THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

 

STAFF SENATE

 

(NORMAN CAMPUS)

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

 

 

Chair Beth Gatewood called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Scholars Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

 

Officers present — Beth Gatewood, Chair; Linda McCarty, Chair-Elect; Betty Love, Immediate Past Chair;  Kathy Gross, Recording Secretary  

 

Staff presentBarbara Perry, Administrative Coordinator

 

Representatives present — Hourly Employees Council: Diana Fitzpatrick, Ed Fontaine, Robert Murphy, Melanie Wilburn, Carolyn Irons, Dee Hayes, Ben Stapp, Troy Schmidt, Kim Haddad; Informational Staff Association: Anna Love, Debbie Copp, Michael Goodwin; Organizational Staff Council: Cathy Brister, Sandi Emond, Matt Berry; Administrative Staff Council: Sue-Anna Miller

 

Representatives absent — Hourly Employees Council: Jack Shoopman, Donna Stephens, David Kizer; Informational Staff Association: Elaine Bradshaw, Debi Gentis, Lisa Bowles; Organizational Staff Council: Cathy Trujillo, Tami Kinsey, Jannie Porter; Administrative Staff Council:  Robbie Wahnee

 

Guests present —Susan Grossman, College of Continuing Education; David Houck, Physical Plant, Dan Hough, Oklahoma Biological Survey; Lezlie Pilkington, Administrative Affairs; Theta Dempsey, Parking and Transportation Services; James Tyree, The Oklahoman

 

CHAIR’S COMMUNICATIONS

 

Chair Beth Gatewood reported that she met with Vice President for Executive and Administrative Affairs Nick Hathaway on November 8.  Insurance concerns were addressed briefly.  Beth said she had learned that an hourly staff member, HEC President Diana Fitzpatrick, had been appointed to the insurance committee working on the RFP process.  Also discussed were personnel issues regarding Staff Senate Office personnel.  Shanika Bivines has accepted another position on campus and Barbara Perry will be retiring in the upcoming year.  Beth said she had received an email from Trinnia Hall regarding the Shared Leave Program.  Although the program still has the funding to operate, the program has depleted its hours.  The program must have both funding and hours to function.  Beth asked people to consider donating hours to the Shared Leave Program.     

 

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 17, 2007

 

Matt Berry made a motion to accept the minutes of the October 17, 2007, meeting.  The motion was seconded and the minutes were accepted as written. 

 

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

 

Hourly Employees Council:  President Diana Fitzpatrick reported that HEC met on November 14.  Michelle Boydstun, Assistant Director of Payroll, was the guest speaker.  She spoke about the Shared Leave Program.  HEC discussed a car pool policy that the Personnel Policies Committee is considering. For HEC’s annual holiday project, the group adopted three children.  Their holiday luncheon will be held on December 12.

 

Informational Staff Association:  President Elect Michael Goodwin reported that the ISA’s November meeting consisted of a facility tour of the Switzer Center conducted by Merv Johnson.  Afterwards, the group held a brief business meeting.  Their December meeting will be a holiday meeting at Jacobson House.

 

Organizational Staff Council:  President Cathy Brister said OSC met on November 1.  Kris Glenn was their guest speaker and answered questions about CART and parking issues on campus.  Tami Kinsey was elected as a new representative to replace Kathy Gross who is serving as Staff Senate’s new Recording Secretary.  The group discussed bingo and decided on donations to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization and Center for Children and Families.  OSC’s December meeting will be a holiday pot luck luncheon. 

 

Administrative Staff Council:  President Sue-Anna Miller reported that ASC met on November 20.  Clarke Stroud was their guest speaker.  ASC adopted four families to assist this year for Christmas. 

 

STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Staff Professional Development Committee: Chair Dan Hough said his committee held a second meeting this semester on November 2 to discuss how the program was doing.  Dan said the program was operating very smoothly. 

 

Communications Committee:  Chair Susan Grossman said the Communications Committee had met earlier that day.  Melanee Hamilton, Web designer for OU, was the guest speaker.  Susan explained that for some time, the Communications Committee had been looking into the issue of a campus-wide events calendar.  This is one of the projects that Melanee has been developing and it will be up and running soon. 

 

OU Staff Week Committee:  Chair Melanie Wilburn reported that the Staff Week sweatshirts would be delivered and distributed within the week.  Melanie said the committee had chosen its theme and logo.

 

REPORTS

 

The following reports were linked to the November agenda:

 

Staff Senate Foundation account report.

 

Minutes of Employee Benefits Committee meeting of September 6, 2007.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Betty Love announced the sale of a recipe book titled, “Eat ‘Em Up! OU,” written by OU students and their mothers.  She said it was perfect for the OU fan that has everything!  She said the book would be on sale at the Bookstore.

 

Santa stopped by to pick up the toys for the Fill the Trolley campaign. Senate members had filled a box with toys.  He updated the group and said one trolley had been filled and they were filling a second one!

 

A complimentary emergency preparedness flyer was distributed to members in attendance.  

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:47 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Barbara Perry

Administrative Coordinator

 

Kathy Gross

Recording Secretary