The fall semester is well underway at UAB, and the Staff Council has been busy supporting the campus community, including participating in the Homecoming parade and coordinating the annual Fall Staff Picnic.
Staff Council representatives took part in the UAB homecoming parade decked out in fire- and dragon-themed gear to celebrate this year’s homecoming week theme, “Blaze the Seas.” Representatives walked, drove, and even biked (a homecoming parade first!) the parade route in support of the Blazers. It was a fun-filled day which ended in an exciting 30-17 Blazer win over East Carolina in the homecoming football game at Protective Stadium.
To celebrate 10 years of the UAB Staff Council, staff from across campus gathered at the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, a new venue due to renovations in Bartow Arena, for the annual Fall Staff Picnic hosted by senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., and the Staff Council. Staff were welcomed by Dr. Woodruff-Borden and Macy Jane Moon, chair of the Staff Council, before enjoying lunch catered by Chick-fil-A and cupcakes in celebration of 10 years of the Council.
“On behalf of the Staff Council, I want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s Staff Appreciation Picnic and 10th birthday of UAB’s Staff Council,” said Amy Raynor, co-chair of the Staff Council Institutional Pride and Events Committee. “We are especially grateful to the team at Alys Stephens for generously hosting the event and partnering with us to ensure a seamless transition during the renovations at Bartow Arena. We also thank Provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Janet Woodruff-Borden and Staff Council President, Macy Jane Moon for helping kickoff the celebration. We are deeply appreciative of our volunteer and vendor coordinators, Ashley Foster and Amber Jones, as well as the many volunteers, vendors, and UAB staff members whose participation made the event so memorable.”
In keeping with the theme of the day, staff donated boxed cake mix, cans of icing, baking pans, and sodas for “take and bake” cake kits benefitting UAB Blazer Kitchen. Throughout the event, staff had the opportunity to visit with vendors who distributed swag items and shared information about campus and community resources. The annual picnic provides staff with an occasion to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities and gather with colleagues over a shared meal.
“Together, we collected more than 120 baking-item donations for the Blazer Kitchen, surpassing our goal and we served over 1,700 boxed lunches to staff members across campus,” Raynor said. “The Staff Council is proud to celebrate the dedication of UAB staff, and we are already looking forward to planning next year’s Staff Appreciation Picnic.”
