THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

STAFF SENATE

(NORMAN CAMPUS)

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Chair Betty Love called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. in the Sooner Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Officers present — Betty Love, Chair; Beth Gatewood, Chair-Elect; Chris McNabb, Recording Secretary

Officers absent —Joan Koos, Immediate Past Chair

Staff present — Barbara Perry, Administrative Coordinator; Shanika Bivines, Administrative Assistant

Representatives present — Hourly Employees Council: Karen Stark, David Houck, Patsy Montoya, David Kizer; Informational Staff Association: Brook Barnes-Weber, Debi Gentis, Elaine Bradshaw, Annette Schwiebert; Organizational Staff Council: Linda McCarty, Kristi Wright, Cathy Brister, Kathy Gross, Jannie Porter, Matt Berry; Administrative Staff Council: Rennie Cook

Representatives absent — Hourly Employees Council: Ed Fontaine, Diana Fitzpatrick, Cheryl Barton, Cindy Goode, Kim Haddad, Robert Murphy, Ben Stapp, Troy Schmidt; Informational Staff Association: Kevin Jarnagin, Lisa Bowles; Organizational Staff Council: none; Administrative Staff Council: Sue-Anna Miller

Guests present — Dan Hough, OU Staff Week Committee Chair; Debbie Copp, Athletic Department; Theta Dempsey, Department of Parking and Transportation Services

CHAIR’S COMMUNICATIONS

Chair Betty Love announced that Information Technology had been recognized in the “Top 20 Wired Colleges” in the nation, a ranking that included such prestigious institutions as Villanova University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Swarthmore College. The announcement was made by PC Magazine. Betty said she was not able to meet with Vice President Nick Hathaway for their regular monthly meeting during December. She said Staff Senate had been informed that President Boren had tentatively approved a request from the OU Retirees Association that the retiree member of the Employee Benefits Committee become a voting member. She said since EBC’s inception many years ago, the retiree member had always been an ex-officio member. Betty announced that immediately following the regular Staff Senate meeting, the Senate Executive Committee would hold a brief meeting.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 15, 2006

On a motion by Rennie Cook, the minutes of the November 15, 2006, minutes were accepted as written.

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

Hourly Employees Council:  HEC member Patsy Montoya reported for the Hourly Employees Council. She said HEC held its holiday dinner on December 13^th and discussed the gifts they collected and gave the children they adopted for the holidays. They hope to make next year’s event bigger and better. This is the group’s third year to adopt children during the holidays.

Organizational Staff Council:  President Linda McCarty reported that OSC met on December 7^th and held their holiday luncheon. They hosted two guest speakers, Linda Terrell from the Center for Children and Families and Diane Murphee from Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the two organizations to which OSC donated. Sherry Cox Cunningham, an OU staff member, attended the meeting. Sherry is the mother in the family that OSC adopted.

Informational Staff Association:  Vice President Brook Barnes-Weber reported that ISA met on December 9^th and enjoyed a dessert luncheon. Amber Bui, counselor at Norman Public Schools, gave information about the family the group adopted and spoke about various programs that accepted volunteers during the year.

Administrative Staff Council: Vice President Rennie Cook reported that ASC worked with the OSC to sponsor the Cunningham family. ASC took responsibility for the three teenage boys and helped them with clothing needs.

STANDING COMMITTEES

OU Staff Week Committee: Chair Dan Hough reported that the Staff Week Committee had met twice since the last Senate meeting. Sweatshirts had been delivered. The committee is working on the logo. The venues for Staff Week are materializing. The budget for Staff Week has been submitted to the President.

REPORTS

The following reports were linked to the December agenda:

Staff Senate Foundation account report.

Minutes of the October 19 Employee Benefits Committee meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Debbie Copp announced that Beth Gatewood had chaired the OU Women’s Build for Habitat for Humanity. She said the dedication ceremony was held last Saturday [December 16]. Betty added that several ladies in the room had contributed labor to the build. Kudos to Beth and the other lady laborers!

Debbie said the annual Sullivan Family Concert would be held Saturday night, December 23, at the Catlett Center at 7:00. There is no admission charge. The hat will be passed and the proceeds will go to the Women’s Resource Center and Women’s Shelter.

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:44 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Perry

Administrative Coordinator

Shanika Bivines

Administrative Assistant