October 2, 2009
Great Big Sea to perform at Southern
 One of Canada’s top folk-rock bands will take the stage at Missouri Southern as part of “Canada Semester” activities.
The group Great Big Sea will perform at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5 in Taylor Performing Arts Center. The show is free and open to the public.
"Great Big Sea even has a big following here in the Midwest. We have had calls from people in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, Springfield, and even Minnesota making sure that the concert is free and that they will be able to get a seat," says Chad Stebbins, International Studies, "Normally, GBS tickets sell for $25 or $30," he adds,
Taylor Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30 p.m. the night of the performance.
Great Big Sea, from Newfoundland, has become one of Canada’s most popular exports. The group draws upon their homeland’s strong Irish and Scottish ancestry and centuries-old seafaring heritage for a mix of sea shanties, folk pop, rowdy Celtic pub songs, and Cajun-style sounds.
“Our music is of Newfoundland,” explains multi-instrumentalist Sean McCann. “It would be impossible to do what we do if we were from anywhere else." “Our songs come from the sea and the cliffs and the rocks and all the other natural beauties our country provides,” he says, adding, “Without her we simply couldn’t exist.”
Great Big Sea’s fans have been responding since their self-titled debut in 1993; all of their albums have gone gold, and most are multi-platinum.
Agee moves into new role
Missouri Southern State University Senior Vice President Terri Agee, will transition from her administrative post to a faculty role in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration in January, it was officially announced Monday, Sept. 28 by MSSU President Bruce Speck. In addition to her full-time teaching duties, Dr. Agee will serve as the University’s in-house legal counsel.
She will remain as Senior Vice President until January 2010, at which time she will move to a faculty post in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration. “Moving into a teaching position has been a professional goal of mine for several years and I’m excited about having more interaction with students,” Agee stated. “As an administrator I have enjoyed being actively involved in many campus improvement initiatives, but I am at the point in my life where I want to pursue my other passion - teaching.”
Agee has served the University in several capacities, including Interim President in 2007-2008, Vice President for Business Affairs for six years, and Director of Human Resources for nine years.
“The Board of Governors is grateful for the service Dr. Agee has provided to the University and the Board is very pleased that she is willing to continue as in-house legal counsel, in addition to her teaching duties,” stated Rod Anderson, Chair of the MSSU Board of Governors.
Yust, Gibson to fill positions
Earlier this week, MSSU President Bruce Speck announced that Rob Yust will serve as Interim Vice President for Business Affairs, beginning in January, when Terri Agee moves from her administrative post to a faculty role.
Rob Yust served as Interim Vice President for Business Affairs in 2007 while Dr. Agee served as Acting President. He was named to his present position as Assistant Vice President in February 2008. He previously served as Treasurer of the University for 10 years.
Prior to that time, he was the Director of Accounting at the University beginning in 1993. Mr. Yust holds a C.P.A. certificate and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and an Associate of Science in Computer Programming from Missouri Southern in 1981. Prior to his employment with the University, he worked in public accounting for 13 years, specializing in auditing.
Jeff Gibson will fill the post of Interim Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs in January. He also will continue his current duties as Director of Budgeting and Operations.
Gibson has served as Director of Budgeting and Operations since August 1995. He holds a C.P.A. certificate and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Missouri Southern in 1980. He is currently completing a Master of Science in Administrative Studies with an emphasis in Communication at Missouri State University. Prior to his employment with the University, he worked in public accounting for three years, public utility accounting and management for 11 years, and private school administration for one year.
“We are very fortunate to have these two dedicated and talented individuals ready to step into these key positions,” Speck stated. “It provides necessary and valuable continuity in the midst of several major projects, including the completion of the health sciences building and our work to bring a school of medicine to our campus.”
Today's Brown Bag
Today's Brown Bag for faculty/staff will feature Paul Teverow, Social Sciences, speaking on “London as a Textbook”
In the fall of 2008 Paul taught in the Missouri Consortium for International Programs and Studies (MOCON) Missouri London program. The Brown Bag presentation will focus on his use of the city of Londonas a "textbook" for his two courses, Environmental History of London and Native Peoples & the British Empire.
