Inside CSUEU

Inside CSUEU: New year, new expense claim rates

rgrant@calcsea.org — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:37:11 GMT

As adopted by the CSUEU Board of Directors, the per-diem limits for CSUEU have changed, effective for all travel occurring on or after January 1, 2009. The 2009 rates:

Breakfast: $10 limit (same)
Lunch: $15 limit (was $11)
Dinner: $25 limit (was $19)
Incidentals for overnight stays: $10 limit (same)

And, of course, the IRS has changed the mileage rate to 55 cents per mile driven.

Inside CSUEU: UnionWare updated to Jan '09 roster; applications due to CSEA 1/14

rgrant@calcsea.org — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:00:00 GMT

From CSEA Manager of Membership Services Jade San Juan:

ROSTER DATE IS JANUARY 1, 2009. The State Controller's roster was imported into Unionware this morning. The January 1st deductions (December dues and fees) were posted on the 1st).

STATE CONTROLLER cut-off date is January 15, 2009 . Last day for the Membership Department to process Membership Applications and Cancellations by the State cut-off is 5:00 p.m on January 14, 2009. FEBRUARY 1, 2009 warrants will reflect changes reported by the cut-off of January 15, 2009. All applications received after the 14th will be reported in the next monthly cycle

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Inside CSUEU: New Year’s links and updates

rgrant@calcsea.org — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:52:07 GMT

A few unrelated things…

Budget:

The Department of Finance released an 84 page “preview” of the Governor’s proposed budget yesterday. The full budget (with detail by agencies and the budget bill) is scheduled to be released on Jan. 9. The news conference featuring the Director of Finance is online, and I highly recommend watching it.

2009-10 Governor’s Budget General Find Proposals (PDF)

Finance Director’s news conference (Windows Media stream)

News conference transcript

CSEA Board meeting:

Tomorrow (1/2/09) is the deadline for a member of the CSEA Board to submit a non-emergency agenda item for the next meeting. If you have any input on CSEA’s operations, please contact your nearest CSUEU Officer.

Selected new CSU memos:

2008-25
12/24/08
Background Checks - Update: CSU Employees Working at Sports Camps and Clinics

2008-23
12/18/08
Post-Retirement Employment: CalPERS' Retirees

2008-22
12/18/08
Holiday Informal Time Off

2008-19
12/23/08
Proposition 8 - Termination of Spousal Benefits for Same-Sex Marriages

2008-16
12/18/08
Benefits Update: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) Continuation of Coverage Premium Rates Effective January 1, 2009

2008-15
12/18/08
CSU Employee Fee Waiver and Reduction Program

Reminder: mileage rate is now 55 cents

In Revenue Procedure 2008-72, the Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business mileage rate to 55 cents per mile driven, effective January 1, 2009.

As a result, when completing a CSUEU expense claim for any travel occurring on or after January 1, you can only claim no more than 55 cents per mile.

Inside CSUEU: Mailing list server project progressing

rgrant@calcsea.org — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:23:59 GMT

I’m pleased to update you that the project to host a mailing list server accessible for use by Chapters to directly administer their own lists is progressing. CSEA IT has set up the server (using the Mailman list manager software) and is performing some initial testing. The next step is for CSUEU to identify some pilot Chapters and some statewide committees to participate in January. Once the pilot succeeds and CUEU-specific documentation is complete, general availability to Chapters will be phased in (in a manner to be determined), hopefully complete around the end of the first quarter of 2009.

Inside CSUEU: HOWTO: Arrange for parking at CSUEU’s office

rgrant@calcsea.org — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:26:00 GMT

(One in an occasional series: “HOWTO” – how to do something.)

At CSUEU’s new 1108 O Street offices, CSEA provides CSUEU complementary parking in CSEA’s parking lot at 11th and Q Streets as part of our agreement to use suite 500.

Daily operation of the lot is managed by CSEA’s Information Technology department. CSUEU employees and the CSUEU President have spaces assigned by CSEA; additional spaces are available on an as-needed basis for visitors by request to CSEA. If you’re planning to be at CSUEU’s offices, follow these steps to secure your visitor space.

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Inside CSUEU: Subscribe to Inside CSUEU by e-mail

rgrant@calcsea.org — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:51:27 GMT

If you would like to receive an e-mail when Inside CSUEU is updated, subscribe here:

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Inside CSUEU: RSS and you

rgrant@calcsea.org — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:42:19 GMT

From Unit 9 News’ Feeds Explained: “A site feed (sometimes called an RSS feed or news feed) is a way to automatically monitor a web site for updates, so that you don't have to keep visiting the site to check. You "subscribe" to a feed, then your feed reader automatically checks the site and downloads updates for you to read at your convenience.”

I use RSS to keep abreast of news and developments related to CSUEU. Here’s some resources that you can use to keep up.

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Inside CSUEU: Wanted – CSEA Foundation board members

rgrant@calcsea.org — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:11:57 GMT

The CSEA Foundation needs candidates for two vacancies on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board meets 2-3 times a year, generally in Sacramento. Duties include overseeing the Foundation and evaluating applications for the CSEA Scholarship.

From www.calcsea.org:

CSEA Foundation Board seeks candidates
The CSEA Foundation is seeking candidates to fill two three-year vacancies on its Board of Directors. The Foundation members help raise funds for scholarships, interest-free student loans and the CSEA disaster relief fund.

Self-nominations for the positions are accepted. Resumes must be submitted to the CSEA Foundation office by January 31, 2009, and must be accompanied by a cover letter indicating the candidate’s desire to serve.

The CSEA Board of Directors will decide which candidates will fill the two positions at the Board meeting in February 2009.

Send resumes to CSEA Foundation, c/o Gae Van Wagoner, 1008 O Street, Sacramento CA 95814. For more information call (916) 326-4228.

Inside CSUEU: CSEA holidays

rgrant@calcsea.org — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:50:36 GMT

Greetings! Here’s the calendar of CSEA holidays that CSEA and CSUEU offices and field staff will observe. Because these holidays differ from CSU worksites, I encourage Chapter leaders to mark them on their calendars.

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Inside CSUEU: Upcoming events

rgrant@calcsea.org — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:18:40 GMT

I’d like to call your attention to these upcoming events:

12/22: CSUEU Legislative Committee PAC subcommittee meeting, Sacramento
1/3 and 4: CSEA Bylaws and Policy Committee, Holiday Inn, Sacramento
1/9: CSUEU Communications Committee, Sacramento
1/11 – 1/13: CSUEU Legislative Committee, Sacramento
2/6 and 7: CSEA Board meeting, Holiday Inn, Sacramento
6/5 and 6: CSEA Board meeting, The Fairmont, San Jose
9/3 – 9/7: CSEA 65th General Council, Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles