Community Council

= The Dissolution of Community Council =

In spring of 2011, Interim President Marlene Gerber Fried announced that the College would begin working towards the creation of a student government association (SGA) as recommended by the College's Governance Task Force, in their final report. During the May 2012 meeting of Hampshire's Board of Trustees, the Board voted to endorse the creation of a new student government (based on the Purview Document developed by the SGA Creation Taskforce), and the dissolution of Community Council which it will supplant. Community Council is now defunct and has been replaced by the Hampshire Student Union, a participatory non-hierarchical democracy.

Fall 2012 - Spring 2013: Interim Oversight Body
As the work to finalize the bylaws and structure for the SGA (working title) continues, an interim oversight body will meet as needed to fulfill some of the duties required of an oversight body. In this sense, the group will be similar to the work-group of Spring 2012, except without regular meetings. It shall be composed of two appointed members from each of the subcommittees (i.e. two from FiCom, two from CoCD, and two from CoCA), as well as a non-voting member, Josiah Litant, Senior Associate Dean of Students.

Meeting minutes will be recorded and posted on this page. This body will not be fulfilling the traditional roles of Community Council, but if you feel as though you have a concern to bring to this group, email Josiah Litant (jlitant@hampshire.edu).

Letter to Dean of Students
We are writing to inform you that Community Council will not be fulfilling its traditional governance role for the remainder of the Spring 2012 semester. Due to membership attrition, an unclear purview, and the process of transitioning to a Student Government Association, among other factors, Council is no longer able to function within its bylaws as a representative body for students, staff, and faculty. Given these circumstances the current membership of Community Council, in consultation with Josiah Litant and Marian MacCurdy, feel it is best to continue on as a “work-group” this semester.

This work-group will:
 * a) Provide oversight to the sub-committees (FiCom, COCA, COCD) b) Vote on approval of all funding requests over $5,000 c) Assist in advertising the Student Government Association Workshops d) Consult with the SGA Bylaws Committee, if consultation is requested by that committee e) Select a representative to the Five College Coordinating Board f) Fulfill any responsibility specifically requested by one of the sub-committees, or a student community member, within its capability, included but not limited to advocacy, conflict mediation, support, etc.

Logistics:
 * a) This work-group will determine its own operating procedures internally and in consultation with Josiah Litant in order to best accomplish its goals. b) This work-group will be comprised of those members currently sitting on Community Council, who reaffirm their commitment to be involved for the duration of the semester, and be comprised of no fewer than 7 voting members. No vacant positions will be filled. c) This work-group will meet for every other Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30. Meetings will be open to all community members. d) Officers for this work-group shall be elected by the work-group e) This work-group will make decisions by made by majority rules votes f) No officer on this work-group shall receive a stipend, as the members of this work-group are no longer fulfilling all of the duties of an elected Community Council officer

It is our intention to inform you of the internal changes to the structure of Community Council. The functioning of the current sub-committees, necessary for funding student activities and events, will not be changed by these changes to the structure of Council. The stipends of the sub-committee officers will not be modified by the work-group; they will remain the same as in the previous semester.

Sincerely,
 * Sarah Gordon Melanie Cox Nathan Whitmore Devin Morse Ugyen Lhamo

*Approved by the Monday Group

= What [was] Community Council? =

Community Council is the equivalent of Student Government Association (SGA) with a uniquely Hampshire twist. Community Council operates best with feedback from students. All meetings are open: come to the Community Council office behind the airport lounge, Tuesdays at 3:30-5PM. Feel free to contact us directly by email: ccouncil at hampshire.edu. We will be discussing all comments, queries and suggestions sent to us in our meetings, and hopefully be able to transform student feedback into action by Council.

