Email Template

JANUARY 2020

In This Issue:

STAFF COUNCIL NEWS

- Staff Council Officer Elections
- Holiday Bazaar - Thank You!
- Holiday Bazaar Photos
- SC Office - Learning from Mistakes
- Volunteer Opportunity of the Month

CAMPUS NEWS

- Center for Cultural Pluralism
- Dancing Uphill
- Shakespeare In Love
- Book Nook

Staff Council Meetings

The UVM Staff Council serves as an advocate for staff by seeking out and responding to their ideas and concerns, representing them to the University administration, and keeping staff informed of University initiatives.

Staff Council monthly meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month from 12:05-1:30. Upcoming meetings:

1/7/20 Memorial Lounge (Waterman 338)
2/4/20 Memorial Lounge (Waterman 338)

All are welcome. To review past meeting minutes, please visit our website (link).

The leadership positions of Staff Council President and Vice President are elected every two years during the month of May through a University-wide election. This year we'll be voting on new leadership, and we'd like you to consider running!

Eligibility:

To be eligible to run for either of these positions, you must be qualified to serve as a Regular member of the Staff Council - so you must be a regular full-time or part-time employee, not on probation, and your job must be part of the University’s Career/Pay System. Additionally, each President and Vice President must have a minimum of six months of Staff Council experience within the previous six years. The President's experience must be as an elected representative.

Reasons to Consider Running:

- You’ll develop as a professional, improving your public speaking, time management, leadership, writing skills and organizational skills.

- Your service will benefit your unit financially! If you are elected Staff Council President, the Staff Council Office pays 20% of your salary for the two years of your service.

- You’ll learn fascinating things and get an “insider’s view” of administrative issues.

- You will build community and help take UVM in new directions!

What characteristics make a good officer?

- You see the big picture.

- You’re willing to have tough conversations when necessary.

- You're a good listener, a collaborative team member, and have a passion for fairness.

If this sounds like you, please consider running for an Officer position. Nominations will open at the beginning of March! As always, you are welcome to contact the Staff Council office at staff.council@uvm.edu with any questions.

In addition to our gratitude to all the wonderful Staff Council Social Committee members and other Staff Council members who volunteered time at this year’s very successful Holiday Bazaar & Bake Sale, we wish to express our gratitude to all the other UVM Staff who volunteered their time and/or baked goods to make this such a successful event:

Sarah van Norstrand - International Education Services
Carri Rock - Department of Physics
Kiersten Hallquist – College of Medicine
Leslie Sepaniac - Graduate College
Alisha Lewis - University Event Svcs
Pam Carter - College of Medicine - Immunobiology
Angie Leahey - Administrative Business Service Center
Catherine Symans – Office of Senior VP and Provost
Beret Halverson - Extension: Programming & Faculty Support
Lori Durieux - Family Medicine
Heather Cochran-Rock - University Event Services
Amanda Broder – College of Medicine
Helen Brunelle - College of Medicine
Rebecca Myer - Physical Plant Dept
Susan Sobczak - Disbursement Center
Matt Bresler – College of Medicine
Renee Soutiere - University Event Services
Mary Dunne - CALS Dean's Office
Kunie Renaud - CESS Dean's Office
Robin Coletta - Payroll and Tax Services
Mack Gardner-Morse - Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

The Staff Council Office took some snaps at the Holiday Bazaar - check them out on our Flickr page (link) and feel free to download and share them!

The Staff Council Office recently heard from many of you when we held the last-minute giveaway of the Highlight BTV badges.

We'd like to apologize for not having been more mindful about the way we distributed the badges. We offered them on a first-come, first served basis, and although we did get several folks from outside of our building (Waterman) there was no real chance for anyone across campus or indeed off-campus to make it in time before we ran out. We want you to know we've learned from this and will make sure to create a fairer process (probably using a randomized raffle) the next time we have the opportunity to share perks like these with staff.

As ever, feel free to contact us with any questions, thoughts or suggestions. We really appreciate and value your input.

The Staff Council Community Engagement Committee is pleased to present a new monthly feature in Staffline on local volunteer opportunities.

Chittenden County Homeless Alliance:
We’re looking for 6 volunteers who will be helping with the annual Point-in-Time count of homelessness in Chittenden County. You will receive a single training of 2 hours (or less) about how to approach unsheltered people and how to fill out the survey properly. The night of the count is Jan 22, 2020 and usually requires no more than about 3 or 4 hours. You will be paired with someone who will, most likely, have done this before. There will be locations in downtown Burlington (where no car will be required) as well as further outside of Burlington. You will be surveying people experiencing homelessness, taking down their demographic details, and offering, in return for their participation, a small “thank you” gift (socks, gloves, chocolate and the like). To learn more about the annual Point in Time count, please go to the CCHA VT website (link).

Do you know of a non-profit, non-political, non-religious, organization that is having an event in February that could use volunteers? Send information to staff.council@uvm.edu by January 15th to be included in next month’s Staffline.

The Center for Cultural Pluralism invites UVM staff to a training entitled, "Understanding Intercultural Communication, Intersectionality, & Identity in the Workplace," led by Visiting Scholar Leeva Chung, PhD.

This training will explore the issues of intersecting identities and electronic communication that impact the workplace. It will provide you with a better understanding of how to communicate effectively and find common ground in our world of cultural diversity.

When: Friday, January 10, 2020, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Mansfield Room, 2nd floor, Dudley H. Davis Center

Register through PeopleSoft-Human Services, with net ID login, under Self Service --> Learning and Development --> Request Training Enrollment. Course Code: CCP018.
For more information visit the CCP webpage (link).
For ADA accommodations: (802) 656-7753 or access@uvm.edu.

In January, the UVM Program of Dance will present Dancing Uphill 2020. Highlighting UVM dance student performers, the concert includes choreography by UVM dance faculty, UVM composition students, and professional guest dance artists.

When: January 22 - 25
Where: Mann Gymnasium, Trinity Campus
Tickets: $10 for UVM students, $15 for all others. Purchase online (link) or at the Royall Tyler Theatre box office beginning January 14.

February will bring UVM Theatre’s production of Shakespeare in Love. Adapted from the Academy award winning film, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful, rowdy and romantic theatrical experience.

When: February 26 – March 8
Where: Royall Tyler Theatre
Tickets: Adults: $28 and $24. UVM faculty/Staff, seniors (55+) and non-UVM students: $25 and $21. Purchase online (link) or at the Royall Tyler Theatre box office beginning January 14.

The UVM Book Nook is looking for donations!

Your donations will help us continue to replenish our bookshelves with amazing books for our students. Drop books off in the handy Book Nook Donation Box in the Atrium, just before you enter Brennan’s Pub. For large donations please email jpmarton@uvm.edu.

Our book selections cover Poetry, Women and Gender Studies, Philosophy, History, Biography, World Literature, Classic Novels, Contemporary Fiction and Non Fiction, Ecology and Sustainability, Writing/Publishing, and Theatre/Art.

The UVM Book Nook will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this coming April 2020!
Thank you for sharing your passion for reading with our students.

One book can change a life.

Remember to visit our website for a list of staff discounts!

Staff Council - serving as a voice and advocate
for all staff at UVM since 1971

staff.council@uvm.edu | (802) 656-4493
85 S. Prospect Street | 313 Waterman Building | Burlington, VT 05405
Hours: M-F 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
www.uvm.edu/staffcouncil