-COUNCIL MINUTES
-CONDUCT OF MEETING
-UPDATE OF PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO STAFF
-SELECTION AND CHARGE OF SUBCOMMITTEES FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH SHIRTS
-SELECTION OF EMPLOYEE OF MONTH, NOVEMBER 2001
-HUMAN RESOURCES ANNOUNCEMENTS
-FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
-ADJOURMENT/NEXT MEETING

COUNCIL MINUTES
The minutes of the November meeting were amended to reflect that Staci Sleigh-Layman was not at the meeting of the committee organizing the upcoming President's Address to Staff.  The minutes were approved as corrected.

CONDUCT OF MEETING
The need for improving meeting conduct was discussed. This is especially important now that we are video-conferencing so that the members at the centers can hear and participate fully in the meetings.  It was agreed that there is no need for strict policy application, but courteous attention to speaking in turn is necessary so that the centers can hear what is being said.

UPDATE OF PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO STAFF
The President's Address to staff is currently scheduled for Monday, March 4, 2002. There will be a morning and an afternoon session to accommodate as many employees as possible. A sign language interpreter will be on hand for the afternoon session.  The President's Office has offered to provide punch and cookies for the affair.  The location for the address is uncertain, as a large enough room that also has distance education hook up capabilities is important. The President did suggest that the session could be taped for those who are unable to attend in person.  Those who have suggestions for topics they would like the President to address are asked to contact their Employee Council delegate or alternate. There will be an opportunity at the address for questions, as well.  Kari suggested that a survey be distributed to ascertain the general response to the address.

UPDATE OF OMBUDS OFFICE
The Council received a memo from Donna Kramer in the Ombuds Office, notifying the campus community that the President's Advisory Council approved the position description for the new CWU Ombuds Office.  Ombuds Office - General description reads as follows:

The Ombuds Office provides informal, confidential, and impartial services to address the concerns and complaints of current full and part-time university faculty, staff, students, administrators and professional staff. The office operates independently, as a complement and supplement to existing administrative or formal grievance processes.

Ombuds office - Detailed

The Ombuds Office provides informal, confidential and impartial services to address the concerns and complaints of current full and part-time university faculty, staff, students, administrators and professional staff. The office will assist with issues such as interpersonal misunderstandings or disputes, as well as with academic or administrative issues. The Ombuds Office will attempt to assist individuals either directly, with facilitation or mediation, or by referral to another process.

The Ombuds Office operates independently, as a complement and supplement to existing administrative and formal grievance processes. The Ombuds Office has no formal decision making authority, does not act as an advocate for either side in a dispute, and will not testify for or against a visitor to the office. The use of the Ombuds Office is not a required step in any grievance process or organizational policy. It is however, available at any stage, to assist parties with exploring issues and options in an informal manner.

The Ombuds Office operates confidentiality and does not disclose who has used the services at the office. The Ombuds Office takes specific action related to an individual's issues only with the individual's permission and only to the extent permitted. The Ombuds Office will however not guarantee confidentiality if the Ombuds personnel witness a crime, or have information about the intent of an individual to harm him/herself or another.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Marilyn Thompson presented the candidates for Employee of the Month for November. Ed Snyder, Construction Coordinator, Facilities Management, was selected.  The following comments were made regarding Ed.  "Ed doesn't wait for someone else to come up with an "idea" to serve (two that I know of are: The Lori Chandler Benefit and the New York Relief Fund purchasing safety equipment to send to the workers in New York).  In both of these drives he called on ALL segments of CWU and the Ellensburg community to work toward a single goal -- to help someone in great need.  Once Ed has approval from the key people on campus, he approaches others, enthusiastically presents his case, and instantly has a team.  Hours and hours of Ed's free time are devoted to seeing that the project is successful.  Ed has the ability to organize and the energy to keep going.   Ed spreads good will and brings both the campus personnel and the community together.  He leads us in uniting for a positive cause.  Ed is a "doer" and has a unique way of attracting people to work with him.  I feel Ed brings positive ideas to CWU resulting in a more positive attitude towards other departments on campus.  When he comes through the Library he always has a smile for everyone and brightens our day.    Ed does more than just come to work to do his job.  He makes life better for others."

SELECTION AND CHARGE OF SUBCOMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH SHIRTS
The President's Office has agreed to financially support the proposal to provide denim shirts for all Employee of the Month recipients.   Dorothy Tenney, Kim Thomas, and Karol Barker will contact past recipients to see if they would be interested in having a shirt. This committee is also charged with drafting the artwork for the shirt to bring back to Employee Council and with making arrangements for purchasing the shirts.

HUMAN RESOURCES ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ona Youmans again reminded everyone of the importance of attending the workshops being offered to assist in making the decision whether to stay in PERS II or switch to PERS III.

PERS 2 / PERS 3
PERS 2 / PERS 3 employee education is underway.  Please see the Department of Retirement System web site at: http://www.drs.wa.gov/member/pers/2or3   The site has plan information, financial modeling software, and a list of available seminars.  Employees who do not work on the Ellensburg campus can enter the name of county they live in and get a list of seminars in their area, including registration information.

Automatic Deposit of Paychecks
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER - FAST MONEY!   Want to save some time in 2002? Have your paycheck deposited electronically in the bank or credit union of your choice.  Call the Human Resources Office at 963-1202 to receive the materials necessary to start this safe and efficient and TIME-SAVING way of getting your money to the bank every payday.

Training Opportunities
Need to find training for another employee, or yourself?  Having a hard time figuring out what will fit into your schedule?  Training & Development now has an on-line calendar at http://www.cwu.edu/~training that lists workshops available to CWU employees.  If you click on a picture inside each workshop listing, you will be taken to a page giving more information about that type of workshop.

CWU Service Award Program
The annual program to recognize CWU classified and exempt staff with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service will be held this year on Wednesday, May 1, 2002.

Public Service Recognition Week
The State’s Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated May 6-12, 2002.  Names of individuals, units, or teams of state employees who have gone the Extra Mile are now being solicited.

Many state employees possess qualities such as a consistently productive job performance, a positive attitude, an exemplary work ethic and high personal standards.  Extra Mile recognition is for state employees who contribute something beyond these attributes.  The following may be considered attributes of a deserving Extra Mile nominee:
 

Approximately 10-15 nominees will be selected statewide for outstanding achievement and honored with a visit by a state elected official.  Nominations must be received by the Office of the Secretary of State Productivity Board by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2002.  A nomination form may be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website at:  http://www.secstate.wa.gov/pb/forms/extramile.pdf

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Laury Berner commented on the way the cancellation of classes due to snow earlier in the month was handled.  Classes were canceled and employees were released to go home with pay.  However, discussion focused on the procedure in which employees were notified, the lateness of the notice, and that there was much confusion over the issue.  The issue of e-mail notification for a campus-wide event and the lack of e-mail accessibility for many employees were discussed.

ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 pm.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 17, 2002, at 2:00 p.m., in Black Hall Rm. 229-19.  If you are a delegate and cannot make the meeting, be sure to notify your alternate so he/she will attend.

PRESENT
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Nancy Bradshaw, University Relations and President
Sandy Colson, Instructional Support: Unit B
Kariann Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A, Chairperson
Tina Klampher, Computing and Telecommunications Services
Patti Minshull, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Marilyn Thompson, Dining Services
Laury Berner, Facilities Management
Pam Coppersmith, Business Support
Kerry Slaughter, Library

ABSENT
Pedro Garcia, Facilities Management
Kim Thomas, University Relations and President
Kathleen McDaniel, University Centers
Barbara Sisko, Graduate Studies and Research
Leona Lindvig, Library
Dorothy Tenney, Facilities Management
Lorinda Anderson-Ramsdell, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Adrian Naranjo, Financial Services
Bob Pieters, Facilities Management
Shelly Voshall, Facilities Management
Cheri Lince, Financial Services
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Crystal Devine, Computing and Telecommunications
Al Edler, Facilities Management

ALSO PRESENT
Ona Youmans
 

Attachments to the hard copy minutes:
1) Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) 2002 Extra Mile Nomination Form
2) Employee of the Month Nomination Form
3) President McIntyre’s memo on The Impact of Reduced State Revenue on CWU’s Budget