Hello everyone.
Just thought I'd share with you a short note I received from Anndrea
yesterday:
-------------
I am doing better and am going home to my grandmas today from the
hospital. It has been a tough month.
I should be returning to Canada in 2-3 weeks.
Please tell everyone thanks for the positive vibes and energy.
Anndrea
-------------
Simon.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Call for nominations: PSGSA election
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:49:43 -0500
From: umbagava(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
To: godardbd(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
Hi Bev,
Please forward this to all graduate students in plant science.
Thanks
Muthu
---------------
Hi All,
Li Ru is interested in volunteering as the CRO for PSGSA elections.
Please forward your nominations (self nominations are accepted) to her
at *umli267(a)cc.umanitoba.ca *before *4:30pm Friday, May 2*. Nominations
received after that period may not be accepted. It is very important to
keep the deadline in order to plan the ballots.
The following positions are available:
1. President
- Overall representative for plant science graduate students
association
-Liasion with all other departments (i.e. for faculty student events)
-Supervise all positions, ensuring proper responsbility is taken (i.e.
ensure regular monthly activities are kept up, including departmental BBQ's)
-Maintain student morale
-One of two persons with signing authority for plant science graduate
student association
-Organize the annual plant science graduate student symposium (it is
our turn- March 2009)
-Maintain lunch room clean up list and ensure volunteers follow through
-Oversee all other new responsibilities and delegate responsibility when
needed
2. Treasurer
-Keeper of the cash box
-Maintain small level of petty cash on-hand
-Review all expenditures
-Balance cheque-book
-Fill out and send in the semi-annual GSA grant application form
3. Social Director
-Oversees PSGSA social committee
-Attend all departmental social committee meetings
-Present student input
-Keep students informed of general issues
4. Social Committee members ( 6 positions)
-Plan annual charity BBQ in July (Donations, etc.)
-Plan monthly activities
-Ensure activities are completed
5. Department of plant science council representative (1 meeting/month)
-Attend all departmental meetings
-Present student input
-Keep students informed general issues
6. Advanced plant science seminar series rep (1-4 meetings/year)
-Attend all committee meetings
-Present student input for potential invited speakers
-Ensure graduate student participation during class
7. GSA representative (1 meeting/month)
-Attend all GSA monthly meetings
-Report important issues to plant science graduate students
- i.e. written (e-mail) and oral/hallway discussion
-Keep plant science graduate students up-to-date with general issues
8. Sports representative
-Student representative for departmental sporting activities
-i.e. collect prizes for annual point curling bonspiel (usually in
March)
-Collect prizes for graduate student events
-Alltend all departmental sports committee meetings
9. Depart of plant science safety committee (1 meeting/year)
-Attend all departmental meetings
-Present student input
-Keep students informed of general issues
10. Department of plant science computer committee (1 meeting/year)
-Attend all departmental meetings
-Present student input
-Keep students informed of general issues
11. Department of plant science library committee (1 meeting/year)
-Attend all departmental meetings
-Present student input
-Keep students informed of general issues
In case there are no nominations received for any position prior to the
nomination deadline, nominations for those position (s) will be accepted
from the floor during the election. The end of winter BBQ (with the
election) will be held sometime next week depending on the weather
conditions. The date will be communicated shortly.
Thanks very much for your co-operation.
Muthu
--
Bev Godard
Secretary
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax: (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard(a)umanitoba.ca
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: PSGSA elections
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:50:31 -0500
From: umbagava(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
To: godardbd(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
Hi Bev,
Please forward this along to all graduate students in plant science.
Thanks
Bev
---------
Hi all,
Hope you are all doing well. It is the time to elect next executives for
PSGSA council. Further details about the date, positions, etc. will be
communicated shortly. Traditionally it will be a part of the end of
winter BBQ which will be held in the near future.
At this time, we need a Chief Returning Officer (CRO) to look after the
election process. Please note that the CRO may not be eligible to run in
the elections.
Please let me know, no later than Monday, April 28, if you are
interested to serve in this position . The CRO will be appointed as a
first come basis.
Please let me also know if you have any comments/suggestions.
Thanks
Muthu
--
Bev Godard
Secretary
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax: (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard(a)umanitoba.ca
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Good news from Immig. Canada for international students
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:05:32 -0500
From: umbagava(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
To: godardbd(a)cc.umanitoba.ca
-------
Hi all,
I thought it might be of interest to many graduate students.
Government of Canada introduces changes to work permits for
international students, making Canada more attractive for skilled
individuals
*Vancouver, April 21, 2008* ? The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration, today announced changes to work permits for
international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain
Canadian post-secondary institutions, making it easier to attract
foreign students to Canada.
Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international
students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of
employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration
of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country.
Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for
one or two years, depending on location.
Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows most international
students who have graduated from an eligible program at a post-secondary
institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. A minimum of one
year of work experience in managerial, professional or technical
positions (i.e., at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational
Classification system) will be necessary to apply to stay permanently
through the Canadian Experience Class.
