Reminders & Information (some new & some old)

Hello All,


Reminders:

~Be sure to register tonight or tomorrow night at 12:01am! Follow the steps we reviewed in class and you will be just fine. Good luck!

~Keith Wann! Mitchell at 8:00 Thursday, April 7th. I look forward to seeing all of you there. This can be used towards one of your lab requirements. Bring a friend! This will be a culture immersion experience!

~Common Experience: All Dignitas students are required to attend: That Sex Thing, April 26th, 6:30 in Mitchell. Students that do not attend will need to write a 5 page paper on sex and sexuality.


Our accomplishments: (impressive!)

Advertising:
*posters are up at CSS and community
*Cable will place an ad
*TV stations have been notified
*Agencies were sent invites
*Amazing Banner is completed thanks to Lauren's mother
*flyers will be put in napkin holders
*UMD Access For All personally invited
*shirts completed


Donations:
*Several donations have been donated! More donated this year then ever before!
*Poster board thanking businesses will be created (please begin to develop this SAVE RECEIPTS)
*Thank you cards will be written and sent out (please create a thank you card)
*several businesses have been contacted and physically visited throughout the community
*Please decide how you wish to give these out (gift bags combining some of the donations?)
* bracelet fundraiser wrapping upqq1

Food and Decorations
*fish bowl decorations will be purchased for tables((fish, glass bowls, rocks, water drops and lights for around bowls)be sure to bring the cost of this to the next class meeting)
*balloon arch donated
*Tule fabric donated over dance floor
*multi colored lights to be purchased for poles (cost needs to be reported)
*fabric for draping from ceiling (cost needs to be reported)
*8 doz. doughnuts donated from Tobey's
*3 Cakes will be ordered from Sam's Club and pictures of possible cake options (3) will be brought to class next week
* Cookies too?

OT (club)
*creating a sensory area

Equal Access For All (club)
*students will provide information about their unique abilities
*dance lessons will be given
*table will be set up with club information

Monica
*location reserved and secured
*Menu finalized
*interpreters hired
*Dj confirmed : crunchy bunch
*OT club (2 meetings)
*Equal access for All (2 meetings)
*Disability Resource Office contacted and students that use services have been invited
*Entertainment (dance) by students on campus will be provided
* Equipment for power points on reserve
*ASL classes invited
*Dignitas program has been invited

Amanda
* Tobey;s doughnut donation
*announcements and facebook contacting



Groups:

Power points are looking good. Now it is time to finalize them.

Begin to purchase products to make your posters and create your table. Each group has $25.00. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS!



What you are experiencing will help you learn:

The frustrations and roadblocks that you have been running into is only an ounce of what people with disabilities face everyday. Embrace this, it is teaching you more about privileges than possibly any lesson could. They do not give up,they can't. They continue to push ahead. Feeling like you are not being heard, not getting responses from people that you need, not knowing where to turn for help or assistance, not being understood or respected, and things you need to happen so you can be successful that just aren't, are what people with disabilities are faced with over and over again. You may feel like you are not learning anything and I am not teaching you much, but keep in mind much of what you will learn this semester is indirect and depends on what you are willing to put in. This semester is not meant to be a lecture orientated classroom. I am not leading this class as I did last semester; I have give you the reins. Often education does not do this and it may be very unfamiliar to you. It is okay to ask for guidance but I am not going to tell you what to do, how to think or how to do it. You can do this. Practice it here in this class. it will prepare you for what is to come.

********HOMEWORK********

~finalize powerpoint must be at least 25 slides and will be turned in *****APRIL 19TH*****. 100 points

~Call your agencies that work with people that experience your disability and personally invite them by *****APRIL 19th*****. I strongly encourage you visit the agency if possible. Learning about your disability is crucial for a successful event.

