SAAC 10/19/03 Meeting Minutes

Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu talked to us about Human Rights and what he does to spread the word about human rights around UConn. He is the only holder of a UNESCO Chair in Human Rights in the United States. He told us that through sports we can help to promote brotherhood, because when we step on the field/court we come together for a common goal. He is hoping to put together a group of student-athletes that go and talk to children about human rights and what sports can do to help human rights. This might turn into a community service project. He also mentioned how he sends students to South Africa and how he takes students to the United Nations. If you would like to contact him or get any information from him, his number is 860-486-0647.

Community Service
Food Drive: November 3rd (6 PM) and 8th (5:30 PM) at the Basketball games. We would like teams to be involved in this project. We will be covering 3 doors and all you will do is collect canned goods. There will be admission to the game afterwards.

Food Drive Drop-off: November 4th (10 AM) and 10th (10 AM). We will be dropping off the foot to the soup kitchen in Willimantic. This is a great way to see where all of your hard work is going.

Coat Drive: November 8th (10:30 AM) at the football game. We will need about 16 to 20 people to help collect coats.

Toy Drive: Need to collect money from your teams, or you can collect toys. They money raised by the Freshman Talent Show will go towards this as well.

Adopt-a-family: Your team can choose to do this or not do this. Your team (or you can buddy up with a team) will collect money, buy items on the kids lists, wrap the presents, and then meet the family and give them their presents. This can be a time-consuming project, but a gratifying one as well. Men and Women’s Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, and Tennis are interested as of right now. Please let us know soon if your team will also be interested in participating.

Dr Bruening Community Service Updates: Nov. 8th football game - there will be 25 kids from the Blue Hill Center attending the football game, and she would like it if the kids could meet some of the athletes, If you are attending the game, try and meet up with this group, they will be helping with the coat drive. Neighborhood Clean-up - on April 24th the clean-up is happening in Hartford, so please keep this date in mind. There will be a picnic afterwards and a chance to play with the kids as well. The Reading Program in Hartford - is running as well. This is where we will go and read to kids as they are waiting for their doctors appointment. There will be no orientation for us, as this was previously discussed. If you or your team are interested in any of these projects, please contact Dr. Bruening at jennifer.bruening@uconn.edu.

The website will be up and running soon. There were a few ideas for it that were said in the meeting. This included a “coming attractions” box or calendar that has upcoming games for sports, service projects, guest speakers, meetings, etc. We also hope to have a community service link that has pictures, what will be going on, and ways to sign up for the projects on-line. Please let us know if you have any other ideas for this web site.

The Big East SAAC meeting will be happening on November 15th, and this will be held in Providence.

Kate, Bill Shults, and Jeff Hathaway will be having a meeting with Parking Services soon, because the Director was unable to meet on a Sunday night. If you have any concerns that need to be brought up please e-mail Kate or Bill Shults with those questions or concerns.

If you have any further questions please contact Bill Shults. See you at our next meeting!

Future Meetings:
November 16, 2003
December 7, 2003 - Ice Cream Social
January 25, 2004
February 15, 2004
March 21, 2004
April 18, 2004 - PAAC/ SAAC Dinner
May 2, 2004 - Ice Cream Social