Surveying Society Minutes 2004 -2005

 Meetings are held Mondays at noon in T19. 

Fall Semester   

  Monday October 4,  2004 

•   There will be a work session this Thursday, October 7, to prep for Haunted Forest.
•   The budget for the year is $1000, although additional funds may be added later from SAF.  Brian Buzard will be working on this, but essentially the campus cut funding to all clubs this year.
•  We may be staking out the location for the new library in late October.  This is for a helicopter filming to be televised on local news.  The flyover is scheduled for the first week of November.  Brian Naberenzy will supply more info, but they have yet to acquire plans for us...
• Its time to renew!  $10 for PSLS, read your email for link to the application.
• Todd showed us the new society logo to be used on merchandise.  Looks great!
• We noted that membership is low.  Where are the 36 new surveying students?  Brian Buzzard spoke to them, but we've only recruited one so far.

Monday October 11, 2004

• Volunteers were taken for Haunted Forest.  It was emphasized we would need help the next three weeks.  The Engineering Society and Four Seasons Club are supposed to help us with manning the Hayride...
• Everyone was reminded that memberships are due; the application can be found in a link in the recent email.
• Members interested in merchandise should see Todd Cosgrove.  Due to funding, it is questionable if we will order new merchandise or not.
• Those people doing articles were reminded to get them in.  Due to the high cost of printing and mailing PRISM, this will not be done this year.  The postage in particular made it expensive.  Instead, a two page insert will be made for the PSLS conference journal.  It will also be posted online when complete, probably in PDF format.

Monday October 18, 2004

• The Hydrographic Society has an upcoming conference in San Diego.  Students interested in attending should see Dr. Ghilani for more information.
• An inquiry was made as to who is attending the PSLS conference in January.  Before the end of the semester we will need to determine who is going and take volunteers to help host classes.  Members were reminded that they are expected to help instructors at the conference.  When asked by the President, 12 members showed interest in attending.
• The week's big concern was Haunted Forest.  We are responsible for running the Hayride.  A few people volunteered to come out on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Members were reminded that if they have spare time these nights, to come out and help.  Costumes and masks are provided and we meet at Hayfield House at 6:30 PM.  The hours for guests are from 7 PM to 11 PM.

Monday October 25, 2004

• To date, the club has raised about $375.  This is important since we lost funding from SGA.
• Several members including Frank Babyak, Brian Buzard, and Chris Snyder will be taking the LSIT this Saturday in Harrisburg.
• Haunted Forest was successful in raising money this past weekend despite Friday night's mishap.  On Friday night a group of intoxicated guests pulled a fire alarm in Hayfield House, temporarily stopping the operation while Lehman Fire cleared the building.  We still need volunteers for this weekend, especially Friday night since others will be in Harrisburg.
• Members interested in merchandise should see Todd Cosgrove.  An update of the merchandise web page will be done in the near future.

Monday November 1, 2004

• Nick Lopatofsky, Dan Karlowski, Frank Babyak, Brian Buzzard, and Chris Snyder took the LSIT this past weekend.
• Those wishing to take the LSIT in April need to register before December 1^st.
• Members were reminded to renew their membership with PSLS!
• Haunted Forest is over!  It was noted that volunteer turnout was low this year.
• There will not be meetings the following two weeks due to speakers.  Next Monday, the 8^th, James Knudson, the state GIS director,  will speak in TC 101.  The following week a speaker from BLM will be here.  These events are courtesy of ls who will provide refreshments.
• Following the meeting, Robert Appleton, Brian Buzzard, and Brian Naberenzy staked out the location for the "new" library.  Maintenance will chalk or paint the lines for the expected helicopter flyover for local television on Wednesday.  The new library is actually an addition that will lie east of the present building.

Monday November 8, 2004

       James Knudson, state GIS director, spoke about the state's GIS needs.  He talked about the need for greater cooperation between the different levels of government in sharing information.  Discussions are under way throughout the state to agree upon the format for submitting data.  He also provided recent examples of data being collected from the flooding caused by hurricane Ivan.  Additionally, he talked about the need to update and improve the horizontal control network in Pennsylvania for GIS data.  The need for monuments may result in work for Pennsylvania surveyors as a result.  GIS data for the state may be viewed at the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access  (PASDA) web page.  James was a guest speaker of ls, the surveying honor society.

Monday November 15, 2004

    Leon Chmura from the Bureau of Land Management talked about the bureau's responsibilities on the east coast.  His  slide show presentation and stories stories from the field had the large turnout of students intrigued.  He also discussed employment opportunities with the BLM and different programs offered to to students.   Leon was a guest speaker of ls, the surveying honor society.

Monday November 22, 2004

        The main topic of discussion this week was the upcoming conference.  Brian Buzzard is going to Harrisburg on December 12th to request rooms from the executive committee of PSLS.  Members were asked to determine how many days they would be attending.  Additionally, signups would take place in the next two weeks for hosting classes.  Members attending are expected to help man the surveying society booth and to help host a class at the conference.  Members were reminded that hosting is very easy, and typically consists of aiding the instructor in handing out papers and other simple tasks.  Members were reminded that this is an important courtesy because PSLS foots the bill for hotel rooms at the conference.

Monday November 29, 2004

     Attendance was low due to the first day of deer season.  The upcoming conference was discussed.  Brian Buzzard told everyone that the next meeting would be mandatory to determine who would need lodging in Hershey and to plan the end of the semester party.

