Beimdiek Center opens Monday morning

The Beimdiek Recreation Center is scheduled to open at 6 a.m., Monday, August 31.

Leslie Willis, Director of Campus Recreation, says the Recreation Center has many advantages to offer including scheduled fitness classes, two floors of cardio and fitness equipment, locker rooms and 3 multi-purpose wooden courts.

As part of your paid membership, aquatic and fitness classes are available at a variety of times for no extra charge.

For more information contact the Recreation Center offices at 625-9760.

MSSU presents Faculty Service Awards

Missouri Southern State University has presented 2009 Service Awards to 25 members of the University's faculty. The faculty members have a combined total of 610 years of service. The presentation was made on Friday, August 21.

2009 Faculty Service Awards
15 years (1994-present)
Total of 60 years of service
* Michael D. Fletcher, Professor, Biology
* Deborah J. Pulliam, Professor, Teacher Education
* Trina J. Scott, Professor, Criminal Justice
* Patricia D. Vavra, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

20 years (1989-present)
Total of 180 years of service
* Charles (Bud) L. Clark, Associate Professor, Music
* Robert L. Corn, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
* E. Scott Cragin, Associate Professor, Marketing & Management
* Dennis R. Harmon, Professor, Mathematics
* Anne M. Jaros, Professor, Theatre
* John S. Knapp, Jr., Professor, Geophysics
* William A. Kumbier, Professor, English & Philosophy
* Gerald T. Schlink, Professor, Biology
* Vikki J. Spencer, Professor, Teacher Education

25 years (1984-present)
Total of 175 years of service
* Beverly A. Block, Professor, Head, Department of Marketing & MIS/Business Education
* James F. Brown, Professor, English & Philosophy
* Eillen Godsey, Professor, Learning Center, Director of Learning Center
* Janice Holmes, Associate Professor, Teacher Education
* John P. Messick, Professor, Biology
* Chad D. Stebbins, Professor, Communication Director, Institute of International Studies

30 years (1979-present)
Total of 90 years of service
* Val A. Christensen, Associate Professor, Art Coordinator, Spiva Art Gallery of MSSU
* Dale W. Simpson, Professor, English & Philosophy Head, Department of English & Philosophy
* Doris A. Walters, Professor, English & Philosophy

35 years (1974-present)
Total of 105 years of service
* James E. Gilbert, Associate Professor, History
* James M. Gray, Professor, Business
* Melvyn W. Mosher, Professor, Chemistry

Similar awards are presented to members of the non-teaching staff at MSSU each December.

Vice President for Development named

Dr. Mark Parsons

Mark Parsons is the new Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the Missouri Southern Foundation, it was announced today by Missouri Southern State University President Bruce W. Speck. He will officially begin his duties on Nov. 1.

Parsons is currently Associate Vice President and Director of Gift Planning at the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation in Minneapolis. He was selected from a pool of more than 40 candidates and three finalists.

Parsons holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, a J.D. (magna cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law, a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in American History from the University of Minnesota. He also attended the Mission Resource Center at Emory University and was a Merrill Fellow at Harvard University. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar.

“We are extremely pleased that Mark will be coming to Missouri Southern to join our effort to strengthen our institution and create even more opportunities for the region’s students,” stated President Speck. “Mark is eminently qualified to lead the Missouri Southern Foundation and enthusiastic about the opportunity to mold an effective campus team in this new position,” the President said.

Parsons stated he is looking forward to pursuing the possibilities he sees at Missouri Southern. “I see an outstanding university in a vibrant community and region. In my brief visits, I was able to meet with many at the university and in the community who hold strong feelings toward Missouri Southern and who have deep interests in its future. That is a combination that I intend to harness to generate enthusiasm and momentum in a positive direction,” he stated.

