Massachusetts Community College Council

NEWSLETTER

Volume XV

April, 1998

Number Seven

Abe Sherf Honored

In the summer of 1987, the MCCC lost one of its most respected leaders when then MCCC Treasurer Raymond C. Lemieux from Springfield Technical Community College died suddenly of a heart attack. Ray Lemieux was a man who was committed to the teaching profession. He was equally committed to representing and defending the professional rights of his colleagues. Actively involved on his campus and in the MCCC, MTA, and NEA, he earned the respect of faculty, professional staff, and administrators alike. His command of the college and state accounting systems made him indispensable when the MCCC needed to set up new salary schedules.

In 1991 the MCCC established an award in Ray's memory and for the past four years has awarded it to a unit member who personifies the qualities and characteristics... "of an individual whose service, leadership, and dedication have contributed significantly to the Massachusetts Community College Council. Criteria for the award are service to higher education and to the labor movement in the quest for improved working conditions, the maintenance of high standards of professional excellence, and a demonstrated leadership in higher education at the chapter, MCCC, MTA and NEA levels."

At the MCCC Delegate Assembly on April 18, 1998, the seventh Raymond C. Lemieux Award was presented to Nahum "Abe" Sherf a professor at No. Shore Community College. Last year's recipient, Dennis Fitzgerald, MCCC Grievance Coordinator and Don Williams, No. Shore Chapter President, presented the award.

Abe Sherf is a professor of History and has been Department Chair of History / Government / Economics since 1975.

Growing up in Israel, Sherf along with the other 14-year-old boys, enlisted in the Haganah underground and at 16joined the Army to fight in the War of Independence. At this same time, Sherf worked part time in his town where he joined the union, the Histatrut. At 18 he left the Army and could not find a job without a high school diploma. He earned his GED in Tel Aviv and went to work for the Customs Office in Jerusalem where he was a member of the government employees union. Moving back to his hometown, Sherf worked for the Internal Revenue Service and was graduated from Hebrew University with a Diploma in Public Administration. He then became Deputy Head for Administrative Affairs in charge of Personnel, Administration, and Finance.

In 1961 Sherf took a leave of absence from his job, and with his wife and first son, came to the United States to study at Brandeis University. He received a Masters in Near Eastern History and Politics while teaching at the No. Shore Hebrew High School in Swampscott. He has completed all of the course work for a Ph.D. in Near Eastern History and Politics.

In 1965 he applied for a job in a new community college that was starting up in Beverly. He was one of 19 faculty, two and a half administrators, and 400 students that launched No. Shore Community College. "In those days," says Sherf, "everyone did everything. It was new. It was like a family all working together to make this new concept of a community college successful."

In the early to mid-1970's, the faculty and professional staff began exploring the idea of a union. The colleges were growing, the salaries were stagnant, and many colleges had paternalistic presidents. Sherf became involved in the formation of the MCCC, and he has remained active since that time.

Over the past 20 years, Sherf has been active in his Chapter as a member of its MACER Committee, Executive Committee, and director to the MCCC Board.

At the MCCC level, Sherf has been a member of the Executive Committee, Joint Study Committee, Work Load Panel, bargaining team, and the chair of a bargaining team. In 1994 he was appointed to the Health and Welfare Trust Fund to represent MCCC unit members.

In 1992, he was elected to the MTA Board as the MCCC representative. In 1996 he was elected to the MTA Executive Committee from Region H (all segments of higher education). His financial acumen has served his constituents well. He watches the fiscal matters closely and is a member of the Advisory Budget Committee.

While a member of the MTA Board, Sherf was elected to the Educators Services Corporation (ESC) Board of Directors, a corporation owned by MTA that provides discounts in a multitude of areas to MTA members. While a member of that Board, Sherf was instrumental in making changes in the financial structure. Joe Ferrari, President of the Franklin Teachers Association and a member of the MTA Executive Committee and ESC Board of Directors says, "Of all the people with whom I have worked on the MTA Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors of Educators Services Corporation, no one has understood the financial organization as keenly as Abe, and no one has accomplished as much for the organization financially as Abe Sherf For instance, he was the first to understand the need for change and took a lead in that change in ESC's benefits programs which will ultimately result in a benefit for all MTA members."

