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Volume 21, Issue 5

March 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 wanted to update everyone on this year’s Staff Recognition Week. While we are in the midst of financial concerns the President and Vice President’s agreed it was important to continue to recognize the importance of staff. We have scaled down the normal week of activities into a one day event combining the picnic and the awards ceremony. The picnic has consistently ranked as the number one activity for the week from the surveys completed each year so we’re happy to be able to still proceed with this event (needless to say this option is also much more economical than a luncheon at the Alumni Center). You likely noticed, as well, that the recognition awards have been scaled down to only a finalist in each category. Thanks to everyone who took time to make a nomination for a deserving staff member for one of the Staff Recognition awards! Service awards will continue as they have in the past…no change has been made to this important recognition of our long term employees.

Mark your calendars to attend the Staff Recognition Lunch on Thursday, May 14 at Twin Lakes Park. We estimate this year will be larger than previous years as the President and Vice Presidents will attend and present awards…that’s why the picnic has been moved to Thursday as this was the date already held on their calendars for the normally scheduled event at the Alumni Center.

I hope many of you have been able to enjoy a meal or happy hour at Bleu during the month. I loved the sliders and the “no”jitos but everything I sampled was excellent! There’s still another opportunity before this offer expires and we move on to the next one…..Bambino’s!! A large order of pasta for the price of a small! The Council hopes to continue these offers as we work with various local restaurant owners (no chains). We think this is a great opportunity for both employees and the restaurant. We get to save money and they increase their income. A win-win situation in these tough economic times.

As always, your Council wants to hear from you. Let us know how we can best represent you!.

Warm regards,
Toni Monsen



New Resources webpage

The UM System Staff Advisory Council has a new webpage to offer up to staff. We are making every effort to try and help the staff anyway we can find to do so. The new webpage currently has several things to offer.

  • Discounts and Special offers
  • Upcoming events

    • The UM System Staff Advisory Council decided to find new ways to assist staff and show appreciation for all they do. Since the economic situation will not allow us to hold the usual Staff Recognition activities as we have in past years we started searching out new ways to show the staff appreciation. We decided to start to ask locally owned Restaurants if they could choose a day of the week and offer up any discounts to UM Staff. The new restaurant downtown Bleu graciously offered not just one day but every Monday in March to offer all University Employees a 20% discount with an approved flyer that you can download from the resource page. If you have not tried the food there yet now is a great opportunity for you to do so at a reduced price. The offer is valid all day on Mondays so if you can't get there for lunch then why not go for dinner or happy hour. We have also added a discount for Bambinos so please check it out.

  • Click here to see the new Resources webpage and retrieve your discounts
    		•


    New webpage to come

    Fact or Fiction

    The University of Missouri Staff Advisory Council will be offering a new webpage on their website where staff can ask a question and the Council will get the answer and post it along with the question. Everyone has probably heard of or seen the "SNOPES" or "Truth or Fiction" websites where you can go and see if that wild email story you just received is true or not. Well we would like to offer the same type of thing to help put any false rumors about jobs, salaries, or other items to rest before they get out of hand. Please email your questions to the Council and we will get you an answer and post both to the new webpage so everyone who might have the same question can get a straight and truthful answer. If you wish for us to post your name and information please let us know, otherwise you will remain anonymous. Please send us your questions so that we can get started publishing them on the new webpage. Please click here to send us your Questions?


    Spring is here...

    Columbia Farmer's Market

    Columbia Farmer's Market Opening Day March 21, 2009 8 a.m. – noon. Located on the corner of Ash and Clinkscales, behind the ARC. Come out to get Spring’s first fresh veggies! Contact Sustainable Farms and Communities, a non-profit organized to educate the community about the benefits of locally-produced food and to promote community food systems and local entrepreneurs. The group also is designing, fundraising, building and managing a permanent structure to house the farmers market and educational activities.

    Farmers Market website

    Words From the Editor

    Greetings from your SAC Newsletter editor. Please take the time to check out our new webpages and give us any feedback.These pages are for you so ONLY you can help make them better. If you personally know any locally owned business that you think may be interested in offering UM Staff a discount please let any of us know so we can pursue that.Please also be aware that we have asked some places that do NOT wish to participate so don't be hurt if your favorite place never makes the list. We will be adding more great deals so please come back and check our webpage often not only for the discounts and special offers but also to see what events you might be interested in attending.

    We are committed to finding ways to help and aid the staff in any way we can so PLEASE help us to help you.

    Thanks,

    Joan Goodwin

    March 2009 Service Awards

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

    5 Years of Service

    Burnett, Nancy Ellen~ Procurement Services

    Jennings, Krista Hediger~ Morenet

    Marlett, Nichole Renee~ Employee Benefits

    Mccormack, Susan R~ Library Systems

    Smith, Seth Andrew~ State Historical Society

    10 Years of Service

    Smith, Connie S~ Morenet

    25 Years of Service

    Hoskins, Phillip J ~ General Counsel Office

    35 Years of Service

    Lenger, Bonita Sue ~ VP Human Resources

    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