PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 
It is March and the legislature is back in town. While many of us may not pay much attention to most 60-day legislative sessions (except for avoiding downtown restaurants), this year we should closely follow what goes on there. The legislature must deal with a deficit in the current fiscal year (ending June 30) and a $5 billion deficit in the FY 2010 budget. What does this mean to us? More cuts for higher education.
The numbers are daunting. Over the past three years, the revenue of the state of Florida has fallen by about 18 percent. FSU’s budget has fallen by about $21 million or 6 percent. In January 2009, the legislature cut the university’s budget by another 4 percent. Cuts for FY 2010 might be an additional 8 percent. At this point, as you can imagine, the easy decisions have been made and what is on the chopping board are staff reductions, furloughs, larger classes and elimination of departments and programs. The federal stimulus package, while perhaps somewhat helpful, is a temporary fix and not enough to stave off major cuts.
What can F&F members do? First of all, keep up with what the legislature is doing-particularly what cuts are being made. Second, consider joining efforts to inform the legislature organized by FSU faculty and students or by contacting your own legislators and the governor. Third, know that what is happening to FSU and other Florida universities is important to you, me and to the citizens of the state of Florida.
Carol S. Weissert
Annual Spring Meeting
Make plans to attend the 2009 Faculty and Friends Spring Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday April 25th at Cypress Restaurant. Speaking will be Robert Crew, FSU Political Science Professor, and author of the upcoming book Jeb Bush and a Conservative Revolution in Florida. Look for more information in the April newsletter.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum of Florida History
R. A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough Street
Meet in the auditorium one floor down from the main lobby
Saturday, March 21 – 10:30 a.m.
We will visit the Museum of Florida History for a behind-the-scenes look at what makes a museum work. Kieran Orr, the Museum’s Senior Museum Registrar, and Susan Baldino, who teaches the Program in Museum Management at FSU, will be our hosts. Susan will talk in general about the way museums function – mission, collections, exhibitions, conservation and restoration of artifacts, then Kieran will illustrate with examples in our own State Museum, and describe some of the special current and future exhibits. We hope you can join us for what promises to be a fascinating morning; once you have the insight this visit will provide, your museum visits anywhere in the world will never be the same!
The visit should last about 2 hours, with an opportunity for lunch in the museum’s Fat Sandwich Café afterwards for those interested. There is parking in the state parking garage, up the ramp on the right, immediately past the museum. Parking is free on Saturdays, and there is a convenient walkway down to the museum entrance.
For more information: Call Pat Meredith at 531-0839, or email her at pmeredith@fsu.edu. PLEASE NOTE: This visit is a CHANGE from the event advertised in the Yearbook.
Slate of nominees for the Exec. Board 2009-2010
Joannie Poulson, Chair of the nominating committee, together with Tom Hart, Mariana Herceg, Pat Meredith, Don Rapp, Bettina Tesón and Carol Weissert recommends the following slate of officers for The Faculty and Friends Club of FSU for 2009-2010:
President: Pat Meredith
Vice President (Programs): Peter Cottrell
2nd VPs (Membership): Annelise & Fred Leysieffer
Past President & Nominations: Carol Weissert
Recording Secretary: Ruth Pryor
Corresponding Secretary: Denise Ellingson
Treasurer: Calvin Zongker
Lunch Bunch – Tuesday, March 10 – 10:30 a.m. NOTE TIME! Another Broken Egg – 3500 Kinhega Drive.
Please call Denise Ellingson at 907-9992 to attend.
Stitch and Chat – Tuesday, March 10 – 7:30 p.m. at the home of Pat Meredith. Please call Pat at 531-0839 if you would like to attend.
Globetrotters – Saturday, March 14 – 8:00 p.m. at First Christian Church on 1319 High Road. Jan & Hollie Thomas will be showing pictures from Alaska. Please contact Jane Waggaman at 576-8427.
The Book Club will be discussing “Dreams from my Father” by Barack Obama on Monday, March 16 at the home of Joan Macmillan. They meet at 7:30 p.m. Please call either Bonnie Armstrong at 893-6141 or Diane Olsen at 386-5797.
On Tuesday, March 17, R. Mark Isaac will speak at PUC at 12:15 p.m. with his talk titled “A Place for Profit.” Please call 222-6320.
The language groups are doing well. Come practice your German on Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. (call Bettina Tesón at 385-2092), practice your French on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. (e-mail Annelise Leysieffer at aleysieffer@gmail.com) or practice Spanish on a Thursday evening in a restaurant (call Jo Stepp at 383-3970).
Restaurant Roulette – Thursday, March 26 – 6:00 p.m.
Georgio’s in Carriage Gate Please call Alice Nichols at 385-9218.
Outdoor Explorers – Saturday, March 28 – Time TBA
Come explore Torreya State Park on the Apalachicola River. Barbara Elam writes: “The menu of activities will include a ranger guided hike on the river bluff, a group picnic lunch and a tour of the historic plantation house which overlooks the river. This outing is one that allows for various types of activities – hiking or just sitting and enjoying the tranquil setting of the Apalachicola River or touring the Gregory House.”
Gourmet Sampler – Saturday, March 28 – 6:30 p.m. at the home of Barbara & Peter Cottrell. Please call Beth Charness at 385-0500.
The website is currently being worked on by a student so new items will not be added until he has completed his work. The site remains the same at http://facultyclub.fsu.edu