ÿþJanuary 31, 2012 " Issue 98 " http://www.sgps.ca E-Newsletter SGPS Office: Hours of Operation The SGPS Office is open Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (closed noon until 1 for lunch) We are located in room 021 of the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) SGPS Annual General Meeting The SGPS Annual General Meeting will take place February 7th at 6:30pm in the McLaughlin Room in the JDUC. All members have voting rights. Please contact the Speaker with any questions (speaker@sgps.ca). Documents for the meeting will be available in the next couple of days at: http://www.sgps.ca/council/documents.html 2012 SGPS Election and Referendum The SGPS is very pleased to announce the 2012 SGPS General Election and Referendum. The election is scheduled for March 1 and March 2, 2012. Voting will be done online. You will receive voting instructions closer to the date of the election. The nominees and referendum questions will be posted in a future edition of the newsletter (prior to the voting dates). If you have any questions about the election, please contact the CRO (cro@sgps.ca). Open Positions There are 7 positions open including President, VP Campaigns and Community Affairs, VP Finance and Services, VP Graduate, VP Professional, Board of Trustees Representative and Graduate Senator. These positions are a great way to earn valuable experience and add to your CV. Complete details are available on our website via the link below. Nomination Period The nomination period for the SGPS Election will run from February 1st, 2012 to February 13th, 2012. The nomination package is available via the link below. Frequently Asked Questions We have created a document that answers many of the frequently asked questions we receive during election time. You can access this document via the link below. Our Website Contains All The Details For more details, including descriptions of the open positions, the nomination package, FAQ, important dates and more, please follow this URL: http://www.sgps.ca/jobs/election.html Recycle At The SGPS Office Drop off your used batteries, ink cartridges and old cell phones at the SGPS office and we will recycle them. FREE Queen s 2012 Facilitated by graduate and professional students at Queen s University, the FREE Queen's 2012 workshop series is offered to Kingston community members on most Wednesday evenings between February 9, 2012 and April 25, 2012. FREE Queen's 2012 workshops offer participants the opportunity to engage in a variety of free workshops geared around the expertise of workshop facilitators. On February 8, 2012, join us for our workshop titled 'Advanced Facilitation: Mastering the Meeting' on how to organize and facilitate effective, efficient, and engaging meetings! For more information on this and other coming FREE Queen's 2012 workshops, and how to register, visit www.sgps.ca/events/freequeens.html, email Irene at vpg@sgps.ca, or call 613- 533-2924. All workshops are held at Pathways to Education, 263 Weller Avenue, Kingston, ON, K7K 2V4. Light refreshments provided. Seating is limited, so sign up early. We look forward to seeing you there! A message from Queen s University International Centre: QUIC wants YOUR photos! The Queen s University International Centre (QUIC) is proud to host our 4th annual International Photo Contest!   The contest is open to ALL current students of the Queen s community. Whether you re an international student commenting on your impression of life in Canada, or a Canadian student who has had an invaluable experience abroad, this is your chance to submit your photos!   The submission deadline is Friday, 17 February, 2012, midnight.  Please send your photos to quicphotocontest@hotmail.com. Participants can win a Grand Prize of $200, in addition to a host of other gift certificates/prizes from local restaurants and shops.   A Gala Reception will be held at QUIC on Tuesday, 13th March from 4  7pm to showcase winning photos and all submissions. For more information and contest submission guidelines, please visit: http://www.quic.queensu.ca/photocontest A message from PSAC 901: The 901 Bite News Bulletin Fifteen minutes every month is all the time it takes to stay current with PSAC 901. Check out The 901 Bite - a news bulletin for Queen s TAs and TFs. http://psac901.org/resources-2/901-bite/ SGPS Skate Rental Gather your family and friends for a spin around the ice! A perfect way to spend a winter day in Kingston. We have men s, women s and children s skates in various sizes and they are available to rent FREE of charge. The skates are due back the next business day before 4:30 pm. Please be prepared to leave some form of identification at the SGPS office. This ID will be returned to you upon the return of the skates. There are many indoor and outdoor rinks available for public skating. Click on the link below for the fall and winter public skating schedule.http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/programs/skating/publicskate.asp SGPS' Blades of Glory To continue our theme of Canadian winter activities, we invite you to take to the ice for an ice skating session in the heart of downtown Kingston. The City of Kingston maintains an outdoor skating rink on the northern end of City Hall throughout the winter months, and we plan on utilizing it! People with all levels of skating experience are encouraged to come to this event.  