ABPAFS WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

August 27, 2004

In This Week’s Issue

---- New Format

----- Employee Profiles

---- Staff Salary List
--- Meet Your Officers and Committee Chairs
---- UM Musical Society Events

---- Reflections in Black
---- Interesting Web Sites
           *
Is a convicted sex offender living in your neighborhood?
              *
What women of childbearing age should know about eating fish 
              *  Find out if your slave ancestor was insured by a slave owner


New Announcements Format

For the past few years ABPAFS has used this email list for announcing meetings and other programs to the African American employees at the University. Now, that I am the self proclaimed Editor, Publisher, Main Reporter of the Newsletter there is going to be a change in the format and content of the Newsletter.

The old announcements were only available in text format and without graphics; the new format will include color photos and color graphics. The old content only provided announcements; the new content will have features including employee profiles, news events effecting the campus, contests, etc. In addition, it will still contain announcements and association business.

For people whose email will only allow for text messages a web address will be provided for a web version of the newsletter. Also a employee profile form will be provided for your input.

In order for me to implement there changes I will need your help in the following areas:
1. If you know of African American employee not receiving the newsletter send me their email address
2. If you or someone you know gets promoted, or moves to a new position send me the information
3. I will need reporters on the various campuses to send me information. I need someone on North Campus, Medical Campus, Athletic campus, Flint campus, and Dearborn campus. If you are interested in being a newsletter reporter contact Charles Ransom
4. I need suggestions for a name of the newsletter (NOT THE WOLVERINE!!!) Send your suggestions to me.
5. If you have comments contact Charles Ransom at ransomcg@umich.edu
6. If someone in your department has an important life event (birth, death, marriage, divorce--well only if they are happy) we want to know!


Employee Profiles
Marsha Smith
Dr. Dwight Fontenot

Secretary ll

Marsha has two daughters. One is a recent graduate of Michigan State University and the other is a Junior at EMU. She has worked for the University of Michigan for 23 yrs. Marsha is currently a Secretary/Receptionist in the Housing Administration office, Residence Education, 515 E. Jefferson, 1500 Student Activities Building, 1316. She also teaches Sunday School, Children's Church and the president of the Mission Dept at her church. Her favorite past time is spending time with my family and friends.

Assistant Director of Counseling for the Comprehensive Studies Program
and
Adjunct Lecturer in CSP and Department of Psychology

Dr. Fontenot has been Assistant Director since 1993. He was educated in Opelousas, Louisiana and received his BA degree at Louisiana State University. He received a Master's of Science in Psychological Methodology; a Master's of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering; and a doctoral degree in Cognitive Psychology all from the University of Michigan.
He is Minister of Music at the Community Church of God, Ypsilanti, Michigan were Dr. Fontenot is also the Chapter Representative for the Washtenaw County Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and works with the music department for the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor Ministers Alliance.

 


 

Staff Salary List

I have received some questions about the 2003/04 Staff Salary list I pointed to in last weeks announcements.  Here are some facts.

1.  The staff salary information is a matter of public record

2.  The Michigan Daily sells copies of the list. Michigan Daily sells a separate, salary supplement.  The Daily's list includes only faculty, P&A    and includes date of hire. It costs $8 and goes on sale sometime after the salary list comes out.

3.  The list I pointed to was provided be a local web blogger (On a Web site, a blog, a short form for weblog, is a personal journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. The author of a blog is often referred to as a blogger) at

http://www.goodspeedupdate.com/2004/07/university-of-michigan-fy-2003.html

4.  The annual list of salaries of UM faculty and staff is available at the Information Center, 2nd fl, Graduate Library, in University Reserves on the 1st fl of the UGL, and at the UGL Reference Desk.

5.  Questions about details not covered by the salary list can be directed to Janet Gilson, Records and Information Services, 763-4502. List can be purchased by anyone for $28 plus $6 shipping if it is mailed.

