the GARNET connection UBLIC SAFETY ILESTONES ELLNESS ON … · 2018-07-24 · ounces; and Cooper...
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It’s that time of year again—This year’s open enrollment will run from Monday, Sept. 24 through Friday, Oct. 5. We received great news from PAISIG (our health insurance consor- tium). The rate renewal came in at an all-time record low of 1.6 percent. PAISIG attributes this to more in- volvement by employees in wellness activities in addition to members switching to the high deductible health plan. Due to this news, there will be little increase in the rates! Open enrollment is the period during the year when you can make changes to your benefit selections. As usual, we will be enrolling online through mySwarthmore. If you plan to make any changes to your health/ dental/vision insurance selections or open/continue a flexible spending ac- count, you must make an active elec- tion online. If you are not making a change, it is not required to complete open enrollment, but doing so offers you the opportunity to review your current selections and see the latest offerings. Many employees miss new opportunities because they don’t ac- tively participate in open enrollment. We also are happy to announce that we will hold the annual Bene- fits/Wellness Fair on Friday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the All- Campus Space. As in the past, ven- dors from Independence Blue Cross, Keystone Health Plan East, Delta Dental, and Davis Vision will be on hand to answer your questions. In ad- dition, representatives from our other benefit vendors—TIAA-CREF,Van- guard, Aetna, Carebridge, and Liberty Mutual—will also attend. We will sponsor biometric screenings as part of our wellness program in addition to chair massages. Please mark your calendar so you don’t miss this excit- ing event! 1 the GARNET connection FALL 2012 GARNETconnection the Open Enrollment 2012 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 2 PUBLIC SAFETY 2 MILESTONES 3 WELLNESS ON CAMPUS 4 HR NEWS 4 COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS SWARTHMORE COLLEGE HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS DEAR FRIENDS, Welcome to the debut issue of Gar- net Connection, an e-newsletter for and about the employees of Swarth- more College. Garnet Connection is a melding of two former community newsletters—The Gathering, which was printed, and Human Resources News, a PDF posted on the human resources website. To conserve staff resources and to practice sustain- ability we have created the new on- line Garnet Connection, which will live as a PDF at www.swarthmore.edu/ human-resources. Garnet Connection aims to gather and share Swarthmore College com- munity news with employees. Our in- tent is to connect with one another by sharing useful information and celebrating the accomplishments of our staff and faculty members. Our plan is to produce two issues this year, in the fall and spring. It seemed quite appropriate to debut this newsletter with the new aca- demic year as we welcome new stu- dents, faculty, and staff to our community. While this issue fea- tures important and timely informa- tion on topics such as our Benefits Open Enrollment, we also have in- cluded columns to inform you of up- dates in our wellness and public- safety initiatives. We believe that an integral role of a community is to offer new opportuni- ties and to provide a forum in which to share ideas and resources that help to build and sustain us. A com- munity also welcomes and embraces its new members, shares their val- ues, and provides time for them to learn and understand one another. We welcome your feedback on this first edition, and we appreciate in advance your response to our re- quest to share your news for our next issue. Read and enjoy! Pamela Prescod-Caesar Vice President for Human Resources Submit items of interest to: [email protected] Sept. 24–Oct. 5 Open Enrollment Sept. 28, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Benefits Wellness Fair Dec. 11, 10 a.m. Winter Gathering Calendar of Events Retirement Individual Counseling Sessions Sept. 20 TIAA-CREF Sept. 28 Vanguard Oct. 11 TIAA-CREF Oct. 24 Vanguard Nov. 13 TIAA-CREF Nov. 20 Vanguard
Transcript of the GARNET connection UBLIC SAFETY ILESTONES ELLNESS ON … · 2018-07-24 · ounces; and Cooper...
It’s that time of year again—Thisyear’s open enrollment will run fromMonday, Sept. 24 through Friday,Oct. 5.
We received great news fromPAISIG (our health insurance consor-tium). The rate renewal came in at anall-time record low of 1.6 percent.PAISIG attributes this to more in-volvement by employees in wellnessactivities in addition to membersswitching to the high deductiblehealth plan. Due to this news, therewill be little increase in the rates!
Open enrollment is the periodduring the year when you can makechanges to your benefit selections. Asusual, we will be enrolling onlinethrough mySwarthmore. If you planto make any changes to your health/dental/vision insurance selections oropen/continue a flexible spending ac-count, you must make an active elec-tion online. If you are not making achange, it is not required to complete
open enrollment, but doing so offersyou the opportunity to review yourcurrent selections and see the latestofferings. Many employees miss newopportunities because they don’t ac-tively participate in open enrollment.
We also are happy to announcethat we will hold the annual Bene-fits/Wellness Fair on Friday, Sept. 28from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the All-Campus Space. As in the past, ven-dors from Independence Blue Cross,Keystone Health Plan East, DeltaDental, and Davis Vision will be onhand to answer your questions. In ad-dition, representatives from our otherbenefit vendors—TIAA-CREF, Van-guard, Aetna, Carebridge, and LibertyMutual—will also attend. We willsponsor biometric screenings as partof our wellness program in additionto chair massages. Please mark yourcalendar so you don’t miss this excit-ing event!
