On Monday evening, August 16, statewide staff and their families gathered at the home of President Gamble to enjoy a night of food and entertainment. Many thanks to everyone who assisted with the picnic this year. In particular all the hard work by Bess Rounds to coordinate the event. The food this year was from Tubby's B-B-Q and it was fantastic. Pat and Ailese Gamble were gracious hosts. It was a wonderful opportunity for staff and their families to meet and interact with the new president and his wife. Other highlights included a clown from Party Palace, UAFD's Sparky the Fire dog, music by Nate Montgomery, sumo-wrestling and a bouncy house. See more of the action and picnic highlights in the PHOTO GALLERY...

Supporting Alaska's Promise

“You are Alaska’s children.
We bequeath to you a state that will be glorious in her achievements,
a homeland filled with opportunities for living,
a land where you can worship and pray,
a country where ambitions will be bright and real,
an Alaska that will grow with you as you grow.
We trust you; you are our future….” Alaska State Constitution

This year’s Statewide Staff Campaign begins on August 27th. The kick-off event will be held Aug. 27, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. in the Regent's Conference Room and by videoconference to the BOB, room 205. Let’s challenge each other to help support Alaska’s Promise to help our children have a glorious future. Your contribution in support of the University of Alaska will help achieve that goal. As always we are focused on a participation goal as opposed to a set dollar amount. An information packet and an e-mail about this year’s Statewide Staff Campaign will be coming your way soon.�

The UAF Community & Technical College, formerly the Tanana Valley Campus, officially changed its name July 1, 2010. The objective was to come up with a name and brand that clearly states who they are and what they do—both internally and externally.� MORE...

Parking decals for Fall 2010 go into effect September 1, 2010. Be sure to get your new decal to avoid a citation! Single vehicle permits can be purchased online from Parking Services.

Hard copy form => http://www.uaf.edu/files/fs/parkingdecalrenewal2010.pdf
Online submission form => https://uafparkweb.uaf.edu/eb/cmn/index.aspx

If you would rather pick up your decal in person, remember that the office has consolidated and moved. The new location is Room 114, 803 Alumni Drive (Facilities Services, Physical Plant).

When you get your decal, PUT IT ON YOUR CAR. Just because you have been issued a decal will not save you from a citation if it is not placed in your car properly. There's a $25 citation for not having your decal properly affixed.

There have been increases to citation fees, parking permits, and changes in operational structure as Parking Services works toward a positive fund balance. For an explanation of changes to parking fees and shuttle services please read the memo from Pat Pitney and overview of parking changes HERE.

The Office of Public Affairs seeks feedback from UA students on a variety of public relations topics/campaigns directed at them. If you have a student working in your office, and they are willing to participate please have them contact Kate Wattum at 450-8104 or kewattum@alaska.edu

The last meeting of the Statewide Administration Assembly was August 11. For a complete recap please read the August SAA Highlights HERE. The next meeting will be 10 a.m., September. 8, in� Butrovich 208. The public is welcome.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Statewide Voice user survey last month. We received some great suggestions and will make some changes in the coming months. Please continue to send feedback on the Voice and send your photos, classifieds and announcements for future publication to mmusick@alaska.edu. To send other comments or feedback please use the Feedback Form in the Statewide Voice.

Dr. Talis J. Colberg has accepted the position of director of UAA’s Mat-Su College. Dr. Colberg was chosen from a group of finalists who visited the campus this past month. Dr. Colberg has been an active member of the Mat-Su Valley community for many years. He’s a life-long Alaskan and third generation Valley resident who currently serves as the Borough Mayor. Dr. Colberg’s passion for Alaska is clearly reflected in his service to the state—he’s worked as Alaska’s Attorney General, as a Borough Assemblyman, as the director for the Alaska State Fair, and has also practiced law here since 1984. MORE...

Statewide employees have asked for more information on what unionization might mean for them. SAA will have staff from both the University of Alaska Statewide Office of Human Resources (UA HR office) and the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)� together in one room to answer� questions.

What: Brown Bag Unionization Q&A Forum
When: Friday, Sept. 3, noon - 1:00 p.m.
Where: Butrovich 109 (Suite 102 for Anchorage employees)
Why: Because you asked!
How: Email your questions to SAA at sysaa@email.alaska.edu.�

Each group will have two minutes each to answer the questions that have been collected ahead of time. After several questions collected by SAA have been asked, they will move on to questions from the audience. Pens and note cards will be provided so that audience-generated questions can be asked of the two participating groups.

As part of their effort to keep employees informed, UAA’s Classified Council posed� a list of questions to both HR and ASEA and then compiled the questions and responses. The responses were reprinted verbatim, without changes to wording or formatting, so that employees can make their own informed decisions. You can find those answers from the following link.
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/governance/upload/Implications-of-the-Union-Organizing-Efforts-at-UA.pdf

Please bring your lunch and join SAA at this Q&A Forum on Sept. 3.�

On Tuesday August 17 the UAA Kachemak Bay Campus Emergency Response Team and other faculty & staff members from the Homer site received training as citizen disaster responders.� Using the Department of Homeland Security’s “Community Emergency Response Team” (CERT) curriculum, participants learned about Emergency Preparedness, Medical Operations, Search & Rescue, Fire Safety, and Disaster Psychology. At the end of the day the class broke up into two teams who responded to a mock earthquake scenario in which simulated victims were assessed, treated, and evacuated to safety. Twenty one KBC employees received the training, which was presented by Lieutenant Ron Swartz from the UAA Police and Captain Dan Miotke from the Homer Volunteer Fire Department.

Campus Director Carol Swartz has purchased response supplies for the trainees to use in the Homer facilities in the event of an emergency. The group intends to have regular meetings and follow-up training sessions to enhance the university’s readiness and capabilities to protect life and property in the aftermath of a major event in which local professional responders may be temporarily overwhelmed.

Social media is a rapidly growing means of communication and outreach. If you are on Facebook we would like you know about some of the different UA departments, campuses and groups that you can join.

University of Alaska System

UA College Savings Plan

University of Alaska Fairbanks

UAF Community and Technical College

Freddie Fish (FAFSA Frenzy)

University of Alaska Museum of the North

University of Alaska Anchorage

There are many more out there for specific colleges, student groups, bookstores and more. Please take a moment to become a "Fan" of the University of Alaska and put another great avenue of communication at your fingertips.