Pat Rozier, Chair, called to order the monthly meeting of COSA at 8:30 a.m. in the Dogwood Room of the University Center.

 Members Present:  Alan Bernstein, Debi Britt, HollyDecker, Sam Dees, Scott Doner, Pearl Everett, Ann Farmer, Inman Grimsley, Lisa Hayes, Shannon McGee, Tommye Miller, Pat Rozier, Beverly Sharpe, Kae Sinkule, and Tim Tim Yorkey.

 Members Excused:  Ann Lacey, Ruth Salter and Nina Windham.

 Special Order of the Day:  Lisa Benton, College of Education, was introduced as the new COSA member replacing LaRona McClain in the Academic Affairs classification.

 On a Doner/Bernstein motion the minutes from the meeting of March 13, 2001, were approved as written.

On a Yorkey/Britt motion the treasurer’s report presented by Pat Rozier (on behalf of Nina Windham) was approved as submitted.

Fund 10 Account:  Ending balance of $716.78 after an expenditure of $190.05 for printing.

Discretionary Fund:  Ending balance of $937.35.

Retirement Walkway/Employee Recognition Fund:  Ending balance of $1759.47.

Committee Reports:

Employee Recognition:  No report.

Elections:  Holly Decker, Chair, reported that the committee has compiled the data needed to distribute ballots for COSA elections next week.  Holly asked Pat Rozier to notify all members of the VSU staff interested in serving on COSA to contact either Pat or Holly as soon as possible.

Policy:  On behalf of the committee chair, Ruth Salter, Tommye Miller presented a recommendation to change the By-Laws for handling the election of COSA officers.  The Elections Committee will recommend a slate of officers for the new year in two separate actions. 

First (for the May meeting annually) the Election Committee will send a letter to all currently seated COSA representatives, as well as newly elected COSA representatives, asking for nominations for chair-elect and chair.  (After May 2001, nominations for chair

will be discontinued since the chair-elect will automatically become chair the subsequent year.)  Only currently seated COSA members are eligible for chair and chair-elect, but newly elected representatives may nominate eligible representatives for office.  A copy of the job description for these two positions will be sent along with the letter seeking nominations.  COSA members may nominate themselves for these two offices, or they may nominate others.  The Elections Committee will verify that anyone they choose to nominate for office is willing to serve.  The election for chair/chair-elect will be held by written ballot at the May meeting each year.  Nominations from the floor will be accepted and added to the written ballot, provided the person nominated from the floor is willing to serve.  The election will take place as Special Order of the Day, and the results of the balloting will be presented before the end of that meeting.  It is possible that more than one person may be nominated for each available position.  Only currently seated COSA representatives will be eligible to vote for chair/chair-elect.

Secondly (for the June meeting annually), the Election Committee will send a letter to all currently seated COSA representatives as well as newly elected representatives, seeking nominations for the remaining officer positions.  Newly elected COSA representatives and currently seated COSA representatives are eligible to serve in the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Public Relations Officer.  The current president of COSA automatically serves as Immediate Past Chair (although without voting privileges if the person is not a continuing member of COSA).  COSA members may nominate themselves for these offices, or they may nominate others.  The Elections Committee will verify that those nominated are willing to serve if elected.  Nominations from the floor will be accepted and added to the written ballot if the person/s nominated from the floor are willing to serve, if elected.  With the “Suspension of the Rules” newly elected COSA representatives may vote for these offices at the June meeting.

On a Sharpe/Dees motion COSA approved changing Section III/B of the COSA By-Laws “Election Procedures for Officers”, as follows:

The Officers of COSA shall be elected during the last two regularly scheduled meetings of each year in May and June using procedures detailed in the COSA Policies and Procedure Manual.

*At the May COSA meeting, the chair of the Elections Committee will present a slate of nominees for the position of chair/chair-elect.  Nominations will be accepted from currently seated and newly elected COSA representatives.  Only currently seated COSA representatives are eligible to vote for these two positions.

*At the June COSA meeting, the chair of the Elections Committee will present a slate of nominees for the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and Public Relations Officer.  Nominations will be accepted from currently seated and newly elected COSA representatives.  Both currently seated and newly elected COSA representatives are eligible to serve in these positions. 

*Should a vacancy occur during a term of office, the above election process will be followed starting with the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Welfare:  Chair, Debi Britt, reported that the committee’s fundraising proposal was presented to Ray Devery and Sandra Fletcher of the VSU Foundation at a meeting held on March 26, 2001.  Plans to coordinate the unveiling of the Retirement Walkway with the Retiree’s Luncheon will be amended if the luncheon is re-scheduled for August instead of late May or early June this year.  It is the intention of COSA to have a formal ceremony for the unveiling of the walkway before June 30, 2001. 

Other Reports:

Recycling Committee:  No report.

Academic Scheduling & Procedures Committee:  Pat Rozier presented the written Annual Report of this Faculty Senate Committee as prepared by Michele Garber, Chair.

Advisory Committee to Partners in Campus Excellence Project:  Lisa Benton agreed to replace Holly Decker on this committee.

Graduation & Special Events Committee:  Sammy Dees agreed to serve on this new sub-committee of the Faculty Senate.

Sexual Harassment Committee:  Ann Farmer reported that she met once with this committee, and to the best of her knowledge, it has never met again.

Report from the Chair:

At the spring meeting of the University System of Georgia Staff Councils Tommye Miller volunteered to draft a letter for the group recommending lowering the period of vesting in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) from ten years to five years.  Pat Rozier submitted this draft to the State Council’s list serve, but she has not seen any response to the draft. 

Old Business:

A brief discussion was held concerning the need for ongoing fundraising activities on behalf of COSA.  Many possible COSA activities, projects, and services are limited by the amount of discretionary funds available to COSA.  One of the primary reasons for developing a close working relationship with the VSU Foundation is to increase fundraising opportunities for all COSA projects.

Inman Grimsley reported that Louise McBee and Bill Cummings introduced a fiscal bill to the Georgia Legislature this year that recommends lowering the time for vesting in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia from ten years to five years. COSA agreed that this important legislation benefits all employees of Valdosta State University. Employees are urged to contact local legislative representatives, Tim Golden and Ron Borders, to support this recommendation.  COSA reminds employees not to correspond with legislators on any type of University letterhead.

VSU employees responded enthusiastically to the discounted passes to Wild Adventures that was negotiated on their behalf by COSA.  There are plans to bring a similar offer to employees again in the fall.

New Business: 

Lisa Benton agreed to coordinate the next “COSA On The Move” session in the College of Education.  She will report about possible dates and times at the May COSA meeting.

COSA Chair, Pat Rozier, reported on several important events associated with President Hugh Bailey’s retirement pertinent to the VSU staff.  President Bailey was instrumental in the development of the Council on Staff Affairs, and COSA urges VSU staff to participate in these events honoring his years of dedicated service to the University.   

The entire staff is invited to attend a celebration on April 26, 2001, on the Front Lawn of Main Campus.  A retirement dinner & fundraising event is planned for June 9, 2001, at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Convention Center.  A portion of the ticket price for this event will be used to establish the Hugh C. Bailey Scholarship Fund. Employees interested in attending this event or interested in contributing to the scholarship fund are encouraged to contact the VSU Foundation for more information (333-5939).  COSA representatives will be available to help with fundraising for the gift from the staff.

With no other business to conduct, the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, 

_________________________

Tommye H. Miller, Secretary