NewsSurge
News from the University Managers' Association
Volume 3, Number 1
October-December 1998


President’s Corner

Greetings from the 1998-99 UMA board of directors (Fran Allegri, Sharon Bowers, Trevaughn Brown, Ann Dodd, Hilda Durham, Ann Edwards, Sharon Grayden, Jim Mergner, Lindsay Reeves, and Steve Weiss).  I am pleased to report that we now have almost 200 active UMA members, and we hope to continue the upward trend in both membership numbers and participation in the coming year.  Since July of 1998, we have welcomed 20 new UMA members.

Our overall goal for this year is to strengthen member services and networks, and the board has established goals and action plans in the areas of member support and networking, strengthening membership numbers and participation, manager education and recognition, and visibility.  In the interest of continuous improvement, we hope that you will let us know what else you would like your UMA membership to include!  We hope that you have noticed the following changes already:
Member Support and Networking
· We are now sending welcome letters to all new and renewing members.
· We are increasing social interaction through events such as the “Top of the Hill Fridays.”
· We are increasing the entertainment value of meetings, by holding special events such as the December 1998 holiday reception.
· We are increasing our inclusiveness by inviting UMDP graduates from NC Central to also join UMA.
· We have created a UMA membership list on the web.
· The UMA board created a timeline for the year for each committee’s tasks to help ensure that we reach our goals.
· We are currently planning a mentor program for new UMDP graduates and are also planning board member involvement in the recruitment of 1999 Employee Appreciation Fair volunteers.  In addition, we hope to expand the UMA membership directory to include areas of expertise, to use as a member resource.
Strengthening membership numbers and participation
· We are currently planning a membership drive that will include mailings to past UMDP graduates as well as other faculty and university managers who may be interested in joining UMA.
· The Communications Committee has drafted a new brochure that we hope will target both academic leaders and academic support leaders.
Manager Education
· We offered a seminar to provide updates on HR policies, in response to member requests to get information about how to get things done at UNC.
· We have volunteered to provide the assistance of UMA members for the development of a university service directory that is currently in the planning stages.
· We are looking for participants to develop a product on how to get access to university mailing lists.
· We are including lists of management seminars in our newsletter.
Recognition and Visibility
· The new brochure will help us to create a distinct UMA identity.
· We have asked HR to include information about UMA in employee orientation and Supervisory Resources courses, and we will be using the brochure for this purpose.

If you are already involved in one or more of the above items, you have the sincere appreciation of the UMA board!  Be sure to let us know if you would like to find out more about participation in the development of the university service directory, the development of a product on how to get access to university mailing lists, or any other project.

We welcome your feedback on the continuous improvement of the University Managers Association.  Please contact me or any other Board member, or send email to UMAB@unc.edu.

Ann Dodd, UMA President


Skills for Tommorow

Please mark your calendars for the University Managers’ Association January Meeting.

The “Skills for Tomorrow” session will be held on January 12, 1999 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the McColl Building (Kenan Flagler Business School), classroom 2575.  Our guest speaker, Linda Conklin, Coordinator of Career Services at the General Alumni Association, will discuss the skills which are most important to managers when hiring an applicant for a job opening—skills our university employees need for success.

Also, Erika Phillips will give the results of the Employee Skill Survey distributed in November.

Parking will be available in the S1 lot (below the McColl Building).

If you have any questions, please call 962-9001.


Board of Directors Nominations

Nominations are now open for three positions on the UMA Board of Directors for a 3-year term starting July 1, 1999.

Rotating off the Board next summer will be Lindsay Reeves, Hilda Durham, and Steve Weiss.  You’ll receive an official nomination form in January, but it’s not too early to start thinking about worthy successors to Lindsay, Hilda, and Steve.  For more information, contact Steve Weiss, chair of the nominating comittee, 962-1888 or weiss@cs.unc.edu.
 


UMA Training Committee Report

The Training Committee has been very busy this fall.  We focused on two major projects that included the selection of the 1998-99 recipient of the University Manager’s Training Grant and planning the annual UMDP Update.  Kudos and many thanks to my hard-working committee members— Karen Henry, Ray Dubose, Laura Grady, Reba Sullivan, Phyllis Daugherty, Fran Allegri, and Claire Miller.

