Monday, June 13, 2011

2011 Washington DC Trip - May 11-16

To view photos from our trip visit our facebook album! http://www.facebook.com/asupolsciclub


Recap of our Trip - By T. J. Schumann (Secretary)


Washington, D.C. - a city teeming with history and pride in the United States’ past and future. No matter what I do there, seeing DC somehow leaves a positive impression on me. I first saw the city during a school trip in 2004 and was again provided the opportunity to do so with the Political Science Club last year. My love for DC has grown as a result of these trips and this year, I could not pass up a chance to go for a third time. Along with the rest of the Poli Sci Club, I was given the opportunity to visit and pick the brains of several people who live and work in the area in addition to establishing new contacts both in the city and among my fellow students. While we were there, I couldn’t help but feel more connected to the history being made every day in DC, especially after being able to talk with some of the people who have a direct influence on events today. Truly, my experience in DC this year was enriching and no less satisfying than my past trips.

One primary difference separating this year’s trip from the last was the method of travel. On May 11th, the club boarded an Amtrak train in Columbia at four in the morning. It was the first time that many people, myself included, had traveled by train. Compared to flying, the accommodations were nicer (more leg room!) but I cannot say much for the speed of our journey - we sat restlessly awaiting our DC adventures for over twelve hours before reaching Union Station. Nevertheless, the train ride was relatively relaxing for most of us. I myself passed the time by catching up on sleep, watching as the ever-changing scenery whizzed by my window, and getting acquainted with Monty Python and Boy Meets World for the first time.

Another first for many of us, our stay in the hostel was a fairly dramatic change from the isolated conditions of a hotel room that many of us are so used to when traveling. No TV in the room… but there was a TV room located downstairs where everyone could fight over the remote. No kitchenette in the room… just a community kitchen where you had to wash your own dishes and clean up after yourself. Only one bathroom and four showers shared between all the rooms on your floor… yikes! But what the hostel lacked in luxury it gained in opportunities to converse with university-age travelers and learn a bit about other countries as part of the deal. I remember a lengthy discussion I had with two guys from Great Britain over a game of pool where we discussed the highlights of our respective nations, which piqued my interest in visiting there someday.

But for me, the real meat of the trip came from fellowship with my professors and fellow students while enjoying DC. I never ran out of things to see - from exploring the National Mall and monuments at night to touring several museums during my free time. While none of the buildings were new to me, this year I was given the chance to try new things and delve deeper than ever before. Along with the rest of the club I toured the Holocaust museum and met with a survivor by the name of Henry Greenbaum, who told his fascinating story to a room full of teary eyes. It was a very sobering and powerful experience to see the human toll of the Holocaust, and I’m certain that many students new to the Holocaust Museum felt it even more so.

The code word of the week was networking. Getting ahead in life is as much about whom you know as what you know, and this was stressed in a number of planned events the club participated in. Contact was established with several prominent people in the DC area who agreed to meet with the club during the week. Our first scheduled meeting was with Georgia Representative John Barrow, who greeted each of us warmly and offered his time to answer questions and talk politics. I felt very fortunate to meet one of the people that represent our interests in the Capitol each day, and regardless of how one may feel about his policies, he was very personable and had much to share with the club on the inner workings of the Capitol as well as current issues such as health care and the growing national deficit. Later that evening, former Augusta College student Gloria Dittus offered her home as an amazing environment for networking and fellowship with ASU alumni, which made for a wonderful night for students and faculty alike. As with last year, I was pleased that she was so willing to share her success and hope that maybe, just maybe, someone from our group may follow in her footsteps.

During the week we also met with Senior Research Analyst Jeffery Dressler at the Institute for the Study of War, where we got a rare glimpse of a research organization whose work directly aids soldiers working on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Dressler, a former student of Dr. Albert’s at the University of Connecticut, has met with the club once before and has published several academic papers on the war in Afghanistan. From humble beginnings working at a daycare and sliding through school, he told us, he eventually worked his way into the Washington inner circles - not by patronage but by sweat. He stated how rewarding it was to be doing something that he not only loves, but something that makes an impact: keeping American soldiers and commanders in Afghanistan better informed and therefore more effective. Thanks to Mr. Dressler, I gained a greater understanding about how a political researcher can apply his knowledge (or simply piece together what’s already out there in a new way) to create real benefits for others.

