Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Gayme Night Pictures

Hey everyone! If you got a picture taken in our "wedding chapel" during our Vegas-themed Gayme Night, they are now posted on the QSA facebook album. Check them out! Here is a preview.











Monday, November 22, 2010

Transgender Remembrance - Results

From the fundraiser we did last week, we made 21 dollars! Hooray! That can pay for some extra food besides pizza for our Christmas party at Thunderhead if you want :) Or we can save it for another day. Anyway. For just selling little ribbons, this is awesome. If we can make twenty bucks off ribbons, imagine what we can do with something bigger! Keep up the good work guys!

Here are some pictures from Trans Remembrance.


The ribbons and bracelets.


The trifold poster we had in the Union.


Some handsome QSA booth workers ;)


Close up of the pretty ribbons


The new QSA mascot, Donation Pig. And what a cute pig it is.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Transgender Remembrance

Thanks to all who helped at the booth today! Pictures and the amount of money we made will be posted tomorrow :)

For now, please feel free to look over the transgender terminology sheet and the Trans 101 test we took during the last meeting by clicking the download links below! It is probably good to refresh your memory from time to time in order to keep yourself educated on the issues.

-Jenna

DOWNLOAD:
Trans 101
Transgender Terminology

Katy Perry - Firework



Via The Advocate:

Katy Perry has dedicated the new video for her inspirational song “Firework” to the It Gets Better Project to help LGBT youths struggling against antigay bullying and discrimination.

Perry announced the dedication Thursday via Twitter. The "It Gets Better" project expressed its gratitude to Perry on its website.

“Thanks Katy!” it said. “We look forward to hearing more from you and your support for the LGBT community and this movement. Thanks for joining the over 100,000 at the It Gets Better Project.”


In case you didn't get to watch it with us at the meeting last night, here you go!

November 17 Minutes

Here are the minutes from November 17, 2010 :)

DOWNLOAD:
November 17 Minutes

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

VAGINA MONOLOGUES - Come audition!

UNK is doing the Vagina Monologues again this year! Specifically, Sam and I are directing them. And we are looking for lots of talented females for our production.

This should be of special interest to QSA, not only because two QSA members are directing, but because the production is one of the most LIBERAL and QUEER-FRIENDLY things you will ever see in Kearney.


Through a combination of humor and drama, the monologues increase awareness about the issues women face in the world and create an open dialogue about taboo topics like sex and domestic violence.

You do *not* need to have an acting background to try out, but it is certainly welcome!

If you are unfamiliar with the monologues, check out the story the Hub did about last year's production.

Or, to learn more about the mission of the V Day movement, check out the official website!

If you are looking to do something fun WHILE making a difference in the community, please come and audition! :)

You only have to come on ONE of the autition days: either Mon Nov 29th or Thurs Dec 2. Both audition times go from 5-6 PM and are in Copeland Hall room 142 (the big lecture hall downstairs).

If you have any other questions, email me (workmanjl@lopers.unk.edu) or Sam Hastreiter (hastreitersm@lopers.unk.edu).

RSVP or invite your friends by going to the facebook event page.

-Jenna

Thursday, November 11, 2010

To Write Love on her Arms - TOMORROW

Tomorrow is To Write Love on her Arms Day.


Mission Statement of TWLOHA:
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.


The Facts:
-121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. (World Health Organization)
- 18 million of these cases are happening in the United States. (The National Institute of Mental Health)
- Between 20% and 50% of children and teens struggling with depression have a family history of this struggle and the offspring of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon General's Survey, 1999)
- Depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and substance abuse, with 30 percent of teens with depression also developing a substance abuse problem. (NIMH)
- 2/3 of those suffering from depression never seek treatment.
- Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. (NIMH)


In a social climate like today, where many queer youth are struggling with depression and suicide, it might be a very good idea to support this organization and their movement. I urge everyone to write love on their arms tomorrow to show that there is hope for those who feel alone and unloved.

Go to their website for more information: http://www.twloha.com/

-Jenna

Some Updates

1. The Gingerbread House competition DOES have cash prizes this year! I say that QSA gets a few teams together to compete so we can get some extra cash for the group! The competition is at 5PM on Thursday Dec 2nd. Start thinking about if you want to do it so I can sign us in in the Union!

2. A table in the Union is reserved for Transgender Remembrance Day! We don't know if the button maker is going to be available for us or not yet. But -- if we can't get buttons, we are still are going to have a booth in the union with some informational boards and pamphlets to hand out to students about the importance of the day. Regardless, we will be making an impact :)

3. Christmas Party is scheduled for Wednesday Dec 8. We can't be in Martin though, so bring ideas to the next meeting about where you would like to have it! We could reserve the View, or we could do something fun off-campus. It's up to you!

-Jenna

Constitutional Amendments

Our meeting next week will be very constitution-based. Here is the breakdown:

1. First, Alysha will tell everyone if they have voting rights or not. Members have voting rights if they have attended at least two consecutive QSA meetings and have not missed two consecutive meetings.

2. Then, we will vote on which constitution we will adopt: the original or the rewrite.

3. After the constitution has been established, we will open the floor up to amendments. If you have an amendment you want to present to the group, it must be in written/typed form and given to me (Jenna) at the meeting.

