The Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG McGill) is looking for new working groups for 2009-2010!
QPIRG McGill is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization based at McGill University, with working groups at its core. Our working groups organise autonomously around various issues of social justice, environmental action and progressive research. Some examples of current and former working groups include: Q-Team, Greening McGill, Student-Worker Solidarity, Research for Social Change, Anti-Racist Action, Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement, Alcan’t in India, Fire (Women and Trans of Colour Collective), Anti-Gentrification Group, Young Jews for Social Justice, and many more.
All working groups are allocated an appropriate budget (for projects/events they wish to pursue throughout the year) in September and will have access to the following:
- QPIRG McGill’s many resources (phone, photocopier, fax machine)
- A radical resource library
- Computers with internet access
- Meeting space at the QPIRG office at 3647 University, 3rd floor (we regret that this space is not wheelchair accessible)
- And will have the help of QPIRG staff and board members when needed for such things as project support, visioning and outreach etc.
What role do working groups play at QPIRG McGill?
Working groups are the core of QPIRG McGill. They are autonomous organisations that work with and under the mandate of QPIRG McGill. QPIRG McGill’s Working groups are a group of volunteers (anywhere from 5-50 people) who work on a plethora of issues, ranging from environmental issues to research for social change to queer activism to HIV/AIDS campaigns. Working groups receive funding and the use of the QPIRG McGill office for many of their activities. Each working group gets a write-up in QPIRG McGill’s publicity, and partakes in the Working Group Film Festival in the Winter semester. All QPIRG McGill working groups are initiated by volunteers, and must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Campus-community links
QPIRG McGill strives to support working groups that are committed to both on- and off-campus presence. As a campus-based, student-run organization, we strive to reach beyond the gates of the university to support and take part in broader social justice struggles. We encourage applications for working groups that have a scope that is broader than the student milieu.
Application process
To be considered during our selection of working groups for the 2005-06 session, please ensure that you submit your application no later than September 10th, 5 pm. All applications can either be submitted via e-mail or by dropping them off at our office with a staff member. The application questions are pasted below — please answer the questions completely (especially the budget) and concisely.
A NOTE TO EXISTING WORKING GROUPS: If you wish to be a working group again this year YOU MUST RE-APPLY!
Also if you do not claim your stuff that is stored at QPIRG, it will be tossed after the Working Group selection process has finished.
If your group is selected to become a working group a representative MUST COMMIT to attending at least one meeting in September at which your budget will be finalized and general QPIRG McGill organizational information will be distributed, taking part in our working group film festival, and attending our Annual General Meeting in March.
If you have any questions about applying to become a working group and what the benefits of becoming a working group are, give us a call (398-7432), send an email (qpirg@ssmu.mcgill.ca), or stop by our office (3647 rue University). Our hours are Monday-Friday, 11 am-5 pm.
QPIRG McGill is opposed to all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex or gender, race, class, sexual orientation, dis/ability, ethnicity, and spiritual belief.
APPLICATION FORM FOR QPIRG McGILL WORKING GROUPS
This application serves two purposes. It is an opportunity for your group to formulate your goals and plan of action for the coming year, and for the Board to get to know you, your group and your issue. To apply to be a working group, please answer each of the following questions. This will give the Board a good idea of what the project is, and how it will be carried out. Most of these questions can be answered in one or two sentences. You can write the answers in numerical order.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call Indu at (514) 398-7432.
Description of Working Group
1) Proposed name of working group
2) Is this a new project or a continuation of previous year’s project?
3) Describe the issue on which your working group will focus.
4) How does this issue connect to QPIRG McGill’s social and environmental justice mandate?
5) Do you foresee that this issue will be your primary focus for the year, or will there be other sub-issues or related issues that will also be dealt with? If this is the case, what will be the criteria for taking on particular issues?
6) What were your main goals last year and were they accomplished? (if applicable)
7) What are your goals for the coming year, short and long term?
What kinds of activities do you plan to help achieve these goals?
9) Will the projects take place during the academic year only, or will it continue in the summer?
10) An important part of QPIRG McGill’s mandate is linking students with the community. How will this project address this? Do you know of any other community groups working on this issue?
11) Write a short 50 word blurb that will be used in QPIRG McGill promo materials if your group is selected.
Volunteer Involvement
12) How many people do you foresee taking part in this working group? How much interest do you think there will be on the part of McGill students?
13) Can anyone interested in the group join, or are there some membership criteria? If so, what are they?
14) Do new volunteers have to have some knowledge of your group’s issues before they join? How will you incorporate new members into the group?
15) What do you see as being some specific tasks for volunteer members of the group?
Project Coordinator(s)
16) Name, address, and e-mail address of coordinator/contact person.
17) What’s your personal experience with your working group’s issue?
QPIRG Support
18) What kinds of support, other than financial, will you need from QPIRG McGill? (e.g., using QPIRG space for mtgs; using the computers etc.)
19) The QPIRG McGill staff (especially External Coordinator) are hired in large part to assist, train and support working group volunteers. What specific help will you and your volunteers need?
20) Are you already a working group at another PIRG? If so, please indicate why you also want to be a working group at QPIRG McGill.
Budget
Please also include a budget. The best way to organize this is to breakdown the ‘expenses’ (how much you will spend), and ‘revenues’ (how much you will fundraise) that you estimate your group will have. Don’t worry about estimating your budget to the penny but try to be as specific as possible about what types of expenses you will have. Below you will find the main categories that your budget should include. If you are planning a big event (conference, lecture series, etc.), please make a sub-category for these to show how much it will cost.
Expenses
* Photocopies (posters, pamphlets, etc. Estimate 5¢ per copy.)
* Printing (if you’re planning to publish a booklet or other more permanent material, such as high-quality posters or stickers)
* Room bookings (you can usually get free rooms at Shatner and Thomson house, but you may need to rent a McGill room once in a while – these cost )
* Speakers (speaker honoraria usually range from -250 depending on the speaker, travel costs for speakers etc.)
* Audio-visual equipment (you may need to rent a TV/VCR or an overhead projector, these are quite cheap, usually for a TV/VCR and .50 for overhead)
* Advertising (you may want to put ads in the Daily or the Tribune for your events, but these are very expensive, a quarter page ad in the Daily is 0, and in Tribune it’s 5)
* Supplies (working groups can use the supplies in the QPIRG office, such as paint, markers, paper, tape, etc. but you may need supplies that QPIRG does not usually carry, such as canvas for banners)
* Books (usually books are covered by our library budget, so only put it in your budget if the books you buy will not be kept in the QPIRG library)
* Please note that salaries and stipends for working group members are not allowable expenses
Revenue
Please estimate any income your group may receive during the year. Usually this would come from selling something, charging admission, or donations from other groups.
Total requested from QPIRG = Expenses – Revenue
Completed applications can either be submitted via e-mail or by dropping them off at our office with a staff member.
DEADLINE for Returning Working Groups September 11th, 2009, 5pm.
DEADLINE for New Working Groups September 18th, 5pm.