What We [Did]
Community Council is a body established by the Hampshire Community with responsibility for the following:


 * Regulations concerning the quality of life on campus and the well being of the college community
 * Relations of Hampshire College to the surrounding community
 * Collecting, maintaining, and distributing the Student Activities Fee
 * Establishing, maintaining, and promoting the Community Norms
 * Advocating student, staff, faculty, and administrative interests
 * Organizing a bi-annual All-Community Meeting

= Meeting Minutes =

Spring 2012

 * May 8th Meeting Notes [[Image:5-8Notes.pdf]]
 * April 24th Meeting Notes [[Image:4-24Notes.pdf]]
 * April 10th Meeting Notes [[Image:4-10Notes.pdf]]
 * March 27th Meeting Notes [[Image:3-27Notes.pdf]]
 * March 13th Meeting Notes [[Image:3-13-12CouncilNotes.pdf]]
 * February 28th Meeting Notes [[Image:2-28Notes.pdf]]
 * February 14th Meeting Notes [[Image:2-14-12CouncilNotes.pdf]]

Fall 2011

 * November 22nd Unofficial Meeting
 * November 15th Meeting
 * November 8th Meeting
 * October 25th Meeting
 * October 18th Meeting
 * October 4th Meeting
 * Officer Meeting (10/4)
 * September 27th Meeting
 * Officer Meeting (9/27)
 * September 20th Meeting
 * Officer Meeting (9/25)

Spring 2011

 * April 26th Meeting
 * April 12th Meeting
 * April 5th Meeting
 * March 22nd Meeting
 * March 12th Meeting
 * March 8th Meeting
 * February 22nd Meeting

Community Council Meeting Minutes Archive

 * Community Council Meeting Minutes - 2010
 * Community Council Meeting Minutes - Fall 2009
 * Community Council Meeting Minutes - Spring 2009
 * Community Council Meeting Minutes - Fall 2008
 * Community Council Meeting Minutes - Spring 2008

= News From Council =

2011-2012 Election Results
Fall 2011 Community Council Chair: Leanna Pohevitz

Off-Campus Representative: Dina Spanbock (Unopposed)

Greenwich House Representative: Nathan Whitmore (Unopposed)

6 At-Large Representatives: At-Large Position #1: Leanna Pohevitz (By Default, as Council Chair) At-Large Position #2: Nelson Hernandez At-Large Position #3: Ugyen Lhamo At-Large Position #4: Devin Morse At-Large Position #5: Eshe Shukura At-Large Position #6: Jimmy Lovett

Mid-Fall Election Results
Find election results and details here!

2010 - 2011 Election Results
= Past &amp; Present Projects =

Governance Task Force
Council passed a resolution to issue an open letter to Ralph Hexter and the Board of Trustees to ratify the Re-Rad governance task force elections and grant Leanna Pohevitz and Will Romey places as student representatives to serve alongside Dee Dee Desir in the Governance Task Force.

Elections Task Force
Leanna and Emily were intended to co-chair an Elections Task Force. This task force would look to provide a blue-print for Council to hold consistent, transparent, on-time elections each year. Issues such as voting schemes, the role of first year students, nominating/campaigning/voting are all being discussed. See updated Election Practices below.

= Understanding Council =

Procedures and Guidelines

 * Community Council Procedures and Guidelines
 * Election Procedures (05/10)

Community Council Structure

 * Community Council Structure
 * Officer Descriptions

Official Documents

 * Hampshire College Constitution
 * Community Council Bylaws
 * Community Council Operating Procedures
 * SAF Guidelines

Governance at Hampshire

 * Governance at Hampshire College
 * Hampshire College Board of Trustees
 * The Schools of Hampshire College
 * Student Involvement in the Reappointment of Faculty
 * Community Review Board

REALLY understand

 * What Should A Member of Community Council Expect?
 * Knowing The Community Council Agenda
 * Knowing The Community Council 'Minutes' Policy
 * Community Council in the College Archives?
 * Community Council Task Forces
 * Community Council Focus Groups
 * Parliamentary Procedure
 * How an Idea Becomes a Motion Becomes a Law For Community Council

Council History

 * History of Community Council

Orientation Opening Day Speeches by Council Chairs

 * F10 Opening Day Speech (09/02/2010)
 * F11 Opening Day Speech (09/01/2011)
 * F12 Opening Day Speech (08/30/2012)