TOPICS DISCUSSED
-EMPLOYEE COUNCIL MINUTES
-TROOPER SAUNDERS
-PRESIDENT S ADDRESS TO CLASSIFIED STAFF
-NASC ACCREDITATION REPORT
-BYLAWS
-INTERDIVISIONAL FORUM UPDATE
-HEALTH CARE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
-OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
-PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH UPDATE
-EMPLOYEE OF MONTH
-CAMPUS COMMITTEES
-HUMAN RESOURCES ANNOUNCEMENTS
-ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
-TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
 

EMPLOYEE COUNCIL MINUTES
A revised copy of the Employee Council minutes had been distributed.  The minutes were approved as read.  The minutes are sent out via email, on GroupWise.  Paper copies are still being sent to some departments without general access.  The minutes may also be accessed via the web page, and the past minutes are posted there.  Go to the CWU home page; click on Administration, then on VP Business and Financial Affairs, then on meeting minutes.  From here you will see a list, click on Employee Council.
 
TROOPER SAUNDERS
A memorial fund has been established for the family of Trooper James Saunders, 31, who was killed October 7th during a traffic stop in Pasco.  He is survived by his wife and his two-year-old daughter, Megan.  His widow, Billie, is expecting their second child.  Funds can be sent to WSP Memorial Fund, Trooper Saunders Family, PO Box 65848, Vancouver, WA 98686-0085.

PRESIDENT S ADDRESS TO CLASSIFIED STAFF
Kim and Kari reported on the annual President s Address to Classified Staff.  It will be held Tuesday, November 23rd, in the Lombard Room.  There will be two sessions, 10:00-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:00 p.m.  Speakers, in addition to Dr. James Dolph Norton, Interim President, will be Marilyn Thompson speaking on the Presidential Search, and Renée Hanson speaking on training opportunities.  The traditional cookies will be served as refreshments.  It will be a good opportunity for staff to meet our interim president first hand.

NASC ACCREDITATION REPORT
Kari and Leona reported on their meeting with Dr. Habbe of the accreditation team.  Questions were mainly centered on State RCW s, salary concerns, as well as strike powers.  The need was expressed for recognition of classified personnel as a group on our campus.  The recommendation for including a classified staff representative to sit with the Board of Trustees at their regular meetings was discussed.  Roger Hudson and Allen Edler from the union joined us in our meeting with Dr. Habbe, and expressed similar concerns.  Ona Youmans described the history of union representation at CWU.  The union (Bargaining Unit I) was started in 1969.  In 1981, Bargaining Unit II, which includes clerical positions, was created.   State authority, not the local, sets classified staff wages.  A few pay exceptions have been granted by the DOP, in Olympia, for certain positions that the University has difficulty in recruiting and/or retaining.  Some wage rates for positions in police services have been adjusted to help retain our trained personnel.  Unit I is currently open for negotiations, the first time in 23 years.  It was suggested to invite a representative from the Union to speak at a future Employee Council meeting.

BYLAWS
The Bylaw Committee reported on their review and recommendations.  We read through their recommendations and discussed possible additional changes.  The final version will be reviewed next meeting for approval.

INTERDIVISIONAL FORUM UPDATE
This is a new name for a meeting formerly known as the Appointing Authority Retreat.   They met and Kari explained that she missed the meeting because she did not receive the e-mail announcing this meeting.  This group looks at our mission and goals, and other concerns such as student retention.  It considers input from all groups.  They had a follow-up meeting on October 29th to discuss four areas of focus for the University this year: Clarifying the University s Identity, Demonstrating Accountability; Valuing People; and Recruiting and Retaining Students.  Kari found that many good ideas surfaced in this meeting.  The Strategic Planning Committee was charged with addressing the issue of Clarifying the University s Identity.  After compiling and reviewing data that has been gathered on this topic, the Strategic Planning Committee plans to organize forums across campus to discuss this issue.  Please participate in these forums when they are organized.  They provide an excellent opportunity to voice opinions about the future of CWU.  Please e-mail Kari at:  taylork@cwu.edu  if you have any concerns that you would like addressed at future meetings.

HEALTH CARE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
Our annual benefit fair is October 28th, open season continues through October 18-November 19. (It s shorter this year, don t procrastinate!)  One of the big changes is the standardization of prescription benefits.  All plans will have the co-pays of $20-$30-$40, depending upon what category your medication falls.  Three-month prescriptions will be handled only by mail order.  The important part is to check that medications you regularly use are covered by your plan s Drug Formulary List .  The customer satisfaction survey of health plans is another useful tool to review when deciding to keep or change plans.  Rates for long-term disability will be increasing January 1, 2000.  You might want to look at your sick leave balance and consider if it would be worth it to reduce your waiting period for coverage.  HR evaluates the success of the Benefits Fair each year in consideration for future improvements.  Is there a booth or service that you might recommend for next year?  Contact Becky Baker (2269) with ideas.