For the inexperienced, this is an opportunity to learn and for veterans it provides great afternoon exercise with good company. The SGPS will also be bringing hot chocolate to keep us warm and energized. Please contact logistics@sgps.ca for more information. Date: Saturday February 11th Time: 1:30- 4:00 pm Location: Meet at the downtown ring (pick up skates from JDUC office, at 021 JDUC, before 2:00 pm on Friday February 10th) ***We have a limited number of skates to lend, so it will be a first come first serve policy. Hope to see you all there! AMS and SGPS Food Centre Fund/Food Raiser The costs associated with being a student are increasing at an unreasonably high rate while government funding remains stagnant and continues to serves a very narrow range of students. The Food Centre works to fill in the gaps left by the government and university to ensure that all students have access to fresh, healthy foods. However, we have seen such a rise in the number of students accessing the Food Centre that our funding is inadequate to provide the level of service required by students. From February 6-10th there will be boxes all around campus where you can donate food or money to support students. Food and funds can be dropped off in the SGPS office, AMS office or the lower Ceilidh of the JDUC. More locations to come! For those willing and able, cheques can be made out to the AMS Food Centre and can be dropped off at the AMS front desk. If you would like a box to set up in an office or club space, they are available in the AMS office. Contact Laura at foodcentre@ams.queensu.ca for more info. The Food Centre is located in MacGillivray-Brown Hall. We are open Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 4:30-5:30. All students welcome! http://www.myams.org/foodcentre Free International Student Identity Card All SGPS members get a free ISIC card. Come to our office with your student card to get your free card any day of the year that we are open. Your Queen's netID and Password Please remember that Queen's will never ask you for your netID password or other confidential details about your Queen's e-mail. You may receive e-mails from time-to-time that ask for such information. Please be advised that they are not legitimate e-mails. If, for any reason, you send your Queen's password to a third party, you should immediately change your password. Info on changing your password can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/its/email/tutorials/emailaccount/netid.html A message from the Department of Drama & the Student Life Centre, Queen s University: Andrina McCulloch Public Speaking Competition Registration is now open for the Andrina McCulloch Public Speaking Competition. This competition now in its 71st year is open to all Queen s students (graduate and professional students as well as undergrads). The preliminary rounds take place Monday 13 February and Tuesday 14 February at 7pm in the JDUC (2nd floor). Final rounds will take place on Wednesday 15 February also at 7pm in the JDUC. The Grand Prize is $1000 with other monetary prizes for runners-up and honorable mentions. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.queensu.ca/drama/publicspeaking. Questions can be directed to jenn.stephenson@queensu.ca or public.speaking@queensu.ca Effective Communication Strategies with your Supervisor Join the SGPS Student Advisors for an encore workshop devoted to effective communication strategies within the student-supervisor relationship. Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 Time: 6 - 7:30 pm Location: Ed Churchill Friendship Hall (second floor JDUC, in QUIC) For full details, please see the end of this newsletter. A message from Queen s University International Centre: Cultural Skills for the Canadian Context Workshop Series Due to low interest, the Cultural Skills workshops for the winter term have been cancelled. A message from Investors Group Financial Services: DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SGPS GROUP RRSP & TFSA? Learn more about them and financial planning at this FREE seminar and pizza Come and hear Queen s Alumnus & Investors Group Consultant Ahmad Bakhshai speak about Financial Planning for graduating students. This free educational seminar is aimed to increase the financial literacy of graduating students entering the workforce. Ahmad will discuss all disciplines of financial planning including tax planning, retirement planning, saving for major purchases, risk management, debt management, investment planning, and emergency funds. You will be given the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A period following the presentation. Ahmad will also be covering the SGPS Group RRSP and TFSAs. All are welcome to attend including non-graduating students and partners/spouses. Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Room Bookings are TBD so please RSVP directly to Ahmad at: ahmad.bakhshai@investorsgroup.com  and  he   will  inform  you  of  the   location  prior  to   the seminar. The presentations are expected to run for about 60 minutes + Q&A. The following sessions are available and will cover the same material. Please be sure to also rank your preference with your RSVP. Date & Time: Wednesday, February 8th at 6:00 p.m. Date & Time: Thursday, February 9th at 6:00 p.m. Queen s gears up for Recyclemania 2012 For the second year in a row, Queen s will be participating in Recyclemania, an international competition aimed at promoting waste reduction activities at university campuses. Queen s joins hundreds of other schools in Canada, United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Qatar who will also be recording waste and recycling data for the eight-week competition. The data collected is then ranked to show which school collected the most recyclables, generated the least amount of trash per capita, and has the highest recycling rate. Are you an eco-warrior? Submit your best tip on how to reduce your waste and be entered to win green prizes! Email tips to: sustainability@sgps.ca Follow the SGPS on twitter and facebook The SGPS is now using Twitter and Facebook to keep you updated. We will be posting things like upcoming social events, deadlines (registration, optional fee opt-outs, health and dental) and lots of other important information for our members. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2310661892 http://twitter.com/QueensSGPS Health and Dental Insurance Claims Need help filing an insurance claim through your SGPS insurance? Stop by the SGPS Office for help getting your claim in the mail. We will help with the paperwork and pay the postage! Seize the Opportunity and Use Your Voice As graduate and professional students, there are many opportunities for you to get involved and participate in the governance of the University. Serving on a committee, council or working group is an excellent way to have a voice in matters that affect us all. It allows you to directly influence the way Queen s functions as a teaching and research institution, and as a community of scholars, students and staff. It also provides valuable experience in how to negotiate and advocate and it looks great on a CV. So let s not just talk about what we wish the University would do, let s actually use what we ve been given to raise educational standards at Queen s. Faculty of Health Sciences Education Awards Committee (one year term) A Graduate Student of Life Sciences selected by their peers who is in one of the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate programs such as (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Microbiology & Immunology) needs a representative to sit on their Selection Committee for the Faculty of Health Sciences Education Awards Committee. For the committee s Terms of Reference, please see here: http://meds.queensu.ca/postgraduate/committees/residents/awards This committee is ready to meet so if you are interested, please contact SGPS Executive Assistant, Pam Asselstine at ea@sgps.ca as soon as possible. Senate Nominating Committee (two year term) At this time the Senate Nominating Committee seeks faculty, staff and students who are willing to put their names forward for committee service, beginning September 1, 2012. Terms are usually for two years, with the number of meetings per year depending on the particular committee's area of responsibility. For a list of vacancies, visit the website at: http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/vacancies.html You can click on the committee name to read the terms of reference and composition. An online application form is at the bottom of the vacancy list. The need for members to serve on all these committees is pressing. Queen's community members are urged to consider putting their name forward, either for a committee dealing with a subject that is of immediate interest or concern to you, or for a committee dealing with a subject that you know is important. Applications will be accepted until March 16, 2012. If you wish to discuss the opportunity of serving on a Senate committee, please contact the Secretariat Office at (613) 533-6095. A message from the Graduate Visual Culture Association of Queen s University: Context and Meaning XI Graduate Student