STAFF SENATE MEETING MINUTES June 20, 2012
President Kristie Galy presided over the June 20, 2012, Staff Senate meeting held at the LSU Rural Life Museum, on Essen Lane at 10:30 a.m.
ATTENDANCE
Senators
Executive/Administrator/ Manager
Pr Torres, Donna (’12)
P Exner, Patti (’13)
Service/Maintenance
P Chaney, Carolyn (’13)
A Dixon, Evelyn (’13)
P Matkovic, Igor (’14)
Professional/Non-Faculty
Pr Carruth, Holly (’12)
P Chiasson, Denise (’12)
P Fields, Tim (’12)
A Frazier, James (’12)
P Livingston, Lynn (’12)
A Thibodeaux, Seth (’12)
P Verma, Lisa (’12)
P Galy, Kristie (’13)
A Guillory, Michael (’13)
P Landry, Carolyn (’13)
P Thomas, Joseph (’13)
P Winchell, Blake (’13)
P Gothreaux, Chad (’14)
Pr Millican, Tammy (’14)
P Moreau, Scott (’14)
Pr Perkins, Julie (’14)
Skilled Crafts
P Heil, Mark (’12)
P Adedeji, Funmilayo (’13)
Technical/Paraprofessional
A Pierce, Renee (’13)
P Sirman, Karen (’13)
P Love, Donna (’14)
Clerical/Secretarial
A Brown, Ruby (’12)
P Banta, Glenda (’13)
A Cooley, Judith (’13)
A Collins, Judy (’14)
A - Indicates Absent
P - Indicates Present
Pr - Indicates Proxy
Sign-in Guests:
Gabriell Matkovic, Senator Matkovic’s Son
Scott Belanger, University Recreation
Kathryn Loveless, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Robert Lede’, Facility Services
Wendy Overton, LSU Continuing Education
Casey Bennett, College of Education
Josh Bergeron, LSU Daily Reveille
Sheantel Baker, Accounting Services
Alyssa Sirisophon, LSU Daily Reveille
Brian Ainsworth, Campus Federal Credit Union
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President Galy at 10:30 a.m.
ATTENDANCE
There was a quorum with four proxies noted.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Senator Fields led the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Galy introduced guests: Gabriell Matkovic who is Senator Matkovic’s Son, Scott Belanger with University Recreation, Kathryn Loveless with the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Robert Lede’ with Facility Services, Wendy Overton with LSU Continuing Education, Casey Bennett with the College of Education, Josh Bergeron with the LSU Daily Reveille, Sheantel Baker with Accounting Services, Alyssa Sirisophon with the LSU Daily Reveille, and Brian Ainsworth with Campus Federal Credit Union
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – May 16, 2012, Staff Senate Meeting
A motion to accept the minutes was made by President-Elect Gothreaux. The motion, seconded by Past-President Verma, carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Galy reported that on May 18, she attended the main graduation ceremony as part of the platform party representing the LSU Staff Senate. Galy emailed a congratulations note to the staff members who graduated, including Senator Tammy Millican. Congratulations once again, Tammy.
Galy reported that on June 7, the Executive Committee meeting was held and the Committee counted votes for the Executive Committee Officers. There is going to be a run-off for one Member-at-Large position later during the meeting. There was a tie between two of the candidates.
Galy reported that on June 18, she attended the Chancellor’s Executive Staff Meeting. The Chancellor expressed that he feels confident leaving LSU because he has never worked with a smarter, better group of people than he has here at LSU.
President Galy also Congratulated Senator Igor Matkovic for recently graduating the 12th Lead...Emerge Program sponsored by the LSU Office of Human Resource Management, Training and Development.
AD-HOC COMMITTEES
Bylaws – Approved May 25, 2012, by Chancellor Michael Martin
President-Elect Gothreaux announced that on May 25, 2012, the Chancellor approved the final version of the Bylaws as amended which are also posted on the Staff Senate Web site. Gothreaux mentioned now the Senate can start next year to evangelize with other staff across the state to promote staff governance.
Past-President Verma mentioned that Gena Doucet with Pennington Biomedical Research Center is interested in starting a Staff Council as they have recently formed a Faculty Council at their institution.
