Professional Hispanic Network
Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2010
I.Call to order
Meeting called to order at 12:05pm
II.Roll call
Present: Noberto Espitia, Cynthia Escamilla, Oscar Muñoz, Sarah Childs, Marisa Suhm, Terry Jimarez, Debbie Watkins, Daniel Uresti, Lupe Sosa, Margarita Arevalo, Rose Arevalo, Ivonne Kindt, Deniece Dortch, Guillermo Patino, Cruz Rios, Debbie Watkins, Ana Rivera
III.Approval of minutes from last meeting
Minutes approved by Noberto Espitia
IV.Activity--(10 minutes)
a) Dr. Suhm facilitated an activity in which all those in attendance were asked to share one unusual thing or quirk about themselves with the group.
V.Old business--(15 minutes)
a)Fidel and Cynthia’s efforts to get a list of all Hispanics in the A&M University system have proven successful. Susan Yeager provided Cynthia with a list of over 1400 people and their contact information. This list will be used to rejuvenate PHN membership and communication.
b)The Hispanic/Latino Graduate Student Association (HGLSA) has not yet provided a proposal or plan for a HLGSA monthly series but Marisa will continue to work with them to develop that for the next academic year. Marisa also shared that writing workshops have been an important activity for HLGSA to participate in.
c)PHN executive staff, advisors, and HLGSA officer Gabriel Burns attended the meeting with President Loftin on April 21st. Noberto provided a brief overview of the meeting and a few points shared were PHN’s purpose and scope on campus and in community, PHN’s desire to be helpful to President Loftin with regards to Vision 2020, concern for the recruitment, retention, development of policies and programs that further advance Hispanics at Texas A&M, and request to include PHN in activities, mtgs., etc. when possible.
d)Sarah met with several Hispanic student organizations to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month planning and the students are working on four events that everyone can collaborate on. Some ideas from PHN are to include MALFA, MALRC, and TAMHN specifically in the Parrillada Latina event and have activities at Hensel Park such as: grilling contest, cards, volleyball, resource tables and more.
VI.New business--(25 minutes)
a)Deniece Dortch, advisor to CAMAC and the Mi Casa Program, shared a quick history of Mi Casa as well as how people can get involved. Mi Casa has expanded to include staff as hosts and takes place on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the home of the host. Transportation is provided for students by CAMAC and the food is provided at the expense of the host. CAMAC would like to have more hosts with smaller groups of students. Hosts are not limited to Latinos/as but that is the preference. To host, contact Deniece Dortch, , or Luis Cifuentes, .
b)Tabled--Hispanic staff programs and mentoring opportunities for continued education
VII.Reminders and Announcements
a)Make sure to lookout for Hispanic Heritage Month planning meetings so you can get involved.
b)PHN Social is 5:30pm on May 12th at Taco Cabana on Texas Ave. Contact Fidel, , for further information.
c)Student Liaison Position has been filled by Cruz Rios, now 2nd year graduate student in the SAAHE master’s program.
VIII.Adjournment