Support Staff Advocacy Committee

KUDOS TO EVERYONE IN HOUSEKEEPING FROM JOYCE WHITTEMORE SUBMITTED 2/10/06
I apologize for this thank you being so late in coming. Everyone in the Housekeeping Department work very hard over the winter break to deep clean bathrooms and showers, locker rooms, stripping and refinishing floors, and just general overall catching up on everything. Thanks Team Leaders and crew members for all of your hard work.

Comment submitted anonymously 1/24/06:
I had an interesting experience this past w/e that I would like to share with you:
While shopping at the HANCOCK LUMBER store, I showed my Bowdoin ID card so that I could receive my 10% "internal" discount (as posted by Human Resources) only to be unpleasantly surprised and EMBARRASSED! to learn that BOWDOIN COLLEGE receives a 10% discount! BUT employees only receive a 2% discount! Can you please check into this ? You may also want to check on the other so-called "internal discounts" to make sure that they are listed correctly .... When I entered the Hancock Lumber store I was proud to be a Bowdoin Employee but when I left I was humiliated to be a Bowdoin employee!

Response from Jim Kelley received 1/24/06:
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I phoned Hancock Lumber to confirm the availability of the discount and the wording of the discount. They confirmed the discount is described correctly and the employee may have been overcharged for their purchase. Please note the items not eligible for discount, based on the language of the offer:

Hancock Lumber
Bowdoin employees receive a 10% discount on purchases at Hancock Lumber by presenting their current Bowdoin Photo ID. The 10% discount is valid on normal daily cash prices. Special promotions, sale items, negotiated prices, close out items, and special orders will not be eligible for the discount. Any customer receiving a discount based on historical business will only be eligible for one discount. Hancock Lumber invites Bowdoin employees to use its specialized services, especially its project professionals and account managers. Upon check out, please present your Bowdoin ID and mention the account name is BOWDEMP.

If you have questions regarding the Hancock Lumber discount, please call Mike Davis at 373-2418. Visit their website at www.hancocklumber.com.

I spoke with Mike Davis and he suggested the employee should call him to review the purchases. If he could review the receipt, he is willing to adjust the cost of any item purchased at an incorrect discount amount. He is really anxious to "correct" the issue for the employee. I hope we are able to assist the employee to ensure he/she is receiving the correct discount amount. I am available to speak with employees regarding employee discounts; my extension is 3115. Best, Jim

Suggestion submitted anonymously 11/22/05:
I heard a rumor that Katy Longely was looking for suggestions of ways that the college could save some money this year and I have a suggestion but I didn't know how to get it to her, could you please help pass it on to her: I wanted to suggest added 3 bonus days off to the hard working staff's holiday schedule. We now have off : 12/23 Fri, 12/26 Mon, 12/30 Fri, 1/2 Mon, if she could add 3 bonus days off ;12/27 & 12/28 & 12/29, the college could close down and would save $ on heating, lighting and gas from not using shop vehicles. Thanks for your help.

Response from Katy Longley received 11/29/05:
Thank you for the email. We actually considered this but it doesn't appear that there would be significant energy savings to close the campus during this period. We start up the central heating plant in the fall and it stays on until the spring. It actually costs us more to close the heating plant and restart it, so the core of the campus will be heated in any event- whether we're here or not. This year the way the holidays fall there will be a good stretch of vacation. I hope that everyone can enjoy it! Katy

Comment submitted by Steve Scott 5/8/06:
Is there some way we could raise money to organize the campus wide picnic? My suggestion is, once a month you collect one or two dollars to wear jeans for the day. Then when enough money is raised we hire dining and have ourselves a picnic, and maybe a pizza party or two. Just a suggestion. THANKS. Steve Scott HSKP.

Comment submitted anonymously 5/8/06:
Many Support Staffers would like to know if we can have our Campus Picnic BACK!! Many of us would rather kick our shoes off, let our hair down and throw a frisbee or horseshoe rather that get dressed up and mingle while eating "fancy" food at Thorne Hall. I think that this Campus Picnic was ended to consolidate funds for the Polar Awards BUT if we can earn enough money through "Jean Days" and bottle drives to buy some burgers and chips - would we be allowed to organize it and BRING BACK OUR CAMPUS PICNIC???? Thanks for your input!

Response from SSAC:
The SSAC discussed these two online comments at our last meeting in May. The sentiments expressed by these two employees who took the time to write have also been expressed to us verbally by other support staffers. We noted that the issue was also addressed recently in the BAS meeting minutes of April 7th. Given that so many staff members across campus feel strongly about this issue, we discussed combining efforts with the BAS and requesting a meeting to revisit this issue with Human Resources. Lynne will contact the BAS Chair to arrange.
In the meantime, as plans are already well underway for this year's Polar Awards ceremony, the SSAC encourages all support staff to attend the event on Wednesday June 14th at 1:30 pm in Thorne. This year's theme is "Dancing with the Stars," and the Polar Awards Committee promises all employees an afternoon filled with entertainment, delicious treats, valuable door prizes, and the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work we all do for the College. See you there!