After 2000, major issue about voting. Focused on systematic forces that tried to take over vote.
Election Protection is non-partisan program, just that everyone has right to cast ballot.
What can we do? How can we get involved?
Incentives to participating are meeting attorneys, etc…
Maybe work in volunteer center:
Check statutes in jurisdictions.
Call some of the poll places and speak to Board of Elections’ officials.
ERS - Electronic Incidences Reporting System
On Election Day, try to get students and lawyers to answer hotline and tell the officials that call, what they need to
Also, have a program where they dispatch people into the field to monitor polling places.
New York, California, Florida, etc…
Election Day
If students want to participate on this day, it’s alright because they understand that students’ time is very stretched and valuable.
Need for people of color to volunteer in these communities where this is an issue because other volunteers don’t look mirror the people in the community.
Question about Montgomery County situation last election.
Community Service Committee and Vanessa are going to organize a big group to go help.
Re-introductions of Board Members
Edgar – New 1L member.
Diminishing Vote of Black Activist
Need more people to help out with this event so contact Desiree (desiree_verdejo@yahoo.com).
Desiree is also looking for a 2L, 3L or 4L to be on a ALSA panel next week.
Voting on Constitution changes
Elyse
§2.01:
Eliminated General Secretary Position and changed into 2 positions.
Added duties for positions.
Eliminated positions and replaced with Faculty Advisor
Added Student Liaison and Faculty Liaison positions
Karim says that it needs ¾ of quorum to vote and he didn’t get to read it.
Khadeen voted to amend the Constitution.
Many seconds from audience.
3 abstentions and everyone else votes yea.
Social Events Update
Happy Hour next Friday (Oct. 20). 7 pm at Bar Nun.
Community Service
College Preparatory event at Wilson High School
November 2 and 9, both are Thursdays. 6 pm to 8 pm.
NBLSA International Day of Service
November 9. Encouraged to wear red that day.
Deciding whether to send a care package over there or how to contribute? The Community Service Committee will update the membership.
Dress for Success
Student drive to bring things in. Or,
Personal shoppers for low-income women.
Community Anti-Violence Program
Tutor children in Southeast held in conjunction with Howard’s BLSA
Bake Sale
October 18 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
To benefit the WCL Fredrick Douglass Moot Court Competition Team.
Will send out information on Yahoo and will put on TWEN if anyone wants to bring stuff in.
Will use for whatever BLSA things we do such as t-shirts, etc…
Events that general membership would like to see:
Need to figure this out soon because budgets for Spring due on November 15.
Suggestions:
Networking events
For example, LALSA is having dinner tonight with Professor Varona, so more events/dinners with Faculty.
Event that brings together day and evening students.
Political events
More functions with other BLSAs in area.
Will try to publicize other BLSAs events too.
Rhonda Van Lowe – (not around anymore)
Career services capacity (was kind of confusion on that for us last year)
Co-Sponsor a screening of a film on Eminent Domain with the Community & Economic Development Law Clinic
Event on Hip Hop in the Media
Etiquette Course perhaps combined with a dinner
Social events with just BLSA members that are not in a club or bar setting – will force people to talk to each other
Bar review hosted in conjunction with WCL Bar Review
Defining what a Member of BLSA is?
Want to know what kind of benefits everyone expects as members, in addition to what people expect to get back from group?
Brainstorming:
Karim – Anyone who is member of African Diaspora because people can’t always do things.
Can’t have any type of discrimination to other races, etc…
Maybe should not be automatic member because some people in this category of people don’t want to be in this group.
Kim – Anyone who supports the mission of BLSA. Everyone’s concerns are different at different points in time at school (1L year differs from 2L, 3L, etc..)
What benefits do you want members to specifically receive?
Do other ALSAs have similar requirements?
Coley – 1L who agrees, but also thinks it’s an issue if no one ever shows up to anything.
If it’s something that you want to do, then you can make it happen.
Onika has a newborn but only went to about 2 things last year and would worry no one saw her come.
What sparked this?
Answer about job fair applicants who don’t participate in any other events during the year.
Keagan says it’s a good idea to talk about this and define it and ask “what do you want to get out of it?”
Maybe more professional functions.
Edgar suggested that maybe a 3L could be that person who gives a sense of history to E-board and is more closely connected to alumni?
Karim thinks that 3Ls should be more structurally incorporated into organization. He also thinks that it would be good to have people to talk to about learn “soft-skills” things.
Khadine – Maybe part of defining membership would be not necessarily coming to meetings, but maybe having information somewhere about who to talk to about certain things. Everyone is responsible for creating sense of community so it’s just nice to have.
Other suggestions: A point system – people would get points for attending certain events.
Has been a slight issue about applying for scholarships, etc.. about being a “member-in-good-standing.”
Meeting Adjourned at 1:03 p.m.
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