LIAISON COMMITTEES
Council of Staff Advisors
Past-President Verma reported that the Council of Staff Advisors to the LSU Board of Supervisors met on June 8, 2012. This was actually Verma’s second to last meeting for the year as she concludes her term as Past-President. Verma announced that Kristie will begin serving as Past-President and the Council will be holding a Call for Officers during the July Meeting. The council recently revised the PM-37 which established the Council of Staff Advisors to the LSU Board of Supervisors. The council will forward to Dr. Rasmussen for him to forward to the System President who ironically will be Dr. Jenkins who approved the PM-37 when it was drafted in 2006 when the Council began. Some of the revisions were how many campuses participate due to UNO not being part of the LSU System and the amount of time a member serves which outlined two years and some members have been serving since the Council began. Some of the Council members meet via satellite, so the Council has visual and audio with representatives who work on the other campuses within the LSU System. There are a few members who will be leaving the council as new members will be elected or appointed to serve then the Council of Staff Advisors will hold an election for Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary Officers in August 2012.
Office of Group Benefits
President Galy announced that Sheantel Baker with Accounting Services submitted a liaison report from the Office of Group Benefits meeting on May 23, 2012, which was included in the meeting packet for review.
OLD BUSINESS
Chancellor Michael Martin’s Resolution
President Galy announced that the Staff Senate drafted and sent a Resolution to the Chancellor in support of him considering staying with LSU and thanking him for his support of the LSU Staff Senate as he considered going to Colorado State University which was included in the meeting packet. Galy mentioned that even though he has decided to go to Colorado State University, he was very appreciative of the gesture.
Benefit of the Month
President Galy mentioned that the Benefit of the Month is to consider participating in the Weight Watchers Program that is back on campus. Past-President Verma sent a flier electronically to the full Senate a couple of weeks ago that has the information on how to sign-up.
NEW BUSINESS
Senator Resignation/Senator Appointment
President Galy announced that on June 14, 2012, Senator Emmett David resigned from Staff Senate.
The Staff Senate Executive Committee has agreed to appoint Sheantel Baker to fill the seat. Galy announced that Sheantel Baker has been employed at Louisiana State University since 1999.
She will fill the vacancy in the Professional/Non-Faculty category through 2014, as she was the first runner-up in the last general election.
Recognition of Senators
President Galy recognized those Senators who had fulfilled their terms of office and those who had served the Senate as chairs and liaisons in the past year. Galy presented certificates of appreciation for dedication and service to Senators Funmilayo Adedeji, Ruby Brown, Holly Carruth, Denise Chiasson, Judy Collins, Patti Exner, Tim Fields, James Frazier, Chad Gothreaux, Mark Heil, Lynn Livingston, Igor Matkovic, Renee Pierce, Karen Sirman, Seth Thibodeaux, Donna Torres, Lisa Verma, and Blake Winchell.
President Galy also presented the President’s Attendance Award to Senators Funmilayo Adedeji, Donna Love, and Blake Winchell for perfect attendance at all Staff Senate meetings for the year.
President Galy announced that the Executive Committee has created two new awards this year which is the LSU Staff Senator Service Award and the Outstanding New Senator Award which is in recognition of an individual member and a new member of the Staff Senate who has provided outstanding service to the LSU Staff Senate. Galy presented a certificate for the LSU Staff Senator Service Award to Donna Love. Galy announced that Tammy Millican is the recipient of the Outstanding New Senator Award and her certificate will be presented to her.
Introduction of Elected Senators
President Galy announced the newly-elected and re-elected Staff Senators who were chosen to serve a three year term from 2012-2015.
Executive/Administrator/Managerial Category
Donna Torres, Associate Vice Chancellor - Accounting Services
Professional/Non-Faculty Category
Scott Belanger, Assistant Director - University Recreation
Leigh Bonfanti, HR Generalist - Human Resource Management
Holly Carruth, Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor -
Office of Research & Economic Development
Robert Lede’, Manager - Facility Services
Lynn Livingston, Manager - Residential Life
Kathryn Loveless, Counselor - College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Wendy Overton, Director - Continuing Education
Clerical/Secretarial Category
Casey Bennett, Administrative Program Specialist - College of Education
Skilled Crafts Category
Mark Heil, Foreman - Facility Services
Member-at-Large - Election Run-Off
President Galy announced that there was a tie for one of the Member-at-Large Officer positions during the recent Executive Committee Officer Election between Patti Exner and Igor Matkovic. The run-off ballots were circulated during the meeting and all Senators present voted after each candidate said a few words. The Executive Committee counted the votes and Igor Matkovic won by 10 votes as Patti Exner received 9 votes.
2012-2013 Executive Committee Officers
President Galy announced the new Staff Senate Executive Committee members are President Chad Gothreaux, President-Elect Lynn Livingston, Secretary Tammy Millican, Members-at-Large Igor Matkovic and Donna Torres, and Ex-Officio Kristie Galy.
