Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert welcomed members of the Mississippi Minority Business Alliance to campus last Thursday. The university and the Office of Research and Economic Development hosted the association's visit at the Hunter Henry Center. PHOTO: Beth Newman-Wynn | University Relations

Homan captures second-straight state championship
Mississippi State men's golf head coach Clay Homan won his second-straight Mississippi Golf Association state amateur championship title June 10 at Reunion Golf and Country Club. The win, the fourth of Homan's career, gave the Maroon & White a sweep of the 2012 state titles as Lady Bulldog standout Ally McDonald captured the women's championship earlier this month.

Risk assessment in labs workshop Friday
Effective risk management is an important aspect of managing a safe laboratory. The Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety at Mississippi State is offering an interactive class this Friday for principal investigators, lab managers, research associates and graduate students designed to provide information on how to conduct a risk assessment and to effectively manage risk in the lab.

Movin' You to MSU volunteers needed
Faculty, staff and student volunteers are needed for Mississippi State University's annual Movin' You to MSU move-in day, which will take place Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, beginning at 8 a.m. Duties include working check-in at Humphrey Coliseum, moving boxes from cars to rooms, greeting students and directing traffic. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, and a box lunch from Aramark.

Signup now for disaster preparedness training
Will your family be prepared when disaster strikes? The Mississippi State University Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) is hosting an emergency/disaster readiness program titled PREP -- Personal Readiness and Emergency Preparation -- on July 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Bost Extension Center.

No-cost lab safety training session next month
The Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety is offering an interactive, hands-on training course on general laboratory safety. "Introduction to Laboratory Safety" is a three-hour seminar for laboratory users of all experience levels. The next session of the summer takes place in July.

University hosting PERS seminar this fall
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State is hosting a PERS pre-retirement, full-day seminar on Oct. 3, 2012, at Bost Extension Center. The seminar offers general information on a range of topics, including estate planning, Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust, Social Security benefits, and PERS benefits and options. The seminar is available to any covered PERS member at no cost, but pre-registration is required.

Sanderson offering Summer Fun 2012 memberships
The Joe Frank Sanderson Center at Mississippi State has a special deal for you this summer. The center's special Summer Fun membership is now available for all faculty and staff. Summer Fun membership rates for adults are $90 per person and $25 for each child -- for the whole summer.

AmeriCorps VISTA positions available with the MVC
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including MVC/VS AmeriCorps VISTA positions, Service DAWGS Day, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross DAT Team training, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Countdown underway for Folklife Festival in D.C.
Mississippi State University's celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which led to the founding of land-grant universities, will include participation in the June 27-July 8 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. "We are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to showcase Mississippi State as part of this national platform to demonstrate how land-grant universities are leading the way in research, technology and innovation," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

Forest Landowners Association honors Bales
A forest and wildlife management specialist at Mississippi State University has been named the national Extension Forester of the Year by the Forest Landowners Association. Don Bales of Purvis, a senior Extension associate in MSU's College of Forest Resources and certified wildlife biologist, received the honor at the organization's recent annual meeting.

Thompson, Mingione see baseball staff promotions
Last Friday, Mississippi State University baseball head coach John Cohen announced promotions for two members of the MSU baseball coaching staff. Pitching coach Butch Thompson is being promoted to associate head coach, while coordinator of camps Nick Mingione will become a full-time assistant coach. The staff changes are effective July 1.