TUESDAY 12/21/10

Published for faculty and staff by the Luther College Public Information office • Copy deadline: Friday, 3 p.m., 75-word limit • Phone: (563) 387-1865 • Email: <tuesday>

Note: All campus telephone numbers are in the 563 area code, all campus email addresses end in @luther.edu • ©2010

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Payroll notification

Because of the holidays and limited work time available for staff, the time cards for the support staff bi-weekly pay period that ends Dec. 24 need to be returned to the Payroll office by Wednesday, Dec. 29 to be processed for the Jan. 5 payroll. Thank you for your cooperation.

The joy of giving 

At the staff Christmas party, the staff contributed eight large boxes of canned goods and paper products to the First Lutheran food pantry and $207 to the free clinic. Thank you for your gifts to these community support organizations.

'Over-the-Counter' clarification

The hr website contains the most recent list of 2011 "Over-the-Counter" items that will be reimbursable. A participant can be reimbursed for an over-the-counter medication if they have a prescription for it.  The prescription must be sent with the claim. To see the list go to: https://www2.luther.edu/hr/benefits/healthplan/.

Flexible spending accounts schedule

Holiday schedule for flexible spending accounts:  Claims received by noon Monday, Dec. 20 will be processed Tuesday, Dec. 21. Claims received by noon Monday,
Dec. 27 will be processed Tuesday, Dec. 28.

December is open enrollment month

December is open enrollment month for Luther’s health plan. Contact HR for form to make changes such as:
1. Add/change health care coverage.
2. Change preferred provider organization: Midland’s Choice which includes Mayo System or Gundersen Lutheran Network.
3. Change deductible plan: Option 1 or 2.
4. Add/drop dental coverage. Dental rates will increase to $26.46/month for single coverage and $69.10/month for family coverage.

Bubble Wellness initiative

Bubble begins Jan. 3. Join your colleagues living in the Luther Bubble and play our January Wellness initiative. This game involves an hour of exercise a day as you move your markers around the game board. The game is played similar to Trouble and you need to sign up in teams of four. For more information, please contact Vicky Jaeger at <jaegervi>.

Holiday hours

Dahl Centennial Union/Welcome Center
Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 21-22: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 23-25: Closed
Sunday-Wednesday, Dec. 26-29: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 30-Jan. 1: Closed

Cafeteria
Tuesday-Saturday, Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Closed
Sunday, Jan. 2: Breakfast: Closed
Lunch: Closed
Dinner: 5-7 p.m.

Oneota Market
Tuesday, Dec. 21: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 22: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 23-26: Closed
Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 27-28: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 29: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 30-Jan. 1: Closed

Marty's CyberCafe
Tuesday-Sunday, Dec. 21-Jan. 2: Closed

Book Shop
Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 21-22: 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 23-26: Closed
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 27-29: 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 30-Jan. 1: Closed

Mail Center/SPO
Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 21-22: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 23-26: Closed
Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 27-29: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 30-Jan. 1: Closed

Legends Center
Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 21-22: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thurs-Monday, Dec. 23-27: Closed
Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 28-29: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 30-Jan. 2: Closed
Monday, Jan. 3: Resume regular hours

Easy button to add calendars

To view or add on-campus calendars to your Google Calendar, go to http://lis.luther.edu/node/2774. Several Luther calendars are listed, such as the Regents Center hours, College Ministries events, the academic calendar, Preus Library hours, and much more.

More Apps for Norse Apps

There will be changes to our Norse Apps account infrastructure effective Jan. 5 that will allow access to other Google services beyond the core suite of messaging and collaboration apps. Norse Apps users who currently use these other applications with their @luther.edu email address can either rename their other account prior to Jan. 5 or can transition their account beginning Jan. 5. For more information, see http://lis.luther.edu/learn/norseapps.

Reminder: Farwell locked during break

Just a reminder to faculty and staff who use the Farwell elevator that Farwell Hall is closed and will reopen Sunday, Jan. 2 at 10 a.m. Faculty and staff may use the student lot behind Larsen Hall during the break period. All other parking regulations remain in place.

Reminder from HR

Reminder: sign up for W-2s online. There is still time to sign up for this option. It is easy to do. For instructions and more information, go to hr.luther.edu. Go to Forms for Faculty and Staff: Employment Forms: W2 2010 Options. The electronic option is the sustainable option.

23rd annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum

Nearly 100 people have already registered for the March 4-5 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Register early to get your first choice workshops. Luther's Forum will be the last one to be held on one of the sponsoring college campuses. In 2012 it will move permanently to the Twin Cities and Luther will bus participants to the event.  Go to http://www2.luther.edu/peaceprize/ for information. 

Wellness check-up reminder

Reminder to employees and spouses on the Luther College health care plan. The Wellness check-up form is due by Dec. 31 to Human Resources. You can access the form on the hr.luther.edu website. Failure to turn this in will result in a $25 monthly premium increase. Thank you if you have turned in the form. Contact Greg with questions at <lonningr> or 387-2075.

