Kenan Community Government News

Program Proposals for the 11/10/09 BoG Meeting & Upcoming KCG events

2009-11-09T20:39:00.003-05:00

This week, there appears to be no program proposals on the table for this BoG meeting. On the other hand, the Gratitude Quilt boxes are out in each of the four buildings of Kenan community, with boxes for canned goods/nonperishables and soda can tabs to follow shortly. Also, spaghetti dinner 11/22, 5:30-6:30PM in Spencer Parlor!

Thank you for your attention!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Giving Thanks and Appreciation

2009-11-07T00:54:00.003-05:00

It has been a terribly long time since this blog has been updated, and I sincerely apologize for that. Much has happened in the interim, including fall break and Halloween. I'm happy to say that we've got quite a few events planned for this month!

- Gratitude Quilts
Keep an eye out in the coming week for boxes with blank squares of paper in the common areas, the CCI printer area, and the community office. These are for you to take and write/decorate to answer the question "What are you grateful for?" Simply place the completed squares in the corresponding completed-squares box by the end of next week. We'll collect these squares, arrange them in a rectangular form, and post these in the common areas for viewing. If enough people participate, we may have enough for at least one "quilt" per building.

- Canned food and soda can pop tabs drive
Also look for boxes for canned food collection in the common areas and smaller boxes/milk jugs for collecting soda can pop tabs (to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities) in the kitchen areas.

- Monthly Spaghetti Dinner - 11/22/09, 5:30PM-6:30PM, Spencer Parlor
KCG is sponsoring the first of the monthly spaghetti dinners this month. Mark your calendars, and please answer the poll at the top of this blog's right panel so we can get a more accurate understanding of the quantity of supplies we'll need to purchase.

Posting of program proposals (title and general description of proposed program only) that will be on the table for RHA funding will resume this week. Thank you for your attention!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Program Proposals for the 10/13/09 BoG Meeting

2009-10-11T14:27:00.002-04:00

This week, there's only one program proposal on the table.

1) Film Screening: Amreeka
The event is a screening of the film "Amreeka" directed by Cherien Dabis. It includes humorous and dramatic plots which are ultimately educational and culturally revealing. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is a universal journey into the lives of a family of immigrants and first-generation teenagers caught between their heritage and the new world in which they now live and the bittersweet search for a place to call home.

Please send your thoughts to kenancommgov@gmail.com by 12PM this Tuesday, October 13, 2009 for consideration at that evenings BoG meeting. Thank you!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Meet Your KCG Staff - TOMORROW, 5-7PM

2009-10-06T22:50:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your input on Housing's website redesign! KCG would like to remind you of the Meet KCG event that will be held tomorrow (Wednesday), October 7, 2009, 5-7PM on the Kenan Porch/Quad. Come out to meet the KCG staff, bring us your questions and ideas, enjoy some music, eat free Jimmy John's & Gumby's, and play cornhole (weather permitting). We hope to see you all there!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Housing Website Redesign - We Want Your Thoughts!

2009-10-04T22:41:00.005-04:00

I didn't want to put this in the same post as this week's program proposals post, but Housing (DHRE) is asking for your (the residents') feedback on a new design for the Housing website! You may want to keep in mind the following goals of the redesign:

a. Improve Navigation

Strategy:

i. Increase the number of points of entry to our site’s content by dividing the home page into several smaller modules.

ii. Invite visitors to browse the site by “who they are”

iii. Condense static menus into drop-down menus to maximize space

b. Reset Shelf Life

Strategy:

i. Adopt current trends in web design including wider layout, use of icons, reflective surfaces, bright accent colors, lots of white space and clean type

ii. Integrate tools to push out an RSS feed, facebook posts and twitter updates

c. Accurately Represent DHRE

Strategy:

i. Reinforce brand with a custom-designed template (vs. using a stock template)

ii. Bring more attention to leadership opportunities and res life side of DHRE

iii. Strengthen the presence of cyclical info (app deadlines, room selection, move-in) by putting site visitors’ primary concerns front and center

iv. Provide insight about what it’s like to live on campus through use of student testimonial quotes, photo gallery, community spotlight, video, blog

There are several ways to send in your vote (please choose one method to avoid over-representation of one design):

1) Emailing kenancommgov@gmail.com

2) Speaking with any member of KCG:
Mary La
Caryn Fertenbaugh
Jenn Nowicki
Ashley Borda
Jordie Pfeifer
Neil Tolley
Carina Saavedra
Drew Adams
Credle Harris
Melissa Schoeman
Kirsten Brown

3) Voting in the blog poll posted at the right panel

You can find the three candidate designs at: http://www.goodtraveldesign.com/clients/dhre/. To proceed through the designs, click anywhere on the page. Again, please send your input by noon this Tuesday, October 6, 2009 for me to present to the Board of Governors. Thank you!