Conference Papers in Visual & Material Culture and Art Conservation Dates: February 3 & 4, 2012 Location: Agnes Etherington Art Centre A message from CFS Ontario: Call-in action to support KI! Ontario is currently violating Native land rights and sacred burial sites by allowing gold mining company God s Lake Resources to explore and prospect Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) sacred burial grounds WITHOUT consultation or consent. CALL BETWEEN 1 pm & 2 pm, EVERYDAY! CALL NOW: 416-327-0633  Ask for Rick Bartolucci (Minister of Mining and Northern Affairs) or leave a message. You can also reach him directly at his constituency office: 705-675-1914 http://www.facebook.com/events/176942525745970/ Ontario has devastatingly ignored Native land rights for TOO LONG. KI protects all life by resisting mining abuse on their traditional territory. Speak out to support KI! Call Bartolucci and demand that Ontario respect KI sacred burial sites and land rights NOW! Phone Script: List of demands and some points to mention: - Demand that Gods Lake Resources mining exploration project in the KI sacred landscape stops immediately. - It is a disgrace that your government has recorded claims and allowed God's Lake Resources to access KI territory near Sherman Lake even after your minister was notified of the presence of sacred burials in the area and after your government promised to build a new relationship with First Nations and the environment. - Ontario must finally begin to respect Native land rights by recognizing and respecting KI s Water Declaration and Consultation Protocol. - Respect KI s moratorium on all logging, mining exploration and industrial activity unless and until they have been agreed to through KI s Consultation Protocol. You can conclude by saying: I will continue watching this situation closely, and I will continue to take action to ensure that KI s Declaration and Protocol are recognized and respected by all governments and corporations. A message from the CFRC 101.9FM: CFRC 101.9fm opportunities and events FEBRUARY 6: ABORIGINAL AWARENESS WEEK FOCUS PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR DEADLINE CFRC is recruiting an intern to coordinate special programming in recognition of Aboriginal Awareness Week. This six-week internship is made possible with the support of the AMS Social Issues Commission's Equity Grants program.  The intern will be thanked with a generous honorarium upon completion of the project.  For complete posting details, visit: http://cfrc.ca/blog/recruiting-focus-programming-coordinators FEBRUARY 6:  RADIO DRAMA RESIDENTS' APPLICATION DEADLINE CFRC is recruiting 2 local writers for radio residencies to create original radio dramas.  The deadline for proposals is Monday, February 6.  The residencies are made possible thanks to the City of Kingston and Kingston Arts Council through the City of Kingston arts fund.  For more information visit: http://cfrc.ca/blog/recruiting-radio-drama-writers FEBRUARY 10-19:  CFRC FUNDING DRIVE Our annual on-air fundraising campaign raises almost 20% of CFRC s operating revenues. Tune in for 10 days of special programming! FEBRUARY 10: SLOW DANCE AT THE RENAISSANCE Grab your sweetheart(s) and head over to 285 Queen for slow jams with DJs Haircut and LK. 9 pm-2 am, $8-10. FEBRUARY 13: DOCUMENTARY LAUNCH AT THE SCREENING ROOM World Radio Day is celebrated with the launch of audio documentaries by Vee Blackbourn and Usman Mushtaq with Ekta Singh, at the Screening Room, 120 Princess. 6:30 pm, FREE. FEBRUARY 16: MATTHEW BARBER AT THE MANSION A fundraising concert at the Mansion, 506 Princess, featuring CFRC alumni Matthew Barber, Old Haunt and special guests. Doors open at 9 pm, $10-15. A message from CFRC 101.9FM: Interested in Radio Journalism? Want to advocate social justice? Well here s your chance to be a voice for the voiceless. Alternative Frequency, a local news show broadcast on CFRC twice a week, is looking for people to join! What is Alternative Frequency? A news show that aims to provide Queen s students and Kingstonians with local news coverage, as well news from a critical, non-mainstream perspective. We are currently looking for people to join our news collective an assembly of volunteers who collects news content for the show. If you are interested, please contact Cindy Gao at cfrcnews@ams.queensu.ca or drop by CFRC radio station located in the basement of Carruthers Hall on the Queen's University Campus weekdays between 9am-5pm. A message from the Senate Nominating Committee: Apply now to serve on Senate committees Committee service is a valuable way in which members of the university community participate in the governance of Queen's. Senate committees discuss issues of broad interest to the academic community, and make recommendations on policy and practice that are essential to the university's operations and