Office of Internal Communications
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January 11, 2005 TO UHS DAY IN AUSTIN When the University of Houston’s Staff Council convened for its first meeting of 2005, it received an invitation to visit the capital of Texas. Tonja Jones, director of the Houston Alumni Organization’s (HAO) Cougar Connections, was on hand to encourage council members to attend UH System (UHS) Day in Austin on Tuesday, Feb. 8. She also asked council members to spread the word regarding this event and persuade faculty, staff and particularly, students to travel to the state capital and promote the system’s legislative agenda. During UHS Day in Austin, approximately 600 UHS constituents will travel to the state capital on buses to meet with legislators and discuss issues facing the system during the 2005 state legislative session. “This year’s event in Austin will spotlight the students,” Jones said. “The theme of this trip is ‘Meet the Future of Texas.’ Our goal is to have 300 students traveling to Austin, but it’s important that they see faculty, staff and alumni on the buses, so they’ll realize that we all have the same goals.” The event is sponsored by the HAO’s Cougar Advocates for Texas (CATS), a volunteer group that encourages, supports and coordinates alumni activities on behalf of higher education in Texas. Those interested in attending UHS Day in Austin can contact Jones at (713) 743-9552 or via e-mail at tajones@uh.edu. For full details on UHS Day in Austin, information is available on the CATS Web site. During the meeting, the confirmed date for the council’s Spring Forum was announced. The forum will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in Farish Hall’s Kiva Room. The forum offers staff members the opportunity to pose questions regarding university issues to UH President Jay Gogue and his cabinet. Questions can be submitted to Averill Buchanan, administrative assistant in the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs, at abuchanan@uh.edu. If selected, questions will be presented anonymously during the forum. In other council news, the planned memorial tree for late council members and longtime staff member Rodger Peters is still facing a donation shortfall of $145 dollars. Peters passed away last summer. The council began collecting donations to plant a red oak tree near the Center for Students with DisAbilities to commemorate his role as an advocate for the disabled. For information on how to make a donation, contact B. Renae Milton, Staff Council program coordinator, at (713) 743-1578. Mike Emery
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