October 23, 2009

Gockel International Symposium Oct. 27-28

The Gockel International Symposium, the central event of the Canada Semester will be held in six sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday Oct. 27-28 on the MSSU campus.

Chad Stebbins, Institute of International Studies, says two speakers will be highlighted during the six sessions.

Georges Rioux

Georges Rioux was appointed Consul General of Canada and arrived in Chicago to assume his duties in 2006. He is actively engaged in the three-state area for which he is responsible - Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Mark Kasoff is professor emeritus of Canadian studies and economics at Bowling Green State University, where he founded BGSU’s Canadian Studies Program in 1991. Along with Patrick James, Kasoff is co-editor of Canadian Studies in the New Millennium (University of Toronto Press, 2008), the most widely used Canadian Studies textbook.

Mark Kasoff

Kasoff, who was editor of The American Review of Canadian Studies from 2002-06, has published numerous articles and book chapters on Canadian international trade and direct investment.

The Gockel Symposium includes both morning and evening sessions. Click on the following titles to be taken to sites explaining each program in greater detail:

• Canada and the U.S.: Partners in Security and Prosperity, 9:30 a.m., Oct 27

• O Canada-Au Canada: Understanding, Appreciating Our Northern Neighbor, 10:15 a.m., Oct. 27

• Like a Mouse Sleeping with an Elephant: Canada-U.S. Relations, 7 p.m., Oct. 27

• The Obama Effect: Canada-U.S. Relations, 7:45 p.m., Oct. 27

• NAFTA and the North American Economy, 9 a.m., Oct. 28

• Canada in Afghanistan: Development, Defense and Diplomacy 11 a.m., Oct. 28
  

You are invited . . . .

Employees are personally invited to join the premier fitness incentive program for MSSU faculty and staff. “Get Physical” is a 1-month fitness incentive program that will incorporate many physical activities, such as:  walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, aerobics, H2Obics, and weight training.

All MSSU faculty & staff are invited & encouraged to participate, regardless of membership status.

For every 20-minutes spent working out, participants will have the opportunity to earn points towards prizes. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the program, based on pre-determined prize levels. The three participants earning the most points will receive additional prizes.

The program will also kick-off with a luncheon on Oct. 30. Participants are asked to bring their own “main course”, Sides and drinks will be provided. There will also be a reward luncheon on Dec. 4 for everyone who completes the program. A full lunch will be served free of charge and prizes will be awarded, at this time. Both luncheons will include a short presentation on a health topic.

Luncheon participation is encouraged, but not required. Prizes are subject to change based on availability and participation numbers. For information, contact Heather Arnold at 625-9533.

Vice-Presidential candidates to visit

Bruce Speck, MSSU President, reminds faculty/staff that candidates for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs will be on campus today and on two other days.

Peter J. Johnstone will visit campus today, Friday, Oct. 23; Charles Cullum will come to Missouri Southern on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Brian R. Chapman will visit Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Copies of their Vitae are available in Spiva Library at the Main Circulation Desk. To see their interview schedules, including times for meeting with the campus community and faculty visit: VPVisits on the Missouri Southern website.

Pope named Student Activities Director

Jessica Pope

Jessica Pope is the new Director of Student Activities at Missouri Southern.

Jessica, originally from Pittsburg, Kan., graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management with minors in Business Administration and Leadership Studies

She was recognized as one of fourteen 2009 K-State Dean of Students Outstanding Graduating Seniors for contributions to Student Life and is a Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority Alumna

She joined MSSU in August 2009 as the Coordinator of Student Activities

Jessica says student involvement is high on her list of priorities. "I am excited to work in Billingsly Student Center and Beimdiek Recreation Center during this time of expansion and change," she says.

"It is great time for Southern students and they should definitely take advantage of every opportunity they can," Jessica adds.

Open insurance enrollment

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”.  Each full-time employee has received in campus mail a memo with details of their current selections and a purple election form for completion.

Debbie Dutch Kelley, Human Resources, thanks full-time insurance eligible employees who have completed purple election form indicating which health, dental and/or vision plans they wish to participate in for 2010.

The deadline for Open Enrollment for employees is Friday, Oct, 30.  Employees must turn in their purple election forms and any other enrollment change forms by 5 p.m.

Human Resources is located in Room 217 of Hearnes Hall.

"This year all employees must designate what plans they are enrolling in for 2010. If they are dropping or adding a dependent to any plan, they will be required to complete other forms," Debbie says. "Don't delay," she adds, "the longer you wait, the higher the probability is of encountering a line."

"This year we are trying a new outreach approach to assist you," Debbie states. "We will have a person from HR at BSC Room 356 next week to take your forms and provide those forms you will need to complete if adding or deleting dependents."

Cafeteria Plan enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts is available online.

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.

Today's Brown Bag

Today's Brown Bag Lunch will feature Paul Teverow, Social Science. Paul's presentation is titled "London as a Textbook." The lecture series is free and open to all faculty and staff.

This rescheduled Brown Bag Presentation chronicles how Dr. Teverow taught in the Missouri Consortium for International Programs and Studies in the fall of 2008. He will focus on the way he utilized the city of London itself as a "textbook" for his two courses, Environmental History of London and Native Peoples & the British Empire.

The event will be held at noon in Room 202 in the Art Department (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.

For additional information contact Frank A. Pishkur, Art, at ext. 9735.

Clinking Maple Leaf concert slated

Music lovers with a taste for music from north of the border have a treat in store for them in early November!

“Clinking Maple Leaves: An All-Canadian Concert by Southern Symphony Orchestra” will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6 in Taylor Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern State University.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Though a “young” country, Canada has produced a surprising rich repertoire in music, ranging from traditional folk songs to modern sounds.

Canadian music represents its diversified people, culture, and landscape. The Southern Symphony Orchestra is directed by Kexi Liu, Music.

Project S.P.E.A.K. represents Southern

Project S.P.E.A.K. participants and faculty represented MSSU at the annual Mid-America Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MIDTESOL) Conference, at Missouri State University in Springfield on Oct. 16-17.

Loretta Bales, ESL teacher in the Neosho school district, presented Engaging Your Colleagues about a model of collaboration among teachers to improve the education of English language learners. Donna Michael, in-service teacher from Cassville, offered a session, Reading Comprehension Strategies for Content Learning.

Andrea Hellman, Teacher Education, Research Associate for Project S.P.E.A.K., contributed two lectures. World Class Professional Development for Every Teacher explored the use of Web 2.0 teacher education materials in the context of authentic professional learning. Moving Forward with the PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards proposed changes in Missouri’s educational policy regarding English language learners. Both papers are available at http://mssu.academia.edu/AndreaHellman/Talks.

Project S.P.E.A.K. completer, Hannah Goshert, demonstrated best classroom practices to conference attendees during the pre-conference visit to the Carthage school district.

William Trudeau, International English Program, was commended during the annual business meeting for his years of service to the MIDTESOL board as membership director. MIDTESOL (www.midtesol.org) is the Iowa-Missouri regional affiliate of the international TESOL organization.

Safe Halloween 2009

McCormick Hall, on the campus of Missouri Southern, will open its doors once again for Safe Halloween.  Bring the family and experience a safe trick-or-treating experience indoors! 

Carolyn White, Student Services, says the fun starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 and lasts until 8 p.m.   All area youth (6th grade and under) are invited to come and join in on the fun.  

For questions, please contact McCormick Hall Office at 659-4190. 

Safe Halloween is sponsored by the Residence Hall Association, Student Activities, and Sodexho Food Management.

Board holds October meeting

The Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors held its October meeting on Friday, Oct. 16. Board members heard the results of an audit of the University by Baird, Kurtz and Dobson of Springfield.
           

BKD gave Missouri Southern an “unqualified” opinion, which is the best that can be obtained, revealing no outstanding problems or points of concern.   
           

Terri Agee, Senior Vice President, told members of the Board that the Beimdiek Recreation Center and Willcoxon Health Center, for which dedication ceremonies were held earlier in the day, had created a “synergy” on the Missouri Southern campus. Agee said that the Beimdiek Recreation Center averages about 500 users per day, up from 350 users only a few weeks ago.
           

Agee said work is proceeding on the new Health Sciences Building on campus. She said that exterior work is almost done and that roofing and interior work is proceeding. Agee said just over  $11 million dollars has been received from the Lewis & Clark Discovery Fund to pay for the new building.
          

She said the renovation of the Mission Hills Mansion also is proceeding. Agee said the bid for Mansion renovation was won by Branco  Enterprises of Neosho. Agee said that facility, which will be the new home of the Missouri Southern Alumni Association, should be ready to move into within six to seven months.