My experience at the Public Affairs Council was very similar, where we peered into the workings of an organization that specializes in advising businesses and government entities on connecting with people. Vice President of the PAC, Sheree Anne Kelly offered insight on the field of public relations, the ways in which companies and other groups use their services, and how the field continues to evolve (in short, social networking has changed everything). One might be surprised how complicated it can be for a group to build interest in something at a grassroots level while maintaining a consistent and effective online presence. I certainly was! But nevertheless, I really enjoyed her presentation and was glad she was not annoyed by the many questions I had for her.

Mrs. Kelly’s advice to students was to remember the connections you make, put your best foot forward, and never giving up. That message was echoed by many others I met while in DC, and that is the message I took to heart. In addition to the knowledge gained from meetings during the week, I gained from the trip a greater appreciation for the people I got to share it all with. I can’t wait to do it all over again next year and build new experiences and friendships. After all, as fellow students in life it is important to remember the friends we make and help them on their respective journeys as much as we can. Perhaps one day we might need each other to chase our dreams.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Meeting Notes 03/03

We would like to thank everyone for coming to the meeting last Thursday! Highlights from the meeting are below:

Upcoming Events:

March 10 – Brown Bag on Egypt – Dr. Ratan will be giving a short presentation to clear up misconceptions about the events in Egypt, and from there, we need your opinion! Come to room N126 in Allgood Hall, this Thursday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM - and be prepared with a bag lunch and some talking points.

Late March – LSAT Practice Test – For those interested in taking the LSAT, we will be offering a practice test to help you hone your skills. Come to meetings or watch this space for more details later. Also, at the meeting Kaplan representative Brian Allen discussed test prep courses being offered at ASU. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit http://www.kaptest.com/ for more information.

March 31st – Guest Speaker – Former ASU alumni and Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver will be speaking at 2:30 PM in University Hall room 170. The topic will be “What can you do with a degree in Public Administration?” This is sure to be an enlightening lecture for all Poli Sci majors.

April 26th - Art Presentation - Beginning at 2:30, Mahera Khaleque will be hosting a presentation of her art entitled Behind the Veil: Cultural Implications and Perceptions. Room will be determined at a later date.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Boys and Girls Club: The Political Science Club would like to have several members volunteer their time at one of the local chapters, either as mentors or as general volunteers. All those interested are encouraged to fill out an application and place it in the club's box found in the Political Science Club department.

First Saturday Crew Cleanup – We would like to participate as a club in beautifying Augusta with the First Saturday Crew. More information will come at the next meeting, but this should be a good chance to show pride in our city.

We are always looking for opportunities to give back to the community. If you are aware of any additional events or organizations in need of volunteers, please drop us a line at polsciclub@aug.edu.

Fundraising:

Raffle: Flyers were passed out for our raffle fundraiser. We are raffling off an XBOX 360 with Kinect; $2 per ticket or 15 tickets for $20. Those going to DC need to sell $100 at minimum - Al other members should try for $50. You have until March 31st to sell your tickets. Stay diligent!

DC Campaign with Indigogo: Our Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the DC trip is live! It can be viewed at http://www.indiegogo.com/Political-Science-Club-Abroad. Please share the link with friends, family, acquaintances and everyone else! Even a small donation will make a big difference in paying for the trip and other club functions.

MyEDU: The club earns $1 for each person that signs up for MyEDU using this link: http://www.myedu.com/free/polsciclub. It is fast, easy, completely free, and anyone can do it. Pass the link along to friends!

Sponsorship Drive: Continue pursuing those sponsorship opportunities! Remember, a sponsorship is required from those members who plan on going to D.C. in May. Those members that have agreed to approach a business should do so before our next meeting! The person with most sponsorships wins a $100 VISA gift card.

The next meeting will be on March 17th at 2:15 in Allgood Hall room E151.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Fundraising Campaigns for DC Trip

Our Washington DC trip is fast approaching! We have two online fundraisers going on for our trip.

The first is run through myEDU which is donating $1 to us for every user that signs up using our link

The link is http://www.myedu.com/free/polsciclub so please join and share the link with people you know!

The other campaign is through IndieGoGo. Anyone can donate 5-1500 for our trip! There are also gifts that we've offered at different levels of donation!

Spread the word! Tell your friends, families, co-workers! Everyone!




Big thanks to Jadion Brown for all his help with the IndieGoGo campaign!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Meeting Notes 02/17

A synopsis of Poli Sci Club events and happenings as discussed during Thursday's meeting is below.

