NEWS

For the full October GM/Council package, see here.

The next Council meeting will take place on November 28 in MC 110.

Speaker’s Corner: 4-5 pm (prior to Council meetings, last Thursday of the month) @ the Grad Club. For all Council related matters, contact speaker@sogs.ca.

Upcoming Events:

• Family Halloween Party: Monday, Oct. 28 @5pm. Costume party for the little ones + pumpkin carving + costume contest and loot bags for kids + parents in costume get a free cocktail! Pizza party. $5 per SOGS member and $10 for non-members, kids are free. See our Facebook event for more details.
• Harry Potter Trivia: Wednesday, October 30 @7pm at the Grad Club. There will be a special Harry Potter-themed appetizer menu.
• Monthly Karaoke Night: Friday, November 15 at 7 pm
• Board Game Night: Wednesday, November 20 at 7 pm. We have over 60 board games, so there is something for everyone.
• Beers and Peers networking event: Wednesday, November 20 from 6-8 pm at the Grad Club.  

Important Deadlines:

2018-2019 HEALTH CLAIMS must be sent to the insurance company by November 30. If you mail them out at the SOGS office, you will need to bring them in by mid-November to ensure they are processed in time.

Self-Care and Support

• SOGS Peer Advisor for Academic Matters: Ariana Potichnyj (advisor.academic@sogs.ca)
• Graduate Peer Support (GPS): Drop-In Sessions every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-7 pm in the Western Interdisciplinary Research Building, room 1110. (@Western.SOGS facebook.com/events/2290381097940907/)
• Dissertation drop-in: Fridays from 10 am – 3:45 pm. Bring your lunch, coffee and snacks, and write in a stress-free space all day in the SOGS multi-purpose room.
  

 SOGS Financial Support and Funds

• SOGS Non-TA Food Bank
• Academic Joint Fund
• Wellness Joint Fund
•  Rexall Savings Card (20%)

New Commissioners for the Council year:

• • SOGS Accessibility Commissioner Ashton Forrest
  • SOGS Indigenous Commissioner Danielle Robinson
  • SOGS Racial Equity and Inclusivity Commissioner Mohammad (Mo) Sharifi
  • SOGS Women’s Concerns Commissioner Jaclyn Siegel

Call for Nominations:

SOGS members in good standing wishing to nominate themselves to any of the following positions must send their nomination (and an optional 1-page election poster/platform) to the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) no later than November 19 at 5:00 pm EST.

• SOGS Pride Commissioner
  The Pride Commissioner advocates on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ SOGS members. In addition to representing the community’s interests at SOGS Council meetings, the Pride Commissioner helps connect students to resources, supports local LGBTQIA+ events, and seeks out ways to support LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• SOGS Chief Returning Officer
  The role of SOGS Chief Returning Officer (CRO) is primarily to oversee elections and referenda. For more details please see the latest Constitution and Bylaws document, particularly sections 2.2.3, 2.4, 2.19.3.3, and 3.3. If you have questions about the position, please contact speaker@sogs.ca.
• Members for the Appeals Review Commission
  The role of the Appeals Review Commission is to rule on appeals relating to presidential elections and referenda. For more details please see the latest Constitution and Bylaws document, particularly sections 2.4.2., 2.4.10, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, and 3.3.1. If you have questions about the position, please contact speaker@sogs.ca.

Motions

• A motion was passed to revise Bylaw 2.15.4.4. to read: “Written minutes must be recorded by an office staff member or Executive member in attendance at the meeting. The minutes shall be presented at the next Council meeting.”
• A motion was passed approving a letter in support of Western Librarians and Archivists to be sent on behalf of SOGS in by the Executive Committee to Western’s President, Provost, and Chair of the Board of Governors.
• A motion was passed to revise bylaw 2.2.6.5 to adjust Commissioner reporting times in the Fall term to support and align reasonable expectations of newly elected incumbents. (Commissioners are elected in October.)
• A motion was passed to ratify the updated Grad Club Policy document. The policy was updated include language for Non-Disclosure and Code of Ethics documents. 
• A motion submitted from the floor was passed to extend the Freedom of Expression ad-hoc committee term to September 2020.

