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Volume 21, Issue 3

January 2009

In this issue:

UM Staff Advisory Council was formed to provide two-way communication between staff and the
President on pertinent issues. If you have comments
or questions about any subject related to UM System staff, please contact
one of your Council members. They are there for you!

UM Staff Advisory Council Members 2008-2009

Words from the Chair

Greetings!

I receive these Monday Motivators every week…sometimes I read them, many times I just delete them right away before I even open them. During the trying times we are currently facing teamwork is even more important than ever…maybe that’s what drew me to read this and note delete it right away and I thought I would share it with you!

Road map for team success: Techniques that work Happy Monday! Let me ask you a question: Do you try to do everything yourself? Do you hate to ask for help? Or are you afraid others won't do as good a job as you would? Is it sometimes difficult to work with people who aren't just like you? That is what teamwork is about. We will have more successful events and outcomes if we are willing to "give up" some ownership and trust others to use their expertise. Every person has something great to bring to the table. When we work with others who have talents in areas we do not, we can accomplish more and do things we might not otherwise be able to do. Individuals on a quest for excellence realize that building diverse networks, communicating regularly, tapping into others' strengths and supporting others are important to overall success. So, this week, follow the Road Map to Team Success, outlined below:

  • Make sure everyone, including yourself, understands the mission - whether it is the mission of the team, department or project.
  • Develop strong communication skills. These should include giving details, providing parameters and deadlines, helping others see the big picture of the project, repeating what you think you heard and listening.
  • Know your strengths and get support on weaknesses. We all have gaps. Look for areas you can grow. Also, surround yourself with people who have strengths in the areas you don't.
  • Treat your co-workers like customers.
  • Do your part. Do not let the other team members down.
  • Deliver services on time, whatever those services might be.
  • Be patient. Teamwork takes time, commitment, and understanding.
  • What more can you do to make a team even stronger? Why not try that this week?

    • Copyright © 2008 Office Dynamics, Ltd. This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright intact. Monday Motivators™ is a trademark of Office Dynamics, Ltd. All rights reserved in all countries.

    I urge each of you to e:mail or call me with genuine concerns you may have and ideas on how the UM Staff Advisory Council can better serve system employees. We can only be as good as each of you help us become.

    Warm regards,
    Toni Monsen



    New Smoking Policy

    Policy goes into effect January 20, 2009

    In recognition of the health, safety and comfort benefits of smoke-free air and the responsibility to provide and maintain an optimally healthy and safe working and living environment for faculty, students, staff and visitors, the University of Missouri is establishing the goal of being smoke free by January 1, 2014, in all its owned or leased buildings and University owned or leased vehicles. Effective January 20, 2009, smoking is also prohibited on University of Missouri owned or leased property within twenty (20) feet of building entrances, exits, open windows, and fresh air intake systems. The University reserves the right to specify additional designated smoking and non-smoking areas on its campus grounds.

    Exceptions to these prohibitions include:

    1) Areas specifically designated for smoking.

    2) Academic research approved by the Campus Institutional Review Board, provided that the research is conducted in an appropriately ventilated area.

    3) University of Missouri Health Care will continue with its current smoke-free policy.

    Smoking Cessation

    The campus will work in conjunction with the Atkins Wellness Program to provide smoking cessation programs for all faculty and staff employees and with the Wellness Resource Center to provide smoking cessation programs for students.

    Implementation

    The implementation date of this policy is January 20, 2009.The campus intends to move from the twenty-foot rule to one of designated outdoor smoking areas by July 1, 2011. We like for staff to offer any suggestions on “Areas specifically designated for smoking” that is referenced in the text. We would appreciate your input on these locations and look forward to hearing from you. Please contact any council member with your suggestions so we can pass those along for you.



    2008 United Way Campaign

    December 2008 Food Drive

    Thank you so much for your donation of 310 pounds of food and $70.00. This has been such a challenging year and your support has literally kept food flowing to many people who never needed food assistance before. For example, I got a phone call one Sunday morning from a man who was desperate for food. He had just moved his family to town since there were still jobs available around here. They had spent all of their money on renting a trailer and getting the utilities turned on. He and his wife both found jobs but would not get paid for two weeks. They had no money and they had no food for their family. I met him at the food bank and was able to give him two boxes of food.As he was taking the food, he started crying and said "I am so ashamed. I have never needed help like this before." This man was weeping out of shame , out of desperation and out of relief because his family would be fed.

    YOU allow us the great privilege of serving those in the greatest need and I will be forever grateful for your partnership, your compassion and your trust.

    Bless You,
    Peggy Kirkpatrick (Executive Director)


    Words From the Editor

    Greetings from your SAC Newsletter editor.  A new year means a new beginning and a chance to change or improve your life and situation.Most of us start the new year with great intentions but then old habits return and we soon lose our way to that goal. Who was it that said the road to hell is paved in good intentions...well merely intending to do good, without actually doing it, is of no value.This year we need to put those good intentions to work more than we ever needed to before. I know I'm pretty much repeating myself below from what I said in the December newsletter but I think it needs to be repeated as I believe making a conscious effort to conserve energy will help improve everyone's situation in the long run. Nickels and Dimes add up to Dollars...

    I think this is a great time for each of us to take action and do at least one thing differently to help conserve energy and help us save money and maybe even someone's job in the future by doing so. If your office is well lit from natural lighting do you really need the overhead lights on all day to see? Can you walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator? If you are not going to access your work computer from home how about powering your computer and monitor down for the night to save some money and energy. Turn lights and devices off in conference rooms and offices when not in use. If you have an electronic document do you really need to print a hard copy of it? These are just a few suggestions and you can ask yourself what you can do in your area but if we all did even just one of these things every day we can make a difference together.We welcome any suggestions you have to help improve the situation for us all. Please email or call a council member with your suggestions so you can help us help you.

    From all of us we wish you a brighter future tomorrow

    Thanks,

    Joan Goodwin

    January 2009 Service Awards

    Congratulations to the following UM-System Staff members who have attained these milestones of service

    5 Years of Service

    Mcallister, Richard David~ Morenet

    10 Years of Service

    Gallup,Renetta J~ Employee Benefits

    Kelly, Jacqueline H~ Management Services

    Mohlman, Clayton~ Morenet

    Trower, Mary Kristine~ Morenet

    20 Years of Service

    Malone, Betty L ~ State Historical Society

    25 Years of Service

    Asher,Lori A ~ Records Management

    35 Years of Service

    Smith, Rosanne ~ IT Systems Support

    Website's of Interest this Issue:

    Events Calendar - University of Missouri Columbia

    Events Calendar - City of Columbia/Chamber of Commerce

    Events Calendar - UMKC

    Events Calendar - ROLLA

    Events Calendar - UMSL

    Standing Committees

    • Benefits Committee: Chair: Nathan Billings
    • Parking & Transportation Committee: Chair: Beth Perrin
    • Staff Awareness Committee: Chair: Karla Dowd
    • Staff Recognition Week: All SAC members serve on this committee

    UM-SAC will do our best to keep all UM employee's informed on various topics, issues, and problems that arise during the year. We welcome suggestions from you on issues of interest and look forward to presenting those matters to the entities that can best assist in those matters or make change. If you have any questions, ideas, and/or concerns, please call or email any of the UM-SAC members.

    SAC website
    Note from Editor!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Staff Advisory Council meetings are open to all UM System Staff. Meeting times are 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. the second Friday of the month. The location of each meeting changes, so contact a council
    member if you are interested in attending.
    Joan Goodwin