![](3D"http://www.valdosta.edu/cosa/images/image001_001.jpg"=20)
COSA MINUTES
Tuesday, May 9, 2000
| Presiding Chair |
Debi =
Parkhhill |
| Members present: |
Debi Parkhill-Britt, Sandra Denson, Holly Decker, = Nina Windham,=20 Pat Rozier, T.R. "Cat" Decker, Sammy Dees, Ruth Salter, Beverly = Sharpe,=20 Hilda Spell, and Inman Grimsley. |
| Members excused: |
Ann Lacey |
| Members-at-Large | Pearl Everett=20 |
| Guest | Dr. Louis=20 Levy |
The COSA meeting was called to order at 8:35 = a.m.
Special Order of the Day: =
Dr. Louis Levy was invited to talk about Conflict =
Resolution=20
at VSU. First there is no one person in charge of Conflict Resolution on =
campus,=20
that=E2=80=99s by design. We got the charge from the Chancellor in 1995. =
The Chancellor=20
called for a system of Conflict Resolution from each public college and=20
university campus. The Regents further amplified this when they said to=20
establish a statewide Conflict Resolution program, which is well =
inter-graded=20
into the peculiar institutional culture of each campus. The ultimate =
goal is not=20
to do away with conflict, which can be useful, but to increase the =
quality of=20
life on campus. In fact Dr. Bailey=E2=80=99s announcement about Conflict =
Resolution he=20
said enhancing the quality of VSU campus=E2=80=99 culture through =
addressing problems in=20
a matter that is both pro-active and effective which was a memo that =
went out to=20
the campus in 1995. Well we assumed that everyone knew about this. But =
based on=20
some of the comments I have heard we need to do a better job in letting =
people=20
know about mediation and Alternate Dispute Resolution. Most disputes =
aren=E2=80=99t=20
resolved in many organizations and are allowed to fester. Sometimes they =
just=20
lay around for twenty years. We decided not to establish an office and =
put a=20
bureaucratic official in charge, because in rural settings people are =
hesitate=20
to go into this kind of office and are real hesitate to talk to people =
they=20
don=E2=80=99t know. We felt that here in Valdosta this type of office =
wouldn=E2=80=99t work. So=20
we trained as many people we could afford for the mediation training. We =
try to=20
do this on campus and have held workshops to help inform everyone on =
campus=20
about Conflict Resolution. We do a lot of Alternate Dispute Resolution =
on=20
campus, which are methods other than the formal methods of resolving =
disputes.=20
Some of the steps are 1. The mediator will insure that both parties come =
to the=20
table voluntarily. 2. Equitable- Each party should be on equal terms =
during=20
mediation. 3. Brainstorm possible solutions. 4. Try to get parties to =
come to a=20
compromise. 5. Sign an agreement (contract). The courts uphold this to =
be a=20
legal agreement. ADR will help create a more positive, friendly work=20
environment. There is an ADR advisory committee on campus, which is made =
up a=20
cross section of people, and their function is to sensitize the =
University to=20
potential disputes. They refer potential disputes to my office, which is =
a=20
clearinghouse for any institutional mediation and we do sometimes bring =
in=20
outside people to help us with some situations. The bottom line is =
creating a=20
better quality of life for all of us. I like to think it=E2=80=99s a =
service we do=20
whenever we mediate a dispute. But I=E2=80=99m bound to tell you we will =
never do away=20
with conflict nor should we expect to because conflict can be resolved =
in some=20
cases and is essential in an organization. Sometimes it takes a nudge =
for things=20
to change and with change there=E2=80=99s conflict. In the next year we =
will be=20
evaluating our mediation process. We will be doing surveys to see what =
can be=20
done different or better. For any information please call me #3793 or =
email
Approval of Minutes:
The word deficit needs to replace the words = deceits in the=20 April minutes. The minutes were approved with this correct
Treasurer's Report -
April Balance $1196.95
Printing & Copying - 75.70
May Balance $1121.25
The display board was researched and Nina found it = would=20 cost around $225 to $230 for the board with a case, Velcro tape, and = shipping=20 and handling. It was voted to go ahead and purchased this = item.
Committee Reports
Elections- Holly Decker reported that the election =
ballots=20
are out. Closing date for all ballots to be returned is May =
12th.=20
We will have a committee meeting after this date to count the ballots =
and find=20
out who the new members will be. They will be contacted to be at the =
June=20
meeting. Also at the June meeting the executive board for 2000-2001 term =
will be=20
elected. So anyone, who is on the board now, interested please contact =
me,
Employee Recognition- No report.
Policies/By-Laws- Ruth Salter reported the adding = of the=20 Public Relation Officer to the By-Laws. This was voted to be added to = the=20 By-Laws. The committee has also went through the By-Laws to made sure = all are up=20 to date and make any necessary changes and bring to the COSA meeting. = See=20 attachment at the bottom of minutes.
Welfare- Hilda Spell, chair, reported that the = GSFIC has=20 agreed to pay for the initial placement of the non-inscribed bricks, = 8,800=20 bricks, for the Retirement Walkway. That amounts to almost $12,000 that = we will=20 not have to fund. The Walkway fund balance is $ 900.74 as of March=20 31st. I have a list of the bricks that have been purchased. I = have=20 drafted a letter to inform the retirees about their brick, who purchased = it and=20 when we will present the brick to be laid in the Walkway.
Recycling- Debi Parkhill reported that Dr. Ari = Santas has=20 resigned as the Chair of the Recycling Committee. Holly Decker reported = since=20 she
.Salary Study- No report.
Reports from the Chair:
Debi Parkhill reported that Beverly emailed her = about the=20 Parking Appeals Committee since Jill Ferrell needed at least 2 = representatives=20 from COSA to be on this committee anyone interested let Debi = know.
The COSA newsletter that was sent out, we will be =
doing=20
another one this month. Anyone who has any type of news can email Debi, =
Old Business
Debi could not get in touch with someone at the = YMCA, she=20 will keep trying.
New Business
The 7th annual University System of =
Georgia Staff=20
Conference will be held at Polytechnic State University on October 5 =
=E2=80=93 6, 2000.=20
Registration fee is $35.00 per person before September 15, 2000 after =
this date=20
it will be $40.00. Any questions email
The VSU Staff Luncheon, where 5, 10, 15, = 20, 25, 30=20 year employees receive their certificates, has changed = dates. It=20 will be held on May 24, 2000 at the Magnolia Room / = UC at=20 12:30 PM the cost is $4.50 for lunch. Anyone with any questions = can=20 contact Gwyn Parrish # 5950.
There being no further discussion or business, the = meeting=20 was adjourned at 9:55 am and will meet again on June 13, 2000 at the=20 Dogwood Room @ University Center at 8:30 am. =
Submitted by;=20 Holly M. Decker J COSA=20 secretary