Representative Assembly Meeting MINUTES

Members Present: R. Anderson, T. Bernstein. E. Bolivar-Owen, D. Cano, F. Chandler, T. Chen, M. Dell, C. Donaldson, G. Dossett, G. Edinger, C. Feruzzi, R. Flores, D. Frisch, T. Garcia, C. Holmes, S. Hunt, R. Johncola, M. Kelly, B. Martin, K. McBride, Co. McGraw, R. Mednick, M. Moassessi, B. Ness, J. Pacchioli, E. Padilla, B. Price, L. Simpson, M. Soldatenko, L. Strong, S. Takesue, B. Tholen, B. Wong, D. Zehr, V. Angel.

Members Absent: M. Alvarado, E. Bermudez, R. Briggs, J. Burris, T. Chambers, P. Churchard, P. Del Valle, C. Dube, M. Foster, C. Garcia, B. Hogan, E. Hugo, J. Keeshen, M. Landis, K. Lisovsky, F. Manion, K. Mason, C. Matheson, D. Morgan, A. Mostkoff-Linares, L. Pawinski, D. Phillips, B. Ricks, S. Rubin, C. Schultz, E. Shapiro, R. Soshnik. M. Strathern, N. Theiss, J. Toivonen, M. Tracey, J. Varga, A. Villapando, A. Walzer, R. Ware.

Members Excused: A. Maddox, J. Mills, M. Nightengale, P. Peter, R. Robinson, K. Sucher, E. Tovar, J. Hoover

Guests: V. Angel, M. Goldstein.

The meeting was called to order by L. Simpson at 11:20 am in Business 144.

I. The minutes of the 9/1, 10/18, and 11/15 meetings were unanimously approved (Donaldson/Mednick).

1.  
   1. L. Simpson urged people to go to the March 18 FACCC Lobby Day and announced that the District has agreed to pay the plane fare for three faculty members to attend the event. The Association will also pay for a few attendees, and anyone interested should contact the president immediately.
   2. Confusion apparently exists among the SMC vice presidential staff concerning the Counseling Department because two vice presidents have said a number of March 15 letters would go out while one vice president said there will be no layoffs. G. Dossett said he heard the letters might still go out; but, even so, there might be no layoffs. The regulations for a formal reduction in force and the required public hearing were discussed.
2. President’s Report–Lantz Simpson

A. The president turned the floor over to D. Burak for presentation of a Senate-approved motion related to the development of an English Resource Center at the University of Kabul, Afghanistan. The project would establish an English language and literature-based research and distribution center for reading and related instructional materials for use by students, scholars and teachers. A motion to support the project and to authorize the FA president to sign a letter of support was unanimously approved (Dossett/Donaldson). The letter will be sent to a number of key politicians seeking U.S. aid in providing the resources necessary for the project in conjunction with the Afghani government.

3. Negotiations Report–Robert Flores

Members of the Council have been meeting weekly to proofread the contract; they hope for a complete contract at the end of next week. Retroactive checks are expected March 15, according to District negotiators. The Hourly Office Hours Committee is working on a study to show office hours make a different in students’ lives. The Load Committee is meeting with the District monthly. The Calendar Committee has been formed to look at changes in future calendars. The Council is still working on parking issues.

IV. Unanimous approval of Executive Committee Motion

The Faculty Association Executive Committee recommends that the Representative Assembly support the Santa Monica College Bond Issue on the March ballot and encourage individual faculty members to make contributions to the appropriate funds.

1. Unanimous approval of Executive Committee Motion

The Faculty Association Executive Committee recommends the Representative Assembly approve the following reassigned time for Faculty Association business for Winter and Spring 2002:

Winter–L. Simpson 20%. Spring–L. Simpson 80%, K. Mason, 60%, R. Flores 60%, M. Moassessi 40%, M. Goldstein 20%, K. Sucher 20%, Hourly Committee 20%. Passed Unanimously.

VI. Presentation by Derek Smith, SMART organizer

After an informative presentation concerning the Doubletree Hotel’s fight against the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union’s attempts to organize the hotel, D. Smith distributed a letter for Santa Monica residents and people with children in the public schools to sign asking the Santa Monica-Malibu School District to raise the lease payments on the hotel. The hotel was built on land leased from the public school district; and, according to D. Smith, the lease is so low that it only takes the hotel 8-9 days of receipts to pay their yearly lease.

VII. For the Good of the Order

C. Donaldson announced that faculty who qualify for Social Security but who are still working fulltime should promptly apply for Social Security. It might result, as it has for him, in rather large monthly checks.

Respectfully submitted,

Fran Chandler, Standing in

for Ann Maddox, Secretary