volume slider wont go away

I have Ubuntu 10.10 installed on a Gateway M-6827. This laptop has media player buttons above the keyboard with a volume slider. If I use the volume slider above the keyboard a display shows up at the top right hand corner of the screen that shows a speaker and a slider. This display stays there, sometimes goes away when I restart usually not though. I am attaching a screen shot for reference. http://ubuntuone.com/p/LIM/