ELECTION – IMPORTANT DATES

HAVE YOUR SAY IN WHO REPRESENTS YOU AT THE GSA! 
Election for FRC and Executive: Wednesday, March 15, 10 am – Friday, March 17, 6 pm.
Campaigning Period: Monday, March 6, 10 am – Tuesday, March 14, 6 pm (please contact the CRO at gsacro@mcmaster.ca for more information on being a candidate and the campaign regulations).

• Access to Psychologist, Counsellors, Mental Health Nurses and wellness education experts in person (along with OHIP billed Psychiatrist and Physicians)
• Offering a broad range of services including mental health, academic issue and personal issue counselling.
• Offering in person workshops on a magnitude of issues
• Offering Graduate-only group counselling sessions [3]

• Access to Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
• Counselling service available 24-hour/7 day-a-week by phone and or online
• Offering a broad range of Mental Health Services within the scope of Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
• Offering several types of self-evaluation tools available anytime online and relevant time-sensitive content (i.e. tip sheets, messages on stress management) available anytime online

Campaign committees

Only one campaign committee for YES and one for NO is permitted to participate in campaigning. To obtain official status, please register with the CRO at gsacro@mcmaster.ca (first come first serve basis) starting Monday, March 13, 10 am.

Important Dates
Applications for Campaign side submission begins Monday, March 13, 10 am
Campaigning period: Thursday, March 16, 10 am – Friday, March 31, 6 pm

Voting Online
Saturday, April 1, 10 am- Monday, April 3, 6 pm

Annual General Meeting

Results

GSA Mental Health Referendum Question 1 – PASSES
Quorum for any referendum question shall be five percent (5%) of all eligible voters.

GSA Mental Health Referendum Question 2 – PASSES
Quorum for any referendum question shall be five percent (5%) of all eligible voters.

Access to Mental Health Services

Campaign Platforms and Posters

Question 1 *

Question 2 

Town hall meeting for the discussion of Yes & No campaigns
Time: 12:00 pm
Date: March 31, 2017
Location:BSB 105

VOTE CALLED FOR APRIL 1, 10 am- ENDING ON APRIL 3, 6 pm

The GSA is asking you to vote on the following two (2) questions regarding access to mental health services for graduate students starting in September 2017. The vote will determine if graduate students opt for access to mental health services at McMasters Student Wellness Centre (SWC), and\or through the Student Assistance Plan (SAP) provided by the Graduate Students Association (GSA) Health and Dental provider.

Question 1
Do you want to pay an additional $23.86* per term ($71.58 per annum [1] (part-time students will pay an additional $11.93 per term ($35.79 per annum)) to access in-person mental health services at the McMaster University Student Wellness Centre?

[Yes or No]

Question 2 
Do you want to pay an additional fee of up to $10 per annum [2] for a Student Assistance Plan provided through the GSA Health and Dental provider, which provides remote (phone call, online) mental health services?

[Yes or No]

The services accessible at the McMaster University Student Wellness Centre (SWC) are: 

• Access to Psychologist, Counsellors, Mental Health Nurses and wellness education experts in person (along with OHIP billed Psychiatrist and Physicians)
• Offering a broad range of services including mental health, academic issue and personal issue counselling.
• Offering in person workshops on a magnitude of issues
• Offering Graduate-only group counselling sessions [3]

The services accessible from the Student Assistance Plan are:

• Access to Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
• Counselling service available 24-hour/7 day-a-week by phone and or online
• Offering a broad range of Mental Health Services within the scope of Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
• Offering several types of self-evaluation tools available anytime online and relevant time-sensitive content (i.e. tip sheets, messages on stress management) available anytime online

*Further information regarding the referendum questions will be available on the GSA Website shortly.

[1] Currently, graduate students pay $10.09 per term ($30.27$ per annum) to the SWC fees.[2] Currently, graduate students have coverage for $100 per appointment up to a maximum of $400 per annum for counselling services through the Health Plan. Graduate students pay a total fee of $186 per annum for the GSA Health Plan 
[3] Sessions will be available if the minimum number of students required is reached to warrant pulling a counsellor from their one-on-one work.