~Poster boards DRAFTS will be reviewed in class next week on April 12th. I have these if you turned them in and will return them to you and provide feedback. Final posterboard is due***** APRIL 26th*****. 25 points


~Provide the class with your meeting minutes and work on accomplishing what you have told that class you planned to do this week. Do NOT put this off any more. These minutes MUST be posted on this blog each week by Monday at 12:00 am AND A HARD COPY IS TO BE TURNED IN AT THE START OF CLASS (TYPED). 10 points each

*********STUDENTS MUST CREATE AND SIGN THE WEEKLY MINUTES FOR BOTH THE COMMITTEES AND DISABILITY GROUPS TO SHOW THEY ATTENDED AND THIS IS TO BE GIVEN TO AMANDA BEFORE CLASS. STUDENTS THAT DO NOT ATTEND WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THE REASON AND PROOF OF ABSENCE, IF FOR EXAMPLE IT IS SPORT RELATED, YOUR COACH NEEDS TO EMAIL ME***********IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND YOUR MEETINGS YOU WILL NOT PASS THIS CLASS. THIS CLASS IS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN GROUPS MEANING YOU KNEW WHEN SIGNING UP FOR THIS CLASS GROUP WORK WOULD BE BE REQUIRED.

I have allowed you to take minutes whatever way you wanted but since I have not gotten them I am setting up what I want from you.


Formal or Informal Meeting Minutes Format?

Formal meeting minutes formats are often governed by company policy, and must be recorded and communicated in a pre-determined way, such as company annual general meetings. If in doubt, ask for a copy of previous meeting minutes to establish the normal meeting minute format.

The Role of the Minute Taker
Your role as minute taker can affect how you interact during the meeting. Traditionally secretaries sat quietly taking notes, but chances are you will be expected to take part in the meeting AND take notes.
Top Tip - Make it easier to take good notes and provide valuable input by agreeing with the meeting owner what your role is. It's often best if the meeting owner, facilitator and note taker are 3 different people.

Choose Your Weapon Wisely!
There are plenty of gadgets to help you take better notes, for example you can type directly onto a laptop, use a voice recorder or even get hold of a white-board that print what's written on it. But beware; even the shiniest, fastest laptop is worthless when the battery life-span is shorter than the meeting.
Top Tip - Always take a backup pen and paper!
Standard Meeting Minute Template
Meeting minutes normally include these elements as standard;
Time, date and venue.
Attendees and apologies from absentees.
Key outcomes from the meeting - decisions made, actions agreed and open issues.

Top Tip - Remember who said what by making a named seat plan at the start of the meeting when introductions are made, and referring to it as necessary.

A good meeting will have a pre-prepared agenda, and all attendees will be clear about the meeting objective and expected outcomes. Use the agenda to structure your note-taking, and be prepared to clarify points as the meeting progresses.
Top Tip - Aim to record key themes not verbatim comments
Some meetings work better if the notes taken are available for all to see, for example on flip charts or on over-heads. If so, remember to take these notes with you and write up the meeting minutes while they are fresh in your head.

Before you circulate the minutes, spell check and if necessary, ask the meeting owner to proof read the minutes. Well written, clear minutes, circulated in a timely manner are always well received!

These tips on how to take meeting minutes will increase the quality of any further meetings and increase the teams' effectiveness.

~Really look at our campus this week. How accommodating is it for someone with the disability that you are studying? Become aware.




How you are being evaluated:

Effective communication during class meeting, work performed leading to event, peer's evaluation of your performance, and participation in event 55%

~Final reflection on your growth as a student, individual and a community member: 5%

~Poster Board and Table Education at the event: 5%

-powerpoint: 30%

-Weekly Minute Reports: 5%

Hang in there. Take a deep breathe and realize the power that you have as a class to make this one of the most memorable experiences in someone's life. Be a part of the movement.

I have decided to start from this week forward for your weekly minutes points. PLEASE COMPLETE THEM! From this point forward you will be strictly evaluated.

As always, your partner in learning,

Monica