Council on Staff Affairs

(COSA)Minutes

Tuesday, September 14, 1999

8:30 AM

Dogwood Room @ University Center

 

Members present: Debi Parkhill, Sandra Denson, Holly Decker, Nina Windham, John Anderson, T.R. " Cat " Decker, Sammy Dees, Scott Doner, Ann Harris, Debra Holley, Ann Lacey, Tom Parnell, Ruth Salter, Beverly Sharpe, Hilda Spell, and Inman Grimsley.

Guests: Rebecca Murphy, Alisha Lane, James Brignati, Dr. Louis Levy, Bubba Nolan, and Wes Sumner.

Members excused: Pat Rozier and Ann Farmer.

The COSA meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m.

Special Order of the Day: Rebecca Murphy asked COSA if we had any ideas about possible training programs that the members would like to take. She suggested that since we are in the business of selling ideas to upper administration that she could think of two programs. One, how to write our proposals for our ideas and concepts and the other, the oral presentation of those ideas so that they can be heard. She wanted to know if this or any other ideas were of interest to the board. She said that she would like to work with us to try to bring these programs to life one way or another. COSA decided to form a committee to work with her on this.

Unknown to the secretary of COSA, Holly Decker, the Chairperson and all the members joined together to honor her, with a plaque, as the past Chair of COSA. They had her boss, Bubba Nolan, V-P for Business and Finance, James Brignati, Assistant V-P for Academic Affairs, Dr. Louis Levy and several other members of COSA to say a few words about her. All in all I was very honored and touched by all this, they have been a great team to work with, thank you all.

Approval of Minutes: The August 14th minutes were approved.

Treasurer's Report - Nina Windham

Totals:

Balance Forward   $2,469.34

Printing 153.40

Balance Remaining       $2,315.94

Committee Reports

Elections- Holly Decker reported that she has already started gathering information of staff employees on campus for the coming election in April 2000.

Employee Recognition- No Report

Policies /By-Laws Committee- Ann Lacey reported that she needed to have a meeting after the COSA meeting.

Welfare- Hilda Spell reported that the site for the Retiree Walkway would be in front of the new Science/Biology building. We have a layout of it from the engineer and Dr. Bailey has approved this. Don't forget that you can buy a brick or contribute during the annual giving. You can put it under other on the annual giving form or call Hilda for a pamphlet. We can't lay any bricks until the freeze on funds is over and they finish the building. She is now in the process of making a list of staff retirees.

Recycling- Tom Parnell reported that he was going to get in contact with Dr. Santas.

Salary Study- Debi Parkhill reported that this committee has meet twice. The first meeting was to see who would be the people we would approach to help with this matter. Dr. Oliver was contacted and is providing preliminary research. All the committee members were given materials to help them see what needs to be done. The second meeting everyone voiced concerns on the classification system at the University and how it needs to be updated. We feel as a committee this needs to be updated first in order to do a survey. We have contacted UGA to see if they could help us on this matter, since they are in the process of doing this.

Reports from the Chair: Debi Parkhill reported that she will be going to the Faulty Senate meeting Thursday, September 15, 1999 at 3:30 p.m. at Powell Hall.

Old Business

The University System of Georgia Staff Conference will cost $30.00 and will be held on Friday, October 15, 1999 at Milledgeville, Ga. information can be found at http:// www.gcsu.edu/staff. COSA will be sending seven members to the Conference. Contact Nina Windham # 5705 if you have any questions.

Staff Appreciation Day is October 1, 1999 at Billy Grant Field starting at 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m. and it is FREE to all staff employees at VSU. There will be invitations sent out to all staff, if you don't receive one before September 30, 1999 let us know. See flyer attached to minutes.

New Business

Tuition Remission isn't effected by the budget cuts.

Inman Grimsley reported that they are working hard at getting all the bugs ironed out of the People soft program, so please be patient a little longer.

There being no further discussion or business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 am and will meet again on October 12, 1999.     Submitted by; Holly M. Decker COSA Secretary