Phone: (814) 227-2420 www.apscuf.org December 2018 Executive Committee: President – Ray Feroz; Vice President – Joyce Overly; Secretary – Christopher McCarrick; Treasurer – Linda Lillard; Delegates – Ray Feroz, Jennifer May, Annette Rosati, Barry Sweet, Lorie Taylor; Alternate Delegates – Ellen Foster, Cristin Ketley, Jacqueline Knaust, Karl Sprenger, Jonathan Touster; Coaches President - Sean Esterhuizen; Coaches Vice President – Al Modrzejewski; Coaches’ Grievance Chair – Eric Laughlin; Venango Campus Rep – Renee Bloom; CAP – Joseph Croskey; DRC – Mary Buchanan; Grievance – Mark Kilwein; Health & Welfare – Amy Shannonhouse; Legislative – Jonathan Touster; Membership – Paul Klenowski; Negotiations – Ray Feroz; Nominations & Elections – YooJin Ha; Social Justice – Amy Conner-Love; Public Affairs/Relations – Christopher McCarrick; Student Liaison – Naomi Bell O’Neil; Rules & Bylaws – Carey Childers; Mobilization CoChairs – Jackie Knaust & Andy Lingwall; State Temporary Faculty Committee – Michael Hissam; State APSCUF Executive Council – Joyce Overly; Meet & Discuss Team: Ray Feroz; Barry Sweet; Joyce Overly; Adam Roberts; Mark Kilwein; Jennifer May; Mary Buchanan The President’s Message… Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Everyone Dear Colleagues, Here we are at the end of the semester and the onset of the holiday season. I hope you are bringing those courses and other activities to conclusion, in anticipation of some much-needed end-of-year rest and personal fulfillment. Please join us for the APSCUF Holiday Social at Clarion River Brewing Company on Main Street on Thursday, December 13 from 4-6 pm. It is a great time to catch-up to your colleagues in a joyous atmosphere! Stop by to have some tasty hors doevres and refreshments! Finally, I am happy to report that for the first time in several years there are NO RETRENCHMENT LETTERS anywhere in the state system on the table! The single letter issued this year, at Cheney University, was withdrawn when Middle States extended their provisional accreditation. Congratulations to the StateWide Meet & Discuss Team for their tireless efforts on behalf of Cheney University. APSCUF takes very seriously the protection of our members’ livelihoods. At the close of the year I want to thank all the APSCUF members who volunteer and serve in leadership roles. This solidarity makes our union strong and effective! Heartfelt thanks! Best wishes for warmth and peace this holiday season, Ray December, 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 1 SPRING 2019 MEETINGS (Please mark your calendars!) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EC) (Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 pm) Tuesday, January 22 Tuesday, February 5 Tuesday, February 19 Tuesday, march 19 Tuesday, April 2 Tuesday, April 16 (APSCUF Spring Elections) DEPARTMENTAL REP COUNCIL (Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 PM) Tuesday, January 29 Tuesday, February 12 Tuesday, March 12 Tuesday, April 9 SPRING 2019 MEET & DISCUSS @ 2:30 pm Friday, January 18 – Pre-Meet & Discuss (APSCUF Office) Friday, January 25 – Meet & Discuss (Rhea) Friday, February 15 – Pre-Meet & Discuss (APSCUF Office) Friday, February 22 – Meet & Discuss (Carrier) Friday, March 15 – Pre-Meet & Discuss (APSCUF Office) Friday, March 22 – Meet & Discuss (Rhea) Friday, April 5 – Pre-Meet & Discuss (APSCUF Office) Friday, April 12 – Meet & Discuss (Carrier) GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Tuesday, March 26 @ 3:30 pm *includes “Meet the Candidates” Forum LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES February 7-9, 2019 (Wyndham, Gettysburg) April 25-27, 2019 (Williamsport) May 17, 2019 – Leadership Day (Slippery Rock) GENERAL APSCUF & BARGAINING UNIT MEETING is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 2019, @ 3:30 pm. Location is to be announced. This will also include “Meet the Candidates” forum for the 2019 Spring Elections. Please “pencil in” this meeting on your meeting calendar. NOTE: Spring Elections will be held on Tuesday, April 16th. Join us at the Clarion APSCUF’s Holiday and End-of-the-Semester Celebration at the Clarion River Brewing Company, Thursday, December 13, from 4-6 pm. Please feel free to bring your spouse or a significant other! Please do make plans to join us and help celebrate the holiday spirit! CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES!! to the following faculty who will be retiring in January 2019: Jon Brown – Education William Buchanan – Library Sciences Janina Jolley – Psychology Kevin Roth – Marketing & Management WELCOME New APSCUF Members!!  