The UIC Chapter of SUAA Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting August 11, 2010

Members Present: Marsha Borders, Merrill Gassman, Michael Harms, Gloria Henderson, Richard Johnson, Rose Kirk, Irv Miller, Sue Sindelar, Chuck Stanislao, William Troyer

Members Absent: Judy Curry, James Jones, Donna Knutson, Lawrence Poston, Leonard Ramirez

The meeting was called to order by President Merrill Gassman at 10:00am in room B16, Physical Plant Building, 1140 S. Morgan.

1. Approval of Minutes: The Minutes of the June 30, 2010 Board meeting were approved.

2. President's Report: Merrill reported that he received a request from the SUAA office for information for the SUAA Directory. He also noted that there will be a memorial service for Frank Tachau on August 30, 2010 in Evanston.

3. Treasurer's Report (Chuck Stanislao): The 08/11/10 cash balance stands at $29,424. This includes $11,454 in the savings account, $6,151 in the checking account, 10,073 in the CD, and $1,746 in the UIC fund.

4. Program Report (Rose Kirk): The Fall Forum will be held on Sept. 14 at the Student Center West. Irv Miller will serve as Moderator, and four panelists, Eden Martin, Ralph Martire, John McCarron, and Addison Woodward, will each make 10-minute presentations followed by five-minute rebuttals. The remaining time will be used for Q and A from the audience. The program is scheduled to begin at 11:30am and end at 1:00pm. Light refreshments will be served before and after the presentation. APAC will cosponsor the event. Publicity will include a ½ page ad in UIC NEWS, to be run in two editions. Notice will be sent to Chicago media, other SUAA chapters, and relevant UIC departments. One of the speakers, Mr. McCarron, requires an honorarium in order to appear. Although the normal practice of UIC UNITED is that payment to speakers not be provided, the Board approved a payment of $250. Merrill moved that the Board adopt a policy that any honorarium be approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis. The motion was approved.

The Fall membership meeting will be held on Oct. 13 at the Student Center East. SURS Executive Director William Mabe will speak. The schedule for the event will be: 9:30am, refreshments; 10:00am, business meeting; 11:00am, speaker; and 12:00pm, buffet lunch.

The Fall Brown Bag meeting will be held on Nov. 11, and Dick Simpson has agreed to discuss the election results and implications. The room has not yet been determined.

5. Membership Report (Sue Sindelar): Sue reported some decline in membership. Some current employees with annual memberships have not renewed. Lack of the availability of payroll deduction for these members remains an issue. Dick Johnson volunteered to contact Paul Dollins, UIUC Chapter President, to see if the UIUC chapter will also push for this. After the contact, Merrill Gassman, Sue Sindelar, and Dick Johnson will seek a meeting with U. of I. President Hogan to explain the situation and the advantages of dues deduction to the University. Sue reported that she is working on a membership ad, perhaps in combination with publicity for the Fall membership meeting. Sue raised the issue of access to space in the Physical Plant Building and its importance to the chapter. Mark Donovan has been very supportive, and it is important that, should Mark retire, his successor be also supportive.

6. Northern Illinois SUAA Caucus Report (Bill Troyer): Bill Troyer, Sue Sindelar, and Dick Johnson attended. The meeting had two themes: 1) legislative strategy and 2) techniques to increase membership. Time was spent discussing how to effectively lobby legislators and a review of "do's" and "do not's". A fact sheet of relevant information to be used when contacting legislators was distributed. The SUAA legislative program for the coming year was discussed. Prepared talking points can be used and distributed to the membership at future meetings.

7. Legislation/SUAAction Report (Dick Johnson and Bill Troyer): Dick questioned if a separate meeting for LCP's would be useful. Bill has contacted all LCP's by e-mail and will consider whether a meeting would be productive.

8. Newsletter Planning: The distribution of the newsletter was discussed, and it was questioned if an Oct. 1 publication date would be possible. Merrill will e-mail Judy and Larry to discuss this. It was felt that mailing this issue to the campus community would not be required.

9. New Business: none

10. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:45pm.

Respectfully submitted by Michael Harms, Secretary

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