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UMASS recycles

Paul's Page: A message from the vc of A&F

A&f recognizes its employees

Special Recognition

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If you work in an office, you may think waste management at UMASS means recycling paper, cardboard, bottles and cans. In fact, the Waste Management Program handles an incredible number of materials at the Intermediate Processing Facility (IPF) located on Eastman Lane. The IPF processes everything from styrofoam, lights, batteries, laser toner cartridges, videotapes, audiocassettes, cds, and computer diskettes, to tires, scrap metal and demolition debris. The Office of Waste Management operates the largest, public, electronic demanufacturing in the country and is the first pilot site in the country to test the Wright In-Vessel Composting Unit.

Electronic Equipment Demanufacturing System The Office of Waste Management operates the largest public electronic demanufacturing program in the country. When electronic equipment is sent to the Intermediate Processing Facilities PC Hardware Support Services selects usable components. Students are employed to dismantle electronic equipment, mostly computers, into different steel, aluminum, plastic, cathode ray tubes, circuit boards, transformers, copper, insulated wire, power supplies, drives, fans. There's even an occasional gold chip in some computers. The parts are then recycled or disposed of safely reducing waste disposal expenses and creating new markets for recyclable materials.

In September 1996 the Office of Waste Management embarked on a three - year pilot program to test the Wright Environmental In-Vessel Composting System. Approximately 900 tons of compostable food waste is produced annually on campus. Food waste is collected from the dining halls and other food service operations and mixed with animal bedding and wood chips, then loaded into the continuous feed vessel. The mixture moves through the vessel continuously, reaching temperatures as high as 190°, and in 14 days is discharged and transported to windrows (outdoor piles) where it cures for 30-60 days. The final product is a quality soil amendment that is used on campus for landscaping needs. This summer Waste Management expects to be able to sell this compost to the UMASS community and to the general public

The University now recycles over 50% of its waste stream, an impressive figure for a campus with a daytime population of 30,000. UMASS' recycling program is recognized as the top program on a college campus in the country.

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 Paul's Page: A message from the vc of A&F

An important aspect of a vibrant organization is the ability to be able to express appreciation for a job well done. This can take many forms - from a simple thank you to a more formal recognition. I am pleased to say that on many occasions I am the recipient of letters and comments from folks on campus and off campus expressing their appreciation about the work, assistance or attitude of Administration and Finance employees. These comments are passed on to the employee and supervisor so that they can see that their efforts do make a difference to those we come in contact with. Whether it is formal or informal, it is always nice to hear how we are doing.

For the past year we have had a committee looking into the idea of creating non-monetary reward mechanisms for A&F employees. The committee has recommended that we establish an Achievement, Competence and Excellence (ACE) Program. The program encourages each division to implement a "spot award" program recognizing, in a timely manner, employees or groups of employees who have made significant contributions to the success of their unit. In addition, they have outlined a number of other recognition programs that are described in the accompanying article. The A&F senior administrative staff and I wholeheartedly support the ACE program, and think that it is a wonderful contribution to the development of our organization. The program is being implemented this month. 

In the spirit of the ACE Program, I would like to public recognize the outstanding work of the committee members - Rocky Barbuto, Campus Services, Ed Caban, Physical Plant, Cheryl Daggett, Human Resources, Yvonne Kielb, Facilities Planning, Chris Newman, Auxiliary Services, Betty Tedford, Controller's Office and David Bull, Physical Plant who chaired the committee. THANK YOU!

You should also be aware that a portion of the FY98 non-unit professional employee salary increase package has been set aside, for the first time, to provide non-base bonus salary adjustments in recognition of exceptional contributions of non-unit professional staff. This provides an additional means of recognizing and rewarding this group of A&F employees.

I encourage all A&F staff to bring comments and information about the outstanding contributions of any staff members to their attention and their supervisor's. Positive feedback is an important component of our continuous quest to appropriately recognize and reward our employees.

I'd like to take a few more lines to recognize the committee that organized WinterFest 98 - Cheryl Braxton, Carrie Campsie, Charlene Dunn, Kathy Gallivan, Maxine Greenblatt, Cindy Hamel, Chris Newman, Marty Smith, Betty Tedford and Lorraine Weimann for all their hard work. We had over 300 employees, spouses and children enjoy ice skating, a great buffet, contests and other activities in the Mullins Center. This gave all of us the chance to get to know each other better and enjoy ourselves in an informal setting. We're already looking forward to next year.

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In March, Administration and Finance will introduce the ACE Awards (Achievement, Competence and Excellence) Program. The ACE program was designed to reward the work performance, behavior, and attitude of both teams and individuals and to promote a culture which recognizes the diversity in interests, abilities, and skills that each person brings to their position.

Following program guidelines, each department/division will appoint its own committee, decide which awards it will present and how often, and select the award items. Each department/division, depending on its size and culture will choose from a selection of awards.