Upcoming Events:

February 24 – Guest Speaker Poli Sci professor Dr. Spadoni will be discussing U.S.-Cuban relations and his recently published book, “Failed Sanctions: Why the U.S. embargo on Cuba will never work,” from 2:30-4:00 on the 24th. Pick up a flyer and plug it in your classes, please!

March 10 – Brown Bag on Egypt – Dr. Ratan will be giving a short presentation to clear up misconceptions about the events in Egypt, but afterwards we need your opinion! On March 10, be ready to bring a bag lunch and some insight! More information to come at the next meeting.

Late March – LSAT Practice Test – For those interested in taking the LSAT, we will be offering a practice test to help you hone your skills. Come to meetings or watch this space for more details later.

TBA – Guest Speaker – As a former ASU alumni, Mayor Deke Copenhaver will be speaking on what you can do with a Public Administration degree. Date and location will be coming soon.

Social Events:

Homecoming Night - February 19 – The Poli Sci Club will be attending the homecoming game against Francis Marion at 3:30. After the game we will be having dinner at Mellow Mushroom on the intersection of 12th and Broad Street downtown. We plan to make this a tradition and hope to see you there!

Club Social - Mi Rancho - March 8 at 6:00 PM - Bring your friend/significant other for an evening out with the Poli Sci Club!

Fundraising:

Bake Sale: Our bake sale last week did very well, raising a total of $111! Thanks to those who helped out at the bake sale.

Raffle: We are raffling off an XBOX 360 with Kinect; $2 per ticket or 15 tickets for $20. $100 minimum for people going to DC, $50 minimum for all other members. You have until March 31st to sell your tickets.

DC Campaign with Indigogo: Jaidon needs people who are willing to appear on the campaign video. If you are willing to do so, contact Jadion at jbrown68@aug.edu.

Orgsync: It is very important that we get as many members signed up on ASU’s Orgsync as we can. If you have not already, please set up your account at www.orgsync.org. After you've made your profile, add the Political Science Club to your groups: https://orgsync.com/join/21465/political-science-club. It takes less than five minutes of your time and helps a lot for getting funding from Student Activities. For questions, please email one of the club officers.

Sponsorship Drive: Continue pursuing those sponsorship opportunities! Remember, a sponsorship is required from those members who plan on going to D.C. in May. The person with most sponsorships wins a $100 VISA gift card.


The next meeting will be on February 3rd at 2:15 in Allgood Hall room E151. Hope to see everyone there!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Meeting Notes 01/27

We apologize for the confusion in the meeting times. I have updated the calendar on this site with the meeting dates and times until the end of the semester now.

Upcoming Meetings:
February 10 - Elections and Navy Officer Guest Speaker - it is mandatory you attend so that we can vote in new officers. You must be a fully dues paid member in order to vote in the election. If you are unsure if you have paid your dues, please contact the treasurer, Carrie Shoultz, at polsciclub@aug.edu as soon as possible!
Feb 17 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15
March 3 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15
March 17 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15
March 31 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15
April 14 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15
April 28 - Normal Meeting - AH E150 @ 2:15

Upcoming Events:
February 8 - Bake Sale we need people willing to either bake or work the table
February 11 - Brown Bag - 1:15 location TBA Topic: TSA and Airport Security Procedures - we will post some links to articles on the blog and facebook for you to read prior to the brown bag
February 24 - Guest Speaker: Dr. Spadoni - "Failed Sanctions: Why the US embargo on Cuba will never work" - Dr. Spadoni will be discussing his recently published book as well as US-Cuban relations.

Social Events:
February 8 - Wild Wing Cafe - 6pm - 1/2 price wings
February 25 - Bowling?
March 11 - Social
May - Faculty and Student End of the Year Banquet (TBA)

Fundraising:
Raffle: XBOX 360 with Kinect; $2 ticket or 15 tickets for $20 ($100 minimum for people going to DC, $50 minimum for all other members)
DC Campaign with Indigogo: Jaidon needs people who are willing to appear on the campaign video, if you are willing to do so, contact Jadion at jbrown68@aug.edu
LSAT: March
Sponsorship Drive - If the club makes $1500 in sponsorships, whoever brings in the most sponsorship money will win a $100 visa gift card.

Washington DC
If you have not signed up for DC and wish to be put on the waiting list, please contact us polsciclub@aug.edu

Orgsync
If you have not already, please set up your orgsync accout at www.orgsync.org. After you've made your profie, add the Political Science Club to your groups: https://orgsync.com/join/21465/political-science-club