UW Combined Fund Drive: Last Week to Give!
The campaign officially ends on December 10 so you still have time to give to your favorite charities! UW faculty and staff have already pledged more than $1.9 million for local, national, and international non-profit organizations.

Charities appreciate the Combined Fund Drive because of the many benefits, including:

• The campaign saves charities time and money so more dollars go directly to services.
• Workplace giving is one of the most cost-effective forms of fundraising.
• Charities can plan and budget knowing they have money coming in all year long.
• CFD provides one of the largest sources of income for many charities.

Imagine the difference we can make! Visit www.uw.edu/uwcfd to give today.

Distinguished Staff Awards – Nomination Deadline December 15
Do you know an outstanding UW staff member or team who deserves special accolades? Is there a UW staff person or team you work with who:

• Provides superior sustained service or a special one-time contribution to the mission of the unit or university;
• Continually contributes to a respectful, diverse, and collaborative work environment;
• Exhibits exceptional resourcefulness, innovation, or creativity;
• Exemplifies excellence and integrity in workplace relationships, interactions, and decision making?

If so, please honor them by submitting a nomination for the Distinguished Staff Award. Up to five awards will be presented to outstanding staff chosen from among the University’s classified, contract classified, and professional staff members.

Anyone currently affiliated with the University of Washington—faculty, staff, or student—may nominate a staff person or team for this award. The nomination deadline is December 15, 2010. Visit the DSA website to learn more.

Federal Health Care Reform Law Triggers Special Open Enrollment
Effective January 1, 2011, national health care reform laws allow you to keep your children on your medical coverage through age 25. The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) will also allow you to cover your children through age 25 under dental and life insurance coverage. These children can be married or unmarried, and do not need to be students or tax dependents to qualify for PEBB coverage. Review Frequently Asked Questions.

• For dependents aged 20-25, there is a one-time special open enrollment triggered by health care reform. Subscribers of dependents in this age group will have from January 1 through March 1, 2011 to enroll their dependents or make a plan change. Enrollments and changes will be effective January 1, 2011.
• During this same one-time special open enrollment period, subscribers with dependents aged 20-25 may disenroll these dependents if they were automatically added to your account and you do not want them on your plan. Disenrollments will be effective January 31, 2011.

'Tis the season for parties, family gatherings, gifts, and food, food, food! To help you through the holidays, we have a collection of tips and resources:

• Manage Holiday Stress. Learn more about what causes stress and what you can do to manage it wisely.
• Tips for the Holidays from WorkLife. Find ideas and resources to help shape rewarding and memorable holidays.
• Kids on Campus, a variety of programs and activities for youth right here on campus which may be useful over this holiday vacation time.
• Navigating the Holidays, this month’s tip sheet from UW CareLink
• Dealing with more than you can handle this holiday? UW CareLink master’s level counselors are available to take your call 24/7. To access these services call toll-free 1-866-598-3978 (dial 9 first if calling from a campus phone).
• Check out UW Discounts for savings on a variety of gifts including flowers, gourmet food baskets, and even treats for your pets.

Professional & Organizational Development (POD) courses are open to all UW employees, subject to supervisor/budgetary approval and UW’s release time policy. Please view our policy page for additional information.

Winter Registration is Open
Registration is now open for dozens of Winter 2011 training classes! With new offerings such as Strategic Planning Tools and perennial favorites such as Leave Record Maintenance and Managing Paper, Projects, and Priorities, there's truly something for everyone. Make plans now so that you don't miss out on classes typically offered just once a year, including Customer Service Excellence, Facilities and Administrative Rate Calculation, Increasing Your Influence, Rapid Process Improvement, Recharge Center Seminar, and Working Across Generations. Access course information and registration via POD's online course catalog.

Register Now for Early January Classes
With the holidays fast approaching, now's the best time to check out what POD has to offer in early 2011. Of note: due to overwhelming demand in Autumn 2010, a special offering of Managing Employee Performance will take place on January 4 & 5. Three other classes that are happening early in the year are Travel Process and Procedures (January 11), Presentation Excellence (January 11 & 13), and Emotional Intelligence (January 13). January will be here before you know it—don't let these and other January offerings pass you by! View courses by date via POD's online catalog.

Hourly Career Counseling
Thinking about your resolutions for the new year? Through one-on-one career counseling, you can learn how to make the most of your strengths, prepare for a job search, or explore a new career path. Sessions are offered through Training and Organization Development Consultant Susan Templeton for $80 per one-hour career counseling session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $92.48 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). Learn more about this service.

Flu Prevention
With the flu season upon us, take advantage of the campus flu shot clinic offered at Health Sciences on Wednesday, December 15. Remember, this year's flu vaccine includes both the usual 'seasonal' strain and the H1N1-like virus strain. Help prevent the flu—get vaccinated today! View the schedule.

