A review of the previous day’s Employee Council-sponsored Information Fair was one of the highlights of the council’s Oct. 16 meeting in the Oppenheimer Room on the campus of Grady Hospital. More than 30 council members, some coming from as far as Oxford College, made the journey to Grady for the meeting. Several Grady employees also attended.

Communications chair Susie Lackey announced that 22 tables were set up at the Oct. 15 fair—the largest ever—and 17 Emory departments were represented. A significant number of vendors turned out as well. A dozen door prizes were handed out, and feedback about the event was excellent.

A location for the spring fair has not been finalized, but one possibility is the VA Hospital.
Council treasurer Meredith Honeycutt, a representative from Campus Life, discussed the second annual Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week, an event cosponsored by the council and the L.E.A.D. team. The week of Nov. 11–15 has been set aside for the event, which was a rousing success the first time it took place.

One of the week’s highlights will be the faculty/staff art show. Employees, Honeycutt said, are encouraged to drop off original works of art in the Office of Student Activities. A panel of judges will then determine which pieces will be displayed in the Dobbs Center art gallery. A reception to premiere the works will take place in the Dobbs Center on Nov. 14.

Special issues chair Don Newsome asked council members to poll their constituents about Emory’s new pre-employment drug screening policy. The goal is to come to a consensus about the council’s position on the subject. Newsome said employee comments have run the gamut from negative to positive. Once data have been gathered, Newsome said, the council can make a formal statement.

Membership chair Robyn Pollette said the attendance roster will be reformatted so alternates will have their own places to sign in. The current format does not distinguish between full members and alternates. The council membership roster also will be reformatted to list members in alphabetical order as well as by department. Some members find the current method—by division—difficult to deal with.

Council historian Cheryl Sroka gave her regular council history presentation; two of the council’s University Senate representatives, Paula Bechtler (safety and security) and Gail Mooney (parking and transportation), gave brief overviews of their committees’ responsibilities; and Sue Topping of the Emory Federal Credit Union invited council members to visit the credit union’s Autumn Auto Fest, Oct. 26.

The next Employee Council meeting will be in the Cypress Room of the Carter Center, Nov. 20, from 2–4 p.m.

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