For the full September Council package, see here.

The next Council meeting will take place October 24th in MC 110.

Speaker’s Corner: 4-5pm (prior to Council meetings, *last Thursday of the month) @ the Grad Club. For all Council related matters, contact speaker@sogs.ca.

Upcoming Events:

• Graduate wellness week 2019 Events: (All additional info is found at sogs.ca/wellness-week or on the SOGS Facebook page)
  • Craft Night @ The Grad Club (Monday, Sept. 30 @7pm)
  • Strengths Seminar (Tuesday, Oct. 1 in IGAB room 1N05 @1:30pm.) Take the GALLOP STRENGTHS test (first 15 students are FREE, after that it’s $17 per student). 
  • Trivia Night at the Grad Club (Tuesday, Oct. 1 @ 7pm)
  • Financial Literacy Seminar (Wed. Oct. 2 @ 10am-1pm in IGAB Atrium). REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Wellness Forum (Thurs. Oct. 3 @10am-1pm in the IGAB Atrium) ** REGISTRATION REQUIRED
  • Rick McGhie at the Grad Club (Thurs. Oct. 3 @7pm)
  • Family Football Game (Saturday, Oct. 5 @1pm at TD Stadium). *Students get in free by showing student ID + 4 FREE tickets for family.  Get your family tickets here. Used code “SOCIALSOGS” at the check-out. 
  • WEEK LONG FITNESS PASSES! Get your fitness card at the SOGS office! Go to 5 fitness classes + head over to the WEC and the Student Health Services to get the back of your card stamped and be entered to win a $100 gift card for groceries. 
  • WEEKLONG HEALTHY LUNCHES at the Grad Club! See the menu here. 
• GRADtoberfest @ The Grad Club. October 17 @7pm. $10 for members | $15 for non-members. Buy tickets in the SOGS office. Your choice of: Octoberfest sausage, veggie sausage, and chicken schnitzel + fries and pretzel + beer samples. See our Facebook invite for more details. 
• Family Halloween Party: Monday, Oct. 28 @5pm. Costume party for the little ones + pumpkin carving + costume contest and loot bags for kids + parents in costume get a free cocktail! Pizza party. $5 per adult, kids are free. See our Facebook invite for more details.

Self-Care and Support

• SOGS Peer Advisor for Academic Matters: Ariana Potichnyj (advisor.academic@sogs.ca)
• Graduate Peer Support (GPS) Drop-In Sessions every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-7 pm in the Western Interdisciplinary Research Building, room 1110. Lear more on our Facebook Event listing
• Dissertation drop-in: Fridays from 10am-3:45pm. Bring your lunch, coffee and snacks, and write in a stress-free space all day in the SOGS multi-purpose room.

 SOGS Financial Support and Funds

• SOGS Non-TA Food Bank
• Academic Joint Fund
• Wellness Joint Fund
•  Rexall Savings Card (20%)

Guest Speaker

• Declan Hodgins, USC Secretary-Treasurer, presented a report on the SOGS UCC fee and which USC services benefit graduate students.

Elections

• Call for Commissioner (Accessibility, Indigenous, Pride, Racial Equity and Inclusivity, and Women’s Concerns) nominations: Submit nominations to speaker@sogs.ca by 4pm on October 15th (elections to take place at October Council)

Motions

• A motion to give Vice Presidents voting rights at all SOGS meetings, including Council and committee meetings was referred to the Bylaws and Constitution Committee for review.
• All other motions will be discussed at the next Council meeting due to loss of quorum.

August 2019 General Meeting/Council Summary

Read the full August General Meeting / Council package, see here.

The next Council meeting will take place September 26th in MC 110.

