Minutes of March 6, 2002 meeting
2:30 p.m., Room 404 A/B Union
PRESENT:
James Akey, Brenda Brannan, Joey Brent, Rachel Bost, Dennis Bullard, Joni Camp, Nina Cheshier, Judy Fos, Mary Harrington, Melissa Hudson, Dino Johnson, Sam Johnson, Regina Jordan, Cathy Laswell, Shannon Lovejoy, Steven Maples, Michele Mize, Conny Parham, Jean Pinion, Hilarie Pryor, Dave Sagaser, Tony Seaman, Doug Stuart, Karen Tuttle, Rosa Vance, Sherry Wall, Jeannette Wells, Amanda Wood
EXCUSED:
Buddy Kahler, Karen Lovett, Renee Moore, Linda Sallis
UNEXCUSED:
Earlene Foster, Amelia Rodgers, Mark Shows
The meeting was called by order at 2:36p.m. by President-Elect Tony Seaman, who was standing in for President Buddy Kahler. Tony welcomed today's guest speaker, Renee Simmerman, Marketing Representative for Mississippi Blood Services (MBS).
GUEST SPEAKER:
Renee Simmerman is a graduate from Northwest Mississippi Community College and Mississippi State University. Prior to working for MBS, she was General Manager and Marketing Director for two regional malls. During the 5-year period, she managed shopping centers, and she coordinated over a dozen blood drives with MBS.
Renee spoke about the importance of donating blood.
- Since the September 11th attack, donation of blood has been in demand. A blood unit only lasts for 48 days.
- There has been a decrease of 20-30 percent of blood donated.
- Donors can give every 56 days.
- Donated blood is used for surgeries, cancer patients, and sickle cell patients.
- Trauma and burn patients need blood, also. Sometimes hospitals have to pull blood from other hospitals due to shortages.
- The donation of blood is strictly volunteer.
Forty percent of the population is eligible to give blood, but only 5% give. When the blood is given, it is taken to the labs. From there red blood cells--disc-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, which enable the cells to pick up and deliver oxygen to all parts of the body--are separated from the plasma which acts as a carrier for blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones.
Some reasons why people don't donate blood:
- They think it's too time consuming.
- They don't know where to go.
- Some can't handle the pain or needles and they may pass out.
To combat these reasons, you need to think about the ones that don't have a choice to feel the pain of being stuck with needles. Their lives depend upon the blood and the needles.
There are certain requirements to giving blood:
- You must be at least 17 of age.
- You must weigh at least 110 pounds.
- You can donate if you have high blood pressure, if it is under control.
- You can donate if you have diabetes as long as your insulin level is under control.
There are some perks in becoming a donor:
- The Donor Protection Programs allow you and your immediate family members to get blood if needed.
- If 25 percent of Ole Miss employees give blood, then the whole campus is covered under the Group Plan. (Something to try to achieve on this campus).
Question: If someone is less than 110 lbs., but is healthy, can this person donate blood?
Answer: If you give blood at 110 lbs., you may have a reaction. The FDA requires the weight requirement.
Please encourage others to participate in this needy event. Giving blood can be very rewarding. Volunteers are always needed. Appreciation goes out to all who have donated in the past.
President-Elect, Tony Seaman thanked Renee for her time and her information.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Approved Unanimously.
MINUTES:
Approved with no correction of February Minutes.
OLD BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- The annual blood drive will take place on May 15, 2002 from 11:00 - 4:00 and again on May 16, 2002 from 7:30 - 4:00 in the Union 404 A&B. We would like for anyone who has received blood in the past to come out and speak to the donors and share their experience. If you would like to help and work a time slot (an hour) to welcome donors and record information as a volunteer for the blood drive, please contact Jeannette Wells, Chair 915-6680 or Amanda Wood, Co-Chair at 915-6640. Anyone can help; you don't have to be a Staff Council member to volunteer. Donors are needed. Please give the gift of life to someone.
- The Staff Council Outstanding Nomination forms have gone out. Please nominate someone and send the form to Nina Cheshier, chairperson of the Outstanding Staff Member Committee, Baxter 222.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS:
Tony Seaman introduced the new members by name. They are: Brenda Brannan, Rachel Bost, James Akey, Joey Brent, Renee Moore, Amelia Rodgers, Linda Sallis, Cathy Laswell, Judy Fos, Karen Lovett, and Steven Maples. Let us thank them for their support and willingness to serve.
COMMITTEE REPORT:
- Mary Harrington, Chair of Staff Council Elections Committee wanted to thank everyone who helped tally-up the ballots. Also, she thanked everyone who participated in the voting. There were over 600 participants who voted.
CONCERNS:
- The RSVP telephone system is being removed. This system is used during the voting for outstanding staff members. The concern was that not everyone has Internet access. This cannot be addressed at this time, because all research has not been completed.
- Some people are having problems with the golf carts being used on campus. They are being driven on sidewalks and driven too fast, which becomes a safety issue. The question was asked why couldn't they use the carts on the roads like everyone else? The answer is because the carts are not road certified. This issue will be addressed.
- Two members of the Athletic Department wanted to voice their concern about the euthanasian of the feral cats on campus. The situation of the feral cats on campus has been an on-going problem. It was brought to the attention of Lisa Hartman and Sally Worsham that the decision to euthanize the cats came from the Housing Department.
- Lisa Hartman wanted to find a more humane approach to this situation. The TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) method is found to be a more humane and effective way to solving the problem.
- Research and studies show that the TNR method prevents the colonies to grow and allows the feral cat population to diminish by natural attrition. This prevents the birth of new litters and reduces the feline population.
- This is strictly a volunteer basis, which will cost the University no money at all. Other Universities such as Stanford, the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the University of Florida at Gainesville, and Texas A&M are using this method and have found it more effective than to euthanize.
- Alley Cat Allies is part of an international campaign working to humanely reduce the number of domestic and feral cats through nonlethal population control methods. To get more information about the feral cats on campus, please log on to http://www.alleycat.org .
Tony Seaman thanked them for their concern and stated that the Housing Department is aware of the situation, and it will be addressed.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:33p.m.
/s/Buddy Kahler, President
/s/Tony Seaman, President-Elect
/s/Amanda Wood, Secretary
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