2024 Special General Meeting Minutes 

Tuesday, November 5th 2024 at 1pm-3pm PST 

In attendance: Kush Gulati, Marten Becker, Hannah Brown, Julia Denley, Acorn Wasserman, Chihiro Ebara, Alison Chung, Georgia, Diana Viafara, Marissa Donaldson, Adrean Meuser, Jitendra Palaparty 

Call to Order/Welcome 

    1. Julia calls to order at 1:10pm 

Land Acknowledgement 

    1. Julia offers land acknowledgement 

Access Needs Check-In 

    1. Break every 45 minutes 

Ratification of AGM Minutes (Hannah/Acorn) 

    1. Ratification of 2024 AGM Minutes 
    2. Passes 

Adoption of 2024 SGM Agenda (Acorn/Kush) 

  1. Passes 

General Overview and Intro to the SSD 

  1. Presentation of 2023-24 Annual Report 
    1. Marissa presents  
    1. Hannah recommends skipping ahead to by-elections, finishing reports after 

Executive Council Reports  

Co-Chairpersons 

    • Julia  
      • Low on spoons 
      • Hopes to do more strategic planning 
      • #Access4All campaign plug 
    • Hannah 
      • 5 Days of Action presentation tomorrow & Thursday 
      • Yummy data with #Access4All 
      • Integrate the SSD across campus 

Treasurer 

    • Vacant 

Student Liaison & UVSS Constituency Rep 

    • Acorn 
      • Garden Parties with CCG 
      • Rebuilding Accessible Garden Bed 
      • Button Making 
      • So much tabling in September, shout out to Marten for keeping Acorn stable 
      • Roundtables collaborations 
      • Indigenous Disability Awareness Month 
      • International Student Conversation 
      • Food security initiatives within UVSS 

Secretary 

    • Anika 
      • Absent 

UVSS’ SSD Representative 

    • Vacant 
      • Interim: Acorn 
        • See above 

Staff Reports 

Office Coordinator 

    • Adrean Meuser 
      • Lots of student advocacy, more people in the space, some great collaborations. Looking to replace the Mac and desk in the space, and also our colouring books arrived!! Did some #A4A tabling and it went very well.  
      • Collaborations with CCG, SOCC, NSU 
        • Seed Saving, Thurs-tea Thursday 

Research & Communications Coordinator 

    • Diana Viafara  
      • Acknowledges hard work to promote our weekly activities 
      • Workstudy students (2) for social media & comms 
      • Improved accessibility & statements 
      • Social & community events 
      • Goats! 
      • Bug Zoo 
      • Website updates 
      • Education tab 
      • Cooking class videos 

Education & Administration Coordinator 

    • Marissa Donaldson 
      • AIR 
        • Body Inclusive Yoga 
        • Registration released today 
        • Everybody Wiggle 
    • Community dinner 
      • Spring: cooking classes 
    • Facilities Management collaboration 
    • Workshops 
    • Craft Cafes & Crafting and Co-working events 

Business 

    • Prize draw 
      • Email prize winners 
        • Prize 1: UVSS Tote & Mug, reusable cutlery, Cinecenta passes, Colours of Kindness Crayons 
          • KUSH! 
        • Prize 2: UVSS Tote, t-shirt size M, bubble wand, reusable cutlery 
          • HANNAH! 
        • Prize 3: Tote, Planner, Colours of Kindness Crayons, Claybake  
          • MARTEN! 

By-Elections 

  • Motion to appoint Scrutineer and Electoral Officer (Kush/Hannah) 
    • Adrean as scrutineer 
      • Passes 
    • Marissa as electoral officer 
      • Passes 
    • Treasurer 
      • Remains vacant 
    • UVSS Constituency Representative 
      • Acorn nominates themself 
        • Holding the role interimly since July 
          • Acorn is elected 
            • 4 yes, 1 abstains (Acorn) 
    • Student Liaison 
      • Marten nominates himself 
        • I have been involved with the SSD as a community member for approximately 2 years, and have recently become more involved through volunteering to table at the Clubs and Course Unions days, as well as helping to co-facilitate the chronic pain peer support group. As a Student Liaison, I would be excited to help build connections with the community that has welcomed me so readily and to work alongside the rest of the SSD to foster higher levels of engagement with various programs. I already love to mention the SSD to anyone I know, and would love to do that in a more official capacity! 
          • Marten is elected 
            • 6 yes 
    • Graduate Student Representative 
      • Jitendra nominates herself, Hannah motivates on her behalf 
        • Centres marginalized folks in her advocacy work 
          • Jitendra is elected 
            • 5 yes 
    • General Members (up to 5) 
      • Remains with 5 seats vacant 

Discussion 

  • Council bios for website 
    • Short personal introduction e.g. first name, pronouns, area of study, year at UVic, pets, etc. 
  • Peer Support Groups 
    • Julia invites folks to join whenever they like, Adrean shares the registration link 
    • Will be discussed at our next holiday party TBD 
  • Mac & desk replacement 
    • Mac Mini replacement 
      • $1900 cost through UVic 
    • Sit stand desk broken 
      • $1100 cost through UVic 
  • Committee formation 
    • #Access4All Committee 
      • Currently meeting every 2nd Tuesday at 12:30pm 
  • SSD Colouring Book  
    • Launch date: Dec 5th  
    • Diana drew the cats on the cover 
    • Selling sliding scale $10-$20 

Future Meeting Times 

  • Biweekly #Access4All:  
    • Join us on alternating Tuesdays at 12:30pm on Zoom 
  • Council Meetings:  
    • Everybody – please fill out this poll by November 17th 
  • Council Training:  
    • New council members – please fill out this poll by November 10th 
  • Holiday Party poll: 
    • All Council & staff – please fill out poll by November 17th  
  • Weekly Staff/Exec (Thrive) Meetings: 

Adjournment 

  • Seedy Thursday this week 1-3pm 
    • International Student Roundtable 
  • Adjourned at 2:20pm