Santa Monica College Faculty Association

Representative Assembly Meeting

March 17, 2005

Present: Maria Alvarado, Vini Angel, Alan Buckley, Fran Chandler, Elizabeth Chavez, Steve Contarsy, Becky Curtis, Gwen Dophna, Gail Edinger, Kathy Flynn, Mark Foster, Dennis Frisch, Peter Geltner, Anneliese Gerl, Martin Goldstein, Pierre Goueth, Julie Greenfield, Patricia Halliday, Carolyn Holmes, Josh Kanin, Emily Lodmer, Ruth Logan, Ken Mason, Kym McBride, Suzanne McDonald, Colleen McGraw, Mitra Moassessi, Brenda Ness, Jim Pacchioli, Pauli Peter, Brian Rodas, Michael Schwartz, Jacqueline Scott, Elisha Shapiro, Lantz Simpson, Eleanor Singleton, Michael Strathearn, Kathy Sucher, Sumy Takesue, Joy Tucker, David Zehr.

Absent: Fletcher Beasley, Fariba Bolandhemet, Sandi Burnett, Juanita Burris, Troy Cardenas, Tom Chen, Tim Cramer, Jim Croxton, Tracey Ellis, Don Emery, Craig Hammond, Cecile Hanrahan, Ben Martin, Richard McColl, Melissa Michelson, Krystyna Oakes, Eric Oifer, David Phillips, Genee Pytlewsky, Juan Quevedo, Toni Randall, Judith Remmes, Ruth SanPietro, Peter Sheridan, James Smith, Michael Soldatenko, Rita Soshnik, Steve Soucy, Marci Spiegler, Howard Stahl, Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, Esau Tovar, Sal Veas.

Guests: Ernie Padilla, Gloria Lopez, Espy Bolivar-Owen.

Excused: Lesley Kawaguchi, Ed Markarian, Linda Zwang-Weissman

I.                   Approval of Minutes from December 9, 2005 & February 24, 2005.

M/S:  Logan/Mason.  Approved unanimously.

II.                President’s Report – Lantz Simpson

-Faculty Association Bulletin was distributed this week. 

-The Adjunct Faculty party at Becky Curtis’ house was successful.

-CSEA, CNA, and UTLA organized the protest against Schwarzenegger’s $89,000-per-couple fundraiser at the Century Plaza hotel last night. Lantz and Ken attended the protest.

III.             Negotiations Update – Mitra Moassessi

Tom Donner answered questions posed by the Faculty Association negotiating team at a session facilitated by Ken Cloke.

IV.              Benefits Committee – Mitra Moassessi (reporting for Sandi Burnett)

The district-wide committee wants to hire a consultant, and has met with four candidates.  The committee hopes to choose one soon, as ‘05-06 insurance rates will be announced in June, and--after that--the District only has 60 days to decide.  The FA is in favor of Fickewirth and Associates, which is the consultant that LACCC has used.

V.                 FACCC and CCCI Report – Dennis Frisch

SMC sent three representatives to Lobby Day this year: Becky Curtis, Dennis Frisch, and Charlie Donaldson, who spoke about many of the issues confronting the California Community Colleges, including the proposed Senate Bill about “No Confidence Votes” at college campuses.  Under the bill, the Board of Trustees would have to agendize any no-confidence vote at two public meetings.

Dennis reported that FACCC is evolving.  New actions include attempting to block the governor’s nominee (Quinones) to the CCC Board of Governors, and endorsing a local Board of Trustees candidate (Aminoff at SMC). FACCC is an active participant of the coalition to oppose the Governor’s pension reform plan.

FACCC elections are coming up: watch for your ballots and vote for Dennis.  Dennis is running for Treasurer.  If Dennis wins, there may be an appointment made from SMC to fill Dennis’ vacant seat, so SMC would have two votes on the FACCC Board of Governors.

CCCI – The spring conference is in April.  CCCI is taking more positions on the major issues in the state.

VI.              Resolutions Concerning Proposed Pension Reform

MOTION: SMCFA endorses the Resolution Concerning Proposed Pension Reform

M/S:  Frisch/Alvarado.  Approved unanimously.

See attached.

VII.           Letter Writing Campaign

Members of the Representative Assembly composed and mailed letters to Gov. Schwarzenegger opposing his pension reform plan.

VIII.        Approval of Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee

MOTION:  The Executive Committee recommends the creation of an Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee headed by Ken Mason, Lantz Simpson, and Kathy Sucher.

Approved unanimously.

IX.              For the Good of the Order

Bundy Site – Faculty were notified only at the last minute about a recent meeting soliciting input for the facility.

Presidential Search – Faculty will be urged by AS President Kawaguchi to attend some upcoming meetings to urge sufficient faculty inclusion in the process.

Hiring Process – Tom Donner said there will be 0-9 positions; Randy Lawson said there will be 1-10.  The Ad Hoc ranking committee will meet next week to re-rank the positions.