Attend the Distinguished Staff Award Reception
You're invited to the Distinguished Staff Award reception honoring all nominees on Thursday, February 19, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the HUB Ballroom. This year's event follows an exciting new format as we acknowledge the incredible work done by teams and individuals for UW's highest staff honor. President Young will open the festivities. He will be followed by several UW leaders speaking on the outstanding contributions of staff. The entire UW community is invited. No RSVP needed. For more information and to view the 2015 nominees, visit the Distinguished Staff Award site.

Do You Think UW Is a Great Place to Work?
Help get the UW recognized as one of the Northwest's best places to work. The Seattle Business magazine's 2015 survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. This survey is for research purposes only, and neither your name nor your email address will be added to any list. Complete the survey now. Our "unique company pin" is 2514.

Organizational Excellence Showcase
On Tuesday, March 10, UW Organizational Excellence sponsors a campuswide showcase and potser session of "Improvement Work," recognizing staff and faculty for projects that have improved the work they do. The event highlights how schools, colleges, and units are making the UW better, together. The showcase is a walk-through, two-hour poster-session, staffed by those who did the work and can speak about it. It is open to all UW faculty, staff, and students and takes place from 1-3 p.m. in the UW HUB Lyceum. If you are interested in creating a poster and displaying your work, or for more information, contact Jeff Fillmore.

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.

Follow Your Heart
In this half-day workshop, gain a renewed sense of ownership of your feelings and behaviors as you learn how to leave your fears behind and break the mental barriers that limit your potential. Register for Unlocking Possibility.

Rekindle an Old Flame
Has the delight you once felt in writing a letter been extinguished by confusion about the rules in this age of texting, tweeting, and emailing? Feel good about your writing skills again with this practical exploration of sentence structure, current practices and preferences, useful resources, and more. Register for The Not-So-Simple Sentence—Revisiting Punctuation and Grammar.

Don't Get Swept Off Your Feet
The notion of getting swept off your feet isn't romantic when it comes to work! No doubt you prefer solid ground and sure footing when trying to do your job. In this improv-based workshop, enrich your ability to think and act spontaneously and succeed in a fast-paced workplace. Register for Thinking on Your Feet.

Get to the Heart of the Matter
Cut through wasted effort, bloated processes, and time-consuming roadblocks with this simplified approach to "lean" process improvement, and discover how productive change can reduce costs, add value, and streamline interactions. Register for Rapid Process Improvement.

Fall in Love Again
Has the spark gone out of your career? One-on-one career counseling can help you assess your career fit, make the most of your strengths, prepare for a job search, or plot a new path for your career. The fee is $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 career counseling.

Try New Recipes during March Culinary Countdown
March is National Nutrition Month. To celebrate, we're inviting you to make at least one homemade meal every day for 21 days. Discover the many health, nutritional, and economic benefits to eating homemade food and learn how to quickly prepare healthy, tasty meals with a little planning and preparation. Try out new recipes with Whole U team member Chiara Iacoviello, a former chef at the Andretti Winery in Napa. The challenge runs Friday, March 6 to Friday, March 27. Each Friday, participants will receive an email with delicious recipes and useful cooking tips to help you plan ahead. Learn more.

Race and Reward Yourself with Chocolate
Join The Whole U Team for the Hot Chocolate 5K or 15K. We will enjoy a run or walk run through downtown Seattle and reward ourselves with piles of rich, melted chocolate and some Whole U swag. Lauren Updyke, assistant director of The Whole U, will lead our team in a warm-up and pre-event celebration, as well as training support leading up to the event. The race is on Sunday, March 1. Sign up now.

Go Deeper with a Yoga Seminar & Practice
In the first 30 minutes of this seminar, UW Professor Christian Novetzke will share the history of yoga from the first textual representations to its current status in the modern world. The second half of the seminar will be a yoga practice from UW lecturer Gary Martin. Back by popular demand, Yoga Gary will guide us through an all-level 30-minute session. You'll leave with a deeper appreciation for your practice. Join us on Thursday, March 5 at noon in the HUB. Sign up now.

Reach New Heights with a Climbing Class
If you've ever had the desire to climb a mountain, large or small, join us for an introductory talk by seasoned mountain climber and volunteer climbing instructor Tristan Vellema. Learn what you need to know about training for your first climb, the best time to go, and what resources are available in the Northwest to get started. Tristan has summited hundreds of peaks in the Cascades, including Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker. He also skied from the summit of both Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. When not on a mountain, Tristan can be found in the School of Medicine's Office of the Dean where he serves as program coordinator. The class in on Thursday, March 12 at noon in the HUB. Register now.

Find more upcoming events here.

Social Security: A Foundation for Your Future
A secure, comfortable retirement is everyone's dream. Now that we're living longer and healthier lives, we expect to spend more time in retirement than our parents and grandparents did. Join us at this free Social Security seminar to get a better understanding of how Social Security and Medicare work.

Learn what benefits to expect and when these will be available to you and your family. Open to UW faculty, staff, students, and retirees.

Wednesday, March 4
11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
UW Tower

Access seminar information and free registration.

Income Strategies for Your Retirement
Join Fidelity at this seminar to learn income strategies to help with your retirement planning needs. Intended for UW employees who are planning to retire within the next 12 months, this seminar will show you:

• How to address the need for inflation protection vs. market risk
• Key portfolio risks in retirement and how to make your money last
• How to balance portfolio risk vs. return in retirement
• How to create a withdrawal strategy that will mitigate the key risks of retirement

Access seminar registration and information.

How Do Your Savings Stack Up?
Experienced financial professionals from Fidelity or TIAA-CREF are available to meet with UW employees in person or over the phone to help maximize retirement savings and other financial goals. Take advantage of this opportunity to:

• See how you can save more through Voluntary Investment Program (VIP) contributions, either pre-tax or after-tax (Roth)
• Evaluate investment choices that meet your needs
• Create an action plan to get and stay on track for retirement
• Review retirement income options

Whether your retirement is years away or just around the corner, schedule a free retirement planning guidance appointment today!

Are You Ready?
If you're planning to retire from the UW within the next 12 months, be sure to attend a free retirement workshop to help you plan for this major milestone. Each workshop is geared toward your specific retirement plan—UWRP, PERS, TRS, or LEOFF. Topics include arranging details for retirement, tailoring your benefits to best meet income needs, and continuing your health plans. Timelines, forms, and procedures are also covered—plus you'll receive all of the materials necessary to file for retirement.

Remember, you must apply for PEBB retiree benefits (or deferral of insurance) within 60 days after UW-paid or COBRA coverage ends. If you miss that deadline, you will have to go back to work to re-qualify for PEBB retiree coverage.

Access workshop information and free registration.

SmartHealth: Earn Points to Qualify for a $125 Incentive
Have you said, "This is the year" you'll eat healthier, work out more, lose weight, quit smoking, reduce stress, volunteer, or practice gratitude? Join SmartHealth to achieve these goals!

SmartHealth is the state's voluntary and confidential wellness program for eligible Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) members who are enrolled in Uniform Medical Plan or Group Health. It's free, easy, and confidential!

SmartHealth helps you and your dependents take steps to improve your health and well-being while having fun and connecting with others. As you progress on your wellness journey, you earn points. Primary account members who reach 2,000 points by June 30, 2015, will qualify for a $125 incentive in 2016! See how it works.

Flu & Pertussis Shot Clinics
UW Benefits is sponsoring a drop-in clinic for those who have not yet received the flu shot. The clinic is available to faculty, staff, and retirees covered by a PEBB health plan and to students covered by GAIP or ISHIP. No appointment necessary. Bring your health insurance card, photo ID, and completed Flu Shot Claim form.

Also available will be Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) vaccines for UW faculty, staff, and their covered dependents age 18+ who have not yet been vaccinated against Pertussis or "whooping cough." If you've never received a Tdap shot, consider getting one especially if you're in close contact with babies younger than 12 months. If you're not sure whether you've ever received one, check with your health care professional since insurance companies may not cover a second shot. Accepted health insurance plans include PEBB's Uniform Medical Plan and Group Health, GAIP, and ISHIP. Shots are on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No appointment necessary. Bring your health insurance card, photo ID, and completed Tdap Claim form.

Wednesday, February 25
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
UW Tower
Cafeteria, 4th Floor

Mammography Screenings for UMP Members
If you're a woman age 40+ who's enrolled in Uniform Medical Plan (UMP), consider scheduling your next routine mammogram at the MammoVan! Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's MammoVan is a customized, mobile breast imaging clinic bringing the latest technology in digital mammograms to you at your workplace. Convenience, state-of-the art technology, and exceptional quality are reasons why women choose this service.

The MammoVan is scheduled to visit the Seattle campus six times a year. The next one is March 25. Appointments are available to UMP members on a first-come, first-served basis between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The average appointment time is just 15 minutes.

Access screening information and schedule an appointment.

Consider HomeStreet's free one-hour seminars to help you learn about a variety of homeownership issues related to budgeting, buying, remodeling, refinancing, and selling your home.

Buying a Home with Down Payment Assistance – For those interested in buying a home but want to keep their down payment to a minimum.

Buying a Home – Whether you're buying your first home or just need a refresher, this seminar is for you.

Planning on Upsizing or Downsizing your Home – For those ready to move up to a bigger home or downsize to a smaller one.

Buying and Remodeling a Fixer-Upper – For "Do-It-Yourself" homeowners.

Access seminar information and registration.