evolution. At this time the Senate Nominating Committee seeks students who are willing to put their names forward for committee service, beginning September 1, 2012. Terms are usually for two years, with the number of meetings per year depending on the particular committee's area of responsibility. For a list of vacancies, visit: http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/vacancies.html. You can click on the committee name to read the terms of reference and composition. The need for members to serve on all these committees is pressing. Community members are urged to consider putting their name forward, either for a committee dealing with a subject that is of immediate interest or concern to you, or for a committee dealing with a subject that you know is important. Either way, committee work allows you to directly impact the way Queen's functions as a teaching and research institution, and as a community of scholars, students and staff. Applications are accepted until March 16. If you wish to discuss the opportunity of serving on a Senate Committee, please feel free to contact the Secretariat Office at (613) 533-6095. If you are interested in putting your name forth to the Senate Nominating Committee, please contact SGPS Executive Assistant, Pam Asselstine at ea@sgps.ca. Send her the name of the committee that you wish to be nominated for and your student number so that she can verify your SGPS membership. A message from the Cultural Engagement Group: Accepting new applications for CEG Talk Series CEG Talk Series are primarily devoted to providing both domestic students and international students with a platform to share their insights on global issues, to enhance their intercultural communication skills and to increase academic, social and cultural integration at Queen s university. ( Each month, CEG will host one talk, which can range from 1-2 hours (from 5:30-7:30 pm). Speakers can include undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students, faculty, staff, or community members. Talks can be in any format, including formal presentations, workshops, or lectures. It also includes time for questions and answers.( For more information and the details on how to apply, please see the end of this newsletter. A message from The Postgraduate Medical Education Office: Spring Formal 2012 Time to put your books and schedules down and have some fun! We are pleased to invite you to the first formal dinner and dance social organized for all students in graduate programs at Queen's University. Guests and partners are expected and welcome (but not required!), so come out and enjoy a classy evening at the Radisson! Date: Saturday, March 10 Time: 6:30 pm Location: Banquet Hall at the Radisson Harbourfront Hotel buffet appetizers and socializing start at 6:30 pm, a sit down dinner with a 3 course meal from Aquaterra buffet style desserts - open cash bar - DJ and dancing Dress code: formal (meaning evening dresses and suits!) Tickets: 65$ per person, this includes everything, taxes and gratuities. You must RSVP to secure your name on the guest list by emailing 11dv5@queensu.ca. You will receive an email with meal selection options. Tickets can be purchased in person for cash at the front desk of the Radisson Hotel (1 Johnson Street) on: Thursday, February 2nd, 7-8 pm or Thursday February 9th, from 8-9 pm.Email transfer payments are another option. CDC/HDH Run or Walk Attention runners and walkers! As part of the SGPS s Healthy Lifestyles Initiative, we invite SGPS members to sign up for the CDC/HDH Race to benefit The University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, Child Development Centre. The SGPS will be subsidizing race entry fees for SGPS members and their families. Please download the PDF entry form, fill it out, place in an envelope with your EMAIL, $10 cash or cheque ONLY and submit to the SGPS office by February 17th, 2012 at NOON. If you plan to collect pledges you can also submit those in your envelope on the 17th. The SGPS will drop off your entries to the proper locations. Date: Sunday, March 25, 2012 Time: 9:45 am Location: Race begins and ends at the JDUC, Queen s University Entry Form: http://www.sgps.ca/downloads/2012CDCEntryForm.pdf Cost: $10 for SGPS members [actual cost is $15 (Child) $25 (Adults)] Distance: 1 km Fun Run for Kids (Includes a participation medal and a T-shirt) 5 km walk/run (Includes  a T-shirt) 10 km run (Includes a T-shirt) Race Kits available on Race Day after 8:30 am. (Unisex sizes: S, M, L, XL) **See Website for further details http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=7492 Questions or Concerns? Contact athletics@sgps.ca SGPS Bursaries The SGPS administers the following bursaries: Emergency Student Aid Dental Bursary Grants Program Sustainability Action Fund Sports Fund Club Fund For more information: http://www.sgps.ca/services/awards.html