Date: September 30, 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m.

Members Present: Amanda Canup, Jeff Carter, Jim Cooper, Annette Gillespie, Sharon Hodge, Leigh Ann Holton, Bennie Sue Houck, William Ketchum, Donna McPherson, Randall Scarboro

Members Absent: None

Advisors Present: Mary Phillips

Advisors Absent: Dawn Ramsey

The meeting was called to order and the minutes from the August, 2003 were unanimously approved.

Leigh Ann presented a budget update. Leigh Ann stated that the Staff Council had $110 and change in the Foundation account and that an invoice in the amount of $50.00 will have to be paid. The invoice was for platters for the retirees.

Leigh Ann asked if Staff Council wanted to do a fund raiser. Jeff Carter stated that the University is running on a very tight budget so it seems reasonable that Staff Council will have a tight budget as well. Sharon Hodge said that several events were upcoming that involved the Staff Council and a fund raiser may be necessary later in the term.

Leigh Ann passed around the constituents list to each Staff Council member.
Jim Cooper said that he saw the names of some of the academic department heads (Department Chairs) on his constituent list and those names need to be deleted from his list.

Leigh Ann asked if anyone had an opportunity to read the current By-Laws and was the printing correct? William Ketchum stated that he read through them and they appeared to be correct.

Leigh Ann Holton stated that the items that were submitted for the USG Staff Council were submitted and will appear on the agenda at the Augusta meeting.

Leigh Ann introduced the breast cancer drive and asked everyone on Staff Council to join her for a brown bag lunch on October 10, 2003. Leigh Ann asked what music we would like to hear at the brown bag lunch. Leigh Ann presented a poster of Susan Applegate, who is the spokes person for the drive. Leigh Ann presented the pink ribbon and the receipt that donors will receive.

Regarding the open forum, Leigh Ann said that she will discuss the date of the event with Dr. Rossbacher. Leigh Ann suggested that questions be submitted 3-4 days before the event. Leigh Ann asked William Ketchum to moderate the event. Jim Cooper asked if both students and staff will attend. Leigh Ann said that this meeting will involve the staff.

Leigh Ann said that open enrollment is scheduled for October 29,2003. Sharon Hodge asked if Quint Hill (Human Resources) will send an e-mail to staff announcing the date of the event.

Sharon Hodge asked if Staff Council minutes were sent to the campus community. William Ketchum said that the minutes are released through global e-mail after they were approved by Staff Council.

Amanda Canup stated that she has been updating the SPSU Web Page with Staff Council information. Amanda said that the agenda is on the Web, but the calendar of events has not been placed on the Web.

Sharon Hodge said that Judy Waits has copies of job descriptions for the secretaries and administrative assistants in the academic programs. Sharon said that she and Leigh Ann had a productive meeting with Quint Hill, Charles Azebeokhai, and Mary Ellen McGee regarding three (3) topics: job descriptions, job titles, and the job title on the paycheck receipt.

Job Descriptions:
Leigh Ann said that Human Resources is reviewing all job descriptions. It was suggested that since Judy Waits has copies of all job descriptions for staff of the academic departments, that she should be requested to forward these descriptions to the appropriate academic departments for review by the Department Chair and staff employee-Human Resources will so advise. Human Resources stated that it is up to Dr. Rossbacher to approve the changes in job descriptions. Leigh Ann said that Human Resources is reviewing all job descriptions and they have until the close of the current academic year (May, 2004) to complete this process.

Paycheck Receipt:
Bennie Houck stated that her paycheck receipt indicated that she was secretary/clerical assistant. Donna McPherson said that Human Resources sent out an e-mail stating that they were aware of the problem. Leigh Ann stated that this change of title on the paycheck receipt is due to the Board Of Regents changing from a b-code system to an EEO categories system. It really does not have an affect in your pay, just places you under a broad category.

Job Titles:
Leigh Ann said that Staff Council will need the support of the academic departmental secretaries before presenting this issue to the President. Sharon Hodge said that the title of secretary is passé and the titles and job descriptions should be updated. Jeff Carter said that Staff Council might want to wait until later when new salaries might accompany the changes. Sharon Hodge said that salary increases will not be considered for at least another year. William Ketchum said that it might be easier to get the job classification changes implemented in a year when the Administration recognizes that the event will not trigger a salary increase. Sharon Hodge said approval of the updated job titles and job descriptions could act as a morale booster in lieu of no salary increase. Mary Phillips suggested that the officers of Staff Council have a meeting with the President on this issue before doing anything more formal.

Jeff Carter asked what progress has been made on filling the open Staff Council position for Category seven (7). Leigh Ann said that she had spoken with Robert Kunig and he was interested in serving on Staff Council. Leigh Ann said that the Chair will entertain a motion to vote Robert Kunig on to Staff Council. Donna McPherson made the motion and Jeff Carter seconded. Robert Kunig was unanimously voted onto the Staff Council. Leigh Ann said she will notify Robert of his appointment and the date of the next meeting.

Jim Cooper said he will ask Jerry Baswell if he will represent Category six (6). Jim said that he will present a proposal for the message board for the Staff Council at the next meeting.

Leigh Ann said that she had been approached by the past Chair of Staff Council to donate a prize for the Holiday Luncheon. Jim Cooper said that he will see if he can procure a garment bag or something. Mary Phillips said that if Staff Council goes off campus to solicit a donation we should coordinate that activity with Ann Lay.

1) Leigh Ann asked if someone would cook a pot of chili and enter it in the judging as the entry from the Staff Council.

2) Jim Cooper announced that he will cook an entry and enter it for the Staff Council. Leigh Ann announced that the Anthony Tilman’s Chili Cook Off was scheduled for February 11, 2004.

3) Sharon Hodge volunteered to be a judge for the Anthony Tilman’s Chili Cook Off.

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2003 at 2:00 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.