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH UPDATE
Marilyn Thompson is the classified staff member on the search committee.  She reported that they have over 60 applicant files that are being reviewed.  Search committee members are each picking a top ten list and will meet on October 29th to begin ranking candidates and talking about setting up phone interviews.  Marilyn characterizes this as an excellent, hard-working group.  They even plan to meet on Veterans Day, and their goal is to have the candidate group narrowed down to five by the end of November.  Board of Trustees has asked for recommendations by January.  It is hoped to have on campus interviews with the top three candidates by the end of January.  They anticipate many opportunities for campus members and the community to meet with the top three candidates.  Evergreen, WSU and CWU are all looking for new presidents at this time.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The discussion of pictures on the web page continues.  There was consensus that it is a nice option, but that individual employees will always have the option to decline.  We will gather more information on just how this might be accomplished, who would do the work and the time frame involved.  Would it be an annual display similar to the portraits displayed in Bouillon or a monthly candid shot?  More to come later. The next item was selection of employee of the month.  I (Leona Johnson, Employee Council Secretary) have been on council for one year and have always been impressed with the slate of employees brought for our review.  But I must say that this month s group was really outstanding.  It is a nice thing to be among such good company as a CWU employee. Remember that nominees are kept in the hat for consideration all year long.  So don t despair if your favorite doesn t immediately grace this newsletter.  The application form is available at: http://www.cwu.edu/~humanres/hrforms.html

Kari Taylor, Secretary Senior, Foreign Language, was selected as Employee of the Month for September.  She was commended as working hard, fast & smart , her competency & cheerfulness makes life and work easier .  Leona Johnson commented, she is also doing a great job being the Employee Council Chair .  Congratulations, Kari.

CAMPUS COMMITTEES
The Site & Development Committee is another on the long list of campus committees.  This one covers such things as, Where should the new music building be located? Kathy Maxwell wrote to the council regarding her membership on the committee.  She is normally a civil servant, but is in a temporary ten-month administrative exempt position.  She is willing to continue to serve on the committee.  We gave her approval to do so.

Dorothy Tenney is on the Parking Violations Appeals Board Committee and reports that they will be meeting November 5th to consider parking issues.  Don t we all have parking issues ? Is it a hunting license or a parking permit?  I (Leona Johnson, Employee Council Secretary) do understand that we are better endowed with parking spots than other schools.  I recently paid $6.00 for a day permit at the UW.  Stuck for spots, I understand that a $1,000 donation will get you a one-year courtesy permit.  (Guess I ll still have to walk )  Did you know that we have two free parking lots?  V-7 is located at corner of 18th & D Street; it is paved and very well lit.  X-22 is on the corner of Alder & 18th, it is a gravel lot.  Probably not as convenient, but then some people pay to join a health club and walk on a treadmill. Use these lots and exercise for free!

HUMAN RESOURCES ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Training and Development Office of Human Resources is developing a program of computer software training.  The program will include free demonstrations, 3-hour workshops and personalized training.  The demonstrations will be one-hour presentations in a non-lab setting on specific topics, such as formatting a Microsoft Excel chart or creating a Microsoft Word table.  The workshops will be three-hour hands-on sessions in a computer lab with a $30.00 per participant change and an optional course book that can be purchased.  Personalized training will be offered to any campus faculty of staff member, or department group at $50.00 per hour.  Nancy W. Taft, a certified computer trainer, has over a decade of experience in government agencies and universities.  Nancy is seeking input about demonstration session and workshop topics.  She can be reached at 963-2295, or e-mail at: taft@cwu.edu

Joe Antonich, Director of Financial Services, would like to recommend that employees consider direct deposit of their paychecks.  This process automatically deposits an employee s pay into the bank account designated by the employee.  An advice is then printed for the employee s information.  This process is more efficient than printing actual paychecks for distribution.  Call Payroll (2221) for the forms to start this process.

There is a provision for agencies to apply for extra funds for job classes that they are having extreme difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees.  It is a long process through the Department of Personnel in Olympia, Office of Financial Management, and Legislature.  CWU, along with the other higher education institutions, is currently attempting to have four broad groups (accounting and fiscal classes; computing classes; police classes, and trades classes) included in this 6767 designation.  The request to have these classes considered will be submitted in November but that is only the first step of the process.  If approved by the Legislature next year, it would add extra $$ to these classes beginning in July 2001.  It is too far off to get excited, but the first steps have been taken.

A memorandum concerning accrual of annual leave beyond the 240 hour maximum was recently mailed out to all Civil Service employees.  If you did not receive this notice, please contact your department secretary for a copy.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for November 18th, at 2:00 p.m., in SUB 209.  All representatives need to attend.  Alternates are always welcome.

Members present:
Kim Thomas, Business & Admin Support: Unit A
Paula Moffatt, Business & Admin Support: Unit B
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Marilyn Thompson, Housing & Residential Services
Kariann Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Karen Simmons, Instructional Support: Unit B
Leona Johnson, Library Services
Ann Arango, Library Services
Dorothy Tenney, Plant & Facilities
Jeri Francisco-Porter, Plant & Facilities
Ginger Linnell, Student Services & SUB: Unit A

Members absent:
Carola Alden, Student Services & SUB: Unit B

Also present:
Ona Youmans, Human Resources

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Training Library Review
Making Change Irresistible
Book by Ken Hultman.

Overcoming Resistance to Change in Your Organization
     In today s swiftly moving environment, constant change is the norm.  Even so, managers and supervisors implementing changes vital to an institution s growth or sometimes even to its very survival find themselves dealing with resistance from employees at every level.  Whether the resistance is expressed directly through anger and ridicule or via more indirect means, the effective leader must be able to recognize the symptoms and take action.  This book shows how.  Chapter titles include: