9/4 Meeting Recap

Thanks so much to everyone who came out tonight! For those who couldn't make it, here's what you missed:

• The HPA's current campaign, Equality FTW, is almost done with its fundraising stage. We hit our $50,000 goal with a week to spare, but there's still a few days left if you want to contribute and get some awesome rewards! Once the fundraiser is over, we'll start helping with the actual campaign, which will focus on three specific points: education equality, LGBT rights, and immigration reform. The one project that has been officially announced so far will begin in the spring with the start of Accio Books, the HPA's annual international book drive. This year the books will go toward building a library for a charter school in Chicago. If you want to find out more about Equality FTW or donate to this campaign, check out http://www.indiegogo.com/EqualityFTW.
• The 2012 Yule Ball is on! Texas Quidditch and Keep Austin Wizard will be partnering up to throw another rocking charity ball this December. If you would like to help with planning, decorating, or catering, keep an eye out for updates!
• We will be getting an informal group together to go to the Austin Teen Book Festival on Saturday, September 29. If you're interested in joining us, please send us an email letting us know you'd like to come and also whether you have a car or will need a ride. For more information about the authors and events at the festival, check out http://austinteenbookfestival.com/.
• If there are any local groups or charities you know of that you think the HPA should get involved in, let us know! While the major HPA campaigns are obviously important, we want to make an impact locally too, and we'd love some input about good places to work with.
• Each semester we hold a House Cup competition. Points are awarded as follows:
• Meeting attendance: 1 point
• Donations (during book/food drives): 2 points per item
• Service Events:
• 5 points for short (1-2 hour) events
• 3 points per hour for longer events
• Social Events: 2 points
• Random Acts of Awesome - points will be awarded to members who go above and beyond with things like organizing events, helping make Quidditch concessions, decorating for the Yule Ball, etc. Anything we don't expect you to do but you do anyway because you're just that awesome. Think Neville standing up to his friends in Sorcerer's Stone. :)
• Finally, we have four Professorships open this semester that we would love to fill!
• Defense Against the Dark Arts (Service Chair): Arranges local charity events, donation drives, volunteering, etc. Must have keen awareness of local issues, be able to plan events, and have enough schedule flexibility to attend those events.
• Divinations (Event Planner): Organizes long-term projects and campaigns (e.g. the Yule Ball). Event planning experience a plus. Must be able to commit hours during midterms and finals.
• Arithmancy (Treasurer): Handles all revenue and budgetary issues. Maintains club bank account. Experience ideal but not required.
• History of Magic (Historian): Records all events and social gatherings. Maintains Facebook photo album. Handles club publicity. Must be able to attend all HPA events.
• Anyone interested in any of the Professorships, please email a short bio (3-4 sentences) to austinhpalliance@gmail.com explaining your qualifications and why you want the position. All candidates will have two minutes to speak at next week's meeting; the bios will be posted on Facebook for those who can't attend the meeting. Immediately after the meeting an online poll will open where members can vote for each Professor. Polls will close on Monday, September 17, and the winners will be announced at the meeting on Tuesday the 18th. If you have any questions about the election or any of the positions, please let us know!
• Finally, there will be a slight room change for next week's meeting. An event is taking place in BUR 134, so we will be right next door in BUR 130. Same day, same time, just one door over. We'll send out a reminder next week and we'll post signs outside the day of so hopefully everyone will find us just fine.

Thanks again to everyone who made it out! If you have any questions or concerns about anything in this post, please feel free to email us or hit me up on Facebook. See you guys next week!

Caitlin