2016 Committee Lunch
Date: Wednesday 7th week, Hilary 2016 (2016-03-02)Attendance
Present: Anne Williamson (President), Cealach McKeating (Vice-President (Administrative)), Steven Rose (Secretary), Darryl Braier-Lorimer (Treasurer), Meg Peyton-Jones (Dr. WHO), James Letten (Dr. WHO), Frederick Potts (Foody), Helen Davies (Sports Rep), Xavier Greenwood (Sports Rep), Joseph Lee (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Alberto Andrade (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Elliot Jones (Affiliations Officer), Saad Hamid (Affiliations Officer), Rivka Shaw (Charities and RAG Officer), Sophie Conquest (Charities and RAG Officer), Ruby Breward (Design & Maintenance Officer), Molly Rogers (Student Disabilities Officer), Indigo Wilde (Entz Officer), Xavier Cohen (Entz Officer), Hubert Au (Ethnic Minorities Officer), Thitapa Haritaworn (Ethnic Minorities Officer), Andrew Truong (Website & Computing Officer), Rachael Ince-Kitson (Women's Officer)
Absent with apologies: Hugo Monnery (Lindsay), Daisy Cutts (Access and Admissions Officer), Chilla Knight (Environment & Ethics Officer), Laura Bossino (International Students Officer), Nicholas Halterman (International Students Officer), Ele Saltmarsh (LGBTQ Officer), Rory Meryon (LGBTQ Officer), Daisy Cockrean (Women's Officer)
Absent without explanation: Zachary Leather (Foody), Emily Webb (Access and Admissions Officer), Peter Sayer (Design & Maintenance Officer), Samuel Gibb (Student Disabilities Officer), Aidan Balfe (Environment & Ethics Officer), Lewis Scott (John de Balliol), Simon Kelly (John de Balliol)
Agenda
1. Matters Arising
2. Supplementing Womens' budget [Rachael & Daisy]
3. Web domain renewal [Andrew Truong]
4. International Food Night [Hubert]
5. TED talk [Molly]
6. Notes on Being Teenage [Molly]
7. Committee Calendar [Molly]
8. AOB
Minutes
Annie welcomed the Committee.
Rachael told the Committee that Oxford Women Speak Out is occurring tomorrow, and that a speaker has been invited to address the JCR next week. She asked the Committee for £25 to fund these endeavours (as well as snacks for the events).
Darryl asked if the budget for women had been used, Rachael replied it had.
Meg recommended it come from the Welfare budget. Darryl replied that it would come from general reserves.
The Committee passed £25.
Andrew asked the Committee for £12 to renew the website domain. Darryl commented that this is most likely to fall under normal expenditure and hence need not be visited at a Committee lunch.
The committee passed up to £12.
Hubert asked to be reimbursed for International food night. He told the Committee that he would also be willing to use the excess of the money passed from BYOB, hence asking for £15.
The Committee passed £15.
Annie commended the efforts of those involved in the meeting; Molly reiterated this thanks.
Molly told the Committee that the TED talks on Saturday were not as successful as anticipated (noting that two people who weren't speakers turned up) leading to the decision to reschedule for Thursday of 8th week. She asked the Committee to provide their support for the event. She asked the Committee to pass money for refreshments.
Xav C offered the opinion that it's a great idea, and similar to a manifesto pledge of his named “Balliol Soapbox” (which was intended to be more general than just talks, but definitely including talks), and asked if there was any opportunity for co-operation, suggesting that more people might be drawn in to a more general event. He noted that it's possible that the association with TED branding may be a bit dissuading to potential speakers due to the weight the brand has.
Molly replied that she believes the low turnout was likely due to event conflicts on the day. She noted that she believes the proposed date would be free. She asked if the Committee thought it would be better to hold the event in the JCR. Annie replied that she thought so as it is likely to capture people who would otherwise be in the JCR.
Rachael offered that the Committee consider their own social circles to encourage speakers.
Ruby offered that while snacks may draw people in, there also exist members of the JCR who may be dissuaded from attending on the basis of this, and that this may be an opportunity for a snackless event. Molly replied that there exists a possibility to just provide refreshments.
Richard asked what time this would be occurring, noting the times that the bar license covers. Molly replied that it would likely be around seven. Molly asked for money to be passed for refreshments. Darryl suggested passing up to £50. Molly agreed.
Xav C asked if people thought that this would preclude a Soapbox at the start of next term, it was agreed that another event would be a good idea.
The Committee passed up to £50.
Molly told the Committee that a speaker would be coming on Tuesday; a third year undergraduate at St Hilda's, the author of Notes on Being Teenage (a compilation of thoughts and ideas that the author believes would be valuable for teenagers). Molly noted she attended a fantastic talk by the speaker in sixth week, and encouraged the Committee to attend. She asked the Committee if they believed the MCR should be invited; people seemed to agree this would be appropriate.
Molly noted the existence of the online Committee calendar (pinned on the freshers' page) and asked the Committee to make greater use of this to avoid scheduling conflicts occurring again.
Alberto asked which calendar. Molly replied that there exists a link to a Google docs calendar on the pinned Facebook page of the Committee.
Cealach noted lights have started going up in the JCR, and asked for Committee feedback. Richard asked which lights were new. Cealach told him that they are side lights and are noticeably different. She noted she would be attending a meeting of the renovations working group to discuss timelines.
Molly asked the Committee for various baking materials for a welfare baking event.
Darryl noted that it's Richard the JCR cleaners' birthday next week, and hence asked for £25 to purchase a birthday present.
Meg told the Committee that she intended to hide chocolate eggs around the college and asked if people would like to get involved. Rachael and Molly were incredibly keen.
Richard noted concerns regarding the safety of college squirrels. Meg replied that she had been involved in discussions with college regarding this and suggested that “students could give squirrels a run for their money.”
Sophie noted that Balliol's Got Talent is occurring on Monday, and told the Committee that there are currently two performers, and hence encouraged sign-ups.
James asked who would be hosting. Sophie said a decision hadn't been made. James noticed that Calum was excellent last year. Annie suggested contacting people involved in the charity musical.
Xav C asked if socialist propaganda was a talent, and noted that he can also roll on his belly.
Cealach noted that this would be on the same night as the history dinner.
Richard told the Committee that he had erred in telling people that non-conference room people can leave their stuff over the vac. This is incorrect. What is actually the case is that those who apply for vac res would be able to stay in their room over the vac. He clarified that people may be able to leave their stuff over the vac, but this is not certain. He asked the Committee to tell this to people should they ask, noting that he had sent an email to the JCR for clarification, however this would not be sufficient to reach everyone.
Annie asked how room choosing had been going. Richard replied it had been going well, or, at the very least, going.
Cealach asked about the piano rooms, Richard told the Committee that only Hubert had asked for a piano room. He then proceeded to advertise piano rooms.
The meeting was adjourned.