Monday December 6, 2004

•     This meeting had the highest turnout of members for the semester.  The main topic of discussion was the PSLS conference in Hersey in January.  Members were required to sign up for days they would need lodging.  It was also pointed out that members did not have to host classes this year.  However, our booth would need manning and  a schedule would be developed in January.  Proper attire was expected at the conference.  Brian Buzzard also passed out a schedule of events for the conference.

•     Members decided that the end of the semester party would be held at Grotto Pizza on Harveys Lake the following Monday, December 13, at 7:00 PM.  This was the last meeting for the semester as the week beginning December 13th was finals week.

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Spring Semester

Monday January 10, 2005

• This was the first meeting of the spring semester and attendance was light.  Discussion concerned the upcoming conference and the need to have resumes completed by mid week.

Monday January 17, 2005

• The PSLS conference was discussed in detail and members were informed who they were rooming with.  Members were again reminded about attire. 

• The PSLS Scholarship application can be downloaded here.

• Also noted was the upcoming ACSM conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Society president Brian Buzzard will purchase plane tickets by the end of the week.

 January 24-26 2005       Annual PSLS conference in Hershey, PA

Monday January 31, 2005

• Brian Buzzard stepped down as President at the meeting.  He served as president for a year and a half.  Brian is graduating May and noted that he needs to focus on personal matters over the next three months.  Chris Snyder, the Vice-president, will be serving as acting president until the next election.  The meeting was brief.

Monday February 7, 2005

• Due to most officers graduating and Brian having stepped down, it was decided that elections would be held at the next meeting..  Nominations for officers were taken.

Monday February 31, 2005

• An election was held for the upcoming school year, 2005 - 2006.  There was only one nomination for each positions and which all of the nominees accepted.  The incoming and outgoing officers: 

                                Outgoing President: Brian Buzzard                                Newly elected President: Don Bara

                                Outgoing Vice President: Chris Snyder                         Newly elected Vice President: Branden Rouke

                                Outgoing Secretary: Nick Lopatosky                           Newly elected Secretary: Gwen Cunningham

                                Outgoing Treasurer: Todd Cosgrove                            Newly elected Treasurer: Brock Strayer

Monday February 14, 2005

• Members discussed making new shirts for a fundraiser, although the society would first have to get rid of old merchandise. 

• Don suggested doing community service with Habitat for Humanity, and a signup list was made.  The date is to be determined, will be coordinated through Dr. Parks. 

• Underclassmen were reminded that the deadline for submitting PSLS scholarship applications is April 17^th.  Also Brian reminded students who received scholarships at the PSLS conference in January to send thank you notes to the donors of the scholarship money.

•  Brian suggested submitting a proposal for use of the extra Student Activity Fee money.  Don suggested asking for money to purchase GPS trackable walkie talkies for the surveying program, and there was general agreement on this issue. 

• Habitat for Humanity signup:

      Don Bara                        Todd Cosgrove            Brian Buzzard                 Scott

      Chris Synder                   Dennis                         Jerry Sitco                      Ed

      Timmy  Rosman              Justin                           Gwen Cunningham

Monday February 28, 2005

• A sale of old merchandise was planned for noon on Tuesday March 1^st in the student commons.  This "clearance sale" will enable the society to order new goods. 

• Don brought up the fact that we will need a new logo, since the PSU lion is copyrighted by the athletics department.  Also with the new rules, we would need to go through an approved producer of Penn State products which would make the shirts cost five dollars more.  It was brought up by Dr. Ghilani that hot iron in the club room is for applying iron on transfers, so that we could make our own shirts.  No decision was made regarding this problem. 

• The date for Habitat for Humanity project is still to be determined. 

• Don reminded underclassmen that PSLS scholarship applications are due April 15^th.  He also informed us that his proposal for the extra Student Activity Fee money for the GPS walkie-talkies is very likely to be approved.

Tuesday March 1 and Wednesday March 2, 2005

• A clearance sale was held in the commons.  T-shirts and sweatshirts sold well although there is still a supply of coffee mugs and license plates.

Monday March 14, 2005

•  This was the first meeting after Spring Break.  The clearance sale and need to purchase new merchandise were briefly discussed.

•  Plans were finalized for the next week by those attending the ACSM conference in Las Vegas.

Monday March 21, 2004

• No meeting held.

Monday March 28, 2004

• A brief discussion was held about the ACSM conference.  The booth was not put up at the conference due to a set up fee that we were unaware of.  The attending members did not have the funding to cover the cost when they were asked for it.

• Members were encouraged to join ACSM if they have not already done so.

• There was still no date available for the Habitat for Humanity project.

• A discussion was held about merchandise.  On T-shirts, the decision was made to attempt to make our own using campus resources.  Sweatshirts and hats will be researched in the next two weeks.  There was much grumbling about the new university requirement about using approved vendors.  The issue is that in the past companies producing clothing with either the Penn State name or logo have sold merchandise on the side.  The university would like to profit from licensing, and is therefore trying to control the businesses who monogram or perform screen printing.  Jackie Piatt has the list of approved vendors which we will need.

• Attendance was good at the meeting.  Members were reminded that it was beneficial to attend meetings held by the PSLS Northeast chapter.  They also hold meetings in the technology center, and the meeting times are usually announced in advance to the student chapter.

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