UW Home Improvement Fair is April 11
The theme for the 15th Annual UW Home Improvement Fair is "Home Innovations—Transform Your Living Space!" Drop by on Wednesday, April 11 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Mary Gates Hall Commons to see how you can integrate technology and green resources, transforming your home into a smart, beautiful, and efficient living space.

• Get ideas on how to increase your home's energy efficiency using the latest technology
• Learn which appliances and other home systems can simplify your life and save you money
• Get information on sustainable and urban garden trends

Exhibitors include contractors, interior designers, gardening experts, do-it-yourself resources, and more. Refreshments, demos, and door prizes including an iPad! Learn more. This event is sponsored by HomeStreet Bank, a partner of the UW Benefits Hometown Home Loan Program. All expenses are paid by HomeStreet Bank and participating exhibitors.

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.

Introducing POD Webinars
A convenient and economical new training option is now available to UW employees—live webinars. POD Webinars focus on productivity in the workplace and on areas integral to peak productivity, including communication, effective processes, and technology. Upcoming offerings include Accomplishing More With Less, Business Writing for Success, and Microsoft Office 2010 Tips & Tricks. Sign up now to receive timely and time-saving training on your Mac, PC, or iPad! Access webinar listings and registration.

Spring Registration is Open
Registration is open for dozens of Spring 2012 training classes! Make plans now for classes that are typically offered just once a year, including The Business of Listening, Coaching Mastery: Inviting Excellence, Leading People Through Change, Learned Optimism: Understanding Your Explanatory Style, Strategies to Overcome the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and the new class Creating a Culture of Accountability. Access registration and course information.

Explore Your Options Through One-on-One Career Counseling
You're the one driving your career—but at some point everyone needs to stop and ask for directions. Discover how to leverage your strengths, prepare for a job search, or chart a new career path through one-one-one career counseling. Sessions are offered through Training and Organization Development Consultant Susan Templeton for $95 per one-hour session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $109.82 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). Learn more about this service.

Life Insurance Open Enrollment Extended through March 31, 2012
The state Health Care Authority has announced an extension to March 31, 2012 for the Special Open Enrollment for PEBB supplemental life insurance. This is in recognition of feedback that the communications and forms were both complex and confusing. Learn more.

If you and/or your spouse/state-registered domestic partner are not eligible for the above option, or you wish to add more coverage than is allowed without medical review, you can apply for higher coverage amounts with medical review and approval from ReliaStar Life at any time. Learn more and apply here.

What’s Your Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ)?
Many people are familiar with the concept of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Perhaps less familiar is the concept of Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ). Emotional Intelligence helps us to recognize and understand feelings and how they affect our behavior and those around us. If you are interested in learning how to identify the hot buttons, triggers, and emotional roller coasters in your life in order to promote success at home and at work, consider taking UW CareLink's Emotional Intelligence for Success webinar on March 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. To register go to the APS Helplink website, enter "UW" as the company code, and look for online seminars in the lower right hand corner of the home page. NOTE: This webinar will be archived for later viewing.

Self-Awareness and Well Being, Do You Have It?
March can be a harrying month, requiring a balancing act between tax season, spring break, and other responsibilities at work and at home. UW CareLink is here to help with its confidential counseling services. All benefits-eligible faculty and staff, their household members, and their dependent children are eligible to receive an in-person assessment and up to five free counseling sessions for difficult decisions to complicated personal, family, or career issues. Counselors are experienced, state-licensed professionals who hold master's or doctoral degrees in counseling or related fields. To set up an assessment, call 1-866-598-3978.

Elder Care Workshop
Back by popular demand, the UW Retirement Association (UWRA) Elder Care workshop is returning to the Seattle campus. Led by Liz Taylor, founder of Aging Well Consortium, this workshop covers the eldercare "system," legal and financial matters, elder care choices, and coping with care stresses. Receive an extensive resource workbook with your registration. Open to UW employees, retirees, alumni, and family members.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 24, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. on the UW Seattle Campus. Registration fee is $100 for the first family member and $85 for each additional family member. Register here by March 16.

If you need information or have questions, contact the UWRA at retiremt@uw.edu or call 206-543-8600 between Tuesday and Friday.

Arboretum Spring and Summer Camps
What is spring like at the Arboretum? What are the birds telling us? Where are the animals hanging out? During this spring break camp, we'll look high and low to help explore the meaning of springtime. Interspersed throughout the week will be lots of games, spring-themed crafts, stories, and adventures.

Who: 1st through 6th graders When: April 16-20, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (extended camp hours available) Cost: $225 per week ($200 for UW employees). See more information and register for Spring camp.

If you need information or have questions, contact the UWRA at retiremt@uw.edu or call 206-543-8600 between Tuesday and Friday.

Summer Camp
Summer camp at the Arboretum is bounding into its second year with more weeks offered and new programs. Join us for a week (or more!) of fun and educational adventures in our 230-acre outdoor classroom. We focus on hands-on exploration, play, and experiential learning. Campers may become ethnobotanists, artists, urban farmers, or field biologists. Who: 1st through 6th graders When: July 9-August 10, (week-long sessions) 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (extended camp hours available) Cost: $250 per week (15% discount for UW employees) See more information and register for Summer camp.

Time to Schedule a 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 mobile mammography service or "MammoVan," now there's a faster and more convenient way to get it done. The MammoVan is scheduled to roll into the south parking lot at the UW Tower on March 27 and 28, and the W-13 parking lot on April 24 and 25. Schedule an appointment today!

Take Your Health Risk Assessment for 2012
Being enrolled in a state-sponsored PEBB medical plan allows you to get immediate feedback on your health through a simple questionnaire called a health risk assessment. Once the 20-minute survey is completed, you can use the confidential assessment to consult with your medical plan or health care provider to see what programs are available to address your health challenges. Learn more about Health Risk Assessments.

Uniform Medical Plan participants: Read on to learn how you can receive up to $85 by completing your health risk assessment!

Got UMP? Get Rewarded for Healthy Habits
We all know that good habits are their own reward, but sometimes we need a little motivation. By taking part in the Uniform Medical Plan Health Counts Program, you get rewarded for making healthy choices.

• Get a $30 gift card just for taking the General Health Assessment. Receive a confidential report showing how well you've managed your health to date and see tips for improving your health.
• Get another $30 gift card by earning 40,000 Reward points for engaging in activities like walking, hiking, or snowboarding.
• And finally, get yet another $25 gift card when you reach 70,000 Reward points by getting a flu shot, eating more vegetables, and flossing your teeth!

Eating Your Way to Wellness
Learn tips and resources to eat your way to better and long-lasting health based on the U.S. Drug Administration's new "My Plate" guidelines. Attend the webinar "Eating Your Way to Wellness" on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Broadcasts start at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Pacific Time.

To register, go to APS Helplink, enter the code UW, and look for "Online Seminars" in the lower right hand corner of the home page. Those unable to attend the webinar may view the archived site in the beginning of April. Get a sneak preview of the USDA "My Plate" guidelines with UW CareLink's Tip Sheet on Nutrition Basics.

Homeownership Brown Bag Seminars
Our Hometown Home Loan Program offers the following seminars—each are free of charge and open to all UW faculty and staff.

Access event information and registration at the HomeStreet website.

Budgeting for a Home
How much cash will you need to buy a home in today's market? Learn how to create a household budget, set your savings goals, and pay off debt—all while saving for a home. Offered at noon on Wednesday, March 21 in the Health Sciences Building.

Moving Up: Buying Your Next Home
Is it time to move up to a bigger and better home? Learn what it takes to sell your existing home, what improvements pay off, and how to crunch the numbers to budget for your next home. Offered at noon on Wednesday, March 21 at South Lake Union.

The Path to Homeownership
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, consider attending this seminar to learn about today's real estate market, how to use down payment assistance and special programs specially designed for you. Find out what costs to expect in your first transaction. Offered at noon on Tuesday, April 17 at UW Tower in Seattle.

Homeownership Dream to Reality
The Hometown Home Loan Program can help make your dream of homeownership a reality. Schedule a free, private, half-hour, one-on-one counseling appointment with a HomeStreet Affinity Loan Officer to discuss your homeownership options. Spouses, partners, and anyone else who might be on the loan are welcome to attend with you. HomeStreet will visit February 14 at Tacoma, February 24 at South Lake Union, and February 27 and 29 at Seattle. Register for an appointment now.

Help from HARP—Home Affordable Refinance Program
Are you struggling to stay in your home with a mortgage that's weighing you down? Then you'll be interested to know that the Federal Housing Finance Agency together with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced enhancements to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP II) to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their mortgage. The HARP II program is designed to help responsible homeowners take advantage of historically low mortgage rates by removing many of the Loan-to-Value (loan amount as compared to market value of home) guidelines that have prevented many homeowners from refinancing due to low property values. Learn more about this program and other home buying and refinancing options.

Springtime...Tax Time.
Spring has sprung! And while you may be gathering garden tools to prepare the soil for planting, you're likely gathering files, documents, and receipts to prepare your 2011 Federal taxes too. Be sure to check out the discounts on tax preparation software available through the UWRP or Voluntary Investment Program fund sponsors. There are other tax preparation resources you may want to check out. Read full article.

Socially Responsible Investing
Are you interested in achieving financial security while helping to build a sustainable world and protecting our quality of life? If so, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) may be for you. Learn more about SRI funds and the role these can play in your personal investment and retirement planning. Attend a free lunchtime seminar on Wednesday, March 28, at Harborview Medical Center. Access event information and registration.

Need Help Focusing on Your Total Financial Picture?
Let one of our fund sponsors—Vanguard, TIAA-CREF, Fidelity, or Calvert—help guide you to a variety of resources to address your total financial picture, including college planning, retirement and estate planning, and wealth management. Schedule a free, half-hour consultation today! Register online or by phone.

What to Expect from Social Security
Learn what benefits to expect from Social Security and when benefits will be available to you and your family members. Attend the seminar, Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future to gain a better understanding of how the Social Security and Medicare systems work. Offered on Wednesday, April 25, at UW Tower. Access seminar information and free registration.

Hunger Action Week
Hunger Action Week is the perfect time to get involved in ending hunger. Learn about countless ways you can step into the action and spread awareness about hunger in King County. Take the Hunger Challenge, volunteer, or donate via payroll deduction to United Way of King County through the UW Combined Fund Drive.

Visit Hunger Action Week on the United Way of King County website and join the conversation about hunger.

Comics Freed from the Printed Page!
Head over to the Henry Art Gallery to see how comics are entering the digital age. Morning Serial: Webcomics Come to the Table is a focused selection of webcomics, including Spike Trotman's multi-layered city of Templar, AZ, Aaron Diaz's Dresden Codak, and Dylan Meconis' sumptuous Family Man, exemplary of the possibilities unique to webcomics. Works incorporating sound, animation, and interactivity—such as Nawlz by Sutu—prompt visitors to reconsider the definition of a comic.

Morning Serial is located in the Henry Art Gallery Lobby and runs from March 3 - June 30. Admission to the Henry Art Gallery is free for UW staff with a valid Husky Card.