Brad Kleindl, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, reported on the progress of Strategic Planning for Missouri Southern.  Kleindl said that a draft is in the final stages and should be ready for presentation to the Board for its consideration in early December.

Safe School Week

The governor announced that Oct. 18-24 is "Safe School Week" and encouraged an increased attention to unique safety issues in our communities. A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. The program stresses what instructors and students can do if confronted with a violent offender in the classroom while waiting for the police to arrive.

Faculty/staff members to an informational presentation for the A.L.I.C.E. program at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 in Room 147 of the Criminal Justice building. The program's author, Greg Crane, is a police officer from Texas and his wife is a high school principal. They devised some solutions to the glaring problem that nearly all school shootings are over by the time law enforcement arrives.

On Oct. 29, Ken Kennedy, Public Safety, certified A.L.I.C.E. instructor, will share the concepts and offer a demonstration of the "Swarm" method by students. The presentation should only take about an hour. If there is adequate interest, additional sessions will be scheduled. Contact Ken Kennedy at kennedy-k@mssu.edu to sign up for the session.

For additional information visit http://www.roseminars.com/ .

Contemporary Film Series

The fourth feature film for the fall 2009 season of the Contemporary Film Series will be shown at approximately 7 p.m. tonight, Friday Oct. 23 in Cornell Auditorium, Plaster Hall, on the Missouri Southern campus.

Tonight's film is The Class (France, 2008; 130 minutes). Last year’s ultimate “teacher” movie, this film—remarkably, a hit in both France and the US documents the efforts of a dedicated teacher in a tough, inner-city middle school in Paris. The film is notable for its ultra-realistic performances, including that of François Bégaudeau as the teacher on whose autobiography the film is based. Winner of the2008 Palme d’Or for Best Picture at Cannes.

The film was directed by Laurent Cantet.

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. Subsequent films will be shown this semester on Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.

Swine Flu audio information

Jeff Skibbe, 88.7KXMS General Manager, says the station is making a Swine Flu audio update available on the KXMS homepage.

In the new two-minute report, David Niesel and Norbert Herzog of The University of Texas Medical Branch discuss the potential severity of H1N1 in America. Go to the KXMS homepage at: www.mssu.edu/kxms.

FACULTY/STAFF

Christopher Dowd, English, has had his book The Construction of Irish Identity in American Literature accepted for publication by Routledge. The book, which examines famous Irish-American literary characters including Huck Finn and Scarlett O'Hara, will see print in late 2010.

William Huffman, Accounting, presented a two-hour CPE seminar on Ethics to the Joplin Tri-State Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants on Oct. 16.

Annita Miller, Mailroom, thanks everyone for prayers, kindness and cash following the death of her twin sister Angela Webb who passed away on Sept, 20.

CLASSIFIED

Free: Career Services has a number of letter/chart size dark plastic vertical wall-mounting-pocket folders that they can no longer use. Free to the first to stop and take them off of their hands. Career Services is located in Suite 207, Spiva Library.

On Sale in the Bookstore: 25% off Football crew and hooded sweatshirts. Halloween Flameless candles with spooky sounds - 1/2 off regular price $9.99 now $4.99. Also: Select Gear for Sports Big Cotton hooded sweatshirt in 3 colors, Reg. $29.99, Now $19.99.

Huge Garage Sale: Friday, Oct. 23 & Sat, Oct 24. Starts at 7:30 a.m. Rain or shine.. Truly an unbelievable accumulation. If the doors are open, you're welcome to shop.

For Sale: Large Hawke cast iron fireplace insert. 33" wide x 24" high x 12" deep. Heats 2000 sq. ft. area, has adjustable blower. In PERFECT condition - used only 2 yrs. You haul. This is a very heavy insert & will take 4 strong adults to move. $500. Call ext. 3100 or emai cortjl@gmail.com.

Free to Good Home: Two kittens, 1 male, 1 female. Take one or both. Very sweet, litter box trained, spayed and neutered. Email for pictures or more information contact thomas-j@mssu.edu.

For Sale: Adult computer desk w/hutch (cherry color) - $75. Oval dining room table and 4 chairs, light oak in color (chairs swivel and rock with neutral colored cushions) - $75. Youth corner computer desk w/small hutch - $50.
Glider rocker with stool (dark red, blue & tan cushions) - $30. Dresser (6 drawers) and Mirror - $40
Contact ext.4442 or (417) 529-8296 or email: whetstone-s@mssu.edu for pictures.

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