Don Williams, No. Shore Chapter President, in his remarks about Sherf, said, "Abe goes into every situation prepared, having done his homework and worked out several courses of action. He has been a mentor to me not only in union activities but also in general life and negotiation skills. Abe has been selfless in his union activities, having taken virtually no compensation. He has never drawn a stipend or a union paycheck and has almost never had a chapter release section. He has made a commitment to the union not because it benefited him but because he believes in our cause. He has spent countless hours for the betterment of our union and the respectful treatment of our profession. ...and the North Shore Chapter owes Abe an eternal debt of gratitude."

Dennis Fitzgerald, MCCC Grievance Officer, stated in his presentation of the Lemieux Award to Sherf, "Certainly there is little question that he is always prepared. He always reads the material, does his homework, keeps a close eye on the finances, and, as so many of us know, asks a lot of questions. He is also known as someone willing to ask the questions that no one else even wants to brooch, let alone ask. Sometimes his questions are rhetorical, others beg for a response, while other are met with silence. But, Abe seldom lacks for something to say, and people seldom lack for something to say about Abe. He is willing to take risks, and that can lead to bumpy roads, at times, but his 22 years of volunteering and serving our union and our membership at the chapter, local, and statewide levels are a hallmark of his commitment."

MCCC Delegate Assembly to be Reconvened

At the MCCC Delegate on April 18, 1998, not enough members attended; therefore, a quorum was not reached. As a result, all nonbusiness items were taken up, and the annual meeting must be reconvened prior to the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 1998. MCCC President Susan Dole will be notifying the chapters shortly of the new date.

Chapters presidents and leaders will be asked to make an extra strong effort to send a delegation to the meeting. If there is not a quorum, the meeting will have to be called again until such time as there is a quorum.

The following is an outline of the proposed bylaw changes and proposed budget that will be debated at the annual meeting.

Proposed Bylaw Changes

The following bylaws were recommended by the Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee and voted on by the Board. These proposed bylaw changes evolved from the Organizational Review Audit Committee recommendations. Since some of the bylaw language is lengthy, what appears is an overview of the intent of the changes,

1. The maintenance of the statewide membership list for the Division of Continuing Education was removed from the list of the secretary's responsibilities. (Recommends: Committee 3-0; Board 12-0-0)
   
   
2. This amendment would remove a clerical function from the duties of a treasurer; establish the treasurer as the ex officio, non-voting chair of the Finance Committee, and eliminate bonding of the treasurer, (Recommends: Committee 3-0; Board 12-2-0)
   
   
3. Presently: Too much clerical work is being done by the treasurer and the treasurer is presently the chair and a voting member of the Finance Committee.
   
   
4. Significant changes to the Finance Committee, a standing committee under MCCC Bylaws, This proposed bylaw would establish a revised approach to budgeting within the MCCC, It clarifies and expands the responsibilities of the Finance Committee in the areas of fiscal affairs, financial policies, and capital assets, (Recommends: Committee 3-0; Board 13-0-0)
   
   
5. This proposed bylaw would establish a Personnel Committee as a standing committee incorporated into the MCCC bylaws. The responsibility of this committee will be to develop and review job descriptions and annual performance evaluations for coordinators and other employees, review rates of compensation of officers, coordinators, and other employees, and develop, maintain, and recommend revisions in the personnel policies of the MCCC. (Recommends: Committee 3-0; Board 14- 0-0).

Proposed Fiscal 1999 Budget

Thanks and congratulations go to Phil Mahler, MCCC Vice President, who took over the responsibility of preparing a budget and getting an Ad Hoc Budget Committee to work on a proposed budget.