The event will be noon in room A202 in the Art Building Enter through the main door, room is immediately to the left, opposite the gallery. Bring your own brown bag lunch and enjoy an opportunity to witness some of the research and creative works being accomplished at Missouri Southern.
The lecture series is free and open to all faculty and staff.
For additional information contact, Frank A. Pishkur, Art, at ext. 9735.
Debate team competes in Kentucky
The Missouri Southern Forensics squad recently competed in the Western Kentucky University Fall Fiesta Speech and Debate Classic in Bowling Green, Ky.
A total of 47 Lincoln Douglas (LD) competitors from 14 universities represented eight states.
In varsity LD, Rayce Lashley, sophomore Communication major from Carthage and newcomer Michael Johnson, sophomore Education major from Ft. Scott, both qualified for octo-final elimination rounds (round of 16).
Both lost close elimination round decisions. Lashley was 5-1 in the preliminary rounds and Michael Johnson was 4-2. Both Lashley and Johnson qualified for the NFA National LD championships held in April at Ohio University at the first competition of the year.
The debate team heads to Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. in three weeks for the Creighton Double-Up tournament.
Seducing Dr. Lewis
The Canadian Film Festival will present the film Seducing Dr. Lewis (Canada, 2004; 109 minutes).at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall on campus.
The film is free and open to the public.
The film is a comedy about an impoverished French-speaking fishing community in eastern Canada. The community must lure a doctor from Montréal who, in turn, must convince an industry to open a factory there.
Directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot, Seducing Dr. Lewis won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. It has been called "very, very funny."
This film will be shown as part of a Missouri Southern Continuing Education class. The cost of the class is $10 per person per semester and those interested may register before the film Friday evening.
For further information about this film or the series, contact Bill Kumbier, English, at kumbier-w@mssu.edu or Nick Kyle at kyle-n@mssu.edu.
Focus on careers
Career Development Day is coming. The event will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 on the 3rd Floor of Billingsly Student Center. Your assistance is requested.
To obtain two-sided half-sheet flyers to hand out students or an 11" X 17" poster to hang in departments, e-mail Lora Burch, Career Services, at burch-l@mssu.edu. Her office will deliver them ASAP.
Please do encourage all students to attend this event. It is the perfect opportunity for freshman and sophomores to begin fine-tuning their net-working skills and learn about opportunities in their major area of study. Juniors and seniors should re-visit employers they’ve met at previous job fairs to learn about possible internships or to actively begin their job search.
To help students prepare for this event, students can submit their resume to Career Services for critique, but do encourage them to get them submitted early.
Also, starting Friday, Sept. 25, Job Fair Basics (handouts which describe how to prepare for a job fair) will be available in the lobbies of most of the buildings on campus. Encourage your students to pick one up.
Instructional Design courses
Betty Baker, Lifelong Learning, says two Instructional Design for Distance Courses are slated for next week.
This topic is available to anyone to attend, but is especially geared toward one of the training requirements of anyone signing a Development contract for an on-line course to be taught in the spring of 2010 or later.
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Wednesday, Oct. 7: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Library Room 418
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Thursday, Oct. 8: 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Library Room 418
A course development Rubric will be reviewed, along with a course/media outline plan to get you contemplating ways to present and communicate your on-line materials in an engaging and interactive manner.
To attend, make reservations with Betty by calling-625-9888 or e-mail
Baker-B@mssu.edu.
MSSU, OTC to assist companies
Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) and Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) are partnering to provide businesses in the Springfield area training on doing business with the government.
MSSU and OTC will offer seminars designed to help businesses learn how to locate and obtain contracts from local, state and federal government agencies/installations. The first seminar will be presented as follows:
What: "Winning Government Contracts - The First Steps"
Where: OTC's Center for Workforce Development, 614 North Washington Avenue, Springfield, Mo., Room 10
Date: Friday, Oct. 16
Time: Registration at 8:45 a.m. Seminar from 9 a.m. - 12 noon.
