WCU Staff Forum Meeting Minutes
August 9, 2007
UC Cardinal Room
Members Present: Donna Welch ; Akum Jamir; Colby Deitz; Carolyn Parris; Lisa Frady; Deborah Lovern; Jed Tate; Dawne Coward; Tim Inman; Lauren Bishop; Roseanna Belt; Teresa Killian; Walter Turner
Members Absent:Cale Wilson; Pete Lloyd; Lisa Surber (excused); Kathleen Franks (excused); Tamrick Mull (excused); Nancy Carden (excused)
Ex-Officio Members Present:None.
Welcome:Jed welcomed everyone to today’s meeting.
Approval of Agenda:The agenda for today’s meeting was approved as given.
Approval of Minutes:The minutes from July were approved as submitted.
Information Items:
The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled forThursday, September 6, 2007, 2:00-3:00, HFR 453.
The next Staff Forum meeting is scheduled forThursday, September 13, 2007, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Cardinal Room, UC.
Office of Human Resources:No report.
Chancellor’s Office:No report.
Campus Committee Reports:UAC – No report
Staff Forum Committee Reports:
Human Resources
No meeting has been held at this point.
Resource & Environment
This committee met to discuss new initiatives. They are still working to write a recommendation/proposal for the picnic tables and benches.
Public Relations
It is the plan of the PR Committee to have the website updated soon. They are currently looking at an alternate means of communication other than email. Akum feels we need to share more information about P.A.C.E. with the Staff Forum group.
Scholarship
This committee hasn’t met but hopefully will be meeting soon to review scholarship applications. To date, we only have one application and it is for the child of a faculty member – not a staff member. Lisa Frady was elected Chair of this committee.
Governance
No report.
Old Business:
Scholarship– Jed stated that the key issue is to promote the scholarship, donate to it and get folks to apply for it. Lisa has contacted the Office of Admissions about possible ways to help promote the scholarship during the application process.
New Business:
Employee Appreciation Day –This event is scheduled for 9/20/07. As usual, the Forum will have a table set up on the concourse level where we will have scholarship information available as well as the donation jar. Also, everyone was encouraged to try to get a small door prize of some sort donated so that we can hold a drawing again this year. Currently, we have no door prizes, so we are in great need! At next month’s meeting, a sign-up sheet will be circulated for working the table at Employee Appreciation Day. We need folks to work in 15-minute increments.
Resignations/Vacancies/Committee Assignments –We briefly discussed these matters and reviewed the membership listing.
Staff Forum Delegates to the UNC Staff Assembly –Jed reviewed the by-laws for the UNC Staff Assembly as they relate to delegates. He stated that we need a 3-year delegate, and Roseanna graciously volunteered to be that delegate. Dawne will serve as the alternate.
Board of Trustees Meeting –Jed reported that the Board’s next meeting is scheduled for August 31, 2007. He said that if anyone has items they would like for him to take to this meeting, please let him know.
Overall Staff Forum Agenda for the Coming Year:
a) If anyone has suggestions for speakers at future meetings, please let Jed know.
b) It was suggested that we could possibly get vendors to support our scholarship fund, i.e. Dell, Coca-Cola, etc.
c) We need to be thinking of ideas for a town hall meeting.
d) We need to complete and move forward the proposal for picnic tables/benches. Lauren asked some specific questions about what items should be included in the proposal, and this was discussed briefly.
e) Jed feels we need to come up with other areas for computers on campus for employees who do not have email access.
f) As has been discussed in the past, it would be nice to have some sort of small office space where we can store our Staff Forum materials, files, etc. Also, Jed reminded everyone that should anyone wish to send an email to the Forum, the address .
g) It was mentioned that it would be good if the Staff Forum could check into the possibility of getting its own budget, even if it is a very small one, for operating expenses such as booth rental for the Indoor Yard Sale, postage when we need to mail things, etc.
h) Another idea mentioned was motivational ideas for employees, i.e. wellness, morale boosters, etc.
i) We need to talk more to our coworkers to ascertain how we can better represent them.
Open Comments:
Everyone was encouraged to make their coworkers aware of the North Carolina Employee Suggestion system and the fact that the State of North Carolina pays money for ideas submitted that result in implementation of those ideas. The website where the suggestion forms can be located is as follows:http://www.osp.state.nc.us/SEIBP/employee.htm
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.