Minutes
CVCC Professional Staff Association
April 19, 2001
West Wing 105

Members Present: Doug Allen, Sue Asp, Marian Baer, Judy Barkley, John Beall, Carole Brown, Harry Cooke, Connie Frye, Karen Less, Sarah Loudermelk, Sally Merritt, Donna Trado, and Anne Williams

The meeting was called to order by President Sue Asp.

A motion by Karen Less and seconded by Marian Baer that the minutes of the last general meeting be approved was passed by the consensus of the membership.

The treasurer reported that there are 23 dues paying members and that the treasury stands now at $55.00. The president reminded the members that letterhead, envelopes, and stamps, all of which had been purchased from the treasury, are available for the members to use to correspond with the state legislators.

Annual Meeting with Dr. Dunbar: Sue Asp met with Dr. Dunbar for the annual review of the goals and intents of the PSA. Dr. Dunbar had no major objections to these.

Board of Trustees Meetings (Feb/May): Sue Asp, Doug Allen, and LaDonna Goodson, members of the PSA executive committee, did meet with the finance committee prior to the February Board of Trustees meeting. She remarked that Steve Neuville, a trustee, asked some pointed questions regarding their presentation which included the intent of the PSA to make an annual pilgrimage to the board until PSA requests could be satisfied and to continue to work at the local and state levels to attain pay equity. It was mentioned to this committee that since professional staff is held to the same standards and accountability, they should be acknowledged with the same equity. Mr. Neuville asked that since CVCC was getting more money from the county why was this not happening. Dr. Dunbar's response was that these funds are necessary to maintain campus operations.

Sue stated she was unable to attend the February board meeting due to the inclement weather when it was scheduled. She will be attending the May 24, 2001, 4 P.M. meeting and encouraged the membership to attend because numbers would speak to the focus of our presentation. Primarily, the point to be made to the board of trustees is a request for them to make a commitment to do right in the future. Harry Cooke and Anne Williams suggested that our annual presentation to the board be moved to October next year as that is when the administration and the board draft financial requests and proposals to be presented to the county commissioners. Harry Cooke also commented that we should encourage a change in the local funding formula. Doug Allen interjected a positive note that some progress seems to being made with some of the board members. Sue assured the members that a representative from PSA attends every board meeting.

Statewide Organization Meeting: Doug Allen reported on activities of the North Carolina Community College Student Development Personnel Association in their efforts for equity for professional staff. He suggested that the membership contact the presidents of their associations urging them to request that all budget proposals for salary increases be worded to include professional staff as well as faculty. He stated that we must continue to educate our legislators by a letter writing campaign. He stated that the members should contact the state budget committee members requesting that they make language inclusive in their proposals. Responses from some legislators previously polled by PSA indicated that they were aware of the need for inclusive language but reminded us of the budget shortfall; however, they promised at the same time to do all they can for community colleges.

North Carolina Community College Faculty Association has begun to support professional staff in their wording as a result of a meeting with the NCCCSDPA task force. Doug encouraged us to keep pressing these issues with our professional organizations. The NCCCSDPA invited us to join them in taking annual leave days April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16, May 23, May 30, or June 6 and going to Raleigh to talk with our legislators. Marian Baer volunteered while she would be at a meeting in Raleigh in early May to obtain guidelines for such a legislative liason. Doug reminded us that letters need to go first which should also include objections to the proposed cuts in state employee health benefits.

NCCCSDPA Resolution: Doug brought a copy of this recommendation that community college salaries for faculty and professional staff be increased to the national average by this biennium and by 80% by next biennium and requested that the members present affix their signatures to it in support of this effort. All members present did sign. It was decided that the secretary would forward it to other dues paying members and return it to Doug for distribution.

Doug commented that efforts are moving forward inch by inch and gaining a critical mass of support. The NCCCSDPA is hoping to arrange a meeting with the North Carolina Community College Adult Educators Association to enlist their aid as well in these efforts.

Recognition of Outstanding Professional Staff Person of the Year Task Force: Donna Trado graciously agreed to chair this task force to explore means to meet PSA goal #5. Other members of the task force are Sue Asp, Marion Baer, Wanda Horvath, and Anne Williams. Donna informed the membership that the task force would be focusing on the type, standards and criteria, application and nomination process, frequency, funding , and restrictions by which to establish this recognition. Jeannette Staley from our local faculty association has been very supportive of these efforts and supplied the task force with their application process. They plan to survey our membership for ideas and to make inquiries on the state level. Donna stated the task force will review all information received and eventually make recommendations. Sally Merritt suggested the task force contact Gail Harvey in the systems office for Small Business regarding the criteria implemented to award a small business center for services.

Goal # 7: The president reported the PSA has progressed on all goals except this one. Its intent is to seek cooperative projects with the CVCC Faculty Senate and the CVCC Support Staff Association. She will attempt to arrange a meeting with the presidents of these organizations.

The next meeting of the PSA is scheduled for August 2, 2001, 2:30 P.M. on the East Campus. Mary Miller, public relations, had suggested to our president that we publish notices of upcoming meetings in the Campus Notes .

Karen Less commented that she appreciated what the PSA executive committee had gotten started statewide on behalf of professional staff.

Anne Williams requested that she be e-mailed the letterhead logo.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by consensus of the membership.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Barkley

Secretary-Treasurer