Cost: No charge to the public
MSSU personnel will be on hand to conduct the seminar. The schools also will provide one-on-one counseling to businesses through MSSU's Heartland Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) by appointment.
Heartland PTAC is funded in part by the Department of Defense (DoD), which administers the congressional program. There are 90 PTACs throughout the country.
To register for the seminar e-mail attendee name, company name and daytime phone number to CWD@otc.edu. Space is limited so reserving a seat for the seminar is important. For more information call Heartland PTAC at (417) 625-9538.
Relay for Life
The MSSU Relay for Life team is doing a 50/50 raffle to raise money for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Tickets are available for $1 each or 6 for $5. Winning ticket will get half the funds raised in the raffle with the other half going to the ACS. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Josh Doak, Student Services, at doak-j@mssu.edu or at the Homecoming picnic in the Relay for Life tent. Last year's winner was awarded $150. Come support a great cause.
Kumbier to present "Gouldberg Variations"
“Gouldberg Variations: Glenn Gould’s Polyphonic Art and Life,” a presentation by William Kumbier, English at Missouri Southern, will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8 in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall.The lecture is free and open to the public.
This presentation will provide a concise overview of Gould’s life and art and also introduce the two feature films, Glenn Gould: Hereafter and 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould, that will be shown later that day (see below).
William Kumbier has primarily taught writing and world literature at MSSU since 1989. He has researched and written extensively on interactions between music and literature, publishing essays in Studies in Romanticism, Criticism, Comparative Literature and elsewhere.
Two films on Glenn Gould . . . .
The Canadian Film Festival will present two films centering on the life and work of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould on Thursday, Oct. 8. Both films are free and open to the public.
At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 the film Glenn Gould: Hereafter will be presented Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.
In this retrospective 2005 film, French director Bruno Monsaingeon, who has specialized in music-oriented documentaries on charismatic musicians such as Sviatoslav Richter and Yehudi Menuhin, weaves together archival material, interviews and mesmerizing performances to immerse viewers in Gould’s world as he himself might have composed it.
At 7 p.m. that night, the film 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould will be presented in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall. Directed by François Girard (1993), this innovative pseudo-documentary explores the life and art of the legendary Canadian pianist, sensitively and resourcefully portrayed by Colm Feore, from at least 32 intriguing perspectives.
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Southern featured
Missouri Southern is in the July issue of SITE Selection magazine. The magazine is produced by Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Area Economic Development. Members of the Site Selection editorial staff traveled to Missouri during the spring semester to interview many of the State's colleges and universities.
Rob O'Brian of the Joplin Chamber of Commerce connected the magazine with Eagle Picher and Missouri Southern as a Industry-University economic development partnership. Editors were interested in MSSU's Missouri Center for Advanced Power (MOCAP) initiative.
The title of the article is "Talent by Design, Missouri's Infrastructure for learning translates to higher yields for business." This is a 15 page article on Missouri. Tia Strait, Dean of the School of Technology invites everyone to read the story.
The story is online at http://www.siteselection.com/features/2009/jul/Missouri/.
Coleman to lecture tomorrow night
 Henderson, Nevada, Studio Potter Tom Coleman will be at MSSU tomorrow night to lecture and show examples of his artwork. Internationally known for his beautiful porcelain pots and famous "Vegas Red" glaze, Tom Coleman, has been making pottery for over 30 years. He has been invited to Australia and Europe, taught at both Anderson Ranch and Penland School of Crafts, and his work is in many significant collections.
Coleman will lecture Saturday night in Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall. His presentation begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the campus community and the public, according to Frank Pishkur, Art.
In his presentation Mr. Coleman will be showing images and sharing insights from his beginnings with clay back in Oregon and the twists and turns the journey has taken him to where he is now. His wife Elaine's beautifully carved porcelain work will also be shown and he will discuss how their work has evolved together over the years. When discussing his work Coleman relates:
"My true love of clay, glazes, and the process of finishing my pieces have helped me to stay just as excited about my art as I was when I started thirty-eight years ago."
