**GSC MEETING MINUTES**

**September Meeting (09/08/08)**

**ATTENDANCE: Irene Avila, Kim Baxter, Kate Callahan, Megan Cleland,
Julien Debbache, Sandra Dillahunt, Abbi Engel, Stephanie Guzik, Ashley
Hardin, Khalisa Herman, Sariah Khormaee, Athena Klutz, Emma
Kurnat-Thoma, Guillaume LeBoucher, Sara McMillin, Lisa Mielke, Marieke
Mur, Ashley Owen, Andre Pilon, Christina Saikus, Gayani Weerasinghe,
Shawn Mullen (GPP) (22 attendees).**

I.  **General Business**

    1.  Secretary: Kim Baxter -- reminder that quarterly Estimated Tax
        payments are due 9/15.

    2.  Treasurer: Stephanie Guzik

        i.  Collection of \$20 season pass

        ii. Summary of BBQ money -- the BBQ was successful.

    3.  GPP Notes -- Shawn reported that the Career Advancement Toolkit
        is now online so check out the GPP website. Barbara Houtz will
        teach a course on Teaching three times this year on different
        NIH campuses; Maggie Meitzler will teach a course on Writing
        twice this year; watch for emails. Still working on getting a
        phone in the Grad Student Lounge. If you are a recent or
        soon-to-be graduate, tell GPP so they can acknowledge you at the
        graduation ceremony at the Symposium.

    4.  Retreat Survey Results -- the majority of students believe
        thesis talks are very important, so we will keep working on
        establishing them. Suggestions were made for Pathways topics and
        Interest Group topics (specifically Immunology and Genetics --
        any volunteers?).

    5.  Website -- Removal of Archived Material -- only the current
        year's files on the GSC website will be available.

II. **Committee Reports**

    1.  **Social Committee** -- Chairs: Gayani Weerasinghe, Stephanie
        Payne, and Brent Hehl

        i.  Upcoming events:

            1.  Naval Bowling -- Sept. 11, 5 PM -- followed by Happy
                Hour at Sapphire sponsored by FELCOM.

            2.  Happy Hour -- Sept. 24 at Blackfinn.

ii\. Need another co-chair to help with planning fall/winter events --
contact Gayani.

2.  **Academic Committee**

    i.  FAES Lab Techniques Class: Marieke Mur, Megan Dennis; Kara
        Lindstrom; Kate Callahan; Amanda Higley. Marieke reported that
        the teachers have met and are all set for the course to start
        next week.

    ii. Biophysics and Structural Biology Interest Group: Matt Berberich
        -- not present.

    iii. Systems Neuroscience Interest Group: Kara Lindstrom and Lei Qin
         -- not present.

3.  **Career Development**

    i.  Pathways: Nick McBride, Shau-Ming Wei, Sally McMillin

        1.  Recap of August meeting -- Continuing Education after PhD.
            Email Sally if you'd like a copy of the presentations on
            MSTP and MPH programs.

        2.  Next events, combined with FELCOM: 9/16 CV/resume workshop,
            10/1-2 CV Slam, 10/16 Job Fair.

    ii. GS3 : Roseanne Zhao -- not present.

4.  **Community Service** -- Cathy Kolf and Kim Baxter

    i.  Upcoming events -- contact Kim to sign up or for more info:

        1.  Graduate Student Blood Drive, Weds 9/24

        2.  Public Lands Clean-Up Day, Sat 9/27

        3.  Ongoing volunteer opportunity with kids in Transitional
            Housing in D.C. - reading, homework help, outdoor
            activities; grad students might rotate through a
            twice-a-month volunteer slot.

        4.  Children's Inn meal-prep will be later in the fall - stay
            tuned.

5.  **Trainee Advisory Committee** -- Kate Callahan, Christina Saikus,
    Marieke Mur -- no news.

6.  **Partnership Representatives**

    i.  Formal Partnerships: Kate Szarama, Shau-Ming Wei, Ashley Owen,
        Gayani Weerasinghe, Sariah Khormaee, Lydia Durant, Andre Pilon,
        Shawna Graves, Ashley Hardin, Anthony Blount, Emma Kurnat-Thoma.
        Sariah raised two concerns voiced by her constituents regarding
        GPP/Mentor/Graduate Student financial responsibility -- Shawn
        suggested that all questions about finances be directed to the
        GPP office since each program is different. Gayani reported that
        she learned about what her constituents wanted from her as a
        Partnership Rep by sending out a survey.

    ii. International Individual Agreements: Julien Debbache, Guillaume
        Leboucher, Lisa Mielke, Kai-Markus Mueller, Pamela Ng. Marieke
        asked if Travel Awards would be available again this year --
        Shawn said it depends on the budget.

    iii. US Individual Agreements: Irene Avila, Sandra Dillahunt,
         Muslima Ali, Amanda Higley, Christina Saikus, Khalisa Herman.

7.  **Public Relations Committee**

    i.  Newsletter -- Co-Editors: Stephanie Guzik and Cynthia Chang --
        no news.

    ii. Website -- Web Mistress: Christina Saikus will be sending out a
        survey to compile a list of 'Who's Who' in the GSC for the
        website.

    iii. GSX -- Moderator: Julien Debbache -- Julien will not accept
         people to the GSX Yahoo group unless they fill out all the
         information on the 'Join GSX' form.

    iv. FELCOM rep: Heather Pressler -- not present.

8.  **Symposium Committee** -- Kate Callahan, Dan Crooks, Marieke Mur,
    Phil Wang, Abbi Engel

    i.  Date is Nov. 14 -- Call for Abstracts is open. Posters must be
        \<42" wide so that they can all be up at once. Currently working
        on redesigning the flyer for the Symposium and finding judges
        for the Poster Competition.

    ii. Graduation ceremony will take place at the Symposium.

9.  **Thesis Committee** -- Tina Tang, Khalisa Herman, Rui Gao,
    Shantelle Lucas -- 1^st^ meeting will be 9/29.

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III. **New Business**

     1.  Marieke reported that the Summer Journal Club leaders met to
         evaluate the program, which went well. They will continue it in
         the summer, and will begin holding a Journal Club for post-bacs
         in the fall. Email Marieke or Betsey Wade if interested.

     2.  Reminders:

         i.  Call for Mentor Awards is open! Due 9/22.

         ii. Don't forget to reserve the Grad Student Lounge using the
             GSX calendar if you need it for a meeting or seminar.