July 9, 2003
1:00 p.m. in the Mary Maples Dunn Room at Pierce Hall
Attending: Cristen Abrams, Kim Allen,
Adrian Beaulieu, Nancy Brady, Jan Cole, Karen Hebert, Chris Carr
Hill, Susan Hollingsworth, Karen LeHouiller, Merrilyn Lewis, Laura
Matta, Steve Monteiro, Barbara Spalding, Patricia Swan, and Michael
Washut.
Excused: Adrienne Andrews, Serena Harris, Marti Hobbes, Linda LaFlam,
Jinny Mason, Janice McDowell, Dianne Mikucki, Angie Musiak, Janine
Nye, Linda Rainville, Laura Rauscher, and Tara Zidonik.
Guests: Mimi Lempart
1. INTRODUCTIONS
Merrilyn Lewis called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Merrilyn
began by asking us to reintroduce ourselves by name, campus department
and give a brief description of our "dream vacation."
2. REVIEW MINUTES
The minutes of the June meeting were approved.
3. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel Policy and Communications committee minutes were sent
out prior to this meeting. The following are additional comments
or responses to questions.
A. Activities:
Sue Hollingsworth reported that the committee is busy planning events
for next year. In particular they may try to arrange a longer, overnight
trip, possibly to New Jersey, in addition to a garden tour, potlucks
and other offerings. Sabrina Marsh and Lou Ann Krawczynski agreed
to be co-chairs.
B. Personnel Policy Committee: no comments to the written
report
C. Nominations and Elections:
Chris Carr Hill announced that Geraldine Dupre had resigned from
the Council and that she is being replaced by Jan Cole.
D. Communications: no comments to the written report
Merrilyn reminded members that it is important for us to remain
in contact with the employees in the areas we represent. It might
be desirable to make an email distribution list for the people in
our respective area(s) in order to distribute minutes and agendas,
especially when Staff Council meetings include special guest speakers.
She also cautioned us that not all questions can or should be answered
by Staff Council according to our by-laws and agreement with the
College. However, we as representatives should welcome questions
and feedback from those we represent in order to create dynamic
dialog and communication. Note: Council members can forward Council
meeting minutes only after they receive the approved version of
those minutes. These minutes will also be posted on the Council
website. Some discussion followed regarding how members can know
what areas they represent and also how responsibilities of the various
committees are determined. Nominations and Elections committee members
will prepare and distribute the assigned areas. More information
on this will follow.
E. Ad Hoc Diversity Committee:
Merrilyn proposed that the ad hoc diversity committee has been sidetracked
with its focus on exploring and developing a pilot program for "study
circle discussion groups." Therefore, it has had difficulty
attending to other diversity issues on campus. She proposed that
the committee divide into two groups: one which will focus specifically
on the Study Circles Pilot Program and the other which will focus
on general diversity issues on campus. Discussion followed and the
Council approved this division. Membership from staff, faculty and
students is open for both committees and the following Council members
agreed to join on July 9:
Ad Hoc Diversity committee: Mike Washut, Steve
Montiero, Kim Allen, Laura Matta and Patricia Swan.
The Study Circle committee: Patty Kimura, Karen
LeHouiller, Merrilyn Lewis, and Patricia Swan.
4. OLD BUSINESS:
Merrilyn reported that some of the extra Staff Council fans were
sent to Senior Staff and that she had received several enthusiastic
thank you notes for these. She proposed that the remaining fans
be given to this year's "Lunch & Learn" presentersand
guest speakers for our Staff Council meetings. The Council supported
this proposal.
Merrilyn took this opportunity to say that her personal vision for
this year's Staff Council is to promote outreach and visibility
for our group. She hopes that by doing so Staff Council will remain
"on the radar" at Smith College and keep us more involved.
Particularly in these tight budgetary times, Merrilyn hopes to ensure
that Staff Council is an active participant.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Merrilyn reminded us that the Council Chronicle
deadline was July 4.
b. Merrilyn reported that she sent congratulatory notes
to Karen Kukil and Stephanie Schoen for their efforts on behalf
of the recent Virginia Woolf conference and to Chris Forgey on her
recent election as mayor of Greenfield. She seeks suggestions from
the full council for other staff members whose efforts warrant acknowledgment
from Staff Council.
c. She also asked returning members of Staff Council to
consider taking one or more new members to lunch in the near future.
d. Staff Visions:
Mimi Lempart attended the meeting to remind the Council about our
role in the early history of the Staff Visions art show, to describe
its format for this year, and in particular to ask that a member
of Staff Council join their committee. Most of the work for this
occurs in the fall as the show is planned for early November through
mid-December. There was general support for this but the determination
of a specific individual was postponed until later in the summer.
e. Upcoming Staff Council meetings:
Wed. August 6 - Mary Maples Dunn
Room
Wed. Sept. 3 - the Campus Center
Wed. Oct. 1 - MMD Room with Georgia Yuan as our guest presenter
Wed. Nov. 5 ú MMD Room
Wed. Dec. 3 ú MMD Room
All meetings will be held from 1:00-2:00.
Suggestions for presenters for future meetings were solicited from
the entire group. Mentioned were the SGA president, Martha Lees
from the Early Childhood program, Kathy Zieja from RADS, SOS office
on the topic of community service and Jay Yoder regarding a budgetary
update.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy R. Brady, Co-Secretary of Staff Council
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