May 21, 2024 Employee Forum minutes
Delegates Attending: Caley Allen, Sharron Bouquin, David Bragg, Shane Brogan, Bonita Brown, Renata Buchanan, Shavon Carey-Hicks, Tiffany Carver, Matthew Chamberlin, Warren Chui, Kelsey Dillon, Chassidy Dixon, Elizabeth DuBose, Alicea Easthope-Frazer, Paloma Eddowes, Jay Eubank, Sarah Green, Chrissie Greenberg, Leah Hefner, Keith Hines, James Holman, Linda Holst, Rebecca Howell, Samara Howell, Brigitte Ironside, Kira Jones, Paige Krier, Jennifer Larson, Haydeé Marchese, Daysia Mardré, Torri Mason, Arlene Medder, Cherie Mellor, Vanessa Mitchell, Katie Musgrove, Katherine Neer, Joseph Ormond, Lisa Petersen, Allana Smith Potts, Janny Sanchez, Kelly Scurlock-Cross, Audrey Shore, Theresa Silsby, Paige Simpson, Heather Skinner, Greg Smith, Sarah Smith, Jake Stallard, Mathew Steadman, Annetta Streater, Matthew Teal, Susse Toro, Jacob Womack, Natasha Young
Excused Absences: L. E. Alexander, Adrianne Gibilisco, Megan Harvell, Vanessa Morris, Natiaya Neal, Laura Pratt, Charlissa Rice, Lori Shamblin, James Stamey, Julie Theriault
Chair Katie Musgrove called the meeting to order at 9:16 a.m. She thanked delegates for their willingness to attend the day’s special meeting, dedicated to the administrative needs of the Forum. She noted that today’s meeting would be immediately followed by the Forum’s Executive Committee meeting later that morning, and she invited delegates to stay for that meeting if possible.
The Chair asked for a motion to consider the Forum’s Bylaws revisions on second reading, given that the Forum approved the revisions on first reading at the May 8th general meeting. She hoped to provide delegates a bit more time to ask questions regarding the structure of these revisions in this day’s meeting. The Chair read a summary of the proposed revisions.
Arlene Medder moved that the Forum approve these revisions, seconded by Elizabeth Dubose. The Chair said that the revisions were mainly devoted to making some big picture changes in the document. One change creates improvements in the continuity of leadership, another addresses changes in the UNC System Staff Assembly election process, and a third institutes guardrails around elections and term limits.
The Chair thanked the group of students from the Community Development Law Clinic of the UNC School of Law who composed the Bylaws changes according to the summary approved in February. The Chair noted name changes of certain committees, with the Education and Career Development committee becoming the Leadership, Education, and Career Development committee and the Membership and Assignments committee becoming the Membership and Engagement committee. She said that the former change had come about as a result of the merger with the University Managers’ Association this past spring, whereas the latter change came about in the Executive Committee in order to more accurately reflect the work of that group.
The Chair welcomed Parliamentarian Jacob Womack to speak further about the proposed revisions. She also opened the floor for questions and thoughts regarding the revisions. She added that the Bylaws themselves need smaller changes which were not considered in this proposal. She hoped that the Forum would consider these further changes in due course. Womack said that the Rules committee will work on these changes in the coming year.
Arlene Medder praised the work of the group in composing this package of revisions. She had a few suggestions that would probably need to be considered in the following round of revisions this fall. Jacob Womack noted that delegates can submit proposals for changes on the Rules committee Teams page.
As there was no further discussion, the Chair asked for votes in favor of the proposed revisions. Delegates voted in favor of the motion, with none opposed or abstaining. The Chair confirmed with the Parliamentarian that the Forum had a quorum under its current Bylaws. She was pleased that the Forum had thus ratified the Bylaws revisions. She noted the amount of work that had been done to create these revisions, and the coming work needed to update the Forum’s website and other materials.
At this point, the Chair called for a motion for the Forum to enter closed session in order to consider an honorary resolution. Theresa Silsby made this motion, seconded by Elizabeth Dubose. Delegates voted in favor of this motion, with none voting in opposition or abstaining. The Forum thus moved into closed session via the Zoom’s breakout room feature.
The Forum reconvened following this discussion. Tiffany Carver moved that the Forum adjourn the full body portion of the general meeting. Samara Howell seconded this motion, which was approved by acclamation. The general meeting thus adjourned at 9:42 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Banks, Recording Secretary