Notes from the potluck!

Our Fall 2008 potluck was a huge success!

We had close to thirty people turn out, and lots of delicious food for everyone to eat. People started arriving around 6:30, with loads of food and wine in tow. After we got to hang out, eat, and relax for a while, we got down to the business side of things. Layne and Erin first read from the FSG's mission statement, as a way to introduce all the new members to the group's initial goals and purpose. They also mentioned the shift taking place in the group, since its founding members are starting to go on the job market and will be at different institutions in the next year or so.

Next, each person who had volunteered for an activity or a panel briefly described her idea, and then passed around sign-up sheets. Connie went first, and spoke about her work with a group that would discuss financial options, coordinating a workshop where instructors would learn how to connect students to mental health resources, and scheduling RAV sessions. Lydia spoke about her continuing plans for a version of the "Family Matters" that would feature more fathers from the department. Jessica, Halah, and Pearl spoke about their plans for a panel that would offer a discussion of women and the job interview--the process itself, tips and strategies, and what not to do. Patty talked about her plans to compile the syllabi from the various E316K lectures, in order to look at how these professors cover gender in their courses. Layne spoke about her upcoming panel on feminism and the institution, and Erin talked about her workshop series on how to organize all the information we get in graduate school.

After everyone spoke, we took a break for more eating and drinking. Then we went around the room and each person named something about which she or he (or ze!) was proud.