The University of Northern Iowa Faculty Agent and Advocate

for over a Quarter of a Century

Official Minutes of the

Executive Board/Central Committee

September 2004

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September 2, 2004

Mauker Union, College Eye Room

3:30-5:00 p.m.

  • Call to order

Roll (X=present):

Executive Board                              Committee Chairs

X    Frank Thompson, President                  X    Jesse Swan, Academic Freedom, Negotiations

X    Karen Couch Breitbach, Vice President                                Paul Siddens, Membership and Past Pres.

X    Becky Hawbaker, Secretary                                            Dean Kruckeberg, Communications

X    Lee Nicholas, Treasurer

       Melissa Beall, At-Large

X    Carol Cooper, At-Large

X    Barbara Lounsberry, At-Large

Central Committee Constituency Representatives

X   Barbara Cutter, History                                                  X    Kent Sandstrom, CSBS

X   Jeffrey Funderburk, Art/Music                                    X    Russ Campbell, CNS

X   Susan Rochette-Cawley, English                           X    Jolene Tagtow, Price Lab School

      Laura Terlip, Communications Studies                         X    Kurt Meredith, Curr.&Inst/OSFE    

X   Hans Isakson, CBA                                                      X    John Henning, Ed Psych/HPELS/Ed.Leadership

X   Chris Neuhaus, Library                                    X     Bob Kruger, Philosophy, Religion, Languages         

Ex-Officio

X     Chuck Quirk, Executive Director

       

Other Members and Guests Present: Linda Sharp

  • Approval of the Minutes.  Under point VII B, the meetings will be for the “Executive Board/Central Committee,” not the “Executive Board.”  Bob Kruger, representing Modern Language, Philosophy, and Religion was present at the meeting.  With these corrections, the minutes were approved.
  • Treasurer’s Report: Nicholas reported a positive cash flow last year, and distributed a detailed profit & loss statement and balance sheet. Cooper/Isakson moved to accept the report.  The motion was approved.
  • Budget Review: At the May meeting, a committee was formed to examine expenditures.  Swan and Lounsberry met over the summer and distributed a budget/allocations report for 2004-05.  Swan and Lounsberry agreed upon six recommendations for budget savings: 1) review the possibility of shifting some or all of the money in CD’s to securities earning a higher rate of return, 2) embark on a strong membership drive, 3) establish an events committee to plan events that might raise funds, 4) monitor and wisely use attorney time, 5) try to reduce, if possible, facility rental costs, and 6) discuss best use of Executive Director’s ¼ time as it relates to fundraising toward a greater Legal Defense Fund. Swan alone also recommended a) expanding allocations for opportunities for meaningful genuine membership involvement, b) creating a contingency funds of $100,000 for extraordinary grievances and other extraordinary contract maintenance endeavors, and c) maintaining a savings account balance of about $30,000 for less extraordinary but nonetheless important grievances and contract maintenance endeavors and a checking account balance of about $1000 for fluctuations in operations.

Thompson suggesting creating a 501(C)3. Other members suggested ideas for membership drives or events.

Isakson/Campbell moved to adopt the Projected Budget Year 2004-2005, authored by Barbara Lounsberry.  The motion passed.

  • Membership Report—Quirk reported on current membership and noted that there were a number of retirements last year. 
  •  Ongoing Issues
    • Collective Bargaining Preparations, Quirk and Swan.  Swan reported that the Negotiating Team has distributed an electronic survey that has been completed by faculty.  In the survey, faculty ranked fifteen issues according to importance.  The participation rate is down significantly, which may be due to technical glitches. The Negotiating Team has met several times over the summer to discuss changes in the Master Agreement.  Swan encouraged everyone to communicate with members to determine negotiating issues they care most about. 
    • Denial of Faculty Office Space and Secretarial Support: Thompson reported on an ongoing faculty transfer and denial of resources issue for a tenured faculty member within the College of Education.  Thompson and Sharp attempted to contact Bill Callahan and visited with Aaron Podolefsky and Mike Mixsell.  Thompson reported that he has not received any response to date from Podolefsky or Callahan.  Thompson distributed a lengthy resolution asking for a letter to the Board of Regents asking for immediate relief and to file a grievance on behalf of the entire membership on the basis of a violation of Article 14 of the Master Agreement.  Cooper and Campbell argued against taking the issue to the Regents. 

Campbell/ Funderburk moved to file a grievance for violation of Article 14 in the case of the faculty member in question.  The motion passed.

 

    • Fall Iowa Conference will be held October 9th
    • General Membership Meeting will be held September 10th.
    • Library Fees for Interlibrary Loans
    • National AAUP Views on Political Endorsement of Candidates.
  • Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:06. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Becky Wilson Hawbaker