EVENTS

No services on campus Dec. 14-Jan. 1

Tuesday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Jan. 1: No worship services
Sunday, Jan. 2: Worship resumes with 9:30 p.m. Focus
Monday, Jan. 3: Chapel resumes

Family Winter Carnival Jan. 8

Family Winter Carnival will be held Saturday, Jan. 8, 9 a.m.-noon in the Regents Center. Escape the winter cold and join us for a morning of great family fun and learning—fun inflatable rides, games, face painting, prizes, food and much more. Tickets are 50 cents each and $5 for a book of 11. Proceeds benefit a spring break student service trip to Guatemala coordinated by College Ministries. Questions? Contact Kaitlyn Holden <holdka01> or call 387-1271.

COMMUNITY

Welcome new staff

Please welcome Sasha Griffin to Luther. Sasha joins Luther as the Project Cataloging Archivist. Sasha's office is Preus Library 130, 387-1725.

Position opening

Director of the Career Center. Twelve-month, full-time position providing leadership and supervision for all areas of career services for students. Please see the hr website for a detailed description: https://www2.luther.edu/hr/staffvacancies/.

ARTICLES, CREATIONS, HONORS

Maryna Bazylevych won the Association for Women in Slavic Studies Essay Award for her recently completed dissertation. The award is for the chapter titled "'Beautiful' Medicine and Feminism: Women and the Practice of Post-socialist Biomedicine in Millennial Ukraine."

Bazylevych had two pieces published. "Prestige Concept Reconsidered: Hybridity of Prestige Concept in Post-Socialist Biomedical Profession" in the International Journal of Social Inquiry 3(2): 75-99, online at: http://www.socialinquiry.org/articles.asp?id=64. "Public images, political art and gendered spaces: Construction of Gendered Space in Socialist and Post-Socialist Ukraine" in the Journal of Contemporary Anthropology 1(1): 1-19, available at: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jca/vol1/iss1/1.

Bazylevych presented a research paper presentation, "The Rise of a Pharmaceutical Representative: Forging New Relationships in Post-Socialist Biomedicine," at the annual American Anthropological Association Meeting.

SPORTS RESULTS/SCHEDULE

Men's basketball defeated Crown College Dec. 18, 74-49. The win was the team's fifth in a row.

Women's basketball defeated Crown College Dec. 18, 81-38.

MISCELLANEOUS

Launch of FoodCorps at Luther

The Luther Environmental Studies Department, with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, will host the first troop of FoodCorps members in Iowa as part of the initiative's 2011 launch. Luther's Sustainability program has hosted the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative for two years. FoodCorps is a new national AmeriCorps program that focuses on service in school food systems that have children challenged with high rates of obesity and limited access to healthy foods.

Orville Running art still available

Orville Running woodcuts and etchings are still available. If you missed the show, email Marjorie to see them, <whartonm>.

Winneshiek Energy District assistance

Thinking about how to make your home less drafty and more energy-efficient? The newly established Winneshiek Energy District can help you make wise decisions and save you up to $2,000 on improvements to your home. We also offer a direct install program, and the opportunity to purchase LOCAL emissions reductions for your family or as a gift. Visit http://energydistrict.org, or contact Joel Zook, 382-4207 or [email protected], to learn more.

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

Wanted: Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning jobs. Have references. Minimum of three hours. Call 382-6022 and leave message.

For sale: Green matching loveseat and couch-both are recliners, $125; multi-colored couch in tans, greens and blues, $50; and green Lazyboy recliner, $50. Call 382-5914 after 5 p.m. or 387-1440, daytime.

Snow removal available: Luther student snow removal service, I have plowed driveways in Decorah and Des Moines for four years and I would like to do yours. Flat rate of $10 for Luther faculty and staff, and $15 for non-Luther clients. I’m fully licensed, insured and have an excellent reputation for client satisfaction. Cleared by 7 a.m. or it’s free. Contracts and on-call services are available. Tell your friends. Contact Erik, (515) 205-0791 or <erik>. 

Wanted: Used musical instrument in good condition. My granddaughter wants to try band and cannot afford to buy a very expensive new instrument. Call Joyce at 382-6022 and leave message or email [email protected].

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Sustainability tip

Tips for a sustainable holiday season:

Instead of sending cards through the mail, send e-greetings from Hallmark.com or BlueMountain.com. If you must mail them, try to keep your card list to a minimum. Send postcards instead of envelopes to save paper or buy holiday cards that are made from recycled paper.

The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill in a football field 10 feet high. That doesn't even include birthday cards.

Recycle the holiday cards you receive or make gift tags out of them for next year.

Should you receive any unwanted gifts or if you are replacing old possessions with new ones then consider taking them to a charity shop, instead of throwing them away.

For more ideas and information, visit the AASHE website at: http://www.aashe.org/blog/13-tips-sustainable-holiday-season.

And finally…

A great resolution for the New Year is to volunteer your time for others, even if just once a week, or once a month. Volunteering is all about commitment and enthusiasm, so choose something that you will enjoy and are interested in.

                                                                                               -Julie Fisher-McGarry