From the Chair
A Message From Staff Assembly’s New Chair
I am Peter Blando and I am your new Chair of Staff Assembly. I find that statement very strange to say given my humble origins as a former UCD student and student employee. But I see this as a great honor as well as a significant challenge.
I would like to personally thank Lin King for his three plus years of outstanding service as our Past Chair. He has moved Staff Assembly much further than it has in the past and there are now more campus committees that include a Staff Assembly Executive Committee member. There are also more programs as a result of his leadership which includes scholarship for staff dependents, discounts for staff at local businesses, and events such as UCD Day at the Oakland A’s to build community. His efforts as well as the efforts of volunteers made these things possible.
The university is celebrating its 100th birthday. That’s 100 years of teaching, discovery, and engagement. It is also 100 years of staff guiding new students from application to graduation, assisting faculty from making copies of instructional materials to servicing critical equipment needed for research, and working with administrators and faculty to establish UC Davis as a positive contributor to the community.
However, we also face significant challenges and changes ahead. The state’s economic turmoil will have considerable impact on our university’s resources. The general economic turmoil along with the rising cost of energy has impacted everyone who has a house, drives a car, and buys food which is everyone. The campus will also soon see a new chancellor.
Staff Assembly is an organization that promotes the welfare, interests, and diversity of the staff, campus and the University of California. This is done with the unique perspective of staff members. As such, we are in a unique position to influence and affect the actions and the decision during this crucial time in our university’s history. And I am honored to be your Chair during such a key period of the university’s history.
This year will indeed be a challenging one and Staff Assembly hopes to use the bi-weekly Staff Voice to keep staff informed about the various issues it is addressing including the campus budget, dependent care services, housing, transportation and parking, and health and wellness. I look forward to leading the dedicated volunteers whose efforts ultimately benefit the general staff. And I invite you to join us in our efforts by volunteering to join Staff Assembly’s many workgroups and committees. Help us to help you and carry on Lin, past Staff Assembly Chairs’ and past volunteers efforts to help staff.
Thank you,
Peter Blando
Chair, Staff Assembly