McBride takes over
Employee Council helm

By Eric Rangus erangus@emory.edu

The Employee Council’s March 21 meeting at the Luce Center was the last of Susan Cook-Prince’s presidency. By the time it was over she had passed the council’s torch to Bill McBride of Facilities Management, who will serve as council president until March 2002.

Cook-Prince also handed out end-of-year awards. They included:

Certificates of recognition for council members whose three-year terms were ending (several renewed their membership, however): Joyce Bergere, Cheryl Bowie, Cheryl Bullard, Chris Gabriel, LaVon Gainey, Paula Haggard, Angela Hale, Helen Harrison, Julia Leon, Lynn Magee, Cathy Phillips and Margie Varnado.

Members of the anniversary committee: Gaya Chestnut, Chris Gabriel, LaVon Gainey, Laquanda Jackson, Meredith Honeycutt, Sue Lackey, Susan Lee, Julia Leon, Cheryl Sroka and Rosalind Staib
Officers: Joyce Bergere, parliamentarian; Cheryl Bowie, secretary; Bill Chattfield, secretary-elect; LaVon Gainey, special issues committee co-chair; Meredith Honeycutt, communications committee chair; Laquanda Jackson, elections committee chair and membership committee co-chair; Julia Leon, webpage administrator; Bill McBride, president-elect and special issues committee chair; Don Newsome, membership committee chair; Cathy Phillips, historian; Ann Rouse, past president; Cheryl Sroka, communications committee co-chair; and Geraldine Thomas, treasurer.

In addition to their earlier notice, Leon and Bowie received special awards of merit for serving as webpage administrator and anniversary committee chair, respectively.

Prior to the awards presentation, several guest speakers took the floor. First was Adam Max from the Office of Admissions and Andy Reed, assistant director of the Association of Emory Alumni, who promoted “Beyond the Basics,” a workshop for members of the Emory community whose children are approaching college age.

Max said the June 22–23 workshop is not just for students applying to Emory, but to any university. The goal of the program is to provide students and families greater understanding of the intricate college admission process.

Michelle Smith, executive director of corporate relations, followed, updating the council on workplace giving. She said President Bill Chace had given her the go-ahead to expand the program beyond the United Way. She hopes to have the new system in place by October.

Smith listed four charities that are being considered for donations: Georgia Shares, the Black United Fund of Georgia, the Environmental Fund of Georgia and Community Health Charities. The inclusion of these charities, Smith said, will give Emory employees five choices instead of one.

Smith asked for the council’s input. She hopes to link employees who would like to volunteer with charity organizations that could use their services. There currently is no such system in place.

Prior to the award presentation, Cook-Prince introduced Senior Vice President for Campus Life John Ford, who was attending his first council meeting.

“I admire what this organization does,” he told the council.

McBride said he would take suggestions for committee chairs at the April meting. Cheryl Bowie, as 2001-02 president-elect, will automatically chair the special issues committee.

The next meeting will be held April 18 in the Jones Room of Woodruff Library.

If you have a question for Employee Council, send e-mail to Bill McBride at wjmcbri@fmd.emory.edu