Mr. Coleman has authored two books about glazing that share many of the recipes for the glazes his is famous for developing and using. Also, two books have also been written about Tom Coleman and his artwork. John Nance’s 1977 diary-style book The Mud-Pie Dilemma and Dan Lamberton's, On the River Through The Valley of Fire.
More information and examples of Mr. Coleman’s work are available at his website: http://tomandelainecoleman.com This lecture is made possible by funding from the Katherine Hyde Charitable Trust.
Insurance Open Enrollment begins
The annual opportunity to review the insurance products employees have and determine their choices for the next calendar year has begun. Human Resources has sent information by email and posted it on the HR website: www.mssu.edu/hr under “Open Enrollment”. And by now each full time employee has received in campus mail a memo with details of their current selections and a purple election form for completion.
If employees want to make any changes to their plans, specific enrollment and / or change forms are required and are available in HR (Hearnes Hall room 217).
Informational Meetings to be held with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield representatives to discuss the four health plan choices for 2010.
Meetings consisting of presentations of the health plan choices, a question and answer period, and an in-person tutorial presentation of web-based resources for employees will be conducted. Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall has been reserved for these meetings. Employees are encouraged but not required to stay for the full session.
Those dates and times are:
* Tuesday, 10/13/2009 - beginning at 8:30 a.m.
* Wednesday, 10/14/2009 - beginning at 8:30 a.m.
* Thursday, 10/15/2009 - beginning at 2 p.m.
* Friday, 10/16/2009 - beginning at 8:30 p.m.
HR staff to conduct outreach program.
For the week of Monday October 27th through Friday, October 30th a staff member will be at BSC room 356 to serve as an Open Enrollment resource. Employees can turn in forms and ask questions. This may give folks more privacy and reduce the wait time in the Hearnes Hall HR office. Forms can also be turned into the HR office. Due to the personal nature of the material, it is recommended to not put the forms in campus mail.
The deadline for Open Enrollment for employees is Friday, Oct, 30, 2009. Employees must turn in their purple election forms and any other enrollment change forms by 5 p.m.
Cafeteria Plan enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts available on line.
The cafeteria plan materials are being sent to employees by postal or email. Due to the success of the on-line enrollment last year, ASI is again using this format. Simply go to www.mocafe.com click on “Enrollment” and follow the instructions. HR reports that many employees participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts offered that allows them to put pre-taxed money aside (thus reducing their tax liability) for later reimbursement of out-of-pocket child care or healthcare expenses. Although ASI has a later deadline of 12/1/2009, it is recommended to take care of this enrollment early so as to not overlook it. The Mo Café informational booklet is also posted on the HR web page
New cancer, Universal Life offerings
The State of Missouri and the Allstate Workforce Division have new insurance products available to MSSU employees beginning 1/1/2010. Two categories of employees are eligible:
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Regular part time employees (not adjunct faculty, interns, seminar instructors) who regularly work 20 hours a week and have done so for the last 3 month, and;
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Regular full time employees who regularly work 40 hours a week and are eligible for insurance benefits.
A Universal Life Insurance product and a Cancer Insurance product (that also covers 29 other conditions) are being offered at this time with a ‘guaranteed issue’ aspect. This allows employees to sign up without extensive medical underwriting requirements. If you decided to not sign up now and later wanted to sign up, there would be more extensive medical underwriting requirements.
Two informational meetings have already been conducted. But employees can participate even if they have not attended these meetings.
It is important that all eligible employees meet individually with representatives to go over the details of the insurance coverage and either sign or decline. As part of the state requirements, if you do not want either insurance, you must communicate directly with the representatives – we cannot do this for you in HR.
Five representatives will be on campus during the entire week of October 5 through 9. We have reserved BSC, room 356 from 8 am until 5 pm each day. You do not need to reserve an appointment time – just drop by.
