CHAPARRAL

On behalf of the classified professionals here at GCC, I want to congratulate all who were nominated for their outstanding service to the college.  I am speaking of the nominees for the first Annual John Davitt Award for Outstanding Classified Employees.  We had a wonderful group of nominations and want to be sure that everyone of them is recognized and known to all of you.  The nominees for this first year are (in alphabetical order): Merrilee Ahaus from Campus Police; Flora Armen from the Center for Students with Disabilities; Barbara Artukovich from Allied Health; Angela Battaglia from the Scholarship Office; Louise Chamroonrat from Duplicating; Sharon Denner from the Social Science Division; Knarik Khshtoyan from Duplicating; Linda Kunze from Adult Re-Entry; Diane Landisi from the Technology Division; Nellie Lopez from EOPS; Art Magallanes from Facilities; Jennie McMahon from Admissions; Susan Mesko from Business Services; Jolie Morris from the Transfer Center; Ann Reed of Supplemental Instruction; Lisa Rippey of the Math Division; Agnes Rudnick from the Learning Center; Brian Shurlow of Media Services; Karen Wharton of the Health Center; and Nancy Yaldizian of the Instruction Office.

The award will be announced and given at the annual Recognition Luncheon on June 6 by Dr. Davitt.  All nominees have now been notified and, I am sure, would appreciate your offering personal congratulations when you see them around the campus.  The Employee Recognition Committee certainly appreciates every nomination and nominee.  We look forward to having many more nominations to go through next year for the second annual award. Please remember to participate in the future, and keep up the good work so you can be nominated next year.

Next, I want to let you know that we will begin negotiations with the District early this year, in July instead of August so that we can work on the lay-off language section of the contract just in case.  At this time, the budget does not look good from the state. As I write this, we are waiting for the governor's May revisions on the budget, but it does not look hopeful for getting much this year. We do have some campus-wide needs that, so far, are not being recognized by the governor.  Staff Development and Technology training funds have been cut to zero by the governor in the budget updates.  It is hopeful that at least some of this funding will be restored by the state, but if not, the college has to help us out and keep the program for us.  It is vital that we have the ability to learn and stay current to be able to do our jobs professionally. Please help support the need for this by reminding Larry Serot how valuable the ongoing ability to learn is to you and your job skills.  Staff Development has been doing a terrific job for us, and we need them to continue our professional ways.

Enjoy the coming weeks as we close out our spring semester and begin a very busy summer schedule. /