Graduate Employee Organization

Ice Skating Party!!

Saturday, March 13th

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Mullins Center UMASS  (free parking!)

No cost to members and their guests!

Bring your skates or use the Mullins Center Ice skates (kids sizes are limited) at no charge. There will be light refreshments served and music to skate to. All are welcome (skating is not required for this Union Party). There will be a Private room for coats, shoes, and socializing.

** this year skating coaches will be on hand for beginners**

For more info contact Nancy at 534.7600 or nancy@uaw2322.org

Congratulations to David Wemhoener, our newly elected Secretary-Treasurer!

Thank you to all who voted and to Hong Yan for running as well.

Membership Meeting Announcement:

The next GEO membership meeting will take place, March 1, 2010 from 5pm-6pm, Campus Center 101.

This will be an important meeting for GEO membership! Not only will we be electing a new Secretary/Treasurer, but we’ll be seeking your input about the direction of GEO for the future. As many of you are aware, campus is going through some restructuring and we will be discussing how our departments and members are being affected.

Food and refreshments will be provided.

————————————————————–

Voting for Secretary-Treasurer:

In addition to voting at the membership meeting, it will be possible to vote for Secretary-Treasurer in the Campus Center concourse. The tentative time for this voting is on 1 March 2010, from noon to 3pm. Please check the GEO website (www.geouaw.org) for changes to the time.

The following statements are from the two candidates for GEO Secretary-Treasurer.

Hong Yan:

I have been a GEO member since September of 2009, the moment I came to University of Massachusetts Amherst. As a graduate student in the department of Asian Languages and Literatures, I really enjoy my life as a student and teaching assistant at the same time. During this whole year, I can see how GEO works for fairness and benefit of us graduate student employees. As an international student, I am impressed by the far-reaching events and activities which pay much attention to issues that affect us. I was inspired to participate in the activities and desire to be a GEO staff, so that I can devote myself to the organization which has been helping us all the time. Now I’m so proud of myself being a nominee for the Secretary/Treasurer position. The responsibility of Secretary/Treasurer involves not only finance and budget issue, but also involves the function and organization of the office and meetings. I will try my best to do everything as perfect as I can.

David Wemhoener:

GEO members: still waiting for our promised raise? Have you had issues with budget cuts in our health insurance or department funding?

Proposals are in the legislature to prevent these cuts and deficits next year. The cause is not lost! Come to share your story, have your say in the process or support your colleagues.

On Monday, Feb 22, starting at 10:00a.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium, representatives from the MA Joint House and Senate Ways and Means committee will hold a public hearing. The committee will take testimony on Higher Education at 1-2:30, but the hearing will continue until 4pm.

Come early for speaking sign-ups.

Information from the GEO Elections Committee:

1. Nominations for the Secretary/Treasurer position are now closed.
2. We have two nominees for the Secretary/Treasurer position: David Wemhoener of Labor Studies and Hong Yan of Asian Languages.
3. A brief bio and position statement from both nominees will be emailed to the membership and posted on the website shortly.

ATTENTION GEO MEMBERS:

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR SECRETARY/TREASURER!

The Secretary/Treasurer’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: Chairing GEO Finance Committee, serving on Local Finance committee; administering GEO operating budget; planning annual budget; overseeing the functioning of the GEO office; maintaining records of organization; ensuring that minutes are taken at all GEO meetings; submitting requisitions to the Local and International as needed; facilitating GEO sponsorship of events and organizations.

Shall chair meetings in the absence of the President or the Vice‐President; shall assume duties of the President or the Vice President if the President and the Vice President are unavailable.

Full members in good standing may nominate themselves or any other full member in good standing for any office. (Per Article 3‐ Membership of GEO bylaws: A graduate employee of the

University of Massachusetts who is included in the bargaining unit is eligible for full membership during the term of employment. A full member in good standing who ceases to be included in the bargaining unit may remain a full member through the next semester plus one day, provided they retain their graduate student status. Summer session is not defined as a semester.)

A candidate for Secretary/Treasurer must be a full member in good standing, which includes current status as graduate student, as defined as in the GEO By‐laws Article 3. For the academic year in which they serve, the three officers will each receive one full time equivalent (FTE) stipend so long as such stipends are provided by the University.

Nominations should be submitted in writing in person to the GEO office, Student Union 201, or via email to kmbaldwi@english.umass.edu no later than 5pm Friday, February 12, 2010.

GEO‐UAW 2322 is an equal‐opportunity employer. Eligible members from underrepresented groups are encouraged to seek election for the Secretary/Treasurer position.

The nomination period for elected officials, and the the hiring period for staff are closed.

At the 3 February 2010 membership meeting, the election committee will be presenting the results of the closed nominations for President, Vice President and Secretary Treasurer.  Additionally, the personnel committee will present to the Assembly of Stewards their recommendations of candidates to fill four staff positions.

Membership Meeting Announcement

Please participate in GEO’s first membership meeting of the year, Wednesday, February 3, 2010 from 6pm -7pm, Campus Center 174-176.  This meeting is preceded by an Assembly of Stewards meeting that starts at 5pm (same location).  Both meetings are open to all members.

Membership will vote on electing a new member-at-large to steering to replace Megan Nagel who has resigned.  Members at large are voting members in the Steering Committee as well as voting members in the Assembly of Stewards.

The election committee will be presenting the results of the closed nominations for President, Vice President and Secretary Treasurer.  Additionally, the personnel committee will present to the Assembly of Stewards their recommendations of candidates to fill four staff positions.

Food and refreshments will be provided.