Employee Council held its most recent meeting, March 19, at the Yerkes Center. It was the first time the council had met at Yerkes, and highlights included a welcome from the center’s public relations director, Lisa Newbern, and an in-depth presentation on Yerkes research by Poul Olson, senior editor in the Yerkes public relations office. Olson also led attendees on a brief tour of the facilities, including a look at a habitat for capuchin monkeys.

In council business, communications chair Susie Lackey said plans are in full swing for next month’s information fair at the VA hospital. Membership chair Robyn Pollette distributed biographies of members running for offices for the 2003–04 academic year. Elections will be held at the council’s April meeting.

Special issues chair Don Newsome updated the council on the activities of the ad hoc University Senate committee charged with addressing Emory’s pre-employment drug testing policy. The committee is expected to present a revised version of the policy to the Senate in April

Michelle Smith, director of corporate giving, gave a review of the fall EmoryGives campaign. Joining her was Elicia Fritsch from Earth Share of Georgia, one of EmoryGives’ partners. Fritsch discussed EmoryGives’ volunteer component, focusing on a campaign to drum up Emory employees to help clean up Dearborn Park in Decatur on April 26.

Employee Council President Cheryl Bowie will serve as volunteer coordinator, and Fritsch said she hoped 150 Emory employees would volunteer. The cleanup would be from 9 a.m.–noon, and a thank-you party would follow that afternoon in the Borders bookstore in Buckhead.

The next Employee Council meeting will be held at 2 p.m., April 16, in the Agnor Room of Gambrell Hall.

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