[I also apologize for the late notice - this was passed along to me about two hours ago, from the time of this post.]

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Program Proposals for the 10/6/09 BoG Meeting

2009-10-04T22:24:00.003-04:00

There will be two program proposals on the table this week at the Board of Governors' meeting.

1) Safetober
The purpose of Safetober is to promote good safety habits to the residents. This is a campus wide event in which students have to visit each of the "safety stations" before they were allowed to get food. It will be held inside the Carmichael Ballroom as well as outside in the small parking lot in front of Kenan Stadium.

2) Heels 4 Hope 5k Challenge
The Heels 4 Hope 5k was established in February 2009 in honor of Geraldine Bjork, who died of breast cancer on January 24, 2009. Ms. Bjork dedicated her life to helping others and made a difference in the lives of many young students. Heels 4 Hope is a non-profit organization that is working in conjunction with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Arc of Orange County, and Push America to help raise money and awareness for cancer and individuals with disabilities. The inaugural race will be held on October 31st, 2009 at 10am. In honor of breast cancer awareness month, part of the proceeds will be donated to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center to help in the fight against breast cancer. All other proceeds will benefit Push America, and the Arc of Orange County. Heels 4 Hope is already shaping up to be the biggest 5k in Chapel Hill's History. After the 5k there will be festivities from 11am to 2pm in the parking lot of Granville Towers. During this time we will have sponsors giving out free food & drinks, a costume contest, as well as our special concert featuring many campus groups including: The Clef Hangers, The Loreleis, The Walk-Ons, Kamikazi, Misconception [sic], Tar Heel Voices, and The Achordants. Jasmin Jones, the Student Body President, will be the Master of Ceremonies for this concert. Volunteers of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and DHRE employees will be staffing the event.

Both events' descriptions are quoted straight from their program proposals. Please email kenancommgov@gmail.com with your input by noon on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 if you'd like me to share your thoughts on these proposals (or other concerns) with the Board of Governors.

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Program Proposals for the 9/29/09 BoG Meeting

2009-09-27T22:31:00.006-04:00

There will be two program proposals on the table at the BoG meeting this Tuesday.

1) Expressions After Dark
Expressions After Dark is a launch event to a series called Race Relations Week which is organized by SARR. The event will be an interactive performance which confronts controversial issues in current race relations, but also celebrates a rich legacy of progress within the student community. CHiPs, EROT, and Interactive Theater Carolina (participation still pending) will use spoken word and improvisational sketch comedy in a way which engages the audience to think about race relations from new and stimulating perspectives. At the same time, the event will be unique in its approach to this topic because on one level it is entertainment, but still addresses critical issues to our community.

2) Social Activism and Civic Engagement with Chuck D
Noted social activist and acclaimed hip-hop artist Chuck D will address the general student body to speak on matters of civic engagement, social activism and entrepreneurship, and the role of art as a form of social commentary. A two-part program, the first session will function as a workshop and interactive discussion between students and panelists Chuck D and Dr. Micah Gilmer, UNC Social Entrepreneur in Residence and Director of Reserach [sic] for Frontline Solutions, a consultancy firm for social service organizations. The discussion will be facilitated by Amy Zhang, director of the Roosevelt Institute's Arts and Cultural Policy Center, and will revolve around questions of youth civic engagement and the role of creative endeavors in public policy and better serving one's community. Chuck D's lecture will take place in the evening; widely-regarded as a dynamic speaker well-versed in a variety of subjects, Chuck will speak mostly on the utilization of art as social commentary and constructive methods of social activism.

If you'd like to send me your input, please do so by Tuesday, 9/29/09, 12PM to kenancommgov@gmail.com. Thank you!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

We've got a full staff now!

2009-09-26T20:17:00.001-04:00

First off, I hope this post is finding you all well and relatively de-stressed from the past week which, for many of us, was the first wave of midterms.

My apologies - this blog has remained stagnant for way too long! Since the last post, so much has happened with regards to KCG. Please join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Kenan Community Government staff!