6.  The web edition of the salary list can be downloaded and sorted if you have Microsoft Excel


Meet Your Officers     

President/Membership Chair
Jeffrey Tibbs
Executive Director - Administration and Financial Services
Information Technology Central Services

Vice President/ Mentorship Chair
Tesenga S.  Duncan
Graduate Assistant in Rackham Human Resources
Grad Student in the School of Social Work

Chair Nominating Committee
Elzora Holland
Student Services Assoc II, LSA UG: Comprehensive Studies

Jeffrey M. Tibbs is currently Executive Director for Administration and Financial Services in UM's Information Technology Central Services Division. Jeffrey has performed undergraduate and graduate work in Economics at the University of Michigan and Indiana University. He has most recently earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. He has received numerous awards and professional certifications.

T. Sha' Duncan is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She was born in Kileen, TX. She is the mother of a beautiful little girl.
Instead of a bio she believes that two quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson will convey her philosophy for life, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."

and

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

 

 

 

 

Publicity Co-Chair
John Woodford
Executive Editor Michigan Today

Publicity CO-Chair
Renoir Gaither
Associate Librarian

Secretary & Famous Book Signer
Charles Ransom
Multicultural Studies Librarian

John Woodford has been executive editor of the U-M alumni publication Michigan Today since 1985. Last year, he launched the UM online monthly publication, the NewsE. Woodford joined the University in 1981 as executive editor for the Medical Campus news and publications office. He is a past president of ABPA. Woodford received his BA and MA from Harvard University in 1964 and 1968. Before coming to Michigan, he was a journalist for the New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Ford Motor Co., Ebony and Jet magazines, and the Ann Arbor Observer. He was on the staff of Muhammad Speaks newspaper from 1968-72, and served as editor-in-chief for three years.

Woodford is retiring from the University this October 15.

I'm a librarian at the Shapiro Undergraduate Library. I've worked at the university since 1997. I'm a vegetarian and pacifist who believes in nonhierarchical paths to social justice. When not reading a book I may be found working on poetry, thinking critically about the spectacle of corporate media, or enjoying a remembrance of things past.

Charles Ransom has been with University Library since 1991.  He is a past president ABPA.  Ransom received is BA from Wabash College and  his MLS from Indiana University.  He enjoys hanging out with famous people as pictured above.

 

 

 

Influencing University Policy
Chair
Jeff Harrold
Student Services Associate II

Treasurer/Finance Chair
Marna Clowney
Information
Resource Supervisor

Awards Program Chair Lynne Dumas
Program Manager, Rackham Graduate School

 

Jeff is a native of Detroit and is member of the Academic Standards Board and an academic advisor for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. He is a past president of ABPAFS and served on the University's Diversity Council. He earned his BA in Economics from UM, did some graduate work in Economics at EMU before answering the call to ministry and completed the Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is an ordained minister and presently is the pastor of New Beginnings Free Methodist Church in Ann Arbor. He is also a leader in the African American Alliance, a grass roots organization dedicated to improving the education of Black children in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and is Vice President of the Minister's Alliance of Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Vicinity. He and his wife Monica have three adult children

 

Lynne Dumas is a Program Manager at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.  She is responsible for initiating, planning, developing and administering major events.  Lynne has been employed at the University of Michigan for more than 22 years and has been served on several planning initiatives and project teams both locally and nationally.  She received her B.S. from Bowie State College, Bowie, Maryland and her M.A. from the University of Michigan.  Lynne loves horseback riding and the opera and is the vice president of her church’s state Christian woman’s organization.

 

 

 

Historical Archive
Elizabeth James
CAAS

Assistant Secretary
Robin Grice
CAAS

 

 

 

Elizabeth James is the Program Associate for the Center for Afro American and African Studies and its South Africa Initiatives Office. Elizabeth’s career path has included stints as a public librarian in Detroit and Ann Arbor, a reporter in Kentucky, a curatorial assistant at the Detroit Institute of Arts and a balloon girl at the Detroit Zoo. She is an alumna of, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University with Bachelors degrees in the History of Art and Communications, and Masters degrees in Library Science and Journalism. A native of Detroit, MI, who spent much of her youth in Louisiana and Canada, she is honored to be a third generation storyteller, following in the tradition of her grandmother and mother.

V. Robin Grice is the Information Resources Coordinator for the Center for Afro American and African Studies (CAAS). An alumnus of the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Robin manages the CAAS library and website. Formerly a public relations writer/editor, Robin is a self-taught painter who moved to Michigan from Wisconsin 20 years ago and has decided that with the coming worldwide water shortages, she might not want to escape the Great Lakes after all.

