns with any E-Board member.
(Advocacy Updates (Candice Baldwin)
President Del Smith and VP Baldwin met with RIT VP and Associate Provost
Kevin McDonald to develop an Advocacy C.A.S.E Map. The Advocacy C.A.S.E
map is currently being reviewed by the E-Board, and it will be shared with
community members at a future meeting.
RIT VP and Associate Provost McDonald shared that RIT President Bill Destler
has expressed a desire to work more closely AFSA. VP Baldwin and Treasurer
AFSA Community Meeting
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Venessa Mitchell will be meeting with RIT President Destler to discuss AFSA.
VP Baldwin met with Newt Watson, newly appointed HR Diversity Liaison
Manager for Staff Recruitment. Mr. Watson expressed a desire to work closely
with AFSA in his new role. The AFSA E-Board will meet with the NTID
Diversity Group (NDG) to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Service Updates (Natasha Rogers-Dailey)
Assistant Treasurer Rogers-Dailey discussed upcoming community service
opportunities. Members are encouraged to sign up to participate in the Soup
Kitchen/Blessed Sacrament’s (BS’s) Community Service Event. Specific details on
date/time will be given at a future meeting. United Way’s Day of Caring will be
held on May 8, 2014, and AFSA will partner with the Division of Diversity and
Inclusion for this event. The annual Pillars of Hope event will be held on May 15,
2014. Activities will include faculty and staff presentations, RIT campus tour and
lunch.
AFSA members were urged to actively participate in any/all of the activities. For
more information, members can contact Assistant Treasurer Rogers-Dailey. More
details will be given as we get closer to the date.
Engagement Updates (Jonathan Ntheketha)
Membership Chair Jonathan Ntheketha discussed various engagement
opportunities, such as serving on committees (nominating, bylaws, membership,
meeting setup, etc.) All members interested in serving on a committee were urged
to sign-up before leaving the meeting or contacting Membership Chair Ntheketha
for more information.
AFSA E-Board recently attended the Xerox Rochester Black Employee
Association 2014 MLK Luncheon on January 17, 2014. The E-Board shared the
table with members of ODI (Office of Diversity and Inclusion) and MOCHA
(Men of Color, Honor, and Ambition). RIT’s Dr. Keith Jenkins was the keynote
speaker.
Membership Chair Ntheketha reminded the body to inform the AFSA
membership about potential engagement opportunities as well as of any potential
speakers/presenters/topics for AFSA upcoming community meetings.
Assistant VP for Human Resources Judy Bender suggested that Ebony Miller,
Program Manager, present about the new Center for Urban Entrepreneurship
(CUE). E-Board Member Boston suggested having student leaders from
AALANA student organizations present to the AFSA, and VP McDonald
suggested that Newt Watson provide an overview of his new role, relating to
diversity and staff recruitment.
AFSA extended congratulations and best wishes to Del Smith, former AFSA
President. Del has taken a leave of absence from RIT, and he is now working with
Mayor-Elect Lovely Warren.
AFSA Community Meeting
AFSA Special Election
Guidelines
(Jonathan Ntheketha)
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Jonathan presented a slide of and discussed the draft AFSA Special Election
Guidelines, which would be used to fill the AFSA President’s vacancy in the near
future as well as any future officer vacancies. The guidelines would be an
addendum to the AFSA Bylaws.
AFSA Nominations Committee will be established at the February meeting, and
nominations will be taken at the March meeting. Members will have the
opportunity to serve on the committee and participate in the voting process. The
members present discussed the special election guidelines.
Membership Chair Ntheketha moved that the AFSA adopt the guidelines. It was
moved and properly seconded by Joe Williams. The motion was approved
unanimously by the members present without objection or abstentions. In the
meantime, VP Candice Baldwin will serve as Acting AFSA President.
Member Donna Sandlin expressed concern that the March AFSA Community
meeting was scheduled during Spring break and suggested adjusting the date if
necessary. Membership Chair Ntheketha will determine if an alternative meeting
date can be held in March. Member Joel Frater expressed concern that the terms
for the current officers ended at the same time. Member Frater suggested having
staggered terms within the E-Board.
Announcements
Expressions of King’s Legacy events will be held Thursday, January 30th- Saturday,
February 1st. Tickets are still available for the 12pm Keynote Address by Tavis
Smiley as well as the State of Race Panel at East High School. All were urged to
show their active support of all events. Volunteers are still needed for the
keynote address event. Contact Stephanie Paredes for additional information.
A special screening of July ’64 will be held from 4:00-5:30pm in the Campus
Center, Bamboo Rooms.
Gospel Fest—Friday, January 31, 7:00-9:00pm in Ingle Auditorium—Tickets, $5
(students) and $10 (faculty and staff).
Evening of Poetry featuring Dwele and Alyssa Harris—Saturday, February 1—
includes entertainment and food
Finding My Path featuring Robert Johnson—Friday, February 7th, 4pm
Gather at the Table—Thursday, February 13, 6:00-7:30pm, Keynote Address
Distinguished Alumni Awards— April 10-11—recipients include: Dr. Rick Kittles
(COS), Dr. Herb Eichelberger (CIAS). Candi Boston is working to schedule a
time for the honorees to meet with the AFSA Community and recognize them
for their achievements.
Martin Luther King Celebration/Lecture--Tuesday, February 4, 7:00pm, SUNY
Brockport--Nikki Giovanni is the keynote speaker—all invited to attend. (Joel
Frater)
AFSA Community Meeting
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Student Employment opportunity in College of Engineering/Mechanical
Engineering for non-engineering student—4-10 hours per week (Thursday and
Friday). (Deidre Livingston)
RIT B.R.A.W.L (Broads Regional Arm Wrestling Fundraiser)–March 14,
7:00pm, RITZONE—event includes much fun and prizes—all encouraged to step
up by participating and showing support to fellow faculty, staff and students-February 2 is signup deadline. (Darci Lane-Williams)
February AFSA Community Meeting—“Each one” (AFSA member) “bring one”
(guest), which among other things, enhances Engagement (CASE). (Kevin
McDonald)
Expressions of King’s Legacy 2015—CNN Anchor Soledad O’Brien is invited to
be the keynote speaker—more to follow. (Kevin McDonald)
Expressions of King’s Legacy 2014 is tomorrow—Tavis Smiley is the keynote
speaker and there other tributes to King’s legacy--tickets are still available even at
the door—contact Morgan Martins for more information. All were encouraged to
attend and show support. Among other things, it enhances our ability to continue
to bring such people of renown/caliber to RIT. The evening will feature Panel
Discussion—Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, students and James Norman will be
participating. Special thanks to James Norman, who was instrumental in creating
the panel discussion.(Kevin McDonald and Candice Baldwin)
Adjournment
Notes taken by
Gwendolyn Gause
Meeting ended at 12:50pm