Words from the Chair...
I’d like to thank everyone who came out to our Reception for Dr. and Mrs. Floyd on February 7th. It was wonderful to see so many people come out to help us welcome them. It already seems like Dr. Floyd has been here forever!

As you may have noticed, we have changed the format of the Newsletter again! In this HTML format, you can click on anything underlined and go to the appropriate web site! Please let us know what you think of receiving it like this instead of in Adobe PDF. Thank goodness Missouri weather is changing too! Things are beginning to turn green and even if we still have some cold days they are now numbered and will soon make way for Spring in her full glory!

While we are enjoying our Missouri weather and Spring Break, etc., let's keep in mind our troops overseas and pray for their "soon and safe" return.

Staff Recognition Week News...
The deadline for nominations for Staff Recognition Week is now past, so I hope you had an opportunity and took the time to send in your nomination for consideration. We are working hard to make the 2003 Staff Recognition Week activities fun for all! Now it is time to sign up for Staff Appreciation Week activities on the SAC website: http://www.system.missouri.edu/sac/srw/index.html . From this page, you can order your T-Shirt, sign up your Trivial Pursuit Team for the Trivial Pursuit Challenge on Tuesday May 13th, sign up for the Award Luncheon on Wednesday May 14th and also sign up for the Staff and Retiree Picnic on Friday May 16th. We have just a couple of changes this year. We decided not to have the Volleyball Tournament and we increased the number of people you can have on the Trivial Pursuit Teams. In the past the teams were at least 4 but not more than 6 players. This year you have to have at least 6 but not more than 8 players. This will give us leeway for more folks to be able to play. So be thinking about your teams! If you can’t come up with enough players, just let Janice Perkins know and she will pair up folks who may not have a team with teams that need more players.At the Picnic we are bringing back the "Wacky Hat Contest," since we had so much fun with that a couple of years ago. So dig in your kid's toy boxes, check in Grama's attic, heck, even look in the garage! And come up with a "the wackiest hat!" Hats will be judged by applause and laughter from your peers!

And, as always, we will also have a Food Drive to benefit the Central Missouri Food Bank for the whole week. There will be containers at each event and in some of the main UM System buildings.

Staff Awareness Issues...
The MU Police Department would like all staff to know that they have a Newsletter and also a web site! On the Web site you can see Crime Reports, a listing of classes offered, read about crime prevention and many other interesting pieces of information! Visit their web site at: www.mupolice.com.

The University Police Department is offering a safety education and self defense class for children age 5-10! They are also offering a self defense and safety class for women. Check their website for information and upcoming classes: www.mupolice.com/radkids for the kids and www.mupolice.com/rad for women.

Keep these crime reduction tips in mind:

• Always secure your purse or wallet in a locked area
• Photocopy the contents of purse/wallet and keep copies available in case of emergency
• Do not store valuable items in vehicles. Store CDs and other car related items in the trunk or out of sight
• Keep valuable items within sight or in a locked room

Columbia Crime Stoppers 573-875-TIPS (8477), does not require you to give your name. They also pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. www.columbiacrimestoppers.com/

Silent Witness is an anonymous email reporting system. When you use this service, MUPD receives the information, but not your name or email location. Please take time to report a crime, as it saves everyone in our community money. www.mupolice.com/silent/php

February Service Awards... Congratulations to the following UM-System Staff members who have attained these milestones of service! 35 Years of Service David M. Cook, AITS 15 Years of Service Roxana J. Douglas, Risk and Insurance Management 5 Years of Service Elizabeth A. Perrin, MOREnet Robert Hayes, MOREnet	"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -- Albert Einstein 1879-1955; German-American scientist, winner of Nobel Prize in Physics   "Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." -- Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865; US 16th President during the Civil War
March Service Awards... 15 years of Service Ronald Monroe, Faculty and Staff Benefits Tamra K. Robbins, Statewide-ADM 5 Years of Service Marvin E. Wright, General Counsel's Office Scheryl K. Fennewald, Faculty and Staff Benefits

Editor's Corner!
I apologize for not getting out a February Newsletter...last month went by so fast and this one is almost over, too! Staff Advisory Council meetings are open to all UM System Staff. Meeting times are 9:00am-11:00am the second Wednesday of the month. The locations are posted on our website on the "Events Calendar." Our SAC website is by now familiar to everyone, I hope, but we add things all the time, so give it a look again. Currently we have pictures of the Reception with Dr. and Mrs. Floyd on the opening page! To see additional pictures, click on the refresh button on the toolbar and the picture will change. Also that is the only place to get the registration form for the Staff Appreciation Week activities! If you have any questions about the Newsletter, Staff Appreciation Week or the Staff Advisory Council, please send me an email!
--Donna Barnes