I've kept busy this past year with USA in my role as member-at-large.

The USA website has gotten a facelift and some additions. My goal with the website is to keep the important information flowing to all members. This is a lofty goal and my hope is that most questions are answered by clicking on something on the website, whether it be to find your steward or to read part of the contract.

I'm proud of the new part of our site, Career Growth and Development, developed to help members with their career exploration. The ideas are web-based so there are many links. You will also discover a lot of things about UMass you didn't know. Links to area colleges and the different types of educational opportunities that are available as well as assessment tools. If you want to find out the right questions to ask in an interview and what not to say or the proper ways to network for job, this is a good starting place.

In addition to the above duties as public relations member-at-large I chaired a committee to revamp the rules of the listserv.

My newest role is with the Community, Diversity and Social Justice teams through the Office of Human Relations. I joined the Academic Affairs team in Fall 2002. Most everyone, at this point, has done a survey for this and results are coming in and being compiled. My focus is on classified staff, naturally, and I hope to be able to report results on the survey in some way, shape or form, to all classified staff. Focus groups will be held to talk to small groups of staff about areas on the surveys that stood out.

Last but not least, I've had a wonderful time writing, editing and designing the USA newsgrams. Unfortunately, time and money have decreased the frequency but not the quality of the newsgrams. I've learned a lot about labor history and appreciated the opportunity to pass that on to our membership.