What is your MTS session up to?!

Session Minutes for 9/10/12

Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Prepared by R. Bates, Session Clerk & P.A.S.O. Moderator

Present: Matthew Downey, Lora Burge, Melva Lowery, Dirk Labuschagne, Stephanie Levan, Dean Christine Vogel, Marjorie Vander Wagen, Alicia Rhine, Sarah Jones, Maureen Wilson, Rosalyn Bates, Wes Pitts, Kristin Riegel, Kichung Yi, Vimary Couvertier-Cruz

(Initials of speakers are used for brevity. McC is the abbreviation for McCormick.)

Moderator ML opened with prayer and brief agenda review. Vice Moderator DL reiterated that we should raise issues to meeting so that they can be addressed in an “appropriate and effective way.” ML reminded us that we are in community as Session members and we represent the larger McC community. She emphasized support of fellow student groups.

Members introduced selves, indicated the group/entity represented, and shared purposes and initiatives of that group. ML is also on the Board of Trustees along with Angela (Eun Joo) Ryo (not present).

AR gave guidelines for conference/student group event budgets and reimbursements. Two weeks advance notice for obtaining funds is advised. Funds are charged to student account and later credited to that account.

Dean Vogel raised issues that carried over from last year. These included Kimbark’s transition under MAC ownership, transition, work orders, cleanliness and recycling. WP clarified Ignatio’s role as a buildings and grounds worker, informing members that Ignatio is doing some work at 1400, but he does not work at Kimbark.

DL brought up topic of retreat scheduled on Sept 29. Negotiated date, whether or not it should be open or closed to the McC student community, its focus and its location. Professional Boundaries workshop is that day, and this is presents a conflict for Korean-speaking students who need to attend. KR explained history of retreats based on 3-yr experience as Session member. Then it was suggested that retreat be closed to build cohesion among Session members. Explored scheduling options for late October before reconsidering the Sept 29 date per Dean Vogel’s suggestion. Voted that retreat would be closed and off-campus. A local church as an option was preferred over local hotels in the interest of reducing expense. 3 people will contact local churches to make requests: Maureen Wilson at First Presbyterian Church, Sarah Jones at University Church, Matthew Downey at Hyde Park Union Church. Timing negotiated and decided 10 am-4 pm.  Session members were instructed to bring group calendars for collaboration and to avoid event scheduling conflicts. Expected attendance is 25 people total. WP will do some tech training about Google calendar feature.

Community sponsored meals:

Sept 19 Commissioning Chapel service—New Session members will be introduced and inducted. Session Members expected to be present

Advent worship—Date(s) explored and not yet decided. This will be delegated to first-year student (a new Session member).

Feast of Fools—A name change is suggested due to historical controversy. The name change as well as its scheduled date will be further discussed at retreat.

Student Updates:

Women in Ministry announced its first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 12 noon to 1 p.m., and this group welcomes participation from men as well. AR advised that Vagina Monologues date be secured as soon as possible to avoid schedule conflicts.

ML asked members to strongly consider attending other group’s events.

Global Community will host international movie nights on Oct. 19, Nov. 10, & Dec. 7. International students study break: Oct 10. Christmas dinner plans in progress.

Two calendars: AR handles the Office of Student Affairs calendar for McC website. All Session members have access to Google calendar.

Per KR, any announcements for Herald should be submitted in JPEG format for the digital announcement ticker. Formatting will not be changed, and announcements will be posted as received.

Kimbark’s sale & funds being used for students: McC per President Yamada made some commitment for “re-imagined community” related to the change in property management from McC to MAC. KR noted that the res-life coordinator’s hours had been cut.

Field studies stipend reduction: WP referenced his conversation with Tabitha Clark of Financial Aid Office. Churches involved in field studies agreements have stopped paying. McC has been paying the costs. This is the last year for students to get any type of stipend. Expressed laments about reduction itself, its timing and the method of communication to students. Dean Vogel offered to take this concern to Cabinet mtg.

Absence of the on-campus phones: McC is no longer paying for cost for landline phones. Majority of students were not using them, but these phones are important resources for international students. VC explained that Internationals were unaware that they had options about the phone and thought that the phone service was being taken away altogether. SHL indicated that the tone of survey emails sent from tech support caused feelings of sadness. It was noted that the process of setting up phone service with AT&T presents unique challenges for international students. VC will connect with B. Fassett of Tech Support and draft a letter to communicate to International Students that the service is still available but at a cost incurred by AT&T. DL noted that it is more cost effective for outside callers to call landlines than for students to call outside of the U.S. Dean Vogel suggested that she and WP present these issues to housing management. WP suggested that the service be offered upon request and that the cost be paid in partnership between student/family and McC seminary.

Student Lounge clean-up monthly: 2 groups will be responsible. Sign-up sheet will be posted on the refrigerator. President Yamada will monitor the space for cleanliness. ML advised that we should be moderate when projecting event attendance that involves food orders so as to reduce leftovers and wasted resources.

Discussed email accounts specifically for student groups. Pros and cons explored.

Webpage for student website: some were not present in summer when student advocacy group descriptions were requested. ML requested that representatives submit description for their student group.

Incoming students will nominate Session members for their class and vote by Survey Monkey.

Voting closes at midnight on Friday, September 14, 2012.

Volunteers will open and close meetings in prayer.

ML asked about meal preferences for next meeting.

Next meeting: Oct. 1, 4-6 p.m. The meeting will focus on the incoming class members getting familiar with Session processes.