The University of Mississippi Staff Council

A message from the President

Greetings to all. The July meeting marked the first meeting of the 2002-2003 Staff Council and its new officers. I am honored to be elected your representative as President of Staff Council. The executive committee and the rest of the elected members of Staff Council are here to represent each individual EEO category and help provide a channel of communication to the University administration. This year should be an interesting year with lots of opportunities for us to help make this University the best it can be. My theme for this year is: CTMWSNJP. This stands for - Come To Me With Solutions Not Just Problems. Many times we have a better solution to a problem than the people to whom we express our concerns. If we all offer a potential solution to a problem, we may find our problems considerably reduced or solved in the best way. I challenge each of you to think along these lines as we move forward into a new and exciting year. I thank each of you for the confidence expressed to me as your council representative. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any Staff Council questions. Regards, Tony. (S/C President)

Minutes of the Meeting, July 10, 2002 Union 404 A&B

PRESENT: James Akey, Joni Camp, Nina Cheshier, Judy Fos, Earlene Foster, Melissa Hudson, Dino Johnson, Sam Johnson, Buddy Kahler,

Cathy Laswell, Shannon Lovejoy, Steven Maples, Michele Mize, Renee Moore, Conny Parham, Jean Pinion, Dave Sagaser, Linda

Sallis, Tony Seaman, Mark Shows, Doug Stuart, Karen Tuttle, Rosa Vance, Jeannette Wells, Amanda Wood

EXCUSED: Rachel Bost, Brenda Brannan, Joey Brent, Dennis Bullard, Mary Harrington, Regina Jordan, Hilarie Pryor, Amelia Rodgers

2:30 p.m. Meeting was called to order. President Tony Seaman welcomed all members and recognized the new slate of officers.

PRESIDENT’S OPENING REMARKS:

Purpose of Staff Council: To provide a channel of communication to the University administration and to act as an advisory group in policy matters of the University that affect the welfare of the institution and/or the staff it represents.

A little something about our 2002-2003 Staff Council President Tony Seaman: Born and raised in England, the son of a printer, served an apprenticeship in England, attended the London College of Printing and moved to the United States in the 70’s.

“I was told that an American’s success is measured by the amount of debt load he can carry, and believe me I am very successful. I arrived in this country with a suitcase and a few dollars in my pocket. I had a sponsor, a job and a Green Card. This country is great and it has allowed me to be where I am today.”

“This year we need to focus on CTMWSNJP: ‘Come To Me With Solutions Not Just Problems’. Very often concerns are voiced, but now, if at all possible, with the concerns should come a solution.”

Encouraging words: “Who likes to have a great day? Everybody does. If you have 7 great days in a row, you have a great week. If you have 4 great weeks in a row, you have a great month. If you have 12 great months in a row, you have a great year. We can have a good day, everyday, if we wake up with a good frame of mind in the morning. Set the stage for a positive day. Act 5 times more enthusiastic than you really are, and you will become 5 times more enthusiastic and it rubs off on you and on other people.”

JULY MINUTES: Approved with no corrections.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Approved with no corrections.

STANDING COMMITTEES:

• The new sign-up sheet for volunteers to serve on Standing Committees has been passed around to Staff Council members. Staff members can also be a part of these committees. There are some that require you to be a Staff Council member and there are some that don’t. If you would like to volunteer to become a member of a committee that has an opening, please contact Tony Seaman at 7066.
• The Housing Department is in need of volunteers for Student Move-In on August 15, 2002 through August 17, 2002 from 9:00am to 6:00am. Please contact Bonnie Reid at 7328 if you would like to help out.
• Volunteers are needed for “Meet and Greet Day” on August 19 and August 20. This is an opportunity to meet our students on the first couple of days of classes of the new semester. Staff members serve as greeters for our students and as representatives of the University. A staff member will be assigned at different stages on the University campus giving directions to those that need it. T-shirts will be given out that says “Need Help? Ask Me.” Maps will also be given out as guides. Let’s show our students and administration that the staff are involved. We are not just employed by the university, but because of the students who chose to come to this University.
• The Book Scholarship Program: As of July 10, 2002, we have 20 applicants who have asked for the scholarship. Deadline for applications is July 20, 2002. Printing services will send out post card reminders about the scholarships to those employees who do not have email access. Please encourage those who are qualified for the scholarship to sign up. The application can be found on the Staff Council’s web page: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/staff_council/. Please campus mail applications to Melissa Hudson at J. D. Library.
• The Executive Committee will meet with the Chancellor the first Tuesday of every month starting in August.
• The Executive Committee will now handle all concerns, which has traditionally fallen on the President-Elect.
• The Traffic and Safety Committee met last month in June to propose a new motorcycle policy to be given to the Chancellor. The committee proposed that all motorcycles, scooters, and other registered vehicles should not be allowed to park near bicycle racks, on the grassy areas, on the sidewalks, or under stairwells. They are to be parked in the parking areas assigned by the PPD. Any street-legal vehicles must be registered by UPD and may not be driven on sidewalks or grass. Golf carts, 4-wheelers, and any other vehicle not registered may not be parked near buildings, or on grass or sidewalks, and may only be operated by the University Departments. If driven at night, all vehicles must have streetlights. Exceptions of use of these vehicles only on game days and by the PPD.

CONCERNS:

· Bingo is one of the most attended events during Staff appreciation week but there has been a concern. There was a problem with our own set for Bingo games because many of the cards were duplicated. Thanks to the gracious support of Doug Stuart and the Student Union, the purchase of a new, and no duplicate card Bingo game, will be bought by the Student Union. Staff will be allowed to use the Bingo cards for future Staff Appreciation Days thus eliminating duplicate winners. A BIG thanks to Doug.

• There have been many complaints about some staff members not being able to attend Staff Appreciation Day functions. One member’s name was called out for a door prize and was not able to win the prize because she was not present to win.

Answer: There were certain gifts that didn’t require you to be present to win. The only prizes that required someone to be present were the $50.00 cash prize and a few small door prizes for attending the staff appreciation day ceremony. The donation from the Credit Union did not require you to be present to win. The Committee will address this for next year’s Staff Appreciation Day.

• Getting companies to donate have been a problem this year. A staff council member suggested that we send the companies post cards for donations. If the company wants to donate, they simply check it yes and send it back to the University. A designated staff member will pick up donations from all companies, instead of going door-to-door asking for donations.
• A staff member had a concern about an article in the paper about surgeons and cardiologists pulling out of our HMO and not taking the state’s insurance policies. This is not correct. According to Human Resources, the Oxford surgeons and cardiologists are having an issue with the hospitals and not with our insurance. They have not pulled out of the state insurance plan.

Meeting adjourned. 3:10pm

/s/Tony Seaman, President

/s/Joni Camp, President-Elect

/s/Amanda Wood, Secretary

Staff Council e-mail address: staffcouncil@olemiss.edu

Staff Council Homepage: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/staff_council