4. We will vote on the presented amendments at the meeting on Dec 1.

Read the two copies of the constitution and think about what kind of policies you would like to see the group adopt!

-Jenna

Minutes from November 10, 2010

Here are the minutes from last night in case you missed it!

-Jenna

DOWNLOAD:
November 10 Minutes

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Transgender Remembrance Day

We want to show our support for Transgender Remembrance Day, and we think a button fundraiser is just the way to do it! Here are some button designs. What do you think?






The Official UNK QSA Agenda Outline

Hey all. This is a document showing the new and improved meeting agenda outline! This outline will be used in all regular QSA meetings in order to facilitate discussion in an orderly and consistent fashion. Feel free to look at it and provide comments. :)

-Jenna

DOWNLOAD:
Official UNK QSA Agenda Outline

The Constitution

Hello everyone! I wanted to discuss the content of the UNK QSA constitution with you. If you are new, you may be unaware that we even have a constitution. Well, we do! In order to become an official UNK group, you need to have a group constitution. We created this constitution a few years ago when we became an official student organization in 2008.

The thing is, the exec board has realized that the constitution has become rather faulty. On a basic level, there are many errors in grammar and sentence structure, which seems to negate its supposed professionalism. Also, the organization of the articles can be quite confusing. In the past, QSA has often disregarded the constitutional rules - not on purpose, but by accident due to the confusing nature of the instructions. It seems like the constitution's organization is so confusing that we were often breaking rules without realizing it. Also, the constitution has been known to be very vague when it comes to officer responsibilities, which makes the executive board members unsure of their duties and realms of authority.

It has come to my attention that there has been high demand for a constitutional rewrite. Usually, this process would involve a long drawn-out series of amendments that would take place at a QSA meeting. However, we don't really have that time. The kind of overhaul needed for the constitution would probably require at least five meetings alone.

To solve this problem, I have come up with an alternative plan. I have been working on a constitutional rewrite that I would like all of you to read. It says a lot of the same stuff as the old constitution, but it is reorganized to read more like an instruction manual instead of a series of vague statements.

If you click the download links at the bottom of this post, you will be redirected to two copies of the constitution: the original and the rewrite. I would like you to read them both and critically compare and contrast them. At a future meeting, I would like your input on the changes I have made. I want to know if you think this new constitution will benefit the group, and I want to see if you have anything else you think you would like to add or alter. I don't want to be the sole authority here - I want you to tell me what to do, so please feel free!

We will then either vote to adopt a new constitution or to keep the old one.

Thanks so much for your time, and I look forward to hearing your comments!

-Jenna

DOWNLOADS:
The Original Constitution
The Rewritten Constitution

Monday, November 8, 2010

We are looking for a TREASURER.

Want to be part of the QSA exec board? You can be. We are now accepting applications for the new TREASURER position!



The treasurer is a position that we have never had as a part of the QSA exec board before. We are adding the position because we think all student groups need to be in charge of their financial situation in order to be effective.

The treasurer will be in charge of:
-keeping diligent records of the group's spending.
-providing a spending report at each QSA meeting.
-going out and pricing items, such as decorations and food, and making sure they fit in the budget before purchase.
-organizing fundraisers when necessary.
-writing proposals for funds when necessary.
-working with OMA in order to organize and keep track of QSA's budget.
-communicating with the president and vice president about the financial situation.

If you are interested in this position, send an email to me (Jenna - workmanjl@lopers.unk.edu) with the following information:
-First and Last Name
-Year in School (Freshman, Sophomore, ect.)
-Year at UNK (First, Second, Third, ect.)
-Semesters that you've been involved in QSA (One, two, ect.)

And also, answer the following questions with a well-written paragraph (3-5ish sentences):
-Why are you interested in the treasurer position?
-What unique qualities would you bring to the QSA leadership?
-Why do you think you deserve the position of treasurer?

We will be letting group members read these answers, so make them good! :)

Group members with voting rights will get to elect the treasurer on December 1. We will go over voting rights at am upcoming QSA meeting.

Applications for the treasurer position are due November 24.

-Jenna

New Website is launched TODAY!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the BRAND NEW website for the Queer Straight Alliance at the University of Nebraska at Kearney! I am super excited about beginning to be more active online, and I hope you are too! Take some time to explore the layout - there are lots of good resources for QSA members, such as:

-Group updates in an easy-to-follow blog format.
-Comment links on every post so you can provide feedback.
-A list of all QSA officers and contact information - for fast and easy communication.
-A list of all kinds of links for additional queer resources on the web. Amazing LGBTQA-related websites are on this list, such as GLSEN and HRC. Check it out, and get educated!
-Links to QSA's facebook page and NEW twitter page.
-A completely anonymous suggestion box - as an effort to get members more involved in the decision-making. Now you can criticize us (or praise us, if you'd like!) without having to worry about it getting personal.
-A search box, so you can easily search through our updates and posts if you need to find something.

And this is just the beginning! The site is brand new, and we will be updating it all the time. Bookmark it, and keep coming back for more info!

-Jenna