[ASA-Official] LEF/ARCADE Deadline, W20 5th Floor Open House, MIT Post Office Closure

[Paul Baranay]

Dear Student Groups,

Please take note of the following announcements:

1. LEF/ARCADE Deadline - Wednesday, September 30
2. W20 5th Floor Open House - Monday, September 24, 2pm-4pm
3. Permanent Closing of MIT Post Office Likely

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1. LEF/ARCADE Deadline - Wednesday, September 30

The deadline to submit applications to the Large Event Fund (LEF) and/or the 
Assisting Recurring Cultural and Diversity Events (ARCADE) funds is Wednesday, 
September 30.  This next deadline is for events occurring between 10/1/09 and 
12/31/09.  The application and more information are available online: 
http://web.mit.edu/asa/resources/large-events.html.

If your LEF/ARCADE event occurs before October 14, funding decisions may not be 
made until after your event has passed.  Therefore, groups seeking funding for 
events occurring before October 14 are *strongly* encouraged to submit 
applications before September 23.  The funding board will consider these 
applications in an expedited manner and will have a decision for you before 
September 30.

All groups are encouraged to meet with the Student Activities Office about 
your application before the deadline.  Groups proposing events with 
outside speakers/performers are REQUIRED to meet with Paul Spangle 
(pspangle at mit.edu) or Alicia Erwin (aeerwin at mit.edu) in SAO (W20-549). 
Please get in touch with Paul or Alicia to set up an appointment.

If you have any questions about LEF/ARCADE, please email the ASA Treasurer 
at asa-treasurer at mit.edu.


2. W20 5th floor Open House - Monday, September 21, 2pm-4pm

Ever wondered what those offices do on the 5th floor of W20? Come find 
out! The 5th floor will be hosting an Open House on Monday, September 21 
from 2pm to 4pm open to all MIT students and student organizations. Meet 
staff, find resources, and eat some good treats.

Brought to you by the Student Activities Office; Fraternities, Sororities, 
and Independent Living Groups; Residential Life Programs; the Campus 
Activities Complex; Community Development and Student Support; the Office 
of Student Citizenship; and the Public Service Center.

We hope to see you there!  Questions? Email sao-staff at mit.edu.


3. Permanent Closing of MIT Post Office Likely

The US Postal Service has put the MIT Post Office (in the basement of W20) 
on a list of roughly 400 branches being considered for closure. USPS plans 
on making their final decisions on or around October 2. Desipte the fact 
that our post office operates at a profit of over $200,000 per year, it 
looks as if the post office is not going to be removed from the list, 
unless the MIT community demonstrates just how many people would be 
negatively impacted by its loss.

Austin Chu (eefi) and Mitch Berger (mitchb) are coordinating an effort to 
save our post office.  If you or your student group use it, please let 
your student group know about the serious and immediate danger that the 
post office is in. Ask your group's members to visit: 
http://web.mit.edu/asa/usps/how-to-help.html

On that page, you'll find details about how you can help by...
  * Writing a short personalized letter to our Congressman and Senator
  * Calling their offices to speak with them about saving the Post Office
  * Filling out a survey being conducted by the USPS about the closure
  * Signing a petition by the American Postal Workers Union

Please feel free to email asa-post-office at mit.edu with any questions.

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Thanks for your attention.  Best of luck with the start of classes and 
full-time recruitment season.


Sincerely,

The ASA Executive Board
http://web.mit.edu/asa/about/board-members.html