3-6-13

ATTENDEES: Allison Lynn, Sue Butterfield, Connie Caddis, Dave Rovick, Jill Royston,

Absent: Jeff Geldien, Carol Huston, Beth Gordon, Carol Osenga, Steve Allen, Jamie Kelp, Jennifer Klein, Autumn Vargas

Meeting called to order at 11:10 am

1.     Sick Leave -- Allison presented the email that Carol Huston had sent out regarding sick leave after the Benefits and Comp Committee meeting.  It appears, after checking with other institutions and the university that sick leave will not be paid out. This could be a huge cost to the university. Thought also about maybe giving an extra day off throughout the year like using personal day so that we don’t lose these, maybe setting new parameters to be followed should be done.

2.     Many Issues -- There are several issues on the table that we as staff assembly need to prioritize the most important and which ones affect the most staff.  These issues are compensation as a whole; daycare; and sick leave.  Daycare was again discussed but with not enough members we could not vote on any issue.

3.     University discounts – Allison raised this issue as there are discounts listed on the Human Resources website through Benefits and she stated that she has used the Sprint discount for years.  However, they (Sprint) now say they do not have a relationship with GU, Allison emailed Human Resources (Kirk Wood-Gaines and Kay Bruski) about these and they do not know anything about these.  This is listed as a benefit so who should be the lead on continuing these discounts or discontinuing them.  These are perks for working here.  Should this issue be given to the Benefits Committee to talk about and discuss?  Thought – how could we have a place that companies can post discounts every 6 months online?  Jill said she would work on this and take it forward by talking with Kay Bruski as she too uses the discounts and appreciates them.    

4.     Spirit Day - Jill stated that July 31^st is the date that Spirit Day will be held this year at Riverfront Park.  It would be great if we use the park more this year.  The idea of a beer garden was discussed and using all park employees.  Allison mentioned the possibility of liability for the University if Staff Assembly offers a free drink and though it better to keep the beer garden a no host event offered by the park so that the park carries the liabilities for the service, etc. Spike is $75/hr. so we will ask early to see if Spike will be in town.  Riverfront Park sent new food menu so Jill will get that out to the council and she will have them price out the beer garden as well.  Registration this year should be 3 people and then make a box available if the employee has more children.  We need to keep the cost to Staff Assembly to a better total.  Try to limit employees to 2 adults and 2 kids, anything over they will pay for the extra people though we would look at each situation on a case by case basis to allow this to be a family event.