EMPLOYEE COUNCIL MINUTES
October 17, 2002

-APPROVAL OF MINUTES
-MEETING OVERVIEW & REMINDERS
-CAMPUS COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAM DISCUSSION WITH GUEST JANI NINER
-CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF CALL TO SERVICE MEMO FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VPS
-STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND OPERATION SECTION D DISCUSSION & MOTION
-SELECTION OF EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
-EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH NOMINATION FORM
-FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER/NEW BUSINESS
-HR ANNOUNCEMENTS
-ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes were approved as written.  If you don’t use computers and want paper copies of the documents tied to a website, you may contact your Employee Council delegate or Human Resources and request a copy.

MEETING OVERVIEW & REMINDERS
Please remember to keep the Employee of the Month winners a secret until it has been announced.  As a courtesy to our University Centers members, please raise your hand when you would like to speak.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAM DISCUSSION WITH GUEST JANI NINER
Jani discussed with the Council the general purpose and history behind the CCBP as well as past successful groups and ideas.  The Council decided that they would start research on grants available for our project.  E-mail will be sent to those delegates and alternates not present to keep them up to date on the developments of our project.

CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF CALL TO SERVICE MEMO FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VPS
Council members reviewed the response letter and discussed changes.  It was agreed that the final draft would be written and presented to President McIntyre by the Executive Committee.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND OPERATION SECTION D DISCUSSION & MOTION
A motion to change section D of the Statement of Purpose was discussed and approved.  To view the current changes please visit:  http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/Purpose.doc

SELECTION OF EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Cathy Fyall, Secretary Senior for the McNair Scholars Program, was selected as the Employee of the Month for October 2002.  The following statements were taken from the nomination forms:
1.    Exceptional ability, proficiency & quality of work:
Cathy Fyall is the hardest working and most conscientious employee I have ever seen.  She is the program secretary, but her input on student needs, on program development, and general office procedure go way beyond what is or should be expected of her.  She is very thorough and looks after the entire program, not just her duties.  She has ferreted out mistakes, saving the program money; and the quality of her work is beyond reproach.  Her caring attitude extends to all those around her and her very presence increases everyone’s productivity.  Secretaries should know their department and their job very well.  Cathy not only has every nuance of her job mastered, she is a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about the campus and many of its departments.  Whenever I am stuck, five minutes with Cathy can either alleviate the problem, or at least point me in the direction of my answer.
2.    Customer service:
Cathy is an attitude cheerleader.  Students leave this office thinking they can conquer the world.  She has the same effect on the staff.  She has an indomitable smile, exudes alacrity, and makes coming to work each day much easier.  The students are constantly amazed by her, and they all love her tremendously.  This is not an overstatement.  They bring her cards and homemade goodies, and always visit with her when they come in.  She has an uncanny ability to find the right thing to say, and always helps to put our problems in the right perspective.  She is my most valued advisor.
3.    Promoting team building & workplace harmony:
Cathy is the ultimate team player.  She openly listens to all sides of an issue, and then very thoughtfully contributes her ideas.  She promotes team building and workplace harmony through honesty and hard work.  She is a model employee.  
4.    Promoting positive image of department/unit/CWU:
Cathy is very committed to the ideals of the McNair Scholars Program, and to the University and it’s mission.  She participates in after-hours events and constantly brags about the program and the ever-changing University.  She is exactly the type of employee that deserves this recognition.  
5.    Reliability and dependability:
Cars, like all employees, should be reliable and dependable, but Cathy has a built in guidance system to boot.  She is always here and always ready to work.  Cathy has a tremendous amount of self-initiative, and remains productive without supervision.  She helps tidy up projects that have become too arduous for me, and delivers 10 times out of 10.  

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH NOMINATION FORM
For the Employee of the Month Nomination form please visit: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/EOTMnominate.doc

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER/NEW BUSINESS-None
HR ANNOUNCEMENTS-See below.

ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.  The next meeting of the Employee Council will be Thursday, November 21, 2002, at 2:00 p.m., in Barge Hall, room 412.

PRESENT
Kirsten Garland, Business Support
Crystal Whitaker, Computing & Telecommunication Services
Dorothy Tenney, Facilities Management
Laury Berner, Facilities Management
Pedro Garcia, Facilities Management
Lisa Stowe, Instructional Support: Unit A
Barbara Sisko, Instructional Support: Unit B
Donald, O'Brien, Library Services and Academic Computing
Shirley Hood, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Olivia Ripka, University Centers
Nancy Bradshaw, University Relations & President
Ona Youmans, Human Resources

ABSENT
Judy McNeil, Dining Services
Cheri Lince, Financial Services


HUMAN RESOURCES ANNOUNCEMENTS

SHARED LEAVE DONATIONS
CWU employees may donate leave to a fellow employee who is severely ill or injured (or who is caring for a family member who is severely ill or injured) and who is off work and has exhausted all personal paid leave.

The following individuals are in need of shared leave:  William Cummings (Facilities Management), Maxine Ryan (University Store).

You may donate annual (vacation) and sick leave in eight-hour blocks.  A minimum balance of 80 hours of annual leave must be maintained, and excess annual leave (that over 240 hours) that will otherwise be lost may not be donated.  No more than 6 days of sick leave may be given during a 12-month period and a minimum balance of 480 hours must be retained.  The personal holiday may also be donated.

The shared leave donation form can be downloaded from the HR forms section of the Human Resources home page:  www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/hrforms2.htm or requested from the HR office by calling 1202.  Requests to donate leave must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding to HR and are subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.

HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
You should have all received the Health Care Authority Perspective at your home address by now.  The Perspective will be the only printed information regarding Open Enrollment.  The Health Care Authority is encouraging everyone to make changes on line and to also research the changes on the Web.  A new feature on the Health Care Authority website is the “Compare a Plan” information.  The website address is: www.pebb.hca.wa.gov

If you make changes to your medical plan and you do so on the Web, we in Human Resources would like you to download your changes, print yourself a copy, and send a copy to Human Resources for your benefit file.

There are many changes to the Medical plans, the first being the cost per month for employees and their dependents.  The monthly employee rates are increasing because the legislature is unable to fund the state employee’s medical and dental premium at the same percent as they have in the past.  

The prescription benefit is changing throughout all the medical plans.  Please review this section of each plan prior to selecting your medical plan.
 
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
The university has approved a new employee benefit plan called Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).  The open enrollment period for 2003 ends on November 30, 2002.  For information about this new plan, please see the CWU HR website and click on News or Benefits.  http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM - CWU SURVEY RESULTS
Employees recently participated in a voluntary survey designed to collect responses and suggestions for the state's new human resource system, to be effective July 2005.  Survey results can be found at: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/surveys/surveyresults.htm

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
“Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics” a popular seminar offered through “Fred Pryor” is also available on video through the Training Library.  Learn at your own pace, when it’s convenient for you, and at no charge.  Learn how to read with purpose, strategy, and flexibility.  Develop more efficient reading habits.  Enjoy greater comprehension, and memory of what you’ve read.

If you'd like to check out "Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics", or learn what else the Training Library has to offer, visit us in Bouillon 104, browse through our website at http://www.cwu.edu/~training , call 963-2288, or send an email to hutchinl@cwu.edu .