I would like to applaud Prof. Dumas for the work he is doing to get the 
University Club up and running once again.  I wish him luck and I encourage 
everyone to respond to his survey.

One of the questions in the survey alludes to payroll deduction of 
University Club dues.  This may be problematic, even though UT routinely 
does this for parking, as Joe points out, and for United Way, and other 
items, since UT does not always extend the same courtesy to organizations 
of employees.

Bills are currently pending in the Tennessee legislature (House Bill 293 
and Senate Bill 791) that provide for payroll deduction for dues to any 
organization of UT employees with at least 250 members.  Passage of these 
may be required (and certainly would facilitate) payroll deduction of 
University Club dues.  Unfortunately, they are being opposed by the 
Tennessee State Employees' Association, a pseudo-union comprised mainly of 
Nashville bureaucrats, that claims to act on behalf of state employees, 
even though, to my knowledge, they have no members at UTC or UTK, despite 
having been approached to do so.  The bills are currently before the House 
and Senate committees on State and Local Government, respectively.

Letters, e'mail messages and t'phone calls to members of these committees 
and to members of the Hamilton county delegation asking their support for 
these HB293 and SB791 would be in order.

Fritz Efaw.
economics professor.

At 04:29 PM 4/3/2006 -0400, Dr. Joe Dumas wrote:
>Dear colleagues,
>
>I have been appointed chair of the committee that is looking into the 
>past, and hopefully future, operation of what is now known as the Faculty 
>Club.  (One of the changes under consideration is revising the name to 
>something more inclusive of staff and possibly other friends of UTC, such 
>as the University Club.)  As part of the process, the Faculty/University 
>Club Committee wants to know about your experiences with, and vision for, 
>the Club.
>
>If you could take a few minutes to answer the following questions by 
>return e-mail, the committee would greatly appreciate it, as it will help 
>guide our efforts to transform the Club into something that will meet the 
>needs of faculty and staff and enhance the "quality of life" on 
>campus.  If you find it easier, you may print out the survey, circle 
>and/or write in your responses, and return it to me via campus mail c/o 
>CSEE, Department 2302.
>
>Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from many of you soon.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Joe Dumas
>Professor, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
>Chair, Faculty/University Club Committee
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>>Are you: (choose one)
>>Faculty
>>Staff
>>Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Faculty Association 
>>(which operates the Faculty Club)?
>>If you are not a member of the Faculty Association, have you ever 
>>considered joining?  Are you interested in joining in the near future?
>>Have you ever attended an event at the Faculty Club/Patten House?  Please 
>>indicate all that apply:
>>Friday afternoon Happy Hour
>>Luncheon
>>Departmental/college event
>>Other University sponsored event
>>Wedding, birthday party or other social event
>>Other (please specify)
>>I have never attended an event held at this facility
>>What kind(s) of events would you like to see occur at the Faculty 
>>Club/Patten House in the future?  Please indicate all that apply:
>>Happy Hours
>>Theme parties (Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, etc.)
>>Faculty/Staff luncheons
>>"Mixers" during new faculty orientation
>>Departmental/college/university sponsored events
>>Weddings, birthday parties, and/or other social events
>>Other (please specify)
>>None/don't care/not interested
>>Did you know that membership in the Faculty Association is also open to 
>>University staff members?
>>Would you favor renaming the Faculty Club to the "University Club" or a 
>>similar name, such that staff would feel more welcome to join and 
>>participate in events?
>>Have you eaten the (recently revived for Mondays and Tuesdays) 
>>faculty/staff lunch served in the Chickamauga Room?
>>Frequently
>>Occasionally
>>Not at all
>>Do you think it would be worthwhile to try to revive the tradition of 
>>serving lunch in the Faculty Club/Patten House?
>>Yes, in place of the Chickamauga Room lunches
>>Yes, in addition to the Chickamauga Room lunches
>>No, I'm not interested and/or think there would be insufficient support
>>Don't know/don't care
>>If lunch were served at the Faculty Club/Patten House one or more days 
>>per week, would you eat there?
>>Frequently (at least once a week)
>>Occasionally (at least once a month)
>>Rarely or never
>>Have you ever used the Faculty Club/Patten House to host a personal or 
>>UTC-related event?
>>Yes, a personal event(s) such as a wedding or party
>>Yes, a departmental or other work-related event
>>Yes, both
>>No
>>Are you more interested in a higher-priced Association membership that 
>>would allow free (or significantly reduced price) use of the Patten House 
>>facility for personal events, or would you be more interested in 
>>membership for a nominal fee that would enable you to participate in 
>>Happy Hour and/or other social events but would carry no privileges for 
>>other use of the site?
>>If you are now (or become) a member of the Faculty (or University) 
>>Association, would you be interested in paying your dues via payroll 
>>deduction (as is possible for parking permits, etc.)?
>>What level of first-year dues/initiation fee would deter you from joining 
>>the Faculty (or University) Club?  $25; $50; $75; $100; $125; $150; $175; 
>>$200; or is cost not important?
>>At what level of continuing annual dues would the cost prevent you from 
>>joining the club?  $25; $50; $75; $100; $125; $150; $175; $200; or is 
>>cost not important?
>>
>>Please feel free to offer any other comments or suggestions below:
>
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