1the GARNET connection FALL 2012
GARNETconnectionthe
Open Enrollment 2012
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:2 PUBLIC SAFETY
2 MILESTONES
3 WELLNESS ON CAMPUS
4 HR NEWS
4 COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONSSWARTHMORE COLLEGE HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS
DEAR FRIENDS,Welcome to the debut issue of Gar-net Connection, an e-newsletter forand about the employees of Swarth-more College. Garnet Connection isa melding of two former communitynewsletters—The Gathering, whichwas printed, and Human ResourcesNews, a PDF posted on the humanresources website. To conserve staffresources and to practice sustain-ability we have created the new on-line Garnet Connection, which willlive as a PDF at www.swarthmore.edu/human-resources.
Garnet Connection aims to gatherand share Swarthmore College com-munity news with employees. Our in-tent is to connect with one anotherby sharing useful information andcelebrating the accomplishments ofour staff and faculty members. Ourplan is to produce two issues thisyear, in the fall and spring.
It seemed quite appropriate to debutthis newsletter with the new aca-demic year as we welcome new stu-dents, faculty, and staff to ourcommunity. While this issue fea-tures important and timely informa-tion on topics such as our BenefitsOpen Enrollment, we also have in-cluded columns to inform you of up-dates in our wellness and public-safety initiatives.
We believe that an integral role of acommunity is to offer new opportuni-ties and to provide a forum in whichto share ideas and resources thathelp to build and sustain us. A com-munity also welcomes and embracesits new members, shares their val-ues, and provides time for them tolearn and understand one another.
We welcome your feedback on thisfirst edition, and we appreciate inadvance your response to our re-quest to share your news for ournext issue.
Read and enjoy!Pamela Prescod-CaesarVice President for Human ResourcesSubmit items of interest to: [email protected]
Sept. 24–Oct. 5Open Enrollment
Sept. 28, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.Benefits Wellness Fair
Dec. 11, 10 a.m.Winter Gathering
Calendar of EventsRetirement IndividualCounseling SessionsSept. 20 TIAA-CREFSept. 28 VanguardOct. 11 TIAA-CREFOct. 24 VanguardNov. 13 TIAA-CREFNov. 20 Vanguard
Mark Anskis recently married Lind-say Carpenter, a high school/middleschool teacher at Garnet Valley, onJune 24, at Windows on the WaterBeach Club in Sea Bright, N.J. Theyhoneymooned in Costa Rica.
A daughter, Margaret “Maggie” FayeRyan, was born to Rhoni Ryan, sys-tems analyst, April 17. Maggie was 7pounds, 3 ounces and 20 1/2 incheslong.
Rose Maio, administrative coordi-nator in the department of sociologyand anthropology, reports the birth ofher first grandchildren, Julia CelesteVondran, on Feb. 23, at 6 pounds, 12ounces; and Cooper Reed Maio, onJuly 11 at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Shewrites, “I feel like they are twins ex-cept they live in different houses.”
Fritz Ward, associate director of de-velopment, and wife RoxanneHalpine Ward welcomed a daughter,Freya Jade Ward, born July 8.
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Milestones
As I reflect on my almost four months here and look forward to my firstSwarthmore academic year, I am struck by the nature of our commu-nity. The commitment to academics and to civic engagement is asbreathtaking as the beauty of the campus. I feel fortunate to havejoined such a community, and I am very much looking forward to thisfall and beyond.
The Department of Public Safety is an essential component of ourcommunity, and fostering that connection is one of my top priorities.Building strong relationships within the community is at the core ofwhat we do as public-safety professionals. Without your support andunderstanding, we will not be able to as effectively meet, fulfill, orexcel in our mission to protect and serve our community.
I’d like to remind everyone that the beginning of the academic year isa hectic and chaotic time for all of us, especially for the parents, fami-lies, and students who have traveled here from all parts of the world.With that in mind, please remember to report any suspicious activityor incidents of crime to 610-328-8333. Your eyes and ears are an in-credible asset and are very much needed. Never question what youfeel. Just make the call.
I invite everyone to visit the Public Safety websitewww.swarthmore.edu/publicsafety and familiarize yourself with itscontents. Take a look at our newly added staff bios and learn aboutthe officers who serve our community. Our newest member is our asso-ciate director of public safety, Joanna Gallagher, who joined us on Aug.
17 after 17 years of service at Villanova University assupervisor of the investigations unit with its Departmentof Public Safety. She is a strong advocate for survivors’rights and a dedicated professional. Joanna brings awealth of experience and energy to the department.
This is the first of many contributions we hope to make tothe Garnet Connection. In the future, stay tuned for infor-mation about special events, such as our open house onSept. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Benjamin West House, insupport of National Campus Safety Awareness Month;general safety tips, and discussions about best practicesand new technologies in the public-safety field. Thank youall for the support and trust you place in our office.
