Updates and Reminders

Hello All,


Reminders:

~Be sure to sign up for the Keith Wann lab if you have not already done so. This is necessary for your requirement.

~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:

***Shirts will be part of the costs of advertising this event. Each shirt cost $9.00 dollars for a total of $270.00. *** All students will wear their shirts on Tuesday before the event. I would like to ask the students to make the final decision if this should come out of our budget. These shirts were optional and we did not have to make them. The students decided that they would each like to have one so they were made and ordered with the understanding we would each pay for these. Each student agreed to pay $9.00 a piece. We received a check on Tuesday from Dana Norton for $500.00 to be used toward this event. Purchasing these shirts takes more than half of this donation. This was given to us to use for this population because they do not have the opportunity to experience things like this very often.

*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 and passed out


Donations:

**donations will decide how to give our prizes during the evening***
~table will be set up with all prizes and an advertisement/thank you board with all donations given. This will include everything we have received to make this event possible. A list needs to be given to this group asap.

*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 they need to show transactions)
*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 up the remaining bracelets will be given to the first 100 people that attend the event

Food and Decorations

I will email a total budget amount that this group will have to spend. Be sure to keep receipts and have be sure that transitions are on them to receive your refund.
*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) They NEED HELP PICKING THESE UP
*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 What will these cakes look like?


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: United for Africa
* Equipment for power points on reserve
*ASL classes invited
*Dignitas program has been invited

Amanda
* Tobey;s doughnut donation and will pick up on Wednesday before the event will be reimbursed for gas(thank you)
*announcements and facebook contacting



Groups:

Power points to be finalized.

Begin to make your posters and create your table. Each group has $25.00. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS these must show transactions!



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. I need to RSVP next Tuesday, April 19th.

~Poster boards Final posterboards are 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%

We are getting closer! This event will be amazing. Keep up the hard work. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
As always, your partner in learning,

Monica