 

 


UM Musical Society

ABPAFS is co-sponsoring a reception and performance of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra on September 17th.
Both the reception and performance are in Hill Auditorium.  The reception begins at 6:15pm, is in the Lower Lobby.  

ABPAFS is a NETWORK member and ABPAFS members qualify for discounted tickets at five (5) NETWORK performances during the 04/05 season.  The 5 performances are

Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (September 17, 2004)
DJ Spook’s Rebirth of a Nation (January 14, 2005)
Ronald K. Brown/Evidence (January 16, 2005)
Rennie Harris Puremovement: Facing Mekka (February 11, 2005)
Soweto Gospel Choir (February 18, 2005)

Single tickets are available for purchase.  Tickets are available at all price levels in the concert hall, and individuals can call the box office directly and make and all transactions to determine where they want to sit and how much they want to spend.

To order tickets call the UMS Box Office at 734-764-2538 or toll free at 800-221-1229.

Say “I’M WITH THE NETWORK”
And you will automatically receive a discount on your tickets.  The opportunity is only available for those concerts with NETWORK RECEPTIONS.  Tickets can be ordered in person and over the phone only NOT OVER THE WEB.


You can order NETWORK discounted tickets until 48 hours before the performance.  After this time, you will no longer receive a discount on tickets purchased.  No refunds will be issued for past purchases when you did not identify as part of the NETWORK or if you already purchased your tickets, but YOU CAN STILL ATTEND THE NETWORK RECEPTION.


Reflections in Black

This is an event co-sponosored by ABPAFS and it is free. The program is Thursday September 9th from 6:30-8 with a reception to follow. The central theme of Reflections in Black is unity. It is extremely important that we have Black Faculty and Staff present in order for the first year students to meet people and feel the support and presence of Black Professionals, Administrators, Faculty, and Staff.

This new student program serves to build a sense of community amongst freshman and existing members of the university community and additionally to address the particular needs and issues that have characteristically affected students of a diverse student body.

The program is Thursday September 9th in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater with the reception immediately following the program

6:30-6:40 Intro
6:40-6:45 Black National Anthem
6:45-6:50 Libations
6:50-7:05 Black History at Michigan Slide Show
7:05-7:25 Entertainment
7:25-7:30 Intro to Keynote Speaker
7:30-7:50 Keynote Speaker Address
7:50-8:00 Closing Remarks
8:00-Reception


Interesting Web Sites

Sex Offender Web Site
http://www.mipsor.state.mi.us/mipsor/default.htm

This information is being provided in accordance with the Sex Offenders Registration Act as amended in 1999.
This Sex Offender Registry is updated daily at 6:00 A.M.   The information contained in this registry is obtained by local law enforcement agencies when Sexual Offenders register with those local agencies. For questions or concerns regarding the PSOR, contact the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center, Identification Section, 7150 Harris Drive, Lansing MI 48913, (517) 322-5098. Please read Frequently Asked Questions prior to calling.

Michigan Fish Advisory
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FishAdvisory03_67354_7.pdf

 

The Michigan Department of Community Health advises extra caution about eating Michigan fish for women of childbearing age and children under 15. Certain kinds and sizes of fish from the Great Lakes and from some of Michigan’s lakes and streams contain levels of toxic chemicals that may be harmful if those fish are eaten too often.

 

Slavery Era Insurance Policies Registry
http://www.ins.state.il.us/Consumer/SlaveryReporting.nsf

House Bill 2379, Slavery Era Policies, was passed by the Illinois legislature in 2003 and signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on July 24, 2003. The law was effective January 1, 2004. The law is located in the insurance code at 215 ILCS 5/155.39.  The Act required any insurer licensed and doing business in Illinois to research and report to the Division of Insurance information regarding policies issued to slaveholders for death or damage to their slaves that the company wrote either directly or through a predecessor corporation during the slavery era. Information specifically required by the Act includes the names of the slaves and the names of the slaveholders.

A link to an article in the Chicago Tribune related to the Illinois law
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0408180226aug18,1,7098309.story


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Charles G. Ransom
Multicultural Studies Librarian
209 Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205
(734) 764-7522 Office Phone
(734) 764-0259 FAX