Prior to his position in Minneapolis, Parsons served as president and executive director for the California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation, Director of Planned Giving at Utah State University and Hamline University (Minn.), senior minister at Edgewater Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, and associate attorney and marketing coordinator for Lange & Anderson, P.A., in Bloomington, Minn.

In addition to directing the Missouri Southern Foundation, Dr. Parsons will oversee operations at the Alumni Association, directed by Lee Elliff Pound; University Relations & Marketing, directed by Rod Surber; and the Grants Office, staffed by Sandi Lovett.

Members of the Search Committee included MSSU President Bruce Speck, who served as Chair; Carolyn Phelps, chairwoman of the Missouri Southern Foundation of Board of Directors; Rayma Bekebrock Davis, Vice President of the Missouri Southern Foundation Board of Directors; and Foundation Board members Bill Gipson, President and CEO of Empire District Electric Co., and Don Swanson, AAMS Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. Also serving on the Search Committee were current MSSU Board of Governors members Nancy Perry and Richard Walter.

Lee to present lecture on Québec today

The lecture “Québec, the Cradle of Canada” will be presented at 10 a.m., today in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall .

The presentation by Missouri State University professor emeritus David Lee is free and open to the public.

Canada, rarely studied in U.S. schools, is only known to many of us as a refuge for our youth during the Vietnam era and the popular song, “Blame Canada,” from South Park.

However, largely forgotten is the fact that the history of Canada begins with the French presence on this continent. This presentation will emphasize that aspect of the country, for, while the rest of Canada is oriented toward the British Commonwealth, Quebec remains largely French in temperament.

Another facet of Quebec history that often perplexes Americans, the desire of many Québécois to separate from the rest of the country, also will be covered.

Lee has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and is professor emeritus from Missouri State University, where he taught French for 25 years. He led frequent study tours to Québec, and for more than 10 years accompanied MSU students to the Université Laval for the summer French program.

Brown Bag plans

Frank A. Pishkur, Coordinator of the Brown Bag Luncheon Lecture Series, would like to finalize the schedule for presentations of faculty research and creativity for this upcoming semester but is looking for a few more proposals. Presentations should be planned to last no more than 45 minutes, including time for questions, answers, and group discussion. These are an excellent opportunity for faculty to educate about and share to the university community topics or work being researched, studied, or created at Missouri Southern.

If you are interested in presenting please send an email to pishkur-f@mssu.edu including the following:

Send the title of presentation with a 3-5 sentence description of the content. List resources needed and/or format the presentation will be presented (MS PowerPoint) on a laptop with digital projector, slide projector, television with vcr/dvd, or other needed equipment). Also make a note of scheduling preferences and/or concerns.

Faculty presenting about research conducted during a sabbatical will be given first priority of presentations. For additional information, contact Frank at ext. 9735.

AAUP Chapter installation this evening

A meeting will be held at 5 p.m. today, Friday, August 28, at Quincy Magoo's at Stone's Corner —- 6039 N. Main St and Highway 171) to celebrate the installation of an official American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter at Missouri Southern.

The new chapter is termed an "advocacy chapter," the purpose of which is to promote academic freedom, encourage meaningful and responsible shared governance, and to build a sense of community among our faculty by promoting professionalism, college service, and camaraderie.

Because MSSU has no formal faculty club, it is hoped that the AAUP chapter can partially fulfill this need by organizing monthly social activities.

"Please come to put in your two cents worth of what you would like the newly-formed chapter to do on our campus, to informally discuss issues facing our campus, and to have some fun with members of the MSSU community that you might not see on a regular basis," says John Knapp, Physical Science.

National award for MSSU's Sigma Pi chapter

The Eta Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, Int’l announced August 25 that it has been ranked as the 4th strongest chapter nationwide among other chapters on campuses with between 1 to 5 competitors.  This news comes after receiving high marks on the Fraternity’s annual "Gold Standard" resulting in yet another national award at the latest Sigma Pi convention. 

