Summer dining plan? Issue brought forth by resident: Mohamed Abutaleb would like to see the dining plan continue in the summer, as the majority of customers are now graduates (MA sees 80-85% of students are grads). Does this meet graduate interests? Grads like Ashdown dining because of the level of quality and atmosphere.
In the summer, all facilities are generally shut down. Vendor would need critical mass due to large fixed cost. The current number of students is not sustainable, and operates at at a loss, so dining being open in the summer is very unlikely, and out of AHEC's control. To be sustainable, 150-200 students must eat at dining. Currently, below 100 do. MA is leaving single housing, otherwise he would be Ashdown's rep (this position is still open!). There is a dining committee apart from Ashdown as well.
Can we use the kitchen facilities to hold Ashdown cooking events? Yes. Ashdown can use everything but frielator and meat slicer.
Dining does crimp use of space for AHEC. There have been numerous conflicts with events AHEC and other members of the Ashdown community wish to hold.
Suggestion: Move dining around the Northwest to get numbers up. We can't have weekday events in Hulsizer because of dining. SP has cooking facilities, as does Warehouse (if the number of attendees is less than 150 ppl). Archana was told rotating idea was not feasible. Extra level of organization required. Plates and silverware are the hard part. Archana found in McCormick people went more often when dining was once a week, and attendance dwindled when it was every day.
There is too much food stored in Ashdown- spills over to AHEC fridge.
How many days per week in the future semesters? Now Sun-Thur. Removing Sunday and Thursday would be good to avoid collisions with brunch and coffee hour.
Question: Was Dining for the undergrads, with the grads strung along? No. Ashdown dining was started as a grad program, 2-day a week to build community. The presence of the Phoenix group (who will be here for the next few years) inspired the full weekly program. Is low attendance at dining a conscious decision or lack of advertising? The meal cost cannot be reduced, in fact, it will be a struggle to stay at $8. The actual cost of each meal is $12.
Ann and Terry will bring our decision to the housemaster meeting next week. Our first suggestion: rotating dining with other houses, two consecutative and constant days in eah location. Second suggestion: make dining three days per week (dropping Sunday and Thursday).
Progress on Funding Proposal: SP will submit. We have not heard back. We will be getting $2000 from SP for this semester.
Brunch in the Summer: May, June, July and August. We are canceling May brunch- committee members are away, others have quals. Did we get money for May? SP has not intended to have a May brunch from the beginning. It needs to be clear that we have not gotten money for the May brunch. It would be best if we give $500 back if necessary.
Solution: two brunches one month so we will still have four, with August as the double month. First day of classes is September 8. Brunch dates will be decided on by the committee, via email. We will inform deans why there is no May brunch, and we intend to double in August.
Culture committee- submitting joint proposal, submitted by chair. Summer, imax, somerville and boston fesitvals, ballet, aquarium, film evening, (aside: send movies that are int'l that are good along to movie officer), Boston graveyard tour. Meeting tomorrow. Each member should have individual role in event and have all committee members roles highlighetd.
Coffee hour committee- Will have special coffee hour. Transitition tonight.
Printer officer. Chose to terminate instead of sublet. Can continue to get seniority points if he reamins of an officer.
Living Things (Jingqing). New guppies brought, but an algae boom. Archana will assist Jingqing with algae problem.
Brunch. Currently discussing date for summer brunches. Will work with same vendors. Co-chairs need special credit card. AHEC will deal with cards via email.
LEF -Large Event Funding, does not fully fund large events. Arcarde- cultural or ethnic event. Both sources are administered by ASA and have a single application progess.
Application in the past? July 4th BBQ funding We didn't get it? Why? Last year we could only apply for only one event. Applied for BBQ and orientation dance party, latter is priority as it usually costs $5000, orientation gives us $1000.
first courtyard not good for sports, near public restrooms
noise
funding? Avery Ashdown fund. Dining services can store
steel tables? plastic lumber?
Facilities owns courtyards, not housing. Denise will get in touch with facilities to see what kind of facilities we can have. Can we lock grills outside?
Constitution / Housing Contract(policy page on Ashdown website)
Mailing list reorganization.
Budget Allocation and Budget Proposal for Committee
How to obtain continuing status?
Lottery
Division of 4 officer groups
How MIT organizations work.
Naresh will talk about publicity.
What does AHEC do in summer. Events. Last summer we moved. Ann would like tosee monitors connected.
Environmental money
Public Calendar for Common Area