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Barbara Hutcherson, Business Manager for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, was this year’s recipient of the University Manager’s Training Grant.  The $250 award enabled Barbara to attend a special conference featuring nationally recognized experts in the field of practice management.  Barbara attended the meeting in early December and says that she has already implemented many of the techniques she learned from the experts she heard at the conference. Congratulations Barbara.

The speakers have been selected and the date is set for the 1999 UMDP Update.  Two very popular UMDP presenters, Ben Rosen and Heidi Schultz, from the Kenan-Flager School of Business have agreed to lead this year’s Update.  The half-day session will build on tips and techniques presented during the 1998 UMDP program so there will be something for everyone from recent UMDP grad to seasoned UMDP alumni.  Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 1999 UMDP Update, Friday, March 12 from 8:00 to noon at the Friday Center.

Sharon Grayden, Chair
UMA Training Committee


Communications Committee Report

The UMA Web Page has been redesigned, with thanks going to Michael Phillips for an excellent job.  Please visit the new web page at http://uma.unc.edu/ .

 A new version of the UMA Brochure is under design and hopefully will be available by the date of this mailing. Frances Hess has worked very deligently, with assistance of other UMA members, to come up with a brochure that will draw more attention using pictures and, hopefully, color.

The “Top of the Hill Friday” social time has occurred twice thus far with a minimal participation.  The Committee will be looking at other days and times to see if this would allow for more participation.  We welcome your thoughts and ideas about this event.

Please feel free to make suggestions and comments to the Communications Committee by contacting Sharon Bowers at Sharon_Bowers@unc.edu or CB# 8700.

Sharon Bowers, Chair
UMA Communications Committee


Member Notes

Congratulations to Hilda Durham for becoming a new grandmother...twice! Ashley Lucille Kerr born 8/23/98 and Jennifer Durham Chappell born 9/18/98.

Jane Lindley will be retiring from the Department of History on January 1, 1999.  She has worked with the University for 34 plus years. Congratulations and best wishes go to Jane from her UMA colleagues!

Send us your notes at UMANews@unc.edu, with permission of individual.


New Members

UMA would like to welcome new members who have joined since July 1, 1998:

Tracy Agnew, Annette Crabtree, Iman Faltass, Sarah Fisher, Craig Hyatt, Laura Kellison, Dennise McDaniel, Adrienne Meddock, Ann Murphy, Michael Phillips, Frieda Rosenberg, Jean Skelton, Sheila Storey, Brent Sutton, Jan Tax, Laura Toler, Chien-Hsin Wagner, Elizabeth Watts, Erica Wise, and Ken Yow.

Good to have you with us!


1999 Employee Appreciation Fair

The University Managers’ Association is proud to once again sponsor the Employee Appreciation Fair.  The 1999 Fair will be held on May 21, 1999, at the Smith Center.  This is the 10th annual Fair, and we look forward to celebrating the contributions of all University employees.  Stay tuned for more information — and plan to help the festivities by volunteering your time.  It takes more than 150 volunteers to make the Fair happen.

Ann Dodd, UMA President, on behalf of the UMA Board of Directors


Tip for the Day

The most effective way to cope with change is to help create it.

L. W. Lynett


UMA Christmas Poem

Special thanks to Eddie Capel for reading a poem he composed for the UMA holiday meeting on December 10.

Happy Holidays to one and all,
Watch out for icy spots, so you don't fall.
Soon some presents will come our way,
Thanks to the givers you must say.
Enjoy yourself but always behave,
For the next holiday you need to save.
Go now and have some fun,
You can walk or you can run.
Let's eat, drink, but don't go away,
Isn't it great to be part of UMA!!

Eddie Capel, UMA's Poet-in-Residence


UMA Listserv Notice!

If you change email addresses or work places, please let Linwood Futrelle know so that he can update
the UMA listserv. You can reach him by  email at linwood_futrelle@unc.edu or by phone at 962-5265.

Linwood Futrelle, UMA List Administrator


NewsSurge is produced by the University Managers' Association's Communications Committee. If you have any news that you would like to share through NewsSurge, please send information to UMANews@unc.edu.

Communications Committee Chair:  Sharon Bowers

Communications Committee Members :  Robert Dermody, Frances Hess, Nadine Kinsey, and Michael Phillips
 

UMA URL updated 21 August 2002, EA Evans