STAFF COUNCIL MEETING
2:00 p.m., September 12, 2002
CHAPPELL 106
Present: Barbara Monnett (presiding), Rose Murner, Ann Portwood, Neil Jones, Kim Ireland, Susan Demmon, Cindy Diaz, Carol Brown, Jennifer Brooker, Kathy Hill, Teri Hollar, Kenneth Manson . Excused: Valerie Smykal. Absent: Lynda Grable. Guests: Angela Criscoe, Kendall Stiles, Bonnie Sims.
Call to Order. Barbara Monnett called the meeting to order at 2:01.
Direct Deposit. Bonnie Sims talked to the group about direct deposit. She distributed direct deposit enrollment forms. There are many advantages to having payroll checks directly deposited rather than printed: the money is in your account earlier; employees don't have to worry about coming in on their day off to pick up their payroll checks; the special magnetic ink used to print payroll checks is very expensive, and it is cheaper to print a check stub; and if the entire campus had direct deposit, there would be no need for employees in Payroll to come in on holiday paydays to allow employees to pick up their checks. Bonnie asked the members present to talk with staff in their respective areas to encourage their participation in direct deposit.
For employees who do not have checking accounts, MidSouth Federal Credit Union has made us a special offer. They will allow employees to cash their checks with no fee if the employee will open a savings account with a one-time fee of $5. Money would be available at 8:00 a.m. on payday in the credit union office in Maxwell Student Union. MidSouth would hire our off-duty security officers to be available during this time. Signing up for direct deposit is strictly on a volunteer basis, but it is a win-win situation for all concerned.
Benefits Fair. Bonnie also shared plans for the upcoming Benefits Fair on October 31. We had lots of fun and wonderful participation last year, and we want to have even more people participate this year. Bonnie will talk to Harry Keim about allowing more Physical Plant employees to attend. There are lots of activities and programs planned for this year, and we want a good showing from staff.
Approval of the Minutes. The minutes from the last meeting were approved as written.
Benefits Fair Committee. Angela Criscoe shared a listing of about 45 area businesses and asked members present to choose three or four they would feel comfortable asking for donations for Benefits Fair door prizes. She also has a letter we could use to ask for donations. Staff Council will have a table set up at the fair, and at the next meeting we will sign up for times to man the table.
Blood Drive. Kendall Stiles shared information about the upcoming blood drive in conjunction with the Benefits Fair on October 31. She will distribute sign-up sheets for the blood drive.
Think Pink Week. This will be the week of October 21 and end with Denim Day on October 25. Kendall will send pink ribbons to sell for $1 for the chance to wear denim on October 25. Selling these pink ribbons is our effort to raise breast cancer awareness and money. The money we raise will stay in our community to assist in these efforts.
Delegates should be getting these pink ribbons in campus mail soon.
Potato Drop. Kendall also shared plans for the potato drop that will be held on October 12. She needs volunteers to bag potatoes for needy families in the surrounding
seven-county area.
Staff Appreciation Day. One staff member mentioned the idea of having a staff appreciation day. This has been done very successfully at Valdosta State University. Funding is a major concern, however, and we would need to raise the money for this effort ourselves. After some discussion of the initial concept, the group decided it was definitely worth pursuing and will discuss it further at the next meeting.
Membership Fees. At our last meeting, a proposal to pay staff membership fees (organizations, clubs, etc.) from Staff Council funds was discussed. The group voted on the proposal today and unanimously voted not to pay membership fees from our budget.
Other Business.
There has been a staff concern about not having take-out lunches in the cafeteria. Providing take-out is cost-prohibitive and will not be reinstated.
A suggestion was made to have a session at the Benefits Fair on reading our budget printouts.
A delegate brought forth a concern from a staff member about the way in which staff are advised of their raises. The staff member thought Human Resources and/or the president's office sent letters to staff informing them of their raise each year. (This was some time ago.) The staff member felt it was unfair that faculty get contracts outlining their raises, but staff don't get anything in writing. Our group felt that the letter about raises should come from the employee's immediate supervisor, but Barbara agreed she would check into this further with Human Resources and the president.
We have had a request from a staff member to take off-campus courses that are $300. The group felt that it was not necessary to attend $300 classes in Athens or other cities when we offer the same classes for less here. The group decided we needed guidelines determining the awarding of staff development funds. Rose Murner volunteered to chair a committee to develop these guidelines, and Neil Jones and Kathy Hill volunteered to serve with her.
Announcements.
Eleven staff members are planning to attend the State Staff Council Conference in Carrollton on September 26-27.
Teri Hollar and Rose are working on the first aid course offered through Continuing Education in which about sixty Physical Plant employees are interested.
Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. The next meeting will be on Thursday, October 17, at 2:00 in Chappell 106.