STCC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

General Membership Meeting

March 10, 2008

Minutes

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 12:28pm

Location: Building 13, Room 114

Attendance: 30 members

2. Reports: Minutes of the February 4, 2008 were accepted and passed unanimously

3. Board of Directors Report: Roberta Albano

Detailed minutes on the STCC PA website

The minutes from the January 30 and February 25 meetings were accepted and approved by unanimous vote.

Members are being urged to contact their State Representative through letters, email and phone calls about the proposed health insurance increase and to sign Representative Marty Walsh’s letter to keep health premiums where they are. Pay raises come in as pre-tax. Health insurance is after tax. E-mail Roberta if you do not know who your state rep. is. The MTA has put out guidelines on letter writing. The preferred method of contacting our representatives is by mail. It is important to let Roberta know what representatives have signed on to Rep. Walsh’s letter. Contact your representative by your home phone or cell phone and not office phone.

4. Election of Interim Treasurer:

Dan Emerson, Interim Treasurer resigned this position effective March 1, 2008. Voting took place on March 10, 2008 to elect an Interim Treasurer effective immediately. Amy Stephenson was elected by unanimous vote to fill the position as Interim Treasurer.

5. Bylaws change: Lynn Kleindienst

Proposal to Change Article 6 to include an “At large” position to be created on the Executive Committee for a professional staff unit member. At large positions are already included for full time faculty (day) and SCE faculty. Lynn K. will work with Nick C. on the wording of the proposed Bylaw and email it to members. A special meeting will be held on March 31 to vote on this Bylaw change.

6. Elections: Doug Buckley

Please return nomination forms to Doug by Thursday, March 27, 2008

7. Grievances: Rob Rodgers

Non-reappointments and workloads are being grieved by faculty

1.) File a grievance on “sick” buildings---air quality in Building 13, 17, 2, 27. Also mold and rodent droppings are a concern. Has there been a change in the status of your health since you started working at STCC? Speak to colleagues about the status of their health and what concerns/problems are in your building.

2.) Overview of faculty rights in regards to workload:

a.)College service-Deans have indicated they count the hours per week.

b.)If you have received an unsatisfactory evaluation, see Rob or Carol Giaquinto to discuss.

Discussion:

Faculty teaching labs go by hours and not units—not counting hours as 60 minutes—no distinction between hours and units.

If you go over 5 preps a year---3 per semester you can reduce your workload

8. New Business:

1.) Delegate Assembly, Saturday, April 26, 2008 Worcester Crown Plaza.

STCC is allowed twenty-four delegates. Contact Rob if you’d like to attend as a delegate. The Assembly will set budget and dues, hear reports from MCCC, and hear plans for reopening the classification study and the implementation period.

2.) Public hearing-PHENOM: Brandon Poe

April 2nd during the college hour, co-sponsored by HCC and WSC.

Topics will include affordability and access in Higher Education. Six people, including students will testify to affordability and accessibility at the local public colleges. If you know of any student that has a good story about this topic, s/he can testify. This is a good PR opportunity to get the information to the press.

3.) Board of Trustees meeting: President Rubenzahl was given a 5% raise and $10,000 increase in his housing allowance. The Board of Trustees has sent a letter in support of keeping the health insurance premium as it is.

Motion to adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 1:23pm

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn McDonald

Interim Secretary

STCC PA

March 17, 2008