1. New Support Staff Committee Introduced
- Joisan Decker DeHaan-President
- Jeffrey M. Moran-Vice President
- Amy Leu-Secretary
- Sholanna Lewis
- Denean Pomeroy
- April VanLester-Thuma
- Jennifer Combes
2. Support Staff Website
- Meeting dates and minutes will be available
- Link to Employee Advisors (formerly known as Ombudsman will be available)
3. Presentation by Jax Gardner
- Awarded a staff fellowship with Arcus
- End goal is to have a sustainable diaper bank in Kalamazoo to launch in the spring of 2016. It would distribute one week’s worth of diapers with no eligibility requirements.
- Why? Neither food stamps nor WIC can be used to purchase diapers which cost around $1000/year per child. The health consequences of improper diapering include emotional, social, ability to access child care, etc.
- Currently collecting for a diaper drive ENDING 10/14/15. Collection points include Hicks, Arcus, Dewing, and can contact Jax. Accepted donations: diapers (open packages all sizes but greatest need for size 2 and 3), cream, wipes, financial, and volunteer time. Recipients are YWCA, St. Barnabas Diaper Ministry, and Loaves and Fishes.
- Week one update—7,000 collected with a goal of 20,000.
- For more information on the diaper drive email jax.gardner@kzoo.edu
4.“Speed Dating”
a. Questions included:
- i. What is something you were proud of at work this week?
- ii. What would you change about your position?
- iii. What would you like to get out of the support staff committee this year?
b. Quick debriefing of answers including:
- i. More participation and engagement from around campus
- ii. Issues about compensation and benefits (Why was OT cut?)
- iii. Concerns about representation and recognition (no support staff or facman on the campaign video)
- iv. Training (initial/ongoing on stuff like reason & colleague)
- v. Using the portal to communicate or a discussion board on website
Submitted by Jennifer Combes