"Our chapter has worked diligently over the last several years to be progressive,” said senior Biology/Pre-Professional major from Hermitage, Mo. Keaton Paylor, chapter president. 

“The effort that the brothers have given has paid off not only at the national level, but also with a very noticed change here at Missouri Southern," Keaton added. "Sigma Pi continues to be a positive force on campus and in the community.”

For more information visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2009/sigmapiaward_fall09.html

Beckett to speak on Canadian writers Sept. 1

"Two Canadian Writers of Multi-volume Fiction: Robertson Davies and Margaret Laurence" is the title of a presentation scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.

The presentation, by Missouri State University emeritus professor of English Robert Beckett, is free and open to the public.

Multi-volume fiction with referring characters and relating to a recurring locale is by no means uniquely Canadian. Think of American writers such as Mark Twain and William Faulkner, or world authors such as Marcel Proust, or Canadians such as Lucy Maud Montgomery. Robertson Davies wrote three trilogies; three of Margaret Laurence’s novels and a collection of her short stories are known collectively as “The Manawaka Novels.”

The presentation will focus on Davies (1913-1995) and Laurence (1926-1987), two of Canada’s best-known authors.

Beckett taught at MSU in Springfield, Mo. from 1963 until 1998. He came to admire Canadian literature as a teacher, and he served one year as president of the Midwest Association for Canadian Studies. During his sabbatical he interviewed many Canadian writers and teachers of Canadian literature and formed lasting friendships.

Banner and LioNet training available

At the time of initial hire, new faculty/staff members should complete a basic training session with the Help Desk manager regarding systems and log-ins.  They should have received User ID and passwords at that time. If you did not participate in this session and do not have your ID and password, please contact the Help Desk at ext. 4444.

"User Services will provide additional training upon request.  If you need assistance or training on either INB Banner or LioNet, please let me know and I will arrange to provide one-on-one training in your office," says Sandi Gieson, User Services.

There are many tutorials posted on the Banner Resources site, which can be reached by clicking on the Banner Resources icon at the very bottom right of the LioNet log in page.  Even though many of the processes in LioNet are very “user friendly” and can be mastered with the help of these tutorials, Sandi says employees should have all the support they need to feel comfortable with the system.

All faculty/staff members are encouraged to review the tutorials posted on Banner Resources.  These tutorials are updated as any changes or enhancements to the system occur.  Tutorials have a “Last Updated” date in the footer. Remember to use the most recent version.

Any employee who would like to have a “refresher” on any area of Banner or LioNet is also encouraged to contact Sand at gieson-s@mssu.edu or telephone ext. 9815 for additional training. 

Vaccinations free at Gardasil Clinic

Held in cooperation with the Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Missouri, the Wilcoxon Health Center at MSSU is conducting a FREE Gardasil Clinic on Monday, August 31. Gardasil protects young women from 70 percent of the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer and 90 percent of the strains of HPV that cause genital warts.

The MSSU Gardasil Clinic is open to all local females between the ages of 18 and 26. All young women who attend the Gardasil Clinic at MSSU and begin their 3-shot series in 2009 are guaranteed to get the two remaining vaccinations for free in 2010.

The Free Gardasil Clinic is being held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, August 31, at the MSSU Willcoxon Health Center, adjacent to the Biemdiek Recreation Center. No appointment is necessary.

The National theme for Gardasil is "One Less." Gardasil is a 3-shot vaccination series that prevents some forms of HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer and other infections.

By age 50, 80 percent of women currently get the virus that causes cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths among women. We want young women to be "one less" cancer statistic.

More information is available from the Health Center at (417) 625-9323.

