PSS -

Professional Staff Senate
Regular Meeting – October 8, 2004

Senators Present: Derek Anderson, Lin Brummels, Brandon Eckmann, Dave Graber, Eddie Elfers, Dorothy Weber, Oliver Twelvetrees

Senators absent: Cheri Polenske

Liaisons from Other Senates Present: Bill Long

Lin Brummels called the meeting to order at 11:10 AM; a quorum was present.

The September minutes were approved as written on motion from Eddie Elfers, second form Dave Graber.

Committee reports:

Mentoring (Brummels) The three Senates have identified nearly all mentors. A committee to plan the first orientation meeting has met and proposed a plan. Ideas for an orientation agenda were also received from the HR Office. The mentor training will be scheduled soon.
Social (Eckmann) A potluck dinner was held and about 30 people attended. The food was great.
Recognition (Anderson) A date has been scheduled for the 2005 Recognition Event. It will be held on 8/11/05.
Continuing Education (Graber) – Nothing is planned at this time. Dave Graber will send out a “request for proposals”. Please send ideas to Dave.
Membership (Polenske) No Report
Hospitality (Weber) A sympathy card was sent to Dennis & Carolyn Linster, a get well card to Sharon Vanis and a baby gift and card to Jennifer Laursen. The balance in the courtesy club fund is $214.06.
Policy (Twelvetrees) – Oliver volunteered to take over this committee and members agreed to help keep him posted about policy changes.
Communication (Elfers) Eddie is sending information out as it comes in.

Agenda Items

* Two Professional staff department grants were approved by the senate. These grant applications were approved by Dr. Collings and the Foundation Office. Both programs will implement the programs described in the proposals this year and report to the Senate and Foundation Office next summer.

1) Dorothy Weber to purchase ESL software.
2) A trial version of the Safe Ride program proposed by Kathy Mohlfeld.

* Jim Knotwell invited professional staff working with students groups to participate in the American Democracy project Symposium on Dec. 7, 2004. Staff who might be interested in this should contact Dr. Knotwell.

* Float update – There was not enough interest to prepare a float for the 2004 Homecoming Parade so this project was scraped.

* Casual Fridays – This policy was discussed and several comments made regarding dress being specific to position, approval of supervisors and differences noted for people who frequently meet the public. Comments will be forwarded to Janice Gardner.

* Other – There was discussion about re-allocation of funds to new positions following recent budget cuts. There was general consensus that communication to the campus remains a problem. An example of this is the recent hiring of several new staff and the names and positions not being communicated to the campus. Members of the Senate commented that they frequently find out about new employees when they receive an e-mail or phone call from someone they have never heard of before. We would like to recommend that some announcement to the campus could be made when a new person is hired.

The next regular meeting will be Friday 11:00 A.M., November 5, 2004, Bluestem.

Meeting adjourned 12:00.

Respectfully submitted,
Lin Brummels for
Cheri Polenske, Secretary

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