Last fall the Board passed a motion mandating that the MCCC would have a balanced budget within two years (end deficit spending). Instead of recommending a $32 dollar increase to provide for a balanced budget this year, the Ad Hoc Finance Committee recommended a $20 increase this year and will recommend a $12 dollar increase next year. These combined dues increases will end deficit spending and provide for a little money to move to the stabilization account.

On June 1, 1998, the newly elected MCCC Treasurer Cathy Xanthaky Larson from Middlesex Community College will assume her new position.

Proposed dues for the MTA this year is $21 and the NEA is $3. The reason for the large increase in MTA dues is that a couple of years ago, the federal government changed the mortality tables that organizations could use for the funding of the employees' pension system. This dramatically increased the MTA's liability, and with the help of William Mercer, Incorporated, a group of scenarios were put together on how best to fund this liability. The Executive Committee and the Board chose the one that would fund the pension to its legal level with the least impact on the dues. As a result, the breakdown of this year's dues increase is: $ 13 for pension liability; $4 to fund the deficit from last year; and $4 in new money.

Part-Time Professional Staff Employees

For the past five years, the MCCC has been working to get a handle on the part- time professional staff employees. It is anticipated that beginning this fiscal year (July 1, 1998), the MCCC will begin collecting dues from these employees. The Board voted that all part-time professional staff, regardless of how many hours they work, will be charged the part-time dues rate (approximately $176). If these members belong to the MTA through another job, then they will be responsible for the MCCC part only. If these employees are also DCE employees, they will not be required to pay twice.

Proposed Fiscal 1999 Budget

Account		FY 1998	Proposed FY1999	Difference	% Change
01	Stipends	$91,312	$104,248**	$2,736	3.0%
	President	19,850	20,445	595	3.0%
	Vice President	10,918	11,245	327	3.0%
	Treasurer	14,888	15,334	446	3.0%
	Secretary	7,940	8,178	238	3.0%
	Day Grievance Coordinator.*	15,880	16,356	476	3.0%
	Comm. Coordinator.*	10,918	11,245	327	3.0%
	DCE Coordinator*	10,918	11,245	327	3.0%
02	Secretarial	61,470	61,470	-0-	-0-
03	Released Time	110,000	80,000	(30,000)	-2.7%
11	Executive Comm.	12,600	16,000	3,400	2.7%
12	Board of Directors	13,750	13,750	-0-	-0-
13	Committee Travel	4,780	16,700	11,920	249.4%
14	Conferences & Conventions	52,200	52,200	-0-	-0-
15	Coordinator Travel	19,600	7,300	(12,300)	-62.8%
18	Professional Development.	3,000	7,000	4,000	13.3%
22	Telephone	35,100	31,700	(3,400)	9.7%
24	Postage	19,400	19,400	-0-	-0-
25	Equipment	6,350	6,050	(300)	-4.7%
26	Office Supplies	18,100	18,100	-0-	-0-
27	Printing	32,400	38,200	5,800	-17.9%
28	Paper	200	2,000	1,800	900.0%
29	Bank Service Charges	600	900	300	500.0%
31	Memberships	2,600	3,600	1,000	38.5%
44	Payroll Taxes	17,200	17,200	-0-	-0-
45	Insurance	1,550	1,550	-0-	-0-
51	Professional Fees	11,000	15,200	4,200	38.2%
53	Donations	1,000	1,000	-0-	-0-
54	Negotiations	16,500	16,500	-0-	-0-
55	Arbitrations	20,000	20,000	-0-	-0-
56	DCE Arbitrations	9,000	3,000	(6,000)	-66.7%
57	Mediation-Day	9,600	3,000	(6,600)	-68.8%
58	Mediation-DCE	4,000	2,500	1,500	37.5%
71	Chapter Dues	52,400	44,000	(8,400)	-16.0%
73	Local Support	30,800	28,000	2,000	6.5%
74	Chapter Newsletter Support	7,500	3,000	(4,000)	-53.3%
75	Strategic Action Coordinators	7,500	2,500	(5,000)	-66.7%
X	Dues Collection***	10,000	10,000		100.0%
X	Operation Audit Initiatives***	5,000	5,000		100.0%
X	Capital Budget***		6,500	6,500	100.0%
	TOTAL	$671,512	$651,068	($20,444)	-3%

*1994 's delegate assembly, when it approved the budget, also approved a stipend schedule for officers and coordinators based on a percentage of the president's stipend. The ratio is: President 100%, vice president 55%; treasurer 75%; secretary 40%, day grievance 80%; DCE grievance 55%; and communications 55%.

