October 16, 2003
The basic purpose of the Employee Council shall be to provide civil service employees with a forum for sharing timely information and facilitating employee recognition. The Employee Council does not perform any function of organized labor and is not intended in any way to supplant collective negotiations or employee organizations provided for in WAC Chapter 251-14. http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/purpose.doc
1. Call to order
2. Approval of the Agenda and Minutes
3. Selection of Employee of the Month for October
4. Campus Community Building Program
5. Parking Advisory Committee
6. For the good of the order/new business
7. Adjournment / Next Meeting
8. HR Announcements
The Employee Council of Civil Service Employees meeting in Barge Hall room 412 was called to order at 2:10 p.m., on October 16, 2003. In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, Crystal Whitaker, Employee Council Secretary, presided.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA/MINUTES - The agenda and minutes were approved as written. To view current and previous minutes, please visit: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/index.html.
Selection of EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER - Kendra Sterkel, Secretary Senior, Aerospace Studies
“Kendra Sterkel is the heart and soul of the Department of Aerospace Studies. She is the department’s “Most Valuable Player” in administrative matters, and is the bedrock that keeps the department running smoothly. She maintains our two department budgets with perfection, using an extensive monthly spreadsheet that she developed and in an era of budget caps and rising costs, she’s met all mission needs. She is a true professional, always there to assist and help. She is the linchpin in planning our two largest events of the year: the annual Presidential Day Retreat and Awards Ceremony in May and AFROTC Det 895 Dining Out and Commissioning Ceremony in June. For the Presidential Day Retreat and Awards Ceremony over 400 invitations were sent to families, presenters and dignitaries were sent out and tracked, sound, staging and catering services were handled, she designed a 22-page professional colored program for the event, managed the collection, preparation and distribution of over 78 medals and awards presented to ROTC cadets, and came in on the Saturday of the event to coordinate set-up, co-host the reception and organize the awards. Her leadership by action and attention to detail made this event a huge success.”
“Kendra is extremely dedicated and active in the community also. A member of the Ellensburg Top Hands, she serves as a back-up chaperone for the Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court, volunteers, countless hours at the Western Art Show, participates in a monthly CWU Scholarship Luncheon Group, and is a selfless individual committed to improving the welfare of her community.” Congratulations, Kendra!
Campus Community Building Program
“The purpose of the program is to give members of the university community who are concerned about improving the university’s climate a positive way to direct their energy and an opportunity to connect with other university members who also want to take action to improve their community.” http://www.cwu.edu/~ccbp/
We are getting ready to present the summer winners of the Extra Special Over The Top Team of The Term Award. The winners will be announced in the November 20, 2003, Employee Council Minutes.
The Employee Council encourages everyone to participate in this valuable program. If you are interested in joining or if you have any questions about the Campus Community Building Program, please contact Linda Garcia at garcial@cwu.edu.
Parking Advisory Committee – Next meeting is scheduled for October 23, 2003, 2-4:00 p.m., in SUB 204/205.
For the good of the order/new business
Civil Service Employee of the Month Nomination Forms can be found at the Human Resources website: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/EOTMnominate.doc. You can also call Human Resources at 1202 to obtain a nomination form. Anyone may nominate a civil service employee that has worked for Central Washington University for at least two years.
Adjournment/NEXT MEETING - The Employee Council meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. The next Employee Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2003, in Barge Hall, room 412.
Present
Sandy Arbuckle, Business Support
Jeff Goede, Facilities Management
Kelly Minor, Financial Services
Crystal Whitaker, Information Technology Services, Employee Council Secretary
Lisa Stowe, Instructional Support: Unit A
Obie O’Brien, Library Services and Academic Computing
Wanda Waldron, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Sharon McDougall, University Centers
Rob Lowery, University Relations & President
Absent
Pedro Garcia, Business Support
Judy McNeil, Dining Services
Laury Berner, Facilities Management
Laurie Stehle, Instructional Support: Unit B
Also Present
Ona Youmans, Human Resources
If you have any questions regarding Employee Council or the Employee of the Month program, please contact your Employee Council Representative or Human Resources, ph:1205.
Employee Benefits Reminder
The annual open enrollment period runs through November. However, the last working day in November is the 26th. So, if you are planning to change medical or dental insurance plans for 2004, please submit your forms by the 26th to Human Resources at MS 7425, or deliver to Bouillon Hall, Room 140. If you prefer to make these changes on line, you have until November 30th to make changes at http://www.pebb.hca.wa.gov/.
If you would like to participate in the new Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program, please submit enrollment forms to Human Resources by November 26. Enrollment forms and plan information are available on line at www.cwu.edu/~hr/benefits/fsa/. Those who participated in 2003 must submit new forms to reenroll for 2004.
Do you have questions about competitive contracting and employee business units? You'll find answers to many of your questions in the October issue of In The Works, the newsletter about personnel reform in Washington. The newsletter is posted on the Washington Works website at http://washingtonworks.wa.gov/newsletter.htm.
What’s Happening With Civil Service Reform:
For the past several months, the Department of Personnel (DOP) in Olympia has been out around the state meeting with employees about the proposed changes to the civil service system. More than 6,000 state employees attended 94 sessions held in 50 locations throughout the state, from Pt. Angeles to Walla Walla, Okanogan to Vancouver.
At the same time, DOP has been meeting with state agency and higher education human resource professionals and union representatives on the preliminary draft rules and classification structure for the new system.
By late November, DOP will distribute the proposed plan for the new occupational categories and levels, along with the associated compensation structure. Public input on the occupational categories will be scheduled in stages throughout 2004. Watch for the proposed plan and a schedule to be posted on the Washington Works (http://washingtonworks.wa.gov/) and HR 2005 (http://hr.dop.wa.gov/hrreform/default.htm) web sites.
The new personnel rules will be put forth for public comment and hearings over the course of several months, beginning in January 2004. DOP will post a schedule of the planned roll-out of rules on specific topics by late November.
“Conflict Management and Confrontational Skills,” a one-day seminar by “Fred Pryor Seminars,” will be given in Yakima on January 13.
Find out…
· How to predict a problem situation long before it reaches the crisis stage – and avert it entirely.
· The secret to keeping poise and control when everyone around you loses it.
· Escape routes from the traps of infighting and backstabbing.
· Emotional “first aid” – save yourself when you feel your emotions spinning out of control.
· Ways to “repair” damaged relationships – at work, at home, with anyone.
· How to meet conflict and disagreement head-on… and reach a mutual understanding.
· Not only how to keep your own cool, but prevent others from losing theirs.
Cost: $195. Call 1-800-556-2998, or visit http://www.pryor.com for more information, or to register.
“The Women’s Conference” (CareerTrack) will be held in Yakima on January 26. Designed for professional women who are seeking to increase their ability to achieve and succeed, and are looking for new ideas to help them, it is a power-packed day of workshops and sessions. Cost $149. Call 1-800-556-3009 or visit http://www.careertrack.com for more information or to register.