Santa Monica College Faculty Association

Representative Assembly Meeting

May 5, 2005     Business 144       11:15 - 12:35 p.m.

Present: Maria Alvarado, Alan Buckley, Sandi Burnett, Troy Cardenas, Fran Chandler, Becky Curtis, Kathy Flynn, Dennis Frisch, Peter Geltner, Anneliese Gerl, Martin Goldstein, Julie Greenfield, Lesley Kawaguchi, Emily Lodmer, Ken Mason, Suzanne McDonald, Mitra Moassessi, Brenda Ness, Juan Quevedo, Brian Rodas, Michael Schwartz, Jacqueline Scott, Elisha Shapiro, Lantz Simpson, Eleanor Singleton, James Smith, Michael Strathearn, Kathy Sucher, Sumy Takesue, Linda Zwang-Weissman.

Absent: Vini Angel, Fletcher Beasley, Fariba Bolandhemet, Elizabeth Chavez, Steve Contarsy, Tim Cramer, Jim Croxton, Gwen Dophna, Gail Edinger, Tracey Ellis, Don Emery, Mark Foster, Pierre Goueth, Patricia Halliday, Craig Hammond, Cecile Hanrahan, Carolyn Holmes, Josh Kanin, Ruth Logan, Ed Markarian, Ben Martin, Richard McColl, Colleen McGraw,  Melissa Michelson, Krystyna Oakes, Eric Oifer, Jim Pacchioli, David Phillips, Genee Pytlewsky, Toni Randall, Judith Remmes, Ruth SanPietro, Peter Sheridan, Michael Soldatenko, Rita Soshnik, Steve Soucy, Marci Spiegler, Howard Stahl, Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, Joy Tucker, Sal Veas, David Zehr.

Excused: Tom Chen, Kym McBride, Pauli Peter.

Guests: Espy Bolivar-Owen

I.                   Approval of Minutes as amended from March 17^th and April 21^st

M/S: Frisch/Moassessi. Passed unanimously.

II.                President's Report

DPAC is up and running. There are 4 committees. The Faculty Association and Academic Senate submitted the following names to represent it on the committees:

Budget-

FA: Mitra Moassessi and Lantz Simpson

AS: Odemaris Valdivia and Fran Manion

Technology-

FA: Dennis Frisch and Howard Stahl

AS: Teri Bernstein and Steve Hunt

Human Resources-

FA: Ken Mason and Kym McBride
AS: Eleanor Singleton and Christine Holmgren

Facilities-

FA: Ken Mason and Lantz Simpson

AS: Suzanne Borghei and Mary Colavito

MOTION: The Representative Assembly supports the appointment of the representatives selected by the Faculty Association and the Academic Senate.

M/S: Geltner/Chandler.  Passed unanimously.

The Job Action Task Force - Ken Mason modeled the new sandwich boards printed with the following slogans, "Don't Sign Petitions" "Know what you're Signing" "Stop the Attacks on your Education".  Ken encouraged people to sign up to wear the signs that discourage students from signing the Schwarzenegger petitions being circulated in the Free Speech area on campus.

On Monday, May 9, faculty are asked to meet at 5:30 at the Business Bldg (along with Classified) and then attend the Board Meeting and speak to the slow pace of negotiations.

Regarding the Governor's scheduled appearance at this year's June 14^th Commencement, local groups have contacted the Faculty Association in order to coordinate a "reception" for the Governor on that day. The Association will not officially be sponsoring any action, but faculty members will be informed of ways in which they may participate individually.

III.             Motion from the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee recommends that the Representative Assembly support the appointment of three faculty members (Lantz Simpson, Lesley Kawaguchi, and Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein) chosen by the Faculty Association President and the Academic Senate President to represent faculty on the Presidential Search Committee.

Passed. One abstention.

IV.              Negotiations Update - Mitra Moassessi

There is agreement on language on Computer Use; we are close to agreement on Department Chair reassigned time; there was extensive discussion of Associate Faculty.

V.                 Benefits Committee Report - Sandi Burnett

-Sandi encouraged faculty to complete the online survey on the Benefits Website. http://www.smc.edu/collegebenefits/
-The Committee is meeting weekly.
-Last week, a newly configured set of representatives on the committee passed the motion to hire Fickewirth and Associates.  The committee met with Tom Donner last week and he is adamant that the college will not hire Fickewirth because the firm has a history of being pro-union.

-PERS will come out with its rates in June or July. The benefits committee had hoped to have a recommendation by June 15^th, but it is not optimistic at this point. 

-Tom Donner met with LACCC to discuss the possibility of joining their insurance pool.

-May 18 at 2:30 in B 111: The Committee is inviting faculty and staff to attend an Information Session.

VI.              Bylaws Revisions - Second Reading

The Executive Committee recommends that the Representative Assembly make changes to the bylaws.

Approved unanimously.

VII.           For the Good of the Order.