In addition, the stipend does not reflect the continuous service adjustment (csa) for coordinators which was voted by that delegate assembly as well. 0-2 years, no adjustment; 3-4, $400; 5-6 $800; 7-8 $1200; 9-10, $1600; and more than 10, $2000. The DCE Coordinator will receive an adjustment of $1,200 and the Grievance and Communications Coordinators will receive a $2,000 adjustment.

**The actual stipend amount is $99,248 (csa). The additional $5, 000 was added by the Board pending the review of the DCE Grievance Coordinator 's stipend. Any adjustment will depend on a Board vote.

*** These are new accounts. Part-time day dues collection will be handled by an outside agency. This amount is merely an estimate of cost. The Operational Audit Review, Committee made several recommendations this year that need to be implemented, especially the exploration of a central business office. The capital budget account is for the equipment that will be necessary for the new treasurer.

Revenue Projections

Full-time membership is estimated for 1934 members, DCE is estimated at 3,200 members that translates to the full-time equivalent (FTE) of 960 (3,200 x .3) members, and part-time day professional staff is estimated at 105 FTE (350 x .3).

Revenue

	$ 170 x 1934 (full-time) =	$328,780
	$ 170 x 960 (DCE, FTE) =	163,200
	(or 3200 x $51)
	$ 170 x 105 (Part-time FTE) =	17,850
	MTA Local Support	44,893
	MTA Research Grant	11,200
	MTA Extraordinary Expense	18,000
	Interest Income	25,000
	Miscellaneous Income	4,800
	Total Revenue	$613,723

Rule of 90 Retirement Bill

The "Rule of 90" retirement bill is expected to be reported out by the end of April. Though this is a preK-12 bill, it would help if higher education members, interested in an early retirement bill, would call their legislators and ask they support a fiscally sound, but beneficial early retirement recommendation. If a "reasonable" bill is reported out and eventually passes, then there will be a better chance for a higher education early retirement bill. As it stands now, the legislature is attempting to determine how much of a contribution teachers would have to make to the retirement system and balance that with how much it would cost the state.

The House Ways and Means budget is expected to be debated during the first week of May. This bill could be made part of the budget or move as a separate bill.

Nota Bene

Health Care Enrollment Time

If you are contemplating a change in your health care provider or in switching from an indemnity plan to an HMO or vice versa, the open enrollment period is now. Contact your Personnel Office immediately. Deadline to change is May 8, 1998.

Classification Update

Faculty and professional staff questionnaire forms should be completed at this time. The Team is waiting for information from Peter Tsfarras from the Board of Higher Education (BHE on when professional staff interviews will be conducted.

A classification hot line has been installed at the BHE-617-727-7785 Ext. 280. The MCCC is also waiting for the results of the faculty interviews and the classification systems from other colleges in the country.

Report Your Blue Cross Dental Concerns Anyone having a complaint or concern about the Blue Cross Dental plan and coverage should direct his or her comments to Abe Sherf. He is the community college representative on the Health and Welfare Trust Fund. Please speak slowly and clearly when leaving your name and number.

Apr. 30	Fall assignments to faculty with full-tine schedules to chapter
May 11	President's tenure recommendations and sabbatical decisions due
May 15	Faculty submit College Service and Student Advisement forms
May 20	Tenure decisions due
May 29	Professional staff College Service and Student Advisement forms submitted

N.B. Dates may vary depending on first day of classes. Also, most of these dates are "last date" standards. In many instances, the action can he accomplished before the date indicated.