May 3, 2022
Colleagues:
I have decided that rather than sending all of you one very long update to send you two shorter updates, one this week and one next week. This week’s update will focus on nominations for Chapter Officers for next year and Commencement.
This is a very busy time for all of us, the last week of classes, getting ready to give final exams next week and the massive and time-consuming grading of final assignments and final exams. Adding to the stress we usually feel at this time of year is the fact that this has been a difficult period of time for all of us because of the COVID epidemic. We are still adjusting to the return to campus, many of our families and our students’ families have been impacted in negatives ways by the COVID epidemic, and we are now having to adjust our work-life balance due to the increased emphasis on our return to campus plans.
Please make sure you take some time to take care of yourself and get away from your work.
Nominations:
As was announced in an e-mail on Monday by our Treasurer Michael LeBlanc, nominations for all elected Executive Committee positions is now open and the nominating period ends on Friday May 6. All positions are open because, according to our constitution, we each serve a one-year term of office. The open positions include President, Secretary, Treasurer, VP-Germantown, VP-Rockville, VP-Takoma Park/Silver Spring. If you are interested in knowing who is currently serving in each of these positions go to mcaaup.org and then click on the Executive Committee link towards the top of the page. A brief description of the responsibilities of each Chapter officer is located in our Constitution and that document can be accessed by clicking on the Chapter Documents link on the Chapter webpage.
If you are interested in running for a particular office or if you are interested in nominating another faculty member for a particular office, please e-mail your communication to Julie Levinson, Counseling TP/SS. Each Chapter officer must be a dues-paying member of the Chapter, and we will verify said membership before the faculty member is added to the ballot.
Our Executive Committee meetings typically occur twice a month on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-5:00. Some of the Officers receive ESH, and all Officers are expected to participate in various activities throughout the academic year. The workload is usually spread out so that no one Officer feels overwhelmed.
My involvement in the Chapter started in 2000 when I was drafted to be the Chapter’s Chief Negotiator. I was sent to a summer training program that was organized by our National Office, and I had a full negotiating team to work with me throughout the negotiations process. This was an enjoyable, while at times, frustrating experience. I was then elected to my first term as the Chapter’s President. Since that time, with the exception of a three-year period, I have either been the President or Past President of the Chapter.
I believe it is very important for the Chapter that others in the faculty ranks learn how to do this job and that now is the time for this change to take place. I have informed the members of the Executive Committee that I am not going to run for office for next year. I will still be involved with Chapter leadership and Chapter activities because I will still be a member of the Executive Committee but in a different role, the Immediate Past President. I believe that due to the complexities of this role the person who replaces me should be one of the members of the current Executive Committee. We definitely have several members of the Executive Committee who have the ability to take on this role and manage the Chapter’s affairs.
Commencement:
This year’s commencement will occur on the Rockville Campus on Thursday and Friday May 19 and 20. We have all seen the announcements and call for volunteers. This is the time of year when we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and attending graduation is one way we can do this. Several e-mails have been sent to the College community with a call for volunteers and notifications about commencement. I encourage all of you to attend at least one day of graduation. Whether you volunteer to assist with graduation or if you decide to march in your cap and gown, our collective participation will be appreciated by the students and their families.
Closing Meeting:
On Wednesday, May 18, we will host our end of year meeting via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all of you as we approach that date. Our meeting will start around 11:15, and we will open the Zoom room around 11:00. We have worked with IT and can now host over 300 people in the meeting. The Executive Committee appreciates all who attend and participate in these meetings, and we like hearing from the membership during these meetings. As a faculty we only get together three times a year, so please plan on attending and participating in the meeting.
On behalf of the Chapter,
Harry Z.
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