Note: In these minutes, "executive committee" refers to SAGE co-presidents Samantha Parkes and Joe Sommers, treasurer Brian Harries and secretary Aaron Profitt, while "officers" refers to these four plus all other SAGE office-holders and SAGE representatives to Departmental committees. This terminology was adopted to un-befuddle the secretary.

Present at this meeting was the executive committee and Mindi McMann (of the SAGE events committee).

The meeting began by considering the proposed revised constitution drafted by Sommers. First the reservation of committee spots for first-year students was discussed, the idea being to reserve one spot on each committee for a new (at KU) graduate student; should no new student desire the position (or be willing to fill it), it would be filled as provided for in the constitution for filling vacancies. This provision was unanimously favored.

Whether or not the treasurer and secretary positions should be reserved for new students occasioned more discussion. Some expressed concern that a smooth transition in the executive committee was essential and that electing these two positions in the fall would hamper such a transition. Harries and
Parkes felt that both offices should be elected in the spring, as with the co-presidents. Sommers wanted to be sure first-year students had representation in the executive committee, and Profitt suggested adding a fifth position to the executive committee, a first-year liaison (working title). Profitt and Harries suggested that the duties of such an officer would be to be sure all new students knew what SAGE is and does, when meetings are, etc., as well as to bring to the attention of other executives any concerns expressed by first-year students to her/him. Consensus was that electing the treasurer and secretary in the spring and creating a liaison position to be elected in the fall was a suitable compromise.

It was decided that descriptions of officer positions in article 4, section E, of the constitution would best be based on input from holders of those offices. Furthermore, the unanimous feeling of the executive committee was that term limits as stipulated in the draft were both suitable and beneficial to the continued and long-term health of SAGE. Removal of officers should, the executive committee felt, require a three-fourths vote of the executive committee and two-thirds vote of other officers present (a quorum being, of course, required; such a meeting would be an executive session of the officers).

The executive committee unanimously agreed to Sommers's suggestion that "chair" positions be created within each set of SAGE representatives to Departmental committees. This person would be responsible for giving reports at SAGE meetings, leading in communication to SAGE, etc. Other
representatives would, of course, still attend and participate in SAGE officers meetings.

Elections, it was felt, should be conducted by the outgoing co-presidents; should they be standing for election, the treasurer and/or secretary would conduct elections. Co-presidents will run as tickets (pairs), rather than running singly with positions awarded to the top two vote recipients.

A final discussion point about the draft constitution dealt with ratification. Consensus held that it will be ratified at the August meeting of SAGE officers.

Another topic of discussion was preparations for the fall. The annual and much-anticipated, ever-popular picnic will be held again in Dad Perry park (should arrangements with the City of Lawrence go well). It will be held on the Saturday before classes commence.

At some point in the fall a SAGE fair will, 'tis devoutly to be wished, materialize.

New-student contact will be coordinated by McMann and Beth Lagaron, the existing SAGE events committee (to be joined later by a new student). There will be letter-writing campaigns, and McMann and Lagaron will be joined by the executive committee at new-student orientation. New students will also
be given a handout of useful (we hope) information, which Profitt will compile.

Profitt will begin a heroic and, it is feared, protracted struggle with the  red tape at KU to get a SAGE e-mail account and to establish a SAGE e-mail discussion list. Preliminary efforts are being thwarted by the Titivillian computer folk on Mt. Oread. Profitt will also be sending minutes to all officers.

McMann and Harries will begin subtle efforts to procure items for the SAGE lab and library, while Sommers and Parkes will be seeking a suitable date and time for an August meeting of all SAGE officers.

Submitted with tears of joy,
Aaron D. Profitt, Secretary