President’s Closing Address – Passing of the Gavel
“I can’t believe it has been a year since Past-President Verma passed the gavel to me. It has been an honor serving as Staff Senate President. The road has not always been smooth and easy but I sincerely thank each and every one of you for helping me this year.
“One of our biggest accomplishments was revising the Bylaws and merging the Benefits and Policies, Professional, and Classified committees into one committee. I believe this is an exciting step forward and I look forward to the work that the new committee, Staff Benefits, Policies and Development Committee. It really took each and every one of us to get the Bylaws in a position where we can share them with other universities who need some help and guidance in establishing a Senate or “re-energizing” their current Senates.
“Holiday on Campus was again a huge success and I thank Senator Lynn Livingston and the HOC Committee for their hard work and dedication into making that such a great event.
“The Scholarship committee raised approximately $1465 during the Clovers and Quarters campaign.
Our continued presence on various university wide committees is a testament to the work that we do as a senate and the relationship we have developed with the University Administration. We are on the University Planning Council, QEP for reaccreditation, the council of Staff Advisors, University Council on Women, and I also participated in the search for the new Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and was one of the few staff to serve on that committee.
“As any Past- President can attest, I have attended many meetings over the past year…sometimes I didn’t know if I was coming or going but I have learned so much this year about LSU, the Staff Senate and myself. I could not have done it without the guidance and counsel of the Executive Committee, President Elect Gothreaux, Members at Large Torres and Livingston, Past President Verma and Secretary Winchell. Thank you thank you thank you! Without your hard work and dedication to senate, my work would have been much harder! A special thanks to Melonie for keeping me in line. Without her, I would have been a mess! To all of the Senators, thank you for your dedication to Staff Senate. The commitment each of you have for bettering LSU is inspirational.
“Thank you for your continued work on Senate and supporting the work that we do. President-Elect Gothreaux, it is your time…once again!”
President’s Plaque
President-Elect Gothreaux presented President Galy with a certificate of appreciation President’s Plaque for her dedication and service as Staff Senate President and thanked her for all her work and support this past year. He also recognized President Galy with a certificate of appreciation for dedication and service for chairing the Communications Committee, and serving as President on the Staff Senate Executive Committee. Gothreaux also presented Galy with the President’s Attendance Award for perfect attendance at all Staff Senate meetings for the year.
Provost Jack Hamilton’s Resolution
President-Elect Gothreaux announced that the Staff Senate Executive Committee has drafted a Resolution to present to Provost Hamilton when he arrives at the Staff Senate Meeting today which reads:
LSU Staff Senate Resolution 2012-02
To commend Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost John Maxwell Hamilton for his remarkable leadership and vision at Louisiana State University; and to extend him the sincerest thanks for his support of Staff Senate.
WHEREAS, LSU Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost Hamilton came to LSU in 1992 after more than twenty years as a journalist and public servant; and
WHEREAS, he graduated from George Washington University in 1983 with his Doctorate of Philosophy in American Civilization; and
WHEREAS, over the past twenty years, Provost Hamilton has provided leadership to the Manship School of Mass Communication as Dean until he was appointed Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Provost Hamilton has achieved a high level of trust among the Staff Senate and its constituents, and his honesty and transparency have earned him the utmost respect as a leader; and
WHEREAS, through his leadership Provost Hamilton was able to guide the University through two years of financial crisis with thoughtfulness and integrity; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the LSU Staff Senate wholeheartedly wishes to express our sincere appreciation to John Maxwell Hamilton, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost of LSU.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the LSU Staff Senate extends its heartfelt thanks to Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost John Maxwell Hamilton for his service to the University during the past two years;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to John M. Hamilton, LSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost.
Approved by the LSU Staff Senate Executive Committee on behalf of the LSU Staff Senate, June 18, 2012.
Provost Hamilton arrived after the meeting concluded and the Resolution was presented to him. Provost Hamilton was very appreciative and thanked the Staff Senate for the kind words.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Staff Senator Welcomes Baby
President-Elect Gothreaux announced that newly elected Senator Leigh Bonfanti welcomed a baby girl to her family on June 1.
Staff Senator Birthdays
President-Elect Gothreaux announced that Senator Chiasson celebrated her birthday on June 15, Senator Torres celebrated her birthday on June 17 and Senator Banta will celebrate her birthday on June 27. “Happy Birthday”
MOTION TO ADJOURN – With there being no more business, Past-President Verma moved to adjourn. The motion, seconded by President Galy, carried. The meeting adjourned before noon.
Tammy Millican, Secretary
TM/mh