Governance Retreat Planning Work Group Meeting

27 Jan., 2010               1:30-2:30 p.m.                 Blackbird

Present: Kleine (chair), Davis-Bray, Digiovanni, Roquemore, Turner, Windish, Woodard

Context: Howard Woodard agreed to serve on the committee and was welcomed to his first meeting with a cup of java.  Joe Windish brings the Staff Council perspective to this meeting and was welcomed with a cookie.  Other members are veterans of previous meetings (and thus welcomed in words alone).

Business

1)                           Members shared ideas of “burning issues” or topics that might serve as a backdrop for the upcoming retreat.  These included: a) dealing with change, b) developing leaders, c) a clarified mission, and d) a University Senate (vs. a House of Representatives or a faculty senate).  It was determined that the tentative anchors to be used include: a) maintaining/improving Senate’s productivity, b) rising to challenges with character, and c) continuing to clarify the role of Senate and roles within Senate.

2)                           It was determined that the date for the retreat will be 11 August and there will likely be sessions in the morning and the afternoon.  Under consideration for the afternoon activity is holding the first US meeting of the academic year.

3)                           Barbara Roquemore agreed to create and implement “warm-ups” and a final fun, yet purposeful, application of learning to culminate the retreat.

4)                           Discussed the possibility of assigning mentors for incoming Senators and the wisdom of pairing a fledgling with a veteran from the same vs. a different committee.  No decision was made.  Also discussed the wisdom of inviting new Senators to the final US meeting so that they would begin to get a sense of the activities at a Senate meeting.  Kleine will discuss this w/ ECUS and get its feedback before a decision is made. NOTE: 30 April is the date for the organizational meetings of the US standing committees to elect officers as well as the CoB faculty meeting.  Kleine will report this to ECUS with the objective of eliminating a time conflict for Senators from the CoB.

5)                           Members agreed that West Campus Center was an appropriate venue for the retreat and could serve as the site again.  Kleine will investigate whether Lake Laurel has been renovated, and if so, whether that locale would make a good option for the retreat site. 

Tentative agenda

            1)         Developing anchored activities to accomplish the objectives

Next meeting will be on 22 Feb. in the Library (after the University Senate meeting)