TOPICS DISCUSSED
- COUNCIL MINUTES
- EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
- PICTURES ON THE INTERNET - YEA OR NAY
- LIFE INSURANCE LAWSUIT UPDATE SETTLEMENT REACHED
- CAMPUS BARBEQUE
- RETIREMENT WORKSHOPS
- HEALTH INSURANCE CO$T$
- HCA BROWN BAG MEETING
- SHARED LEAVE
- TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
- ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
COUNCIL MINUTES
Minutes were approved as corrected. (Karen Simmons, Instructional
Support: Unit B, should not have been listed as absent.)
July's minutes were electronically delivered to six areas: Chemistry Department, Development & Alumni Relations, Financial Aid, Graduate Studies & Research, Human Resources and the Library. Please contact Human Resources if you did not receive an electronic copy of the July minutes. Paper copies will continue to be sent to only those departments without 100% email access. Minutes may also be accessed via the web page. Try checking out the web site now; the June and July minutes are posted there. Go to the CWU home page; click on Administration, then on VP Business and Financial Affairs, then on Committees and Councils. From here you will see a chart, and click on Employee Council.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards have been
funded from the President's discretionary fund. Ron Aller reported
that Ivory Nelson felt sure that James (Dolph) Norton (the interim President)
would continue the program. A Certificate of Merit" was presented
to Paula Moffatt for all her work on this committee. Thank you, Paula!
Teri Bangs was selected as the Employee of the Month for July. Teri
is a Human Resource Assistant in Human Resources; she is described as always
patient and understanding of people's needs and their situation.
Teri takes the time to explain policies until she is sure the customer
understands. Thank you, Teri, & congratulations!
PICTURES ON THE INTERNET-Yea or nay?
We have had past discussions regarding placing the Employee of the
Month pictures on the web page. This would require a signed consent
form each month from the participant as well as others involved (in the
presentation, etc.) Robert Lowery is willing to help us revise the
current form that we have been using. But, more importantly, do we
want to have pictures on the web page? Talk to your representatives
and let them know how you feel. Some people feel that it is an invasion
of privacy; others feel that this is a great way to add personality, warmth
and interest to our pages. A picture speaks a thousand words.
Would this be a source of pride or a concern? Speak to your Employee
Council representatives. We expect to discuss and decide this issue at
the September 16th meeting.
LIFE INSURANCE LAWSUIT UPDATE - SETTLEMENT REACHED
At an August 20, 1999, hearing, the Thurston County Superior Court
approved the Burbage, et al. vs. State of Washington, et al. settlement.
The settlement defines the class as follows: "All persons employed
by the State of Washington at some time during the period from July 1,
1986 through the present during which they were eligible for state-contracted
life insurance benefits pursuant to chapter 41.05 RCW."
The State agreed to increase the current $5,000 basic life benefit, purchased for all state employees at no cost to the employees, as follows: calendar year 2000 - $10,000; 2001-$10,000; 2002-$15,000; 2003-$25,000; and 2004-$25,000. In addition, retired state employees who have elected upon retirement to purchase optional life insurance will have their benefits increased without an increase in premiums for calendar years 2000 through 2004 as follows: under age 65, increase from $2,500 to $3,000; ages 65-70, increase from $1,750 to $2,100; over age 70, increase from $1,500 to $1,800.
If you have any questions about the settlement, please contact the attorney for the Plaintiff class, Edward Earl Younglove III, 924 East 7th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-357-7791.
CAMPUS BARBEQUE
The annual campus barbecue for employees and families will be Sept
16th, 4:30-7:00 pm, in the SUB Fountain Room and patio. Tickets may
be purchased at the door. Tickets will be $4.50 for adults, $2.50
for kids (12 and under) with a $15.00 family rate.
RETIREMENT WORKSHOPS
The Department of Retirement Systems will be presenting seminars (8am
to 5pm) and workshops locally (1 hour to 1 ½ hour) on Sat. Sept.
18th. Workshops are shorter and specific to individual plans: PERS, TRS,
LEOFF & WSPRS plans will be covered. You can register by email
at Register@drs.wa.gov or call 1-800-547-6657.
HEALTH INSURANCE CO$T$
Dorothy Tenney reported on PEBB (Public Employees Benefits Board) Aug.
