A quorum was not present. President Stephanie Watson proceeded with the meeting but the group was unable to conduct business. Present were Annette Hatton from Academic Affairs; Frances Cochran, Jeannie Dawson, Greg Durham, and Jim Graham from Agricultur al and Environmental Sciences; Robyn Ansley and Beth Richardson from Arts and Sciences; Annette Ferguson from Business and Finance; Alison Huff from Development and Alumni Relations; Leisa Seabolt from Environmental Design; Betty Blum from the Graduate Sc hool; Merrill Edens from the College of Journalism and Mass Communication; Joyce Moss from the School of Law; Teresa Shirley representing Legal Affairs, the Office of the President, and the Equal Opportunity Office; Ruby Heaton and Margot Peter from Publi c Service and Outreach; Carolyn Morrill for Ian Gray and Sally Kroehnke from Research; Margaret Stephan from Student Affairs; Elizabeth Pape from the Terry College of Business; Tony Hughey and Allison Wright from the College of Veterinary Medicine; and Br enda Keen, Secretary.
Absent were Sarah Fraker from Academic Affairs; Freya Browning and Donna Kent from Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Janet Bjornlie, Darlene Bradley, Henry Bridges, Deborah Jackson, Frank Patman, and Billy Walker from Business and Finance; Shea Ra y from the College of Education; Shea Landers from Family and Consumer Sciences; Miranda Rains from Forest Resources; Liz Stich from the College of Pharmacy; Sarah Douthitt from Social Work; Shirley Reyes from Student Affairs; Clyde Anglin, Immediate Past President; Linda Slaney, representative to USG-SC; and Mary Cash, Parliamentarian.
The next Executive Committee meeting has been changed to January 21 at 2:00. The meeting will be in the Staff Council office. The President's Office has not yet rescheduled his meeting with the committee. The committee has not yet finalized work on the Needs and Concerns Committee's draft letter regarding faculty sick leave. Linda Slaney and Jim Graham are continuing to work on apportionment and organization by department.
There have been some problems with the budget that apparently resulted from allocated funds never being deposited; the committee will discuss the situation at its next meeting. The committee will consider holding a special session to work on bylaws revis ion. Possible dates for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the office are during the weeks of March 9 or March 15.
Stephanie drafted a letter to General Assembly Representative Louise McBee advising her of the formation of the ad hoc legislative committee. Brenda sent letters to Staff Representative Groups regarding representatives who have missed three consecutive U GA-SC meetings. Stephanie is drafting a letter to the President's Office regarding equipment in the council office and attached a copy of the security policy.
The Communications Committee did not meet and had no report other than it announced the new welcome message for the ugastaff listserv to current subscribers.
The Health and Safety Committee had no report. Robyn announced that Environmental Safety Services had been told their offices will be relocated to the Campus Mail Building on Monday, January 11; they will be without phones for about two weeks and without e-mail for about four weeks.
The Needs and Concerns Committee had no report; it will meet on January 14.
The Classification and Pay Committee had no report but Annette reminded Stephanie that they would like Loretta Harper, the new Director of Human Resources, to address the council as soon as possible. Stephanie reported she had a meeting with Ms. Ha rper scheduled for February 4, but she agreed to try to schedule an earlier meeting and invite her to the council's February meeting.
Stephanie is still sending thank you letters to department heads who provided support for representatives attending the statewide staff conference. SRGs should be conducting elections for new representatives to UGA-SC to be seated at the June meeting. A Nominating Committee will be appointed in April and officers will be elected in June.
Annette Hatton mentioned that when the VPAA-SRG met, members expressed concern that Staff Council did not meet with Chancellor Portch during his December visit to campus. She said UGA-SC needs the flexibility to meet and to capitalize on such opportuniti es. Stephanie responded that she contacted Tom Landrum and Victor Wilson in the President's Office and was told the chancellor wasn't meeting with individual groups. Annette noted Dr. Portch said he would come to a meeting and suggested Stephanie send hi m a letter of invitation, which Stephanie agreed to do.
Another issue that was raised in the VPAA-SRG meeting was a change in policy at the Main Library, beginning in May, which would no longer allow outside groups to use the display area in the lobby. Annette noted this is a unique environment and if that sp ace is unavailable, another display space is needed; closing the space to outside groups cuts down on diversity. Elizabeth said she felt the issue was not related to UGA-SC and any groups that oppose the change in policy should initiate the request that it remain the same. Sally said she thought the display area in the Tate Student Center is more appropriate. Stephanie noted there are display areas in residence halls. Joyce reported the display area in the Law Library is limited to Law School displays . Allison suggested alternative areas be identified and information gathered on how to sign up to use them; if there are no alternatives, then the issue could be revisited. Stephanie said an inquiry could be posted on stafflist and noted that, since the re was no quorum, the issue should be brought up at the next meeting. Elizabeth suggested Annette draft a resolution. Annette said she thought the library's decision should be reconsidered or new display space created.
The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 3, 1999 at 2:00 in the Green Room of the Seney Stovall Chapel at the Vinson Institute of Government's Lucy Cobb Complex. Submitted by Brenda Keen, Secretary