Darlene Sharrar – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics  Matthew Vogel – Special Education December, 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 2 A REMINDER to the new Fall 2018 Part-time Temporary Faculty: If you were a new part-time temp for the fall 2018 semester and are returning to Clarion University for the spring 2019 semester, please contact Jan Walters in the APSCUF office in January for a PA Faculty Health & Welfare Fund enrollment card. YES, you do qualify for partial vision and dental coverage for you have fulfilled the obligation of serving one semester of the previous three semesters. NOTE: THIS IS NO COST TO YOU WHATSOEVER. Just one of the benefits from APSCUF’s collective bargaining. For detailed coverage for part-time temporary faculty, go to http://www.pafac.com/ptbenefits.htm. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLARION APSCUF 2019 FALL SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2019 Clarion APSCUF Scholarship to be awarded to six (6) Clarion University students. Any student wishing to apply must be currently enrolled at Clarion University with a minimum of 3.2 QPA following completion of the Fall 2018 semester. Eligibility, instructions and application can now be downloaded at www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion . Deadline for submission is Friday, March 22, 2019 @ 12:00 pm. Please feel free to share the direct link to the application: https://www.apscuf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Application-for-APSCUF-Scholarshipfor-Fall-2019.pdf We are asking once again for you to announce this scholarship to your students in your classes along with posting the above link in each of your D2L course sites. Also we are asking to please display the enclosed announcement flyer in your department where students can see it. In advance, thank you for your assistance. The Clarion APSCUF Scholarship Committee: Simon Aristeguieta (Chair), Todd Lavin & Jeffrey Diamond 2019 STATE APSCUF SCHOLARSHIP: For Family Members of APSCUF/APSCURF Members Only: State APSCUF is now accepting applications for their annual scholarship program. The scholarship award of $3,000 will only be presented to one (1) eligible applicant in his/her higher education career in August 2019. An eligible applicant must be a “family member” of an APSCUF/APSCURF member in good standing or an APSCUF staff member and must be enrolled at one of the fourteen (14) state-owned universities. Deadline for application is March 1, 2019. For more information on eligibility and to download the complete application, go to https://www.apscuf.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/10/APSCUFStateScholarshipProgram2019final.pdf December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 3 TAX DEDUCTION CHANGES for 2018: TAX SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! IF YOU ITEMIZE, PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING 2018 FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTION FOR UNION DUES OR FAIR SHARE PAYMENTS: NINETY-ONE (91%) PERCENT OF UNION DUES ARE DEDUCTIBLE WHEN FILING YOUR FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN. NONMEMBER FAIR SHARE PAYMENTS EQUATE TO NINETY-ONE (91%) PERCENT OF UNION DUES AND ALL OF THESE PAYMENTS ARE DEDUCTIBLE. (See memo inserted in this newsletter.) COMING SOON…..GENERAL SPRING 2019 ELECTIONS!!! GET INVOLVED!!! Nominating petitions will be arriving in your mailboxes in late January 2019. If you would like to run for positions on APSCUF Offices and Committees and/or Contractual Committees in the General Spring 2019 Elections, please check out the upcoming local APSCUF January 2019 Newsletter for election information and consider running for the available positions. REMINDER: Enhancements coming soon to the Healthy U member experience. Highmark Blue Shield recently announced a new partnership with Sharecare, who will be replacing WebMD as their wellness rewards partner. As a result of this upcoming transition, Healthy U will have a delayed start date of January 1, 2019. Watch your university email for exciting details on the transformation of the Healthy U member experience. APSCUF (AND APSCURF) MEMBERS: We got a great Christmas gift idea for a family!! Why not give a gift of health to your family with a family membership to our local YMCA in Clarion and Oil City. Please see the enclosed flyer for details on how you can save by just being a member of APSCUF!! NOTE: The Clarion APSCUF Office will be closed the following days during the semester break: Friday, December 14; Friday, December 21st thru Tuesday, January 2nd; Friday, January 4; January 18; Monday, January 21st in observance of Martin Luther King Day. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 4 December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 5 December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 6 December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 7 December 2018 www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion 8