Thanks to one of our thoughtful members, the RSO facebook group here. Stop by and join and chat, post and/or make new friends. The link is here.

Hey everybody,

If you are keeping a blog and would not mind having it linked to this website, please e-mail me at lilliansuh@gmail.com.  Thanks.

Welcome to all the Incoming Spouses, Significant Others and Families arriving to the island this upcoming semester. The Ross Spouses Organization would like to cordially invite you to the New Spouse Orientation and Ross Spouses Organization’s Opening Social. The New Spouse Orientation is open to all new spouses, significant others and any other persons coming to the island to support their loved one during their journey through medical school. The Orientation will be held on May 13th at 9am until 1pm in Classroom 3. Attendees will be presented with helpful information from other spouses regarding life on the island. Attendees will also be provided with a lunch (lunch will not be provided for Ross students). The Ross Spouses Organization’s Opening Social will be held May 15th at Le Flambeau at 1:30 pm. The Opening Social will be a time to mingle with other spouses (both ones who are new to the island and those of us who have been here a while) while enjoying some appetizers which will be provided. Again both events are open to spouses, significant others and anyone else accompanying a student on the island. We look forward to seeing you at both events!

For the entire Ross Community’s awareness, all local business will be closed in Dominica on December 25th. This includes A1 Taxi, and transport drivers. Ross University will not arrange for transportation from the airport on December 25th. In a nutshell, if you purchased plane tickets for departing or arriving on the 25th, get them changed, or verify your other transportation plans!

The new committee members are:

Ashley Pearman (Website), Andrea Morgan (Welcoming), Mary Gangar (Activities and Publishing), Ericka Granata (Advertising), Alia Souers (Finances and Fund-raising), Larissa Seeber (E-mails), Megdalynn Fisher (Meetings), Ralna Wade (Ross Liaison), and Denise Hires (Minutes/Calendar).

Recorded by Darlene Fletcher

 In attendance: Carl, Holly, Meg, Denise, Darlene, Addy, Mary, Katrina, Ralna, Ashley, Alia, Jocelyn, Tammy, Krista, Courtney, Andrea, Julie, Katie

Before the meeting, a brief orientation was held for new members unable to arttend last week’s full orientation. Meeting was started at 10:15 am. Treasurer’s report stated bank balance of $2400 EC before new member dues and cookbook sales.

Bingo Night was discussed. We will hold it at PBH on Fri. Nov. 9, after the second mini. Should not interfere with any other activities that we know of at this time. Andy, Carl and Darlene will head the committee, Krista volunteered to assist. It was noted that as the only fundraiser this semester, everyone is requested to assist in some way.

Discussed Roseau shopping trips for the semester; first one is Monday Sept. 17, the following ones are Monday October 15, and Tuesday November 13. They meet at 8 am at the shacks, $20 EC per person, the other $10 EC is subsidized through RSO fundraisers and dues.

Discussed dues–all active members are required to submit an application for membership and pay $50 EC per semester. This is in lieu of repeated fundraisers. This money will go towards two meals (Welcome dinner and Goodbye party), and help subsidize Roseau shopping trips and other spouse events.

Meg discussed the website…please use it for all announcements and communications and check it frequently for events and updates. The address is www.rossspouses.org.

The Welcome Dinner is tentatively scheduled for Sat. Sept. 29 at 6 pm. All interested parties MUST RSVP by Thurs. Sept 27, including number of children attending so that an adequate amount of food can be ordered. Please check the website and the bulletin board next to the post office for location and time as the event gets closer. Denise, Meg and Richele are heading up this event, so all questions should be directed to them.

Children’s Fair–Halloween edition! Sat. October 27. Holly asked for volunteers to help set up and take down kids playthings, and also discussed having children dress up and get candy in a trick or treat fashion. In addition, Ross U provides a costume parade and trick or treating around campus on Halloween, so the RSO does not have to provide anything for that event.

Old Business; sold 7 cookbooks.

New Business–Darlene discussed that at the next meeting the charity that we will give 30% of Bingo Night receipts to needs to be voted on by the general assembly. It can be any organization EXCEPT a religious one. Espwa Domnik was heavily favored since they are a new group in desperate need of funds and hospice care on the island is non-existent and appalling. Also, they were the only group to get more prizes than we were last semester, and they got a lot of the ones we were hoping for; so by including them in our plans, perhaps we could work together for a larger fundraiser and raise more money, instead of competing with them for smaller gains.

Other new business included discussions for an RSO T-shirt for members and for fundraising, and considering a “yearbook” for each semester. This will require volunteers.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:50 am, and the next meeting is set for Wed. October 10 at 10 am behind Subway.

Respectfully submitted, DF