Sincerely,Michael HillDirector of Public Safety
Message from Public Safety
Mike Hill, Director of Public Safety
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Weight WatchersWeight Watchers at Work hasbeen on campus since March 6and concluded on July 17. We hadtwo very successful consecutive10-week programs with more than20 participants for each session.Our grand weight loss total was446.1 pounds! We look forward tobringing Weight Watchers backthis fall.
ZumbaDue to the popular demand result-ing from the sample class offeredduring January’s Staff Develop-ment Week, Zumba has become aregular weekly offering. The Latin-inspired dance-fitness programblends red-hot internationalmusic, created by Grammy Award-winning producers, and conta-gious steps to form a “fitnessparty” that is downright addictive.Zumba was in full weekly “swing”again this month.Times: Tuesdays at noonPlace: Upper TarbleCost: $5 per classInstructor: Elizabeth Streit
Pilates“Physical fitness is the firstrequisite to happiness.”
—Joseph Pilates
Times:• Beginner class: Wednesdays at1:15 p.m.• Intermediate class: Tuesdaysand Wednesdays at noon(classes run for one hour)• Place: Swarthmore MeetingHouse—Whittier Room• Cost: $15/class. Your firstclass is free!• Instructor: Cathy Raymond ’79
Pilates is a progressive system ofexercises developed to stretch,strengthen, and balance mind andbody. It combines contemplation,relaxation, and an emphasis onthe mind/body connection. At thesame time, Pilates stresses theimportance of building and balanc-ing muscle tone, strength, and en-durance.
These classes include modifica-tions for all exercises that makePilates suitable for people of allages and fitness levels. The exer-cises help improve alignment andmovement skills. Benefits includeincreased core strength and flexi-bility, stress reduction, more phys-ical and mental energy, improvedfocus and concentration, betterposture, and improved sports per-formance.
If you are interested, please trythis for yourself. Your initial matclass at Swarthmore is free; thisgives you a chance to experiencePilates for yourself. Classes areongoing, so if you are over-whelmed beginning the semester,show up when you can.
YogaYoga classes returned this fallwith new instructors Emily Dozorand Curt Woolford. Classes are onMondays (4:45–6 p.m.) and Fri-days (noon–1 p.m.) in the WhittierRoom. The fee is $10 per class orfive classes for $45, cash re-quested.
Contact: [email protected] or610-220-7425.
Qi GongQi Gong (“chee-GONG”) is a sim-ple, slow set of exercises forhealth and relaxation from Chinathat anyone can do. Through itsauthentic, classical, and accessi-ble styles one can de-stress, revi-talize, and find deep calm.
The hourlong classes in theWhittier Room of the MeetingHouse are held on Mondays atnoon and Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Enter the Meeting Housethrough the double glass doors onthe street side of the building andgo left up a short flight of stairsthrough the double doors. Curi-ous? Try your first class for free.The fee is $60 for two months,one class per week, or $8 drop-infee. Start any time.
Instructor is Kit Raven whostudies Qi Gong with Yang JwingMing and has taught for eightyears.
Contact: [email protected] 610-328-0294
Wellness
Insurance Plan Offers Wellness-Related Benefits
As an Independence Blue Cross member you are eligible for five freenutrition-counseling sessions, and you can receive a reimbursementof up to $150 toward fitness-center fees. A $25 reimbursement forbicycle helmets is available for each eligible member of your family.There is a wealth of other information on the Independence BlueCross website. Simply go to www.IBX.com and follow the steps toregister.
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Chris Schumann joined the humanresources team on Aug. 1 as directorof compensation and benefits. Chris
has spent the lastdecade at Har-vard University,most recently assenior compensa-tion officer in theOffice of HumanResources. He isalso a member ofthe board of di-rectors for the
Harvard University Employees CreditUnion. During the last six years, hewas chair of the Nomination Com-
mittee, project consultant to the ex-ecutive committee and a member ofboth the audit and credit committees.
Before Harvard, Chris was acompensation analyst with Kulicke &Soffa Industries and Advanta Corp. inthe Philadelphia area.
He holds a master of science inhuman resource development fromVillanova University and a master ofarts in management finance fromHarvard University. Chris’ profes-sional certifications include a PHR(Professionals in Human Resources)from the Society for Human Re-sources Professionals and a CCP(Certified Compensation Professional)from World at Work.
Chris, wife Peggy, and their twoyoung sons have returned to the areaand will reside in Ardmore, Pa.
The Human Resources Departmentbade a fond farewell to Lee Robin-son. Lee retired from the Collegeafter 28 years of dedicated service.She leaves many friends and memo-ries, and we all wish Lee happinessin her new adventure.
HR News
Lee Robinson’slong commit-ment toSwarthmorewas celebratedon Aug. 21 witha well-attendedfarewell partyat the WisterEducation Cen-ter with severaltributes to herstellar service.
Spring Gathering andCelebration of Community
Top: June Cianfrano,administrativeassistant in the artdepartment, displaysthe commemorativeT-shirt.
Right: Facultyand staff enjoyedthe camaraderie atthe Spring Gatheringin May.
Faculty, staff, and students gathered for a lunch of locally sourcedfood, as a DJ spun tunes at the Celebration of Community.
Dwight Darkow, