The Resource

New Husky Cards and U-PASS Powered by ORCA
Two days left to get your photo taken! The Husky Card ID Center goes to print soon for new, smarter Husky Cards for spring U-PASS members. Commuter Services will distribute the new cards through payroll coordinators beginning June 10, 2011. If you do not already have a photo on file, go to any of the ID offices to get your picture taken by May 13 to ensure you’ll have a card and be ready to ride. U-PASS powered by ORCA will go live on July 1, and all faculty and staff U-PASS members will need a new Husky Card to access transit after that date.

For more information about the new, smarter Husky Cards, visit the New Husky Card website or contact your campus ID card office. Don’t know if you have a photo? Email huskycrd@uw.edu or call 206-543-7222. For more information about U-PASS powered by ORCA visit Commuter Services.

Tornado Relief Needed Now
In late April, hundreds of tornadoes traveled across the southern United States causing severe devastation. Power is out for millions, water is tainted, homes are destroyed, and people are struggling for basics such as food, medicine, and clothing. You can provide assistance to the South by donating today, either online or by paper form, through the UW Combined Fund Drive. The need is great and will continue for some time, so consider a gift via the convenience of ongoing payroll deduction.

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.

Punctuation Tune-Up
This half-day class provides a practical review of punctuation rules and basics, along with an exploration of the subtle and not-so-subtle ways punctuation can influence the structure, organization, intonation, rhythm, and even the meaning of a sentence. Access course information and registration.

The Business of Listening
Have you heard that not being listened to causes employees to feel invisible and undervalued? This one-day class explores the psychology of listening, levels of listening, barriers to effective listening, and how to listen with improved attention and focus. Access course information and registration.

Enhancing Workplace Creativity
This half-day class is designed to reinforce the use of creativity on the job and includes general and specific approaches to reawakening creative thinking processes. If you’ve lost your spark at work, learn how reigniting your creativity can help restore your drive and increase your productivity. Access course information and registration.

Hourly Career Counseling
As dozens of UW staff members have discovered, career counseling can help you uncover your unique strengths, be more competitive in the job market, or chart a new path for your current or desired career. 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.

Violence Prevention Training
The next Violence Prevention Training is on May 18, 2011, at 1 p.m. in Health Sciences Room D209. This 50-minute training provides information on how to recognize behaviors that could signal distress and may lead to future violence. This training is required every two years for employees. Access training and registration information.

Incentive to Live in Downtown Tacoma
Have you ever considered living in downtown Tacoma? If so, now is a great time to take another look! Thanks to a new pilot program offered in partnership with HomeStreet, REMAX, and Live Downtown Tacoma, you can save a bundle when purchasing a home in an eligible area of downtown Tacoma. Learn more about the Live Downtown Tacoma program by attending a brown bag seminar on the UW Tacoma campus on Tuesday, May 17, from noon to 1 p.m. Refreshments provided to all registered attendees. Access seminar and registration information.

Using Home Equity
As your life, job, and other priorities change, how do you know whether tapping into your home equity or refinancing your home is the right option? Here are two free lunchtime seminars that will help you decide:

Refinancing & Using Home Equity: Learn how to best use the equity in your home and get practical advice on when to refinance. Remember, it’s not just about rates! Register to attend Wednesday, May 18, at the Seattle campus.
Home Remodeling & Renovation: Get practical advice on ways to pay for your home improvement projects, what improvements get the best bang for your buck, and how to manage a home renovation. Register to attend on Thursday, May 19, at the Bothell campus.

Quarterly Market Update for Active Investors
Keep a pulse on the market! Join us for an exclusive look at what's driving the economy, the financial markets, domestic and international stock performance, and bond market interest rates. Attend a free Quarterly Market Update at Health Sciences on Friday, May 13. Presented by a representative from Fidelity Investments. Access seminar information and registration.

Identity Theft—When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name
Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation. This free workshop will bring you up-to-date on the newest statistics, how it happens, and how to prevent it from happening to you. For those affected, there will be advice and support to help you make a full recovery and restore your good name. Join us at South Lake Union today; Harborview Medical Center on Wednesday, May 18; or Health Sciences on Tuesday, June 14. 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 today at South Lake Union or next Wednesday, May 18, at Harborview Medical Center. Access seminar information and registration.

Credit & Banking for High School Students
Are you a parent who wants to ensure that your high school student knows how to manage their own day-to-day finances? Attend this free seminar—with or without your high school student—to learn the advantages and pitfalls of checking accounts, debit and credit cards, and payday loans; the role credit reports play in their lives; how to maintain good credit; and how to protect against identity theft. Offered at Health Sciences on Tuesday, June 14. Access seminar information and registration.

Dispelling the Myth of Lifetime Annuities
Are you concerned about outliving your money in retirement? If you're at or near retirement, then you owe it to yourself to look past the myths and get the straight facts on lifetime annuities. Attend a free seminar at the UW Tower on Friday, May 13, Tuesday, May 24, or Tuesday, June 7. Access seminar information and registration.

