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Last updated: 03/18/01

March 1999

Annual General Meeting

4:15 p.m., May 12, 1999
Dentistry/Pharmacy 2022

• March 26 Opening of nominations for executive positions (see p. 4)

• March 31 Deadline for submission of articles for April 16 mailout

• April 9 Deadline for submission of nominations

• April 9 Deadline for submission of special resolutions to be made at the AGM

• May 12 Deadline for submission of ballots

Watch for your next NASA communication in the latter part of April. It will contain important election and AGM information.

Trust members ratify contract

NASA trust members and the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta recently ratified the newly negotiated terms and working conditions for trust employees. Although the process was a long one, the NASA negotiating team believes that we have addressed the job security concerns raised by the trust employees while keeping the conditions of employment as similar as possible to those of the operating employees. The agreement applying to trust and operating employees will open for re-negotiation in the fall of 1999. NASA will be in contact with all of its members to determine the future direction and needs of the members.

The trust portion of the contract will be published and provided to all trust employees, along with benefit plan descriptions. For employees who will now be eligible for benefits (e.g., part-time), benefit description and enrollment will by conducted by Client Services. The benefit plans for part-time trust employees are effective July 1, 1999.

You may view the trust agreement at http://www.ualberta./ca/~hrgroup/trust/index.html

The effective dates of portions of the contract are in the "Memorandum of Settlement’ portion of the contract. If you have any questions regarding the interpretation of the agreement, or concerns, please contact the NASA office at 439-3181.

Barbara Surdykowski, Chief Negotiator

Long - Time NASA Member Retires

Theodore (Ted) Germaine, will retire Mar. 31, 1999, after 43 years’ of committed continuous service at the University of Alberta. Ted is the longest-serving support staff employee. Currently, he is a supervisor of surgery, where he works at the Surgical - Medical Research Institute (S.M. R. I.)

A native of Saskatchewan, Ted came to Alberta and began work as the first surgical technician at the McEachern Cancer Research Laboratory at the U of A in 1956, for Dr. John Callaghan. He then moved to the Surgical - Medical Institute upon its completion in 1960, in the bldg. that up until 1972 was called the Medical Sciences Bldg. We now know it as the Dentistry/Pharmacy Building.

Over the years, Ted has played many roles while at S.M.R.I., these being Administrator, Supervisor and Technician. Also, he has witnessed many changes in the University community. For instance Ted worked in a department that employed approximately 56 people. This same department to-day has approximately 28 people. He was once a supervisor of 15 and now of one.

When he first joined the union in 1956 it was known as Branch 22 of the Civil Service Association (C.S.A.), Government of Alberta. He continued to serve over the years through the changes with NASA, as we know it to-day, on various University Committees and he has represented his department on Rep’s Council for most of his time while at the U of A.

Ted represented Alberta as a boxer in the 1960 Olympic trials in Montreal. He also is an avid runner who has run with the best. Up until a year ago Ted had been running 5 - 7 days a week, 6 - 16 miles each day. He was preparing for such things as 26 mile marathons and half marathons. These events were held in Alberta. Some of you may have cheered him on in the Jasper - Banff Relay which he ran 5 - 6 times. While Ted was running and competing he was in good condition and usually finished in the top, 1/3 of the competitors.

Today Ted enjoys fishing and big game hunting. He and his wife Linda have a 40 - acre piece of land at Alder Flats, where they hope to spend more time during retirement. They have two sons and five grandsons. The eldest son is a Mechanical Engineer who obtained his degree at the University of Alberta and the youngest son is a Veterinarian, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan. Ted encouraged his sons to make their own choices and supported them in their endeavours.

Theodore Germaine is a soft-spoken gentleman of integrity and is respected by his peers. He values open-mindedness, being adaptable to change and the importance of understanding another person’s point of view. These principles guided Ted and enabled him to develop a solutions-orientated organization. He is willing to consider new ideas from students; co-workers; professors and administrators, in order to make informed and wise decisions. Ted was inspired by the words of another great man, Adlai E. Stevenson:

"Democracy is a place where honourable men may honourably disagree."

As Ted nears retirement at the University of Alberta, where he has worked with pride, he said, " I hope that the members of the university community will find ways to work together to continue the process of making the University of Alberta an outstanding and internationally recognized institution, as the next millennium approaches."

Let us join his friends and colleagues in wishing Ted a healthy and happy retirement. We hope that he can do all the things he never had time for in the past. He will be truly missed.

The NASA Executive and Staff

Reps Council to hold elections

In May it will be time to elect/re-elect members and a new chair of Reps Council. If you are already a member of Council and would like to continue, we look forward to having you run again in your area. If you are not a member of council and would like to make a contribution to NASA, please consider putting your name forward in your area or department.

Reps Council acts as an advisory body to the NASA Executive Committee and other appropriate bodies of the association. It is a communication link between the executive and the general membership.

It is the responsibility of council members to provide information and advice to the members in their areas with respect to contract provisions and NASA operations and bylaws. Members also have a duty to promote the educational and general welfare of the membership. As a rep, you represent the views and interests to your fellow workers.

Another duty that Reps Council has is to elect, as required, NASA representatives on committees, boards or other bodies. If an executive position is vacant during the normal term of office for that position, Council elects a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Members of Reps Council are elected every two years. For each 15 members, a department or area may have one rep and one alternate rep. The NASA office will distribute nomination forms to NASA members requesting one and, if necessary, a supervised ballot will be organized through the office.

Reps Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 4:45 p.m. (4:15 in the summer months) and usually in Dentistry/Pharmacy. The agenda is mailed to all reps along with the minutes of the previous meeting of Council and the minutes from the weekly executive meetings.

All NASA members may attend a meeting but only elected reps can make, second, or vote on motions.

As the chair of Reps Council, I urge you to help us move NASA into the new millennium with a strong Council and a strong, active membership. Please consider running for Reps Council in your area.

Executive Committee Elections ‘99!

The Executive shall, subject to the bylaws and to directions given to it by majority vote at any General Meeting properly called and constituted, have full control and management of the affairs of the Association, including financial affairs. Regular meetings of the Executive shall be held weekly (Article 3.2, Bylaws)

The terms of the following positions end on May 12, 1999:

Below is a brief description of the duties of these positions: