Staff Advisory Committee Minutes
September 11, 2007

In attendance:  Ms. Giselle Williams (Chair), Ms. Elizabeth Tilley, Ms. Karen Zader, Ms. Sandra Phillips, Ms. Evelyn Onofrio, Ms. Chandra Dillard, Ms. Vickie Kennedy, Ms Cathy Frazier, Mr. David Manning, Mr. Andy Medgyesy, Ms. Kathy Everhart

The minutes for July 31, 2007 were approved.

Ms. Williams introduced new members:  Mr. Andy Medgyesy, Ms. Kathy Everhart.

The Food Fun Event was discussed.  The feedback received from staff was very positive and the committee agreed that the event is worth doing again next year. 

Our next event, the football tailgate party is scheduled for the October 27 game.  We have been assigned spot #7 for our setup and it is located on the right hand side of the PAC building.  Mr. Manning will look into the possibility of getting a tent setup.  The administration has agreed to purchase the meat for us, and Ms. Tilley will approach the following vendors about supplying the meat:  Tommy’s Ham House; Sticky Fingers, Catering Company, Chic File, Mike and Jeff’s, and Henry’s BBQ.  Ms. Zader will check with Jean’s in Berea.  Ms. Yvonne Williams will check with PepsiCo about supplying drinks.  The SAC committee will bring side dishes.  When the announcement is put out, we will ask for RSVPs to get a head count.  Will announce to everyone and have them RSVP to get a head count.   The committee discussed giving paper bracelets to those that have paid.

The Fall Staff Forum is scheduled for Oct 30, 2007.  The program will include a presentation from Ms. Kelly Frazier on the new Activate Furman Program.  Mr. Hay will make a presentation on the new resident doctor partnership for faculty and staff which begins in October.  The partnership is with Stoneview Internal Medicine and is in conjunction with the Activate Furman Health program.  Dr. Blackstone will begin to do Health Risk Assessments and will be onsite beginning October 1-5, 2007.  Dr. Blackstone will be a guest at the Staff Open Forum.  Ms. Giselle Williams will send committee members information so that SAC members can get the word out about the onsite doctor and the Activate Furman program.  Ms. Giselle Williams also mentioned that October 17, 2007 will be the day flu shots are given.

The committee discussed the next Chat and Chew on October 3, 2007.  Ms. Sue Monk Kidd is our guest speaker.  This event is being funded by the Lily Foundation Grant and Ms. Kidd is speaking in McAlister Auditorium at 7:00 pm.

The committee briefly discussed the Health Fair which is scheduled for November 8, 2007 in the Watkins Great Room at the University Center.

Ms. Giselle Williams reported on several anonymous emails she received about tee shirts some Facilities Services staff members were wearing with “Support Our Troops” emblems.  The writers of the emails felt that the tee shirts were political in nature.  It was noted that the tee shirts were not purchased with University funds.  After discussion, the committee agreed that since the tee shirts were bought by individuals using their personal funds, that it was an individual decision to wear them and that it did not reflect the University’s position on politics or the war in Iraq.  The Committee would not seek administration action to ban the wearing of these shirts.  Since the emails were anonymous, Ms. Williams hoped that the writers would see the committee’s response in these minutes.

Ms. Giselle Williams reported that the Purple bags for 2008 have been ordered.  A committee member asked if it was possible to have movie tickets for new releases.  Ms Williams will investigate this proposal.

Ms. Giselle Williams shared a thank you note from the recipient of the staff community scholarship.  Committee members agreed that more work should be done to promote this scholarship program.  Ms. Williams will investigate the possibility of increasing the scholarship because of increases in tuition.  She will report at the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,