¨ On the Spot Recognition:

intended to immediately acknowledge an activity or service, performed by a team or individual, that shows initiative in performing above and beyond expectations. Each unit/department/division is expected to participate in this part of the program.

¨ Safety Award:

designed to recognize individuals or teams who have demonstrated exemplary accident avoidance/prevention behavior.

designed to encourage and recognize a consistently high level of customer service and satisfaction.

¨ Length of Service/Longevity:

recognizes all employees as they reach each five-year milestone of service.

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Tom Mathers, Controller's Office, was recently featured in Tom Shea's Column in the Springfield Union News. Tom decided to go to Vietnam after receiving an invitation from Thanh Tran, one of his work-study students, to attend her wedding services. Tom soon stretched his plans for a short visit into a three-week countrywide tour of Vietnam. As he would later describe, it was the vacation of a lifetime. He viewed the majestic landscape and rich tropical foliage from the back of a motorcycle. Everywhere he went local villagers treated him like a dignitary. He got to enjoy such delicacies as snake bowel, snake head soup, and fermented fish sauce with a shot of snake blood for a chaser. He even came home with several marriage proposals for his sons.

As a favor to Barbara Burn, International Programs, Tom visited with officials at the Vietnam English College in Nha Trang, the University of Dalat, the University of Science and the University of Technology, both in Ho Chi Minh City. His contacts were the first steps towards possible future exchange programs with the University of Massachusetts.

While driving to the wedding Tom caught a glimpse of a young boy, 6 or 7, with a pronounced cleft palate running with his friends. After returning home, Tom did not forget the face of the unknown child. "I know something can be done for that child," he says. "He has something that can be corrected. He does not have to live with something like that." Tom began surfing the net and discovered "Operation Smile International," a volunteer medical service assisting the deformed. Tom located a clinic in North Vietnam, 12 hours away by train. But first, Tom had to find the boy, somewhere in a village without a name, 12 time zones away. He sent $75 for expenses to Tho Quoc Phung, Thanh Tran's husband, still living in Vietnam, who helped Tom contact the family of a boy with a cleft palate. Tom does not believe that this boy is the same one that he saw but while he searches for the original child, Tom looks forward to putting other kids in contact with Operation Smile International.

There are seven of us gathered around the conference room table, eating an assortment of lunches, lo mein, grilled cheese, soup and leftovers. It’s the monthly meeting of the A&F Book Club and we are here to talk about In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin. Since May, 1997 a group of A&F staff has gotten together once a month to eat lunch, laugh and talk about books. The group decides which books to read and our tastes run from science fiction and autobiographies to travel and history. Some months everyone likes the book and there is a lot of discussion about it, other months people just come for the food and the company. Either way we get a chance to read books we wouldn’t normally read. At our April 13 meeting local author Suzanne Strempek Shea will join us when we talk about Selling the Lite of Heaven. If you are interested in attending a meeting call contact Jacqui Watrous at 5-2142 or watrous@admin.umass.edu for the name of the book and the date of the next lunch

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Permits! Tickets! Waiting in lines! Just a few of the thoughts that come to mind when parking on campus is mentioned. That’s why when customers hear the words "How may we help you?" from a member of the Parking Services staff, they be a bit surprised.

The staff of Parking Services has been hard at work making their office and their presence on campus much more visible and user friendly. Innovations such as new uniforms; a new front-end in the office with more stations to serve more customers at a time; and an easier to navigate phone system are examples of changes that have lead to an image boost as well as a morale boost and improved customer satisfaction.

"How can we solve your parking needs?" is not only a question that you might hear from a member of the Parking Services staff, but is also the basic philosophy and vision of the department. The goal is not to issue permits and tickets (though those functions are necessary evils!) but to provide the best solution available to individual customers that need to park their vehicle on the campus. Often all that is required is the right answer to a question, or perhaps that little bit of extra information or guidance from a Parking Services staff member.

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This is the 6th issue of A&F Notes. We have some new faces on the News and Editorial Staff. Paul Meade, Human Resources, retired in March and Jake Bishop, Financial Services, retired in December. Joining us are Sandra Clay, Human Resources, and Glen Hartman, Financial Services. Other members are Meredith Schmidt, Auxiliary Services, Kathy Gallivan, Budget and Financial Analysis, Sam Welson, Campus Services, Cindy Hamel, Mullins Center & VC Office, Vacant, Physical Plant, Ruth Yanka, Coordinating Editor.

The mission of A&F Notes is to enhance our culture by sharing information. If you have comments, questions, news or story ideas we want to hear from you. Contact your departmental representative or Cindy Hamel at 5-1584 or chamel@admin.umass.edu.

Thanks, News and Editorial Staff

Have you been to a meeting lately in the Campus Center? Over intersession, the first floor of the Campus Center was renovated with new carpeting, ceilings and lighting. It really makes a big difference in the atmosphere. Check it out the next time you go to the Campus Center.

PHYSICAL PLANT home page with info and links to On-Line Service Guide and Newsletter

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