10th meeting concerning Year 2000 health insurance. Gov. Locke is using
$4 million in Long term Disability rebate money to keep your health insurance
costs lower than expected. Premium rates will go up for only four plans
- and there will be no increases in the hospital in-patient or outpatient
surgery co-pays. Without this action, premium costs would have gone
up for eight plans and there would have been significant increases in out-of-pocket
costs. Pharmacy co-pays will be re-designed and may result in an
increase in cost. Our Benefit Fair will be Oct. 28th this year, 10
AM to 3 PM in the SUB. Open enrollment period is shorter this year,
from Oct. 16-Nov. 15.
HCA BROWN BAG MEETING
A representative of the Health Care Authority will be on campus in
early October for a Special Brown Bag Lunch Meeting . The purpose
of the meeting is to answer questions about the Health Care Authority and
what is happening with the medical insurance providers for state employees.
If you have questions about the medical plans in our area and/or the role
of the Health Care Authority in determining our health insurance options,
come to the meeting on October 5th, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the SUB Theatre.
SHARED LEAVE
CWU employees may donate leave to a fellow employee who is severely
ill or injured or has a family member who is severely ill or injured, and
who has exhausted his/her own leave reserves. "Severely" is defined
as serious or extreme and/or life threatening. Astrid Simon (University
Advancement - RSVP) is in need of Shared Leave.
Individuals interested in donating leave to Astrid or others should request a Shared Leave donation form from Human Resources. Requests must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding the form to Human Resources. Donated leave is also subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources. Annual leave may be donated in 8-hour blocks. Employees who wish to donate annual leave must retain at least ten days (80 hours) of vacation leave and cannot donate excess leave (that over 30 days or 240 hours) that he/she would otherwise lose at the beginning of the leave anniversary month. Sick leave may also be donated in 8-hour blocks. The donating employee must retain a minimum of 480 hours sick leave balance after the transfer. No more than six days of sick leave may be transferred during any twelve-month period. An employee's personal holiday may also be donated. Forms for leave donation are available from Human Resources, 963-1202.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Department of Retirement Systems
Seminar/Workshop (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Helps you plan for your retirement years. Includes pension workshops
as well as presentations by experts in financial planning, estate planning,
health insurance and Social Security. Pension workshop explains the
rules for your DRS administered retirement pension and are 60 to 90 minutes
long. Some subjects covered are service credit, retirement eligibility,
benefit calculations and payment options.
Where: CWU
When: September 18, 1999
Cost: FREE
To register, call 888-711-6676 (8 a.m.- 5 p.m.). TDD 360-586-5450.
Register by e-mail at Register@drs.wa.gov, sending the following information:
attending seminar or workshop; location; your retirement system and plan;
your name; home mailing address; daytime phone number; employer; any special
needs you may require to accommodate a disability. If a spouse or
partner will attend with you, we will need their name, retirement system
and plan, and employer.
NEW TO THE TRAINING LIBRARY
Employee Development Series:
Module 1: The Attitude Opportunity
Feelings are the source of attitude. Why do we feel the way we do?
How can we take an attitude opportunity...and turn our attitudes around?
In this episode, Walter tries to help Dan understand his computer. See
how Dan's feelings of inadequacy spread to much more than a lack of computer
skills, and see how Walter uses his perspective, and his attitude toward
Dan to help Dan turn his attitude around.
Each module lasts approximately 15-20 minutes, and would make an excellent staff meeting opener. Follow the daily escapades of Dan, Walter and their co-workers in the 10-tape series, which also includes:
Module 2: Moving From Criticism to Feedback
Module 3: How to Receive Work Assignments
Module 4: Managing Your Time: Just Another Monday
Module 5: It's Your Career
Module 6: Team Skills for Meeting Together
Module 7: Communicating with Others
Module 8: Working Effectively with Others
Module 9: Solving Problems Together
Module 10: Meeting Change Creatively
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for September 16th in SUB 209.
All representatives and alternates are encouraged to attend. It is
an important meeting to organize for the year and to elect officers.
Members present:
Paula Moffatt, Business and Administrative Support: Unit B
Kariann Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A, Vice-Chair
Ron Aller, Instructional Support: Unit B, Chair
Leona Johnson, Library Services, Secretary
Dorothy Tenney, Plant & Facilities
Kim Thomas, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Marilyn Thompson, Housing & Residential Services
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Sheryl Grunden, Student Services and SUB: Unit A
Members absent:
Gloria Wilson, Student Services and SUB: Unit B
Jeri Francisco-Porter, Plant & Facilities
Karen Simmons, Instructional Support: Unit B
Also present:
Colleen Rose, Human Resources