A
Message from the President
Fall is just around the corner,
trees are showing off their splendor and air conditioning makes way for
heating. During this time of transition the days can be warm, the nights cool.
Sometimes one day is cool and the next warm. Is this how people can be…
sometimes? Sometimes our coworkers are warm and friendly; sometimes they are cool
and distant. How do we cope with this? Mother nature has provided the answers
throughout the years. When the day is warm, a cool breeze helps make things
better, when the day is cool, the sunshine and bright colors help brighten the
day. Should we not behave the same way? Next time a coworker is cool to you,
smile and offer warm words of encouragement. What a way to brighten someone’s
day. If a person gets hot and bothered, offer a cool breeze, a calming word and
an irresistible smile to help change their day. Someone here at Ole Miss
brightens my day every day. Thanks!
Minutes of the Meeting, October 2,
2002 Union
404 A&B
PRESENT: James Akey,
Brenda Brannan, Rachel Bost, Joni Camp, Nina Cheshier, Judy Fos, Earlene
Foster, Mary Harrington, Shellie Harrison, Melissa Hudson, Regina Jordan, Buddy
Kahler, Cathy Laswell, Shannon Lovejoy, Steven Maples, Renee Moore, Conny
Parham, Hilarie Pryor, Amelia Rodgers, Dave Sagaser, Tony Seaman, Doug Stuart,
Karen Tuttle, Rosa Vance, Amanda Wood
EXCUSED: Joey Brent, Dennis Bullard, Matthew Demming, Jean Pinion,
Linda Sallis, Jeannette Wells
UNEXCUSED: Dino Johnson, Sam Johnson, Michele Mize,
Mark Shows
2:25 p.m. President Tony Seaman welcomed our guest
speaker, Mr. Whitman Smith, Director of Orientation. Mr. Whitman Smith worked for the city board for two years before
joining the University of Mississippi.
Today, Mr. Whitman will address the United Way Campaign.
MR. WHITMAN SMITH:
“This year, the University of Mississippi
will be involved with the United Way Campaign.
The Theme this year will be ‘United Way Road Blocks’. Two years ago, our goal was $80,000. This year, we want to reach a goal of
$90,000. We need volunteers to help
reach that goal on Friday, November 1, 2002.
There will be eight people assigned to a designated area asking for
donations to help the United Way reach their goal. We are asking the students and coaches to get involved, as well
as the Chancellor.”
The times and locations are as follows:
**We will need 8 people at each
location for each time block.**
“Every year the University and
Whirlpool have competitions to see who can raise the most money. The first year, a couple of hundred dollars
was raised. The second year, $500 was
raised. We would like to keep this
tradition going. If you would like to
volunteer or would like more information, please contact Jennifer Taylor at
915-7992.”
President Tony Seaman thanked Mr.
Whitman for his time and information.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There was one correction for the September Minutes.
”Johnny Williams, Karen
Jones and the Facilities Planning Group have contacted a group of design
engineers who know about traffic and parking.
They have asked them to come study our situation, and to make some
suggestions…”
CORRECTION:
“Johnny
Williams, Terron Jones and the Facilities Planning Group have contacted
a group of design engineers who know about the traffic and parking…”
TREASURER’S REPORT: Approved with no corrections.
OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS:
CONCERNS:
Due to the time sensitivity of the
above concern, the Staff Council Executive Committee met with Human Resources
on Monday, October 7th to discuss the changes in dental plans and
other insurance changes. Clay Jones explained how HR has searched diligently to
offer the best insurance options for all employees. This includes all forms of
elective insurances, not just dental. We did focus on the dental issue and Clay
explained that Comp Dent was no longer a viable option for the Oxford
participating dentist to keep. Clay met with this dentist several times to
plead our case on behalf of the approximate 450 members. He was able to
convince the dentist LAST year to stay with the plan, but this year the dentist
was not to be convinced. It was indicated that it was just not in the best
interests of his patients or practice to continue with Comp Dent and while he
wrestled with the decision, it was with regret and concern for his patients
that he was forced to drop participation with Comp Dent. The dentist has agreed
to participate in the Delta Dental plan.
Clay and his team searched long
and hard for alternatives but no dental plans with lower premiums than Delta
Dental are available. HR, led by Clay and his team, exhausted new ways to
provide insurance options at the lowest possible premiums. They helped pioneer
a program to join with Mississippi State University and Delta Dental to
increase the amount of participants, thus allowing us to get a better group
rate. Without this joint venture,
premiums would be significantly higher than the current costs. We must
acknowledge and thank Clay and his staff for all their hard work.
The conclusion was that current participants
who use the dentists in Water Valley and Batesville can sign up for individual
plans from Comp Dent. (See memo you have from HR). Another option is to sign up with Delta Dental during the normal
open enrollment period, October 15-18. Yet another option would be to put
flexible spending dollars into the Cafeteria Plan for preventative dental care
based on your current dental needs. For example, assume your dental health is
pretty good and you only require preventative dental care. You need cleanings two times a year;
therefore, you could put $63.00 (the approximate amount an Oxford dentist
charges for a cleaning) for each prospective visit into this account. (Be sure to take into consideration the
number of family members who would have their teeth cleaned and how many visits
each would make in one year.) This money would be in the pre-taxed account and
payroll deducted. You would then get your dental cleaning, pay the bill of
$63.00, submit a claim for the $63.00 (form available at HR or on the Web) and
the money would be reimbursed in your next paycheck (not taxed).
EXAMPLE: Employee and spouse need
cleanings two times a year. Put $252.00 ($63 * 4) into the flexible spending
account to cover cleanings for a year. Submit a claim for reimbursement as
services are provided.
If you sign up for Delta Dental,
annual premiums would be $661.56 with a $50.00 deductible per person per year.
If you choose the flexible spending option, you would save $509.56 per year. BUT!!
NOTE!! You would have no major dental coverage for fillings, crowns and
other expensive procedures. If you have a need for dental work, you need
insurance. If you are healthy, perhaps you just need maintenance.
The Executive Committee hopes you
find this information useful in making a difficult decision. We are indebted to
Clay Jones and HR for providing the best possible services and communicating
openly with us about all the options.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
2:55 p.m. Meeting was adjourned.
/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