Governor - Mary La
Vice-Governor of Programming - Caryn Fertenbaugh
Secretary - Jenn Nowicki
Treasurer - Ashley Borda
Enhancements Chair - Jordie Pfeifer
Alderman Senator - Neil Tolley
Kenan Senator - Carina Saavedra
McIver Senator - Drew Adams
Spencer Senator - Credle Harris
Publicist - Melissa Schoeman
Publicist - Kirsten Brown

We will be working hard this year to put on enriching community-wide programming, and we greatly value your input! I hope you feel free to contact any one of us with your questions, concerns, ideas, and epiphanies.

The KCG staff met for the first time this past Thursday (9/24/09) for a program brainstorming session, influenced by your input. I'm proud to say that we filled the entire board!

As mentioned, I will try to post brief descriptions of the program proposals, which come to the Board of Governors' attention each week, before the BoG meetings (Tuesdays, 7:30PM) so that you all as residents have a chance to tell me what you think about them (I was amiss about doing this last week.)

Keep an eye out for a future post regarding the time of KCG's weekly meetings.

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

KCG applications and program proposals

2009-09-14T17:33:00.000-04:00

Salutations Kenan community residents!

Remember that applications for KCG main staff are due this Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 11:59PM - it's a two-part application (electronic and hard-copy signatures sheet). I highly encourage that you apply, since being on KCG main staff puts you in the unique position of being able to plan programs, directly influence Kenan's collection of enhancements, and represent residents' concerns to the University. It's a lot of fun, and the work is very rewarding!

Additionally, I represent Kenan community at the weekly Residence Hall Association (RHA) Board of Governors meetings, which occur every Tuesday at 7:30PM. At these meetings, various student organizations come to RHA for program funding, and one of my duties on the BoG is to vote on whether to approve RHA funding for these programs. To clarify, this funding is separate from the monies that KCG gets for the year. Program proposals are supposed to be issued to the governors 3 days before the weekly BoG meeting. Because I represent your interests, I will be posting the program descriptions to this blog when I get them, starting next week, so you can look over them and provide feedback (e.g. fund vs. not fund) - please email your input to kenancommgov@gmail.com.

Once again, I do recommend that you apply to be a member of the KCG main staff. Thank you for your attention!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

KCG main staff applications now up!

2009-09-09T11:41:00.000-04:00

Hi Kenan community residents!

If you'd like to apply for a position on Kenan Community Government''s main staff, the applications are currently up. You'll get to actively contribute to community programming, enhancements planning, and residence hall decision-making.

This information has already been sent out on the community listserv and the Facebook group, but to reiterate:

- Nine positions are open:

Vice-Governor of Programming*
Secretary*
Treasurer*
Enhancements Chair*
Alderman Senator
Kenan Senator
McIver Senator
Spencer Senator
Publicist

*must be able to attend mandatory training session on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 - 11AM-3PM

- Two-part application:
1) Electronic application: http://www.unc.edu/~mla/KCG_Application.htm
2) Signatures sheet: You must obtain twenty signatures from Kenan community residents using the signature sheets available in the Kenan community office after 10PM this evening (9/8/09). No resident's signature may appear on two applications for the same position. The envelope in which you turn in these signature sheets is also in the community office.

- Deadline: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009, 11:59PM

Still want to get involved, but can't make the time commitment? We welcome your presence, energy, and ideas at the weekly KCG staff meetings - date and times to be announced after KCG main staff has been appointed.

If you have any questions, feel free to email kenancommgov@gmail.com. Please encourage your fellow residents to join the Facebook group (Kenan Community 2009-2010) and subscribe to this blog (http://kenancg.blogspot.com) if they haven't done so already.

Good luck, and thank you for your interest in KCG and RHA!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010

Salutations!

2009-09-03T11:19:00.000-04:00

Hello Kenan community residents!

You may have seen this in a previously-sent email, but I cannot stress this enough - thank you all for your support, and for voting in the first place. It is very much appreciated.

If you would like to learn more about getting involved in KCG, there will be an interest meeting this Tuesday, September 8, 2009, from 6-7PM in Kenan Parlor.

In order to better get news and information regarding Kenan community out to you, you can join the Facebook group "Kenan Community 2009-2010", and you can subscribe to this blog. Also, let us know which method(s) of communication work best for you - there's a poll on the right panel of this blog where you can submit your feedback.

As always, please email kenancommgov@gmail.com with your questions and concerns. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to working with you all!

Best wishes,
Mary La
Kenan Community Governor, 2009-2010