WOW @ Your Library! Spiva Library is pleased to announce the new World of Wisdom (WOW) @ Your Library workshops. These workshops will be offered to the campus community Sept. 1 - 2. Participants will be given a short demonstration of the new library web page navigation, and new databases that became available on July 1, 2009. A list of the databases is available by clicking this link: databases09. WOW @ Your Library workshops will be held in the University Java area at 1 p.m. on the 1st floor of the library. Since seating is limited, choose your date and mark your calendar now. Enjoy FREE popcorn and library merchandise, including – bookmarks, lanyards, magnets, and pens. Feel free to bring your lunch. In addition, participants will have chances to win library USB bracelet drives and free or discounted coffee coupons. For more information, contact Nancy Schiavone, Library, at schiavone-n@mssu.edu or call 625-9729. More information is also available by visiting WOW.pdf.

Gallemore to participate in Tour de Cure

Rebecca Gallemore, Teacher Education, will participate in the Tour de Cure in Rogers, Ark. on Oct. 3. The event is an organized bicycle ride effort for a cure for diabetes. Her goal is to raise $500.

MSSU faculty/staff and students can help. Simply make checks for any amount out to the American Diabetes Association and send them to Becky Gallemore in Taylor Hall.

"Diabetes has affected my immediate family," she says. "I want to thank everyone in advance for the support they give me in this effort."

"Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Nearly 24 million children and adults--almost 8 percent of the population. An estimated 5.7 million are unaware that they have the disease.

More information about diabetes and the Tour de Cure is available online at http://www.nwatour.com/1.html.

Keeping in touch

If you have scheduled events hosted by your area or in your area, please send the normal who, what, when, and where notifications to the University switchboard operators Rae Surber and SuAn Richardson so they can provide accurate information to callers seeking assistance. This information is especially beneficial when the evening operator is trying to assist "lost" callers who are trying to find the location of an event they are supposed to attend.

The same information should be sent to the University Relations & Marketing office for posting on the Main Calendar of Events under an appropriate category or under the "General" category. Send information to fort-e@mssu.edu.

New Names & Numbers available

Employees can pick up a 2009 Names and Numbers phone book in Hearnes Hall room 107 in the Registrar's office. The Registrar's office asks that the books be picked up as soon as possible.

SBTDC Update

The most recent edition of the SBTDC Update, a publication from the Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration at MSSU is now available. The publication includes information on the Center's Women's Leaereship Conference held in June on Campus.

To see a copy of the publication visit SBTDC Newsletter.

FACULTY/STAFF

Wendy McGrane and Amber Carr, Spiva Library, were awarded the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) Excellence in Library Service grant from the Missouri State Library. The grant will provide a regional training opportunity for Spiva employees and employees from area libraries to participate in the “Excellent Customer Service: Exceeding Expectations” workshop in early Spring 2010.

Patricia Murphy, English, was asked to write a book review for Nineteenth-Century Literature. The review will appear in 2010.

CLASSIFIED

For Sale: Set of 4 tires, in like new condition, no damage, tread still looks new. Size 245/65/17, Bridgestone brand. Cost $600 new, will sell for $300. Contact Bill Hunt, ext. 3183, or call 825-2488 (cell).

Looking For: Rock Band 1 or Rock Band 2 "guitar" for Wii in good working order. Will consider other equipment related to the game. Contact 625-9506 or 388-2128 (cell) or email smith-se@mssu.edu.

For Sale: GE Reverse-Osmosis water filtration system. Mounts under the sink to provide clean drinking water through a designated spigot. Two gallon holding tank. Used, needs new filters. All manuals and installation information included. Call 417-793-6909 or email wagner-s@mssu.edu.

For Sale: 2200 sq. ft. lake front house for sale in Shell Knob, Mo. on Table Rock Lake. Boat dock available at King's River Marina nearby. 2 - 4 bedrooms, central heat/air. Propane heat, electric water heater and air. 2 baths, 1.5 garages, front and back decks. Newer roof, recent siding, totally remodeled and ready to move into. Includes appliances, window coverings, new carpet, walkout basement, new tile, paint, fans and fixtures. Must see to appreciate. $162,900. Call (417) 540-3423. To see pictures, e-mail gallemore-r@mssu.edu.