Staff Council Update: January 24, 2024

Staff Council Annual Survey Reminder (please participate!) 

We appreciate everyone who has already participated in the Staff Council Survey. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please take a moment to share your thoughts – your input is vital for creating positive change. 

A higher response rate ensures a more comprehensive understanding of our collective needs, allowing the Staff Council to address a wider range of concerns. Your perspective is unique and valuable in shaping initiatives that benefit the entire community. The survey closes on Monday, February 5, 2024. We invite you to act now to help Staff Council make Middlebury an even better workplace for everyone. 

To fill out the survey: 

1. Check for an email from Staff Council with the subject line of “Your Voice Matters. Take the Staff Council Survey” 
2. Click on the link within the email. Reminders are being sent each Monday. 

A couple of notes about filling out the survey: 

• The survey email with your link may have gone to your Junk, Spam, Clutter, or Other inbox folder instead of your focused inbox. If you have not seen the survey (it was sent on 1/15/24, then again on 1/22/24), please check these other folders or search for the subject line: “Your Voice Matters! Take the Staff Survey Today” 
• You receive individual links to track district response rates and to allow the survey tool to send reminders to just those who still need them. 
• The survey is confidential. We are looking for overarching themes in the aggregated data. Staff Council will “anonymize” any written comments that might be personally identifiable. 

Meet Our Newest Staff Members

(Read on MiddPoints) 

• Mathew Muston (Dean of Students Office) 
• Heather Durante (CCI) 
• Susanne Holdman (Custodial) 
• Justin Kumpulanian (Athletics) 
• Robin Piya (International Programs and Off Campus Study) 
• Jen DelMonte (Grille) 
• Ellyzabeth Austin (Bread Loaf Dining) 
• Kylie Scheck (Midd Express) 
• Betsy Rose Locke (Sciences Technical Support Services) 

Upcoming Events 

Midd’s Got Talent: Middlebury’s First All Campus Talent Show (VT) Friday, Jan 26 @ 7pm in Wilson Hall (Middlebury campus). Have a talent you want to share with the campus community? Enter Midd’s Got Talent: Middlebury’s First All-Campus Talent Show! Performers will include staff, faculty, and students. A drum kit, guitar, bass amps, and a piano will be available for use if needed. The event is free to all and no tickets are required. You can sign up to showcase your talent at go/Middsgottalent24. Contact Sam Hurlburt with any questions: shurlburt@middlebury.edu 

Daffodil Days 2024 (VT) Staff Council presents a springtime flower sale benefiting the American Cancer Society. Orders are due February 13 and flowers will be delivered across Middlebury’s Vermont campus the week of March 18. Place your order using this form.  

Meet and Greet with Steve Snyder and Michelle McCauley (CA) January 30, 12:45-1:45pm PST, Holland Center. Meet our interim VPAA team and enjoy an informal lunch. Staff and Faculty welcome. RSVP at https://forms.gle/VkjN1GhujLH78oh46. 

Kickoff of Black History Month Film Festival, (CA) Join JEDI Director Nick Creary in viewing the first film on Wednesday January 31st, 6:30pm PST in Irvine Auditorium. Click link to sign up for tickets.  

Lunar New Year Celebration, (CA) Friday February 9^th, 5-7pm PST, Samson Center. Come celebrate the Year of the Dragon! Traditional foods, beverages, desserts, Lion Dance performance & music. Open to all staff, faculty and students. RSVP at go.miis.edu/LNY2024 

Committee Updates 

Learn more about Staff Council committees, who are serving, and what they are working on. 

Meeting Updates 

See the Staff Council’s calendar for the latest meeting information. 

Representative Spotlight: JIM ZEIGER

Meet Jim Zieger, Middlebury’s HVAC Mechanic/Welder for the Vermont campus. For almost two years, Jim has been ensuring the seamless operation of the Service Building and wherever on campus the need for his skills arises. 

Elected to represent the Facilities District (F)* on the Staff Council in June of ‘23, Jim volunteered to become a member of the Council’s Executive Committee. As the Co-secretary of the Executive Committee, Chair of the HR6 Committee, and a member of the Events Committee, he keeps himself busy within the Council.  

Jim shares he commits to wanting to help staff “remember or notice what a great place Midd is to work.” Having worked in various places over the decades, Jim was drawn to the Staff Council by a desire to help his coworkers appreciate the unique qualities that make Middlebury a great place to work. His passion for service extends beyond campus, where he actively engages in community activities, including serving in the local Fire Department, PTA, and town committees, and supporting the Indigenous Justice Coalition/Voices of Indigenous Peoples. 

As an avid volunteer, Jim views the Staff Council as an avenue to learn about the broader Middlebury community and connect with individuals from all corners of campus.  

When it comes to favorite Middlebury resources, Jim’s heart belongs to the Snowbowl. Additionally, he finds joy in the four-octave carillon played by George Matthew Jr. and his students, showcasing the diverse talents that flourish within Middlebury. (Check out this video to learn more.) 

As for a fun fact about Jim, outside of work and volunteering, he is a motorcycle enthusiast. Having ridden motorcycles for years, Jim parted ways with his last Triumph Tiger just before moving to Vermont. As time and circumstances permit, he aspires to adventure around the mountain roads again. 

*District F represents Facilities Services (minus Custodial), Events Management