Women: Time to Schedule your Mammogram?
Women age 40+ know it’s not always easy to find time to get a routine mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance’s MammoVan, now there’s a faster and more convenient way to get it done. The MammoVan, a mobile mammography service, will be rolling into the W-13 parking lot between University Street and Brooklyn Avenue on December 20. Don’t delay—schedule your mammogram appointment today!

Join UWalk
The UW has a program, with its own space online, called UWalk. It features information on four types of walking groups: Commute, Health, Lunch & Social, and Meetings, Classes, and Errands. UWalk holds events and activities throughout the year to promote the community of walkers on campus. For information on becoming part of a walking group, check out the details. All you'll need is your UW NetID—joining a group is free.

Sign Up for UW Alert
Did you know that you need to sign up for UW Alert in order to receive notifications about things like emergencies and snow closures? When you visit the UW Alert page you can enroll in the program and receive messages directly to your cell phone and any email address you choose. Sign up today!

UW Police Department is on Facebook
Please check out the UW Police Department on Facebook. This is another great way to find out about resources offered by our own police department.

“Excuse me. I am short a dollar for the bus.”
It is a fairly common experience to be approached by a stranger asking for assistance. How do you know when a request for assistance or information is legitimate or if it is part of a scam? SafeCampus and UW Police team up to offer safety strategies for the types of crimes most likely to happen on or near campus, including hints as to where to draw the line between helping and turning away.

If someone you don’t know on the street asks you a question, the person may be testing your personal boundaries and willingness to talk long enough to be conned or maybe even assaulted. Trust your instincts, and do not stop to talk. Typical conversations start with:

• Simple questions regarding the time or your name.
• A personal distress story that ends in asking for money, or the person just asks for money directly.
• A request to borrow your phone or a cigarette.

If you find yourself in a situation like this, the best strategy is to quickly walk away and make sure you are not being followed. If someone does start to follow you, get to a safe place and call 911.

Family Caregiver Network
As adults age in place, they often lack essential services and support systems to maintain their safety and quality of life. Finding the resources and services is a daunting task and the various service options can be confusing. Join the Family Caregiver Network's informal, guided discussions—family caregivers sharing their ideas, experiences, and successes. Next meeting is Tuesday, December 28, in Loew Hall Conference Room. Access workshop information and registration.

At Harborview Today: Credit Reporting 101
Learn five easy steps to a better credit score and come away from this free seminar with valuable tips to help you get the most from your credit worthiness. Hear how credit bureaus develop your “score,” what affects your credit, why scores may differ, and how to get your free credit report. Join us, December 8, at Harborview Medical Center. Access seminar information and registration.

Approaching Life's Milestones
Regardless of where you are in your life journey, there is planning to be done. This free seminar covers the common (and not so common) life milestones, and provides timely advice on how to approach them in a financially sound way. Join us, December 8, at Harborview Medical Center. Access seminar information and registration.

Credit and Banking for High School Students
Does your student know the advantages and pitfalls of checking accounts, debit and credit cards, and payday loans? What about the role credit reports play in their lives, how to maintain good credit, or how to protect against identity theft? UW faculty and staff are invited to attend this event with or without their high school student to learn answers to these questions. Join us, December 16, at the UW Medical Center. Access seminar information and registration.

Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future
Do you know what benefits to expect from Social Security and when they will be available to you and your family members? Register to attend a free seminar on January 25 at Health Sciences to gain a better understanding of how the Social Security and Medicare systems work. Access seminar information and registration.

Time to Review Your Retirement Portfolio?
Representatives from Calvert, Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, and Vanguard are making frequent visits to campus to provide year end, individual retirement plan checkups. They're available to meet with you and your spouse—either by phone or in person—to provide general investment information, discuss your savings objectives, or review an existing account. Sign up for your free consultation today!

Become More Savvy about Real Estate
Whether you plan to buy a home now or in the near future, understanding credit and the home buying process are critical to preparing yourself for a successful real estate transaction. Get valuable information about these topics and more by attending a free lunchtime seminar offered by our Hometown Home Loan partner, HomeStreet Bank. Upcoming seminars include:

• Major Home Renovation
• The Homebuying Process
• Understanding Credit

Also, be sure to take advantage of free homeownership counseling sessions also offered by HomeStreet! Access seminar information and registration.

Resource Center
Seeking some inspiration and practical advice for the new year? How Full is Your Bucket? is a slender book offering a wealth of insights, strategies, and inspiration for those seeking to improve their work life and strengthen their relationships. Check out this and other books focusing on Career Development in the WorkLife Resource Center's Lending Library. To borrow a book, email WorkLife.

Take a Break
The Skyspace, Light Reign, at the Henry Gallery offers seemingly infinite visual space regardless of the weather. Designed by James Turrell, the internationally acclaimed light and space artist, the chamber heightens our sense of sight and perception and invites our return again and again.