Aging Loved Ones, What To Do?
You may have a relative in your life who is forgetful, or an aging family member living alone and you wonder how long it can continue. Uncertainty and questions around caring for our elders can be daunting and draining. The presenter Mary Lynn Pannen, with UW Carelink and Sound Options, is one of the nation's leading experts in Geriatric Care Management and Home Care. Her expertise and passion for quality care has made her a sought-after speaker and advisor on both the local and national level. Please join us to learn and discuss these important topics. WorkLife seminars are free, and you are welcome to bring your lunch. Register to attend one or all of the following:

Life Essentials: Determining Your Elder's Needs
Friday, March 6, noon to 1:00 p.m., UW Tower Auditorium
Register today

Breaking the Ice: Difficult Family Conversations
Thursday, March 26, noon to 1:00 p.m., UW Tower Auditorium
Register today

Dementia Demystified: Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
Wednesday, April 8, noon to 1:00 p.m., UW Tower Auditorium
Register today

On Your Behalf: Advance Directives and Planning Tools
Tuesday, April 28, noon to 1:00 p.m., UW Tower Auditorium
Register today

Living Well on Less
At some point in life, many people find themselves in a position to live on less—either by choice or circumstance. Regardless of the reason, it's possible to find ways to live on less while still enjoying life. Consider the following tips to maximize your income without feeling deprived. This month's UW CareLinkTip Sheet lists some ways for you to focus on financial fitness, identify common money mistakes, and live within a realistic budget.

For a deeper exploration of your Financial Fitness, UW CareLink will broadcast a one-hour webinar "Financial Fitness: Living Within a Realistic Budget" on February 17 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. You must pre-register at least one hour before the presentation. Visit www.apshelplink.com (use "UW" as the company code) and click the Online Seminars section. Select the presentation and then register by clicking on the first or second session option. The webinar will also be archived on the site and available for viewing by the beginning of March.

Getting on the Right Path
Join Fidelity at this seminar for guidance strategies to help you with your financial planning.

• Effectively balance your saving, spending, and debt
• Set goals and develop a plan to reach them
• Estimate how much to save for retirement and set your contribution rate

Access seminar registration and information.

The UW has partnered with two local nonprofit credit unions, WSECU and SECU, to help you learn to save more, and better manage your finances!

• Financial Yoga: Stretching Your Hard-Earned Dollars – Learn tips that will help you gain control of your finances and reduce financial stress.
• Scams, Shams and Identity Theft – Learn how to better protect yourself, your money, and your personal information.
• Social Media and Your Child's Financial Future – Learn effective strategies for your child and the top 10 social media mistakes to avoid.
• Credit Reporting 101 – Come away with valuable tips to help you get the most from your creditworthiness.

Access seminar information and registration.

America Saves Week: Save for All that Life Entails
Join UW Benefits and our saving partners (below) in celebrating America Saves Week, February 23-28. This nationwide awareness campaign encourages you and your family to set goals, plan, and save automatically so you can reduce debt and build wealth towards a more financially secure future. Pledge to save, test your savings knowledge, picture your goals, read saver stories, and more at America Saves Week.

• Fidelity Investments
• TIAA-CREF
• Credit unions

Save on Tax Preparation Software
Fidelity has teamed up with TurboTax® to extend their tax preparation software and support at a discounted price to UW faculty and staff including those without an existing Fidelity account.* Now you can prepare and file your taxes with confidence and save money too! This is a limited time offer so take advantage of discount pricing of up to $20 on TurboTax Federal products. Visit this special Turbo Tax site to get started.

Remember, you can call 866-811-6042 to speak with a Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance consultant to review the tax benefits of your retirement savings and other savings options now, or at any time of the year.

*This offer cannot be retroactively applied towards previously purchased TurboTax software.

Seattle Employees Credit Union members: log in to your online banking to link up to Turbo Tax receive a 15% discount.

UWCFD Results Show a Community of Giving
UW faculty, staff, and retirees have raised a record-breaking $2,199,793 for the UW Combined Fund Drive making 2014 the most successful year in the program's 30-year history. The UW community's generosity makes a difference for hundreds of nonprofits in our neighborhood and around the globe.

During the campaign, $26,050 was raised for this year's featured charity, ArtsFund, an arts advocacy organization that in 2014 alone helped more than 800,000 students gain access to the arts and provided more than a million free or discounted tickets to regional events.

Fundraisers were held across our campuses and medical centers throughout the fall bringing awareness to the 4,800+ charities that benefit from the campaign. Thank you for supporting the UWCFD! Visit the site year-round for special events and opportunities including the Earth Day Challenge in spring.

Victim Advocacy with UWPD
Are you feeling unsafe or controlled in your relationship? Do you have other safety concerns? Talking with a victim advocate can help answer questions about your rights, community resources, and reporting options. Natalie Dolci, the UW Police Department's victim advocate, can assist with obtaining a protection order, locating resources, and planning for your future safety. You do not need to make a police report in order to meet with the victim advocate. Natalie can be contacted at 206-543-9337 or dolcin@uw.edu.

Bridges@11th
UW and Seattle Children's Hospital have partnered with Madrona Ridge to offer 184 quality apartment residences in the U-District with priority given to eligible UW faculty/staff and Seattle Children's employees. Starting this month, UW employees will have an opportunity to pre-lease apartments in this development before the general public.

Bridges@11th features comfortable, urban apartments and town homes for permanent faculty, staff and their families. Located in the heart of the U-District, adjacent to UW Tower and close to the Seattle campus—Bridges@11th has a high walk score and is just minutes away from shopping, dining, theatre, and amenities. A waiting list is forming now for units scheduled to open in spring. Learn more.