DRAFT
Employee Assembly
Minutes
Board Room, Day Hall
March 17, 2004
12:15p.m. — 1:30p.m.

Attendance

Present: Deb Billups, Donna Goss, Joseph DeMarco, Pamela Dusseau, Patricia Mahoney, Stephanie McConnell, Dawne Martyniak, Janice Miles, Mary Smallwood Churchill, Brandi Smith

Excused: Tammy Johnson

Unexcused:

Others present: T. Bishop, D. Stein, N. Guest, B. Burlew, M. Graham, C. Williams

I) CALL TO ORDER

D. Goss called the meeting to order at 12:15 p,m. The current EA members introduced themselves to the guests and guests introduced themselves.

II) SAME SEX PARTNER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Paul Bursic, Director of Benefit Services, to answer questions about the benefits to same sex partners at Cornell. He passed out some information.

III) CALL FOR LATE ADDITIONS TO AGENDA

M. Smallwood Churchill said that she has a resolution to present supporting the troops in Iraq.

IV) APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Feb 18, 2004
The minutes were approved.
March 3, 2004
The minutes were approved.

V) REPORT FROM THE CHAIR

D. Goss reported that there was a Trustee Meeting and that they SA and GPSA both gave reports. The EA will do theirs in May.

The UA is meeting with President Lehman at tonight’s meeting.

VI) UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. Pizza with the President Responses Update
P. Dusseau wrote to Mary George Opperman asking about the responses and they should be available soon.

B. Follow-up on Slope Day PresentationP. Dusseau contacted Steve Blake from the SA and he would be able to give a Slope Day report at the April 7 EA meeting. She asked if everyone was still interested in seeing the presentation.

The EA agreed to have Steve give a presentation.

C. Letters to the President
D. Goss said passed around a draft letter to President Lehman thanking him for all the events that he attended for the EA.

P. Dusseau said that back in December, the EA, SA, GPSA and UA sent a letter regarding getting an additional trustee seat for employees and a seat for a grad student. Lehman sent a response. GPSA already sent a response back and proposed having a trustee fellow. She said that the EA should draft a letter supporting a trustee fellow. M. Smallwood Churchill will help write the letter.

VII) COMMITTEE REPORTS

UBC: J. DeMarco reported that the University Benefits Committee has met. The first meeting was generated by the proposed changes to Medicare. They are meeting again and he will bring up the same sex benefits.

Finance: P. Mahoney reported that the Finance Committee has met and she has sent Jan/Feb account transaction summary sheets. She would like the EA to be aware that between Sports Saturday and Pizza with the President, the EA has spent $7000. She would like to make a presentation to the EA about the expectations of the Finance Committee are.

M. Smallwood Churchill wanted to know if this should be a workshop.

P. Mahoney said no. It’s just to provide information and educate.

Communications Committee: B. Smith passed around a timeline of the GPADS history. The current membership on the ComCom would like to recognize more staff and is currently reviewing the GPADS.

Ad-hoc Committee Report Follow-up: M. Smallwood Churchill would like EA members to answer “What one goal would each of you choose for 2004/2005 for the EA accomplish” by the April 21 EA meeting.

Faculty Senate: M. Smallwood Churchill reported that the Faculty Senate met to discuss the dismissal and suspension policies with regard to faculty members.

TAC: M. Smallwood Churchill will send a report about TCAT changes.

VIII) MEET THE CANDIDATES

The candidates had introduced themselves in the beginning of the meeting.

VII) OPEN FORUM

M. Smallwood Churchill made a motion to extend the meeting.

P. Dusseau seconded.

The motion passes.

M. Smallwood Churchill presented a resolution regarding the troops in Iraq. There was a discussion and the resolution was withdrawn.

VIII) ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.