Employee Council hosted four guest speakers at its most recent meeting, May 15, in WHSCAB auditorium. Del King of Human Resources explained Emory’s new drug testing policy for new hires. He reiterated that Emory’s policy applies only to prospective employees and currently is limited to five areas: HR, Campus Life, Facilities Management, Community Services and all temporary employees. In 12 months, King said, the program should be in place in all departments throughout the University.

He said that since drug testing began in March, 120 prospective employees had been tested and five had turned up positive.

Jacqueline Anthony, director of community affairs, spoke of the Emory University Partnership Advisory Council, a 15-year relationship Emory has had with Druid Hills High School and Fernbank Elementary School. Through the council, Emory provides the schools with college counseling, awards for outstanding achievement, meeting space on campus, complementary admission to the Carlos Museum and several other perks. Anthony said the program recently has added Shamrock Middle School as a partner.

Neurology’s Karen Carney told of her experiences as a courtesy scholarship recipient. She graduated with a Career MPH degree from the Rollins School of Public Health in December and participated in Commencement.

Not only did Carney, a 10-year Emory employee, discuss the challenges of earning an advanced degree while holding down a full-time job, but she also stated how crucial her scholarship was in financing her education.

The final guest was Sue Topping of the Emory Federal Credit Union. She showed a video describing the advantages of joining the credit union, which is available to all Emory employees and their immediate family members, and discussed several aspects of her work as well as the credit union’s mission and special programs.

Communications committee Chair Susie Lackey said the date for next fall’s annual town hall meeting with President Bill Chace has been set for Sept. 25 in Winship Ballroom. She also said the next information fair will be held in the Dobbs Center sometime in October.

Special issues committee chair Don Newsome discussed the difficulties off-site employees (those at Oxford, Crawford Long and the Carter Center, for example) have with attending Staff Fest. Transportation to the main campus is a major issue and he expressed hope that something could be done to accommodate off-site employees for the 2003 event.

Newsome also brought up the issue of shuttle service to the council, which he said has been reduced from three per hour to two. This is something that will be discussed in the future, he said.

Membership committee chair Robyn Pollete said her committee intends to focus on meeting attendance, recruitment and ensuring that each member has an alternate.

President Cheryl Bowie said the council is still looking for a site to hold its blood drive in July. Anyone with ideas should pass them along to her.

The next Employee Council meeting will be held June 19 in the Rollins Room of the School of Public Health.

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