Spiva Trivia Night -- One Half Off!
Are you smarter than your students? Prove it at “Trivia Night at Your Library” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. at Spiva Library.
Take advantage of one-half off! Sign up a Trivia Team next week Oct. 5 - 9 for only $5 per person!
There will be great prizes including: MSSU basketball tickets, bowling passes, free movie tickets and rentals, gift cards to restaurants and local businesses and much more.
Teams may consist of 4 - 8 participants.
For more information, please contact: Amber Carr, Library, at ext. 9335 carr-a@mssu.edu or Melissa Forsythe, Library, at ext. 9362 forsythe-m@mssu.edu.
All proceeds will be used to purchase new chairs for the Library computer labs |
Newsmakers focuses on flu preparations
An upcoming edition of the Newsmakers interview program focuses on local preparations for the H1N1 flu. Joplin Health Department Director Dan Pekarek discusses how his department is working with other agencies. He also shares information about symptoms and treatment of the flu and discusses the age groups that will be highlighted with the first round of vaccinations, when they are available.
"This topic is something that a lot of people are talking about, and this program will hopefully answer some questions and provide some good information for area viewers," says Judy Stiles, KGCS General Manager and host of Newsmakers.
The program will air numerous times in the next few weeks on KGCS-TV. Those air dates include:
The program will also air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 on KOAM-TV.
- Mon. Oct. 5 - 9 p.m.
- Tue. Oct. 7 - 9:30 p.m.
- Sun. Oct. 11 - 6:30 p.m.
- Wed. Oct. 14 - 9:30 p.m.
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- Mon. Oct. 19 - 5:30 p.m.
- Tue. Oct. 20 - 5:30 p.m.
- Wed. Oct. 21 - 5:30 p.m.
- KOAM: Oct. 24, 5:30 a.m.
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Newsmakers is a news interview program produced by KGCS-TV, a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern. KGCS programming may be seen over the air on channel 22, and on local cable television systems such as Cable One and Mediacom.
FACULTY/STAFF
Dorothy C. Bay, Biology, along with students Dee Ogle and Andrew Jecmen, attended Crowder College's 4th Annual Alternative Energy Conference on Friday, Sept 25. They gave a presentation on MSSU's Campus Sustainability Tree Project and took part in an hour-long panel discussion. Crowder's efforts to update its landscape gave rise to interest in Missouri Southern's fledgling arboretum.
Josh Doak, Student Services, says MSSU's "Relay for Life" team thanks everyone for their support for the 50/50 drawing at the homecoming picnic. A total of $184 was raised, with $92 going to the wife of an alumnus from the 1999-2000 men's basketball team. Anyone would be interested in joining the MSSU Relay for Life team's efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society, is asked to e-mail doak-j@mssu.edu. "We would love to have you on the team," Josh says.
Elke Howe, Engineering Technology, was invited by the Grand Lake Manufacturing Council to give a presentation on problem solving on Sept. 30.
Stephen Smith, Southern News Bureau, will play folk music at the "Barnyard Days" arts and crafts festival, near Neosho on Saturday, Oct. 3 at various times during the day beginning at 10 a.m. This year's event is a benefit to fight breast cancer. Visit Barnyard Days for directions and information on other activities.
This summer, Paul Teverow, History, led a group of 16 primary and secondary teachers on a 2009 study tour of sites including Jamestown Settlement, colonial sites, Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of the American Indian. The trip was among the program of activities in “What is An American? Teaching American History through Biography,” a Teaching American History project funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education. For a list of participants and a picture, visit History Tour.
CLASSIFIED
For Sale: Classy 1994 red Chevy Camaro; automatic; power windows, doors, locks, and driver's seat; remote entry; well-maintained engine; 131,000; good condition; good tires; one-owner; $2700. Telephone (417) 673-1943.
For Sale: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SE, 164,000 miles, owned since approximately 14,000 miles; new tires purchased last summer; cold air; silver in color; $1995 cash; 625-9518. |