Planning for College?
When it comes to saving for college, early savers have the advantage as tuition rates and cost of living increase. But what if you’re just getting started? Check out each fund sponsor’s website to find the best tools for researching your college savings options, calculating costs, and creating a plan to meet your goals.

Fund Sponsors are Available to Help
If you're concerned about your retirement investments and haven't reviewed your portfolio in a while, you and your spouse or partner may schedule an appointment with a representative from one of our four fund sponsors—either by phone or in-person—to review your asset allocations, savings objectives, and risk tolerance against your current portfolio. Schedule a free phone or in-person appointment with one of our Calvert, Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, or Vanguard representatives.

By George! 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, is scheduled to roll onto Red Square and park near the George Washington statue on Tuesday, May 17. View more dates and schedule your next appointment.

Weight Watchers Open House at UWMC
Weight Watchers at Work teaches you how to stick to healthy living and have a healthier relationship with food so you can lose weight and keep it off. Attend a Weight Watchers Open House at UW Medical Center on Friday, May 20 or 27 at SW 377, MICC Conference Room to learn about the program, ask questions, and meet the leader. No RSVP necessary, just drop in. See dates and locations.

May is Bike to Campus Month
Sign up for Group Health’s Commute Challenge and join in the fun during National Bike to Work Month. Commuter Services and U-PASS will be sponsoring tons of great events throughout May to help prepare you for your ride and to celebrate our UW cyclists.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. today. By recognizing stroke symptoms, you will be able to think F.A.S.T. at the onset of a stroke—hint: Face, Arms, Speech, Time. Learn how to prevent and/or minimize the effects of a stroke today.

Smokers: Do You Have a Quit Date?
Did you know that your chances of quitting tobacco successfully more than double with a smoking cessation program than if you try to quit on your own? As a state employee, you have access to a FREE personalized quit plan and counseling through your medical plan. So why not give it a try today? Learn more about smoking cessation programs.

Summer Camps at the Washington Park Arboretum
Get your kids outside this summer and use our 230-acre outdoor classroom of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows to share some of nature’s many wonders. UW faculty and staff receive a 15% discount.

Our mission is to promote environmental conservation through education and recreation; for three weeks this July, we’ll be doing just that with our series of summer day camps. Small group sizes combine with our team of highly skilled environmental educators to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience of the Emerald City’s hidden gem.

Who: 1st–6th graders (ages 5–12)
When: Monday–Friday; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (before and after care available)
July 11 – 15: Native Plants & People
July 18 – 22: Little Green Thumbs
July 25 – 29: Arboretum Detectives
Where: Washington Park Arboretum
Cost: $250 per week (15% discount for UW faculty and staff)
Before Camp (8 a.m.–9 a.m.): $25 per week
After Camp (3 p.m.–5 p.m.): $50 per week

For more information or to register, visit the summer programs at the UW Botanic Gardens website or call 206-543-8801.

New Parents
Expecting a baby? Congratulations! And now for the learning and planning—with a helping hand from WorkLife and other University programs and services. Take a look at the Becoming a Parent page. In addition to our onsite childcare options, you’ll find information on leave planning, lactation stations, flexwork, Dependent Care Assistance Program, GET (Guaranteed Education Tuition), and more.

Don’t miss out! UW CareLink provides consultation, articles, tips for expectant and new parents, and offers a childcare referral service that can help you locate quality, professional care for your infant through pre-schooler within the area of your choice.

UW CareLink
UW CareLink, our faculty and staff assistance program, helps you make the most out of your personal and professional life. UW CareLink offers a wide range of services that can help you manage through the different stages of life, develop a healthy lifestyle, create a quality work environment, and save time by providing easy access to trusted experts.

Call toll-free: 1-866-598-3978 (TTY: 1-877-334-0489) (dial 9 first if calling from a campus phone) for all services, including urgent issues. Master's-level counselors are available to take your call 24/7. For financial or legal services, you will be referred to the appropriate professional.

Prefer to seek help online? You can access many of UW CareLink's resources through APS HelpLink (use "UW" as the company code to log in).

Tip Sheets: The Importance of Rest and Relaxation
Rest is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for all ages. It rejuvenates your body and mind. Find out more helpful tips in this month’s tip sheet from UW CareLink.
Balance: Getting Excited About Spring
Take advantage of this time of renewal and increased energy to plan events or participate in activities that cause you to look forward, create healthy distractions from work stress, and give you more balance in your life. This online newsletter is published quarterly by UW CareLink.

Take a Break
As you walk past Drumheller Fountain, take note of the crabapple trees. There are 18 different varieties planted around the fountain; see if you can spot the first to bloom each spring—the Manchurian—with fragrant snow white blossoms against rich green leaves.

FACT OR FICTION: There are food trucks at the University Bookstore.
FACT. But only today (Wednesday, May 11)! The University Bookstore will have food trucks, a photo booth, prizes, and storewide discounts beginning at 4:00 p.m. today at the University Avenue location. The event is a Campus Thank You Celebration. Bring your UW ID!