STAFF ASSEMBLY EXECUTIVE COUNCILMINUTES

March 20, 2002 12:00 – 1:00p.m.

CrosbyLarge Conference Room

Members Present: BillKostelec, Neva Bishop, Janice Resch, Keith Gauthier, TheresaCastillo, Anne Thomas, Brett Hendricks, Krystal Burns, Kim Gieber,and Lisa Smythe-Rodino from the Compensation Committee

Members Absent: BarbaraKolbet and Molly Spilker

The meeting called to order by PresidentBill Kostelec at 12:06

Minutes from 3/13/02 approved as written

OldBusiness

List of morale boosting ideas is finished.  Per a request from MikeCasey, our liaison, Bill is working with Human Resources to moveforward with this list.  Below is the completedlist.

The followingmeasures require a commitment of resources towards the healing ofstaff morale and towards gaining a relationship of trust and mutualrespect between the staff and administration.  So much of the mistrustcomes from the language of support and respect that staff hearsfrom administrators accompanied by an apparent lack of concreteapplication.  Webelieve that the rhetoric reveals the best intentions of theUniversity administration and that such a commitment as outlinedbelow will help to implement those intentions and encourage alifting of spirits and a heartfelt response of dedication to andownership of the worthy goals of the University.  We consider ourselvesstakeholders in the goals and the work of Gonzaga University andwill continue to work to ensure that our place as such is bothacknowledged and honored. These four measures result from aconsiderable sifting and refining of our list of suggestionspresented over the Christmas holidays.  

StaffRecognition/Anniversary: On or about each employee’sanniversary day, an employee will receive a card (probably throughHR) honoring the last year’s service to the university.  The card will award theemployee one paid holiday with a gift certificate for a meal atsome local restaurant. The day will be determined between the employee and his or hersupervisor. The gift certificate will be for$10.00.  This small token reminds theemployee that the University depends on every employee’scontribution; that we are all part of a bigger effort to promoteexcellence in education and an atmosphere of mutual respect andencouragement.

Mandatory SupervisorTraining:The Staff Assembly supports and encourages the Human ResourcesDepartment in its efforts towards supervisor training, a measurethat would require present and new supervisors to go through aprofessional training program.  It has been our experiencethat quite a bit of discontent comes from tensions between somesupervisors and their staff.  Mandating that allsupervisors attend training sessions expresses the Administration’sguarantee that all those having charge of staff will be given theprofessional tools to honor and uphold the values of a Jesuitinstitution. In keeping with this goal, we also ask that theevaluation of supervisors by their staff be required on an annualbasis. Less staff discontent in the workplace will reduce turnover,a problem which increases the costs of training as we are forced tohire new employees.  Webelieve this money will be well spent in raising morale and thusincreasing productivity, and in reducing the costs of hiring andtraining new staff.  It is estimated that abudget of $12,000.00 would be required for this measure.

The President’s MonthlyLottery: Amonthly lottery will be held for staff in which a prize will beawarded to the lucky person.   Since this lottery istotally divorced from evaluation and any prejudice on the part ofsupervisors, the winning of the monthly lottery prize is an eventof pure luck, and thus pure.  Each winner’s name will bewithdrawn from the pool for a year.  With the President puttinghis name behind it, goodwill is encouraged and the winning employeeis also made the recipient of his fellow staff memberscongratulations.  Allof this makes for a lot of fun and also a lot of goodfeelings.  Bydetermining the monthly prize at about $100.00, we make itsignificant for the Gonzaga employee, yet a very small measure forthe University budget. $1200.00 a year would make this happen. The Staff Assembly iswilling to administer the lottery program.

The Gonzaga Community FamilyDay: Wewould like to see a picnic with activities for our children, goodfood and music, and a mingling of staff faculty and administrators,to remind us that we are a community and not simply a workplacewith various competing constituencies.  Whether it be in the formof Octoberfest or something else, a day in which Gonzaga honors ourfamilies and our community as a Family seems very appropriate.  We have gathered estimateson expenses for such an event and they vary widely.  In any case, the eventwould require a budget in the thousands.  We have inquired concerningthe use of Riverfront Park and a one day event would not cost verymuch at all for the use of their facilities.  The primary cost would bein providing food for the employees and their families

Nomination and ElectionsCommittee

No nominations have been turned in so far. 

Compensation Committee

We had much discussion about a survey.  It was ultimately decidedthat for now we would come up with a few questions to put with theballots when they go out.

Open meeting with ChuckMurphy

Janice to call and reschedule.

Scheduling of futuremeetings

Next Meeting will be held on March 27,2002.

Future meetings will be held each Wednesday in CrosbyLarge Conference Room from 12:00 – 1:00.  Since this is the lunchhour, please feel free to bring your lunch.  All SAEC members will benotified if there is a change to this recurring meeting.

By virtue of the bylaws, all StaffAssembly meetings are open unless otherwise designated by theExecutive Council. Everyone is welcome to attend.

http://www.gonzaga.edu/staff        email: staff-assembly@gonzaga.edu