The changes to the program include extending the duration of the work
permit to three years across the country for those whose program of
study is at least two years (previously, permits could be granted for
only one or two years, depending on location); providing the flexibility
for new graduates to work in any field and not just their field of
study; and removing the requirement to have a job offer.
To be eligible for the program, international students:
* Must have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the
completion of their program of studies and have graduated from:
o a public post-secondary institution, such as a college,
university or CEGEP (in Quebec); or
o a private post-secondary institution that operates under the
same rules and regulations as public institutions, and that
receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its
overall operations from government grants (currently, only
private college-level educational institutions in Quebec
qualify); or
o a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or
territorial statute to confer degrees.
* Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written
confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter)
from the institution that they have met the requirements of the
academic program.
* Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a
notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree,
diploma or certificate.
* Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.
Note that if the student?s program of study is less than two years but
at least eight months, the student would be eligible for a post-graduate
work permit. However, the validity period of the work permit must not be
longer than the period of study of the graduate at the particular
post-secondary institution in Canada.
*International students not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit
Program include the following:*
* Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship
Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
* Students receiving funding from the Canadian International
Development Agency and participating in a distance learning program.
* Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work
permit after any other program of study. However, note that
graduates who are already working with a work permit issued under
the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension.
For more details, and the news release at Immigration Canada website, pl
visit
http://www.cic. gc.ca/english/ <http://gc.ca/english/> department/
media/releases/ 2008/2008- 04-21.asp
Regards,
Muthu
--
Bev Godard
Secretary
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax: (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard(a)umanitoba.ca
Hello fellow grads,
I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine today. Seeing as today is
Earth Day (when we take a bit of time to think about what the planet
does for us all and how easily it is for us to harm it) I thought I'd
share a few ideas that we can do around the University to lessen our
impact on the planet. The funny thing about a lot of these ideas is
that they end up saving money - either for the department or the
university or yourself.
1. Reduce paper use. There is an option you can set on your computer
that allows you to print on both sides of the paper. ALSO you can put
more than one page on a sheet - and it's still legible! So you could
reduce your paper printing by 75% just by printing 2 pages per sheet and
printing double sided!
2. Reduce paper waste. For some reason there is a garbage can right
beside the printer in the office. BUT, that isn't for the print job you
just realized went wrong. NO - put waste paper in the RECYCLING box
over by the photocopier. ALSO, some people (like me) make regular trips
to the recycling box to take all that great paper that was only printed
on one side. I take that home and use it for printing my drafts.
3. Reusable lunch containers. When you bring in your lunch, take it in
reusable containers. If you are buying your lunch, you can bring your
own container to have the lunch put into. Same goes for coffee cups. I
bet you every person going to seminar has a mug on campus, but how many
paper cups are sitting in the garbage afterwards? Also, packing your
own lunch is better for the environment than buying lunch at a restaurant.
4. Turn off electrical things. Leaving your computer turned off over
night saves a lot of energy. If you don't want to shut down, put it to
sleep, which is just about the same thing but doesn't quit any of your
applications. Turn off lights when no one is in the room for any period
of time.
5. Walk/bike to school. It's warm now (or it will be soon). Certainly
the risk of frostbite is gone. So get some fresh air and use your legs
to get you to campus. Some people live too far away for this, and they
are allowed to take the bus or carpool. But try not to drive to school
alone in a car.
Happy spring,
Simon.
Good morning everyone,
Diana Amey will be leaving us at the end of the week to join the Faculty
of Engineering. We will be giving her our best wishes and a fond
farewell during the Good News Meeting being held tomorrow morning in the
seminar room.
Please come out for some cake and to wish Diana well in her new position.
Debbie
--
Debbie Bialek
Administrative Assistant
Department of Plant Science
Rm. 223 Agriculture Bldg.
The University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Tel. (204) 474-8226
Fax (204) 474-7528
Good morning to all,
At the Good News meeting, awards that students have won will be
announced. I had previously asked for the awards you had won in 2007,
however, if you have received an award in 2008 you can send that
information to me too. Time permitting, all the awards will be announced.
Thanks,
Bev
--
Bev Godard
Secretary
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax: (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard(a)umanitoba.ca
Canadian Organic Growers
The Mary Perlmutter Scholarship
Information and applications are available at http://cog.ca/
Application Deadline: June 30, 2008
--
Martha Blouw, Administrative Assistant
Department of Plant Science
226 Agriculture Building
66 Dafoe Road
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8223 Fax: (204) 474-7528
martha_blouw(a)umanitoba.ca
http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/plant_science/
Hello to all,
By return e-mail, would you please let me know if you presented at this
year's Graduate Student Symposium, and if you won, what placing, what
category, title, and any other information you think I might need.
Thanks,
Bev
--
Bev Godard
Secretary
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax: (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard(a)umanitoba.ca