Documents

• Student Wellness Centre Fee Proposal
• GSA Mental Health Services Referendum – April 2017
• GSA Mental Health Services Survey – September 2016
• Student Assistant Program
• Referenda Specific Rules

Referendum on the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) Bus Pass Agreement with McMaster’s Graduate Students for 2017-2020

The results for the 2017-2018 GSA Election results are as follows:

GSA Executive Positions

President: Tim van Boxtel
Vice President Internal: Avijit Mallick
Vice President External: Shawn Hercules
Vice President Services: Robert Ballagh

Vice President Administration: Naim Tajvarpout

GSA Faculty Representatives to the Council

Faculty Representative Council- International: Vi Dang
Faculty Representative Council- Business: Samira Farivar
Faculty Representative Council- Humanities: Curran Egan
Faculty Representative Council- Health Science: Alexander Qian and Nick Yelle

Open positions

Nomination Form

For questions about the election, please contact the GSA Chief Returning Officer, Kara Tsang at gsacro@mcmaster.ca.

CHIEF RETURNING OFFICER (CRO)

Do you want to get INVOLVED? The GSA is seeking nominations for one Chief Returning Officer (CRO) for a term starting Friday, April 21 to April 26, 2017.

Applications should include a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and any complimentary skills along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV). Both documents should be submitted to macgsa@mcmaster.ca

Duties and responsibilities of the CRO are:
– Running any elections, by-elections and referendum for the GSA. Note that regular elections are held annually in February/March and by-elections are held in September or October to fill any vacant positions on the GSA. 

• Non-voting position on the Board of Directors of the GSA.
• Chair for the Annual General Meeting, held in March.
• Honorarium of $450

For more information on GSA elections and the CRO‘s role, please see the by-law available here.

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT – BLOCK PARTY

Come out with your friends to 3rd annual year-end block party and enjoy free rides/games/food and much more!

GSA TRIP TO SNOW VALLEY

Come join the GSA for a fun filled day on the slopes!
Location: Snow Valley, Barrie
Date: Friday, March 10th, 2017

Time: 7:30 am – 6:30 pm (Departing Mary-Keyes at 7:30 am, arrival back at 6:30 pm)

Cost: $25 includes transportation to Snow Valley, ski rental, lift ticket and lesson ($35 for snowboarders, however, if you have your own boarding equipment then the cost is $25. Ski prices are not discounted if you have your own skis)

We will be leaving Mary-Keyes residence at 7:30 am sharp (please arrive 15 minutes earlier to fill out a waiver). We will depart Snow Valley at 4 pm for arrival back at McMaster at 6:30 pm.

To register, please click here.
After signing up – no refunds will be given as we have to confirm the equipment rentals.

Wine and Appetizer Social

Have you ever wondered what happens on a typical day at the Graduate Students Association or how to get involved?

Well, wonder no more! Come and join us for Wine and Appetizer Social (non-alcoholic beverages will be served as well) at the Phoenix Bar and Grill,  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Friday, February 17. Meet the members of our executive council and faculty representatives and have your all your questions answered. Limited quantities available, please arrive early to avoid disappointment!

GSA Trip to Chicopee Snow Tube Park

Come join the GSA for a fun filled day at Chicopee Snow Tube Park!

Location: Chicopee Snow Tube Park
Date: Friday, February 3rd, 2017 
Time: 12:45 pm – 5:00 pm (Departing Mary-Keyes at 12:45pm, arrival back at 5:00 pm)

Cost: $15 includes transportation to Chicopee Tube Park and snow tube rental.

We will be leaving Mary-Keyes residence at 12:45 pm sharp (please arrive 15 minutes earlier to fill out a waiver). We will depart Snow Valley at 4 pm for arrival back at McMaster at 5:00 pm. 

After signing up – no refunds will be given as we have to confirm the equipment rentals.

Please click here to register.

We have launched a new website! https://www.phoenixmcmaster.com

Hello Graduate Students!

We don’t get a reading week, the Phoenix has created some exciting daily deals for you! Please come with your student card check out some delicious food!

Also, note that all graduate students with a valid GSA sticker can enjoy 25% off food purchases after 2:00 pm every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. 

Purple Serenity – Paint Night

Join us on for Paint Night at the Phoenix. There will be wine tasting, sangria specials, and food specials!

Tickets are just $45 and includes all your paint supplies.
https://www.paintnite.com/events/prism-petals-at-the-phoenix-bar-grill_1157139

Opt Out

If you’re already covered by another extended health and/or dental plan, you can combine both plans to maximize your overall coverage, or you can opt out of the health portion, the dental portion, or the plan in its entirety during the change-of-coverage period (the period at the beginning of the semester when you can either opt out or enrol your spouse and/or dependants in the GSA Health Plan) from January 4 – 31, 2017. You’ll receive a cheque for the amount of the Plan shortly after the end of the change-of-coverage period. 

Please go to ihaveaplan.ca and see the coverage section-opt outs.