August 2005 Newsletter
Most of the Council's work is done through committees where a variety of issues are addressed. Each committee reports their activities to the general Council when it meets six times a year. Below are summaries of the committees' reports. You are encouraged to forward this newsletter to your colleagues on campus.
You do not have to be an elected member of SAC to serve on a committee. All committees would welcome any level of participation. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please contact the Committee Chair listed on our web site at http://www.cwru.edu/president/sac/sac.html
Communications Report:
Over the past year, the communications committee has effectively updated and maintained multiple avenues of communication between SAC and University staff, including constituent e-mail lists, the SAC website and the SAC electronic newsletter. Additionally, the committee has worked to distribute SAC information in areas where staff does not have regular access to the university email system. Goals for next year include updating and encouraging effective use of the constituent e-mail list. The committee will also continue to work with representatives in protective and housekeeping services to improve methods of communicating with staff who are not regular users of the CASE e-mail system. Other goals include developing a procedure for forwarding constituent e-mails for SAC reps away from campus, and developing a procedure for the timely update of constituent lists with more frequent updates from HR. Meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at noon in 516 Nord Hall.
Chair: Carol Dietz (cpd@case.edu)
Community Services Report:
The successful ‘Taste of Case’ cookbook project raised $682.57 for each of our community partner schools, Joseph F. Landis Elementary and Mary M. Bethune Elementary. The funds will be used for school supplies for the children and classroom aids for the teachers. Case Marketing and Publications recently interviewed SAC Community Service Committee co-chairs Michelle Saafir and Shelli Snyder about the cookbook fundraiser with plans to feature the project on the Case web site. The committee’s next project is the Basket Raffle, which will be held in conjunction with the HR Benefits Fair. Proceeds will benefit Westside Ecumenical, a community based organization that serves low-income families on Cleveland’s Westside. The committee’s next meeting will be held on September 13th at the BRB (outside the cafeteria area) at noon.
Co-Chairs: Shelli Snyder, Michelle Saafir (sac-communityservice@case.edu)
Elections Report:
No report available.
Chair: Aruno Johnson (Aruno.Johnson@case.edu)
Fringe Benefits Report:
The Fringe Benefits Committee discussed investigating the Tuition Exchange Program because of the new notion of Tuition Portability. Additionally, the Committee will continue to pursue information about Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions, a savings plan for health insurance expenses in retirement and other options for the reimbursement spending accounts. One of these is Evolution Benefits, a debit card. There was mention of the availability of a second dental plan offered by the student clinics of Case’s School of Dental Medicine. There were no particulars discussed. There was a lively discussion of Case’s new VSP eye care plan and the general lack of quality and understanding of the benefit. The Fringe Benefits Committee wants to pursue an exploration of the staff’s feelings about the plan. Further, it is hoped that by so doing, there is time for the university to present a better version of an eye care plan before the next Benelect Enrollment period. An invitation will be extended to Carolyn Gregory to present the findings of the university’s fringe benefits survey at a future meeting. The next meeting, on September 20, 2005, from noon to 1:00 in 1 Adelbert, will address the Tuition Exchange Benefits resolution.
Co-Chairs: Kathryn Howard (Kathryn.howard@case.edu), Kathleen Blazar (Kcb2@case.edu), Denise Douglas (Denise.Douglas@case.edu)
Staff Policy Report:
No report available.
Co-Chairs: Paul Schneider (paul.Schneider@case.edu) and Charlex Knox (cak2@case.edu)
Staff Recognition Report:
The Staff Recognition Committee saw many successes over the last year under the leadership of Patsy Harris and Rosalyn Foster. The committee was responsible for updating and integral in increasing the President’s Award for Staff Excellence. This year, three individuals each received the $1,000 award: Patsy Harris, Graduate Admission Coordinator, Materials Science and Engineering; Robin G. Kramer, Assistant to Grants Manager, Controller's Office; Virginia Morrison, Specialist, Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The committee also assisted Human Resources in planning the "CASE Quad Picnic." Over the next year, the committee shall continue to seek out new ways to acknowledge the many contributions of the University staff.
Co-Chairs: Patsy Harris (Patsy.harris@case.edu) and Rose Foster (Rosalyn.foster@case.edu).
Staff Training and Development Report:
As a way to reach out to more new employees, the Staff Training and Development Committee is discussing the possibility of offering campus tours during new employee orientation. In addition, the committee is planning to move the Video on Wheels Program in a new direction starting this fall, facilitating departmental learning sessions as requested.
Co-Chairs: Kathy Dowdell (Kathleen.dowdell@case.edu), Kathy O'Linn (kco@case.edu).
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