Speaker’s Corner: 4-5pm (prior to Council meetings, last Thursday of the month) @ the Grad Club. For all Council related matters, contact speaker@sogs.ca.

Upcoming Events:

• SOGS Fall Orientation for Graduate Students. All events are or start at the Grad Club. Some events require tickets, which can be purchased in MC room 8.

MONDAY, Sept. 9

• • Family BBQ *Kids eat free*. Tickets $5 at SOGS office. Bring your own white fabrics to tie-dye. 
  • Bring Your Own Crafts Night: 7pm. 

TUESDAY, Sept. 10

• • Drop in Breakfast: 8:30-11am Free coffee. 
  • International Graduate Student Issues Committee Meet & Greet: 3-5pm.
  • Meet Your Commissioners event: 5-7pm. Ice cream. Prizes and trivia!
  • Trivia Night. Prizes for winning teams. Get there early to grad a good seat. 

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 11

• • Welcome to Your Grad Club: 4-7pm. Appetizers and prizes. 
  • Board Game Night: 7-11pm.

THURSDAY, Sept. 12

• • Amazing Race: 1:30-3:30pm. Starts at the Grad Club. Sign-up via the link on our Facebook event page. Huge prizes: $200, $150, $100 gift vouchers + free tickets to Bonfire Night for top 3 winning teams. All participants earn a $5 gift voucher for the Grad Club. 
  • Gradcast Trivia Night: 5-7pm. Meet the Gradcast committee! Gradcast is the official radio show of SOGS.
  • Bonfire Night: 7pm, Corn on the cob, hot dogs + drink. Unlimited s’mores. Movie theatre popcorn. Screening of “Dodgeball” $5 tickets available at SOGS. 

FRIDAY, Sept. 13

• • Indigenous Graduate Student Breakfast: 9-10:30am. Free breakfast. Sign up via the link on our Facebook event page. 
  • Karaoke Night: 7pm-12am. Complimentary drink tickets (max 3 tickets) for singing (max 1 drink ticket per solo/group song) + pub grub appetizers. 

Self-Care and Support

• SOGS Peer Advisor for Academic Matters: Ariana Potichnyj (advisor.academic@sogs.ca)
• Graduate Peer Support (GPS): drop-in will resume in the fall (mid-September) – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-7pm room TBA.
• Dissertation drop-in: Fridays from 10am-3:45pm. Bring your lunch, coffee and snacks, and write in a stress-free space all day in the SOGS multi-purpose room.

 SOGS Financial Support and Funds

• SOGS Non-TA Food Bank
• Academic Joint Fund
• Wellness Joint Fund
•  Rexall Savings Card (20%)

Motions

• A number of motions were passed regarding amendments to the SOGS Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies. These amendments reflect changes in the SOGS membership structure affected by the Student Choice Initiative. These amendments include: 
  • changes to the membership requirements under section 1.5.1. of the Constitution;
  • addition of a new category of membership for graduate students granted a Leave of Absence;
  • new wording in Section 1.6.1.4. of the Constitution that directs to the Bylaws for determining departmental representation at Council;
  • clarifications to the Duties of Commissioners (Bylaws 2.2.6.);
  • minor wording changes within Chapters 3 and 4;
  • added statement within the Bylaws regarding the Constitution and Bylaws superseding Committee Policy documents;
  • minor wording changes to a number of Committee Policy documents;
  • Changes to the Goblet of Knowledge procedures: SOGS members will receive one free drink from the Goblet as long as they submit a request with minimum notice of 2 business days; non-members may use the Goblet but will not receive a free drink.
• A motion was passed to use $1600 from the Orientation Handbook line item to purchase additional SOGS swag for orientation.
• A motion was passed to use a portion of the funds allocated to the Graduate Student Research Assistant position towards funding a Public Relations position.
• The 2019 year-end financial audited statements were approved.
• A motion was passed to change the title of the Racialized Commissioner to “Racial Equity and Inclusivity Commissioner.”