The Employee Council’s June 19 meeting in the Rollins Room of the Rollins School of Public Health featured two guest speakers, the naming of a new officer and a brief history lesson.

Missy Douglas, site works system manager with the School of Medicine’s clinical trials office, introduced the council to the office’s upcoming website. The site, once operational, will list all clinical trials at Emory. Not only will it contain information about the background and goals of each study, but it also will provide contacts regarding participation as a subject.

Following Douglas was Paula Gomes, director of the Emory Well House. Gomes, who has led the Well House for five months, addressed the council for the first time. She detailed some of the Well House’s programming and answered questions. She also encouraged council members to promote the July 24 Red Cross blood drive to their constituents. Employee Council and the Well House are two of the event’s sponsors.

Council president Cheryl Bowie announced that Joyce Bergere, who was elected to a second term as parliamentarian in the spring, would be leaving Emory. To fill her office, Bowie appointed Susie Lackey. Bergere also served on two University Senate subcommittees: fringe benefits and parking and traffic. Bowie asked for volunteers to take over those slots. Beatrice Salako (parking and traffic) and Chris Gabriel (fringe benefits) stepped forward.

Bowie also discussed some proposed changes to council bylaws, such as adjusting the council’s calendar to coincide with other campus governmental organizations. Currently, the council’s administrative year begins in April, while the University Senate and the rest of Emory’s governance groups end their years that month. Bowie also floated an idea of changing meeting times from 2–4 p.m. to earlier in the afternoon—perhaps 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or noon–2 p.m. An earlier time may help improve attendance, she said. Neither of these ideas have progressed beyond the discussion stage.

Historian Cheryl Sroka said she has been browsing the archives of the 32-year-old council, which are located in Woodruff Library’s Special Collections area. She said she hopes to bring to attention the council’s long list of accomplishments.

Sroka said the first council meeting was held Feb. 4, 1970, and that it has had an active role in life on campus ever since. She focused her discussion on the 1989–90 council. This active group, Sroka said, sponsored eight open houses along with many other activities. She also said that many employees’ prime concerns (the high cost of health insurance, internal promotions and career growth) mirrored current themes. Sroka said she plans to give historical updates at each meeting.

Lackey, the communications committee chair, updated the council on the status of the annual town hall meeting with President Bill Chace, scheduled for Sept. 25 in Cox Hall, and said the committee is looking for a date in October to hold an information fair in the Dobbs Center.

Servant leadership chair Julia Leon said the next council-sponsored brown bag will be with Bob Hascall, senior associate vice president of Facilities Management, on July 12. She also reviewed June’s event, which featured Emory Women’s Center Director Ali Crown.

Audrey Lee of the membership committee said that council members who have excessive absences will be contacted along with the person who appointed them. She also said that council alternates who attend meetings should sign the roster in a separate place to that attendance can be properly accounted.

Bergere gave a brief update on the work of the special issues committee, which focused on parking, traffic and the availability of campus shuttles.

Employee Council will reconvene Sept. 18.

If you have a question or comment for Employee Council, send e-mail to Cheryl Bowie at cheryl@radonc.emory.org.