The second MSW Student Association meeting for the Spring was held on February 22, 2006 in Classroom 1, room 113 at 7pm. For those who could not attend the meeting please review the minutes:

MSW STUDENT ASSOCIATION MINUTES                                                               FEBRURARY 22, 2006

1. Update on service projects from committee chairs:

Charlee’s foster kids Committee Chair: Valerie Smith valjsmith@bellsouth.net

• Collection boxes in HPA 1 building and social work office
• Look for flyers in HPA 1 for supply needs

South Africa School Supplies Drive Contact: Jackie Vega honeyjv@ufl.edu

• Donation boxes by HPA elevators                      
• Looking for new school supplies
• If anyone is working in a school setting, your agency may also be able to donate

Relay for Life Contact: Joanna Gribble jmgribble@hotmail.com

• Visit their website and sign up – www.acsevents.org/relay/fl/ucf
• Website will allow you to create a user name and password
• Register with the UCF Social Work team
• Being held Friday 3/31 to Sat 4/01 from 6pm-11am (you can take shifts of walking in that time range)

Graduation Celebration Contacts: Robin Kohn rkohn@mail.ucf.edu

                                                      LaToya Woods lwoods99@hotmail.com

                                                     Alexis Koppler ak1556@aol.com

• COHPA graduation ceremony being held on May 04 at 2pm in the UCF arena
• BSW/MSW celebration being held on May 05 beginning 3pm
• Celebration will be in the Pegasus Ballroom at UCF
• The committee is currently deciding on entertainment and a guest speaker
• Robin Kohn will be sending an email for all students to vote on the above candidates
• Each student will have 6 tickets, 8 is the maximum
• $5 charge for each ticket over 6
• 3 awards presented to BSW and MSW each: academic, “beating the odds”, outstanding field work
• If any student has input on a student selection for “beating the odds” contact Robin Kohn

***Graduation ads can be placed for the graduation packets. Prices run: $75 full page, $50 half, $25 quarter. These ads can be placed by your family and can include a picture, or can be placed by the student to your family and friends. THE DEADLINE TO PLACE THE AD IS APRIL 14, 2006. Please contact Robin Kohn if you are interested.

***We are currently trying to collect a baby and current picture for each graduate. Please bring a copy of each with your name and phone # on the back to Robin Kohn (room 204) or send them via email to Mary Coursey @ ml40673@yahoo.com indicating they are for the UCF social work graduation celebration. You can also send in pictures from events such as Lobby Day and the South Africa trips. THE DEADLINE TO TURN THEM IN IS APRIL 10 TH 2006.

***We need as many volunteers as we can get! If any 1^st year MSW’s would like to help with graduation, please contact any of the people above. We can also use help from graduating MSW students. Please come to the next meeting, presented by the BSW and MSW graduation committee members. Next graduation meeting: March 29 @ 5:30 pm at Applebys on University.

2. Diversity Essay Contest Contact: George Jacinto gjacinto@mail.ucf.edu

• Essay submission on: African American & Latino Youth: Resources and Challenges
• Presented by Dawn Brett Scholarship Luncheon and Continuing Education
• 10-15 page paper as a basis of a 15-20 minute presentation
• Student selected receives $100
• Submit paper with a title page and name only on this page
• Deadline is March 20, 2006
• Turn papers in to the social work office front desk

3. Dr. Allgood presented about Lobby Day 2006

• Monday March 27^th in Tallahassee
• visit www.myflorida.com to look up your local Senators and Representatives
• set up your own appointments to meet with legislators and/or their aids on 3/27/06 at the capitol
• you can present your own thoughts on bills of interest to you (not just NASW’s agenda)

NEXT MEETING:  Wednesday, March 22, 2006, Classroom 1 building, room 113, at 7pm

Blanche Stokely will be presenting Psychodramas again for those who missed the workshop.

Refreshments and snacks will be included.

Visit our website at:  http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~mswa23/

We are still eager for as many MSW students to join the association. It is ok if you can’t make any or all of the meetings. You can still help out in many ways by joining a committee and working on any of our service projects or fundraising events. Being part of the association not only keeps you involved in the school and surrounding community, but it also is a great way to meet more student and it looks great on a resume. Please contact any of our committee chairs or officers if you would like to get involved! We are looking for 1^st Year MSWs and Part timers not graduating to carry on the organization for next year.

MSW Officers:

Joanna Gribble-President jmgribble@hotmail.com 

Megan Gillis-Vice President mscanadian@gmail.com

Sherry Mathews-Treasurer slmathews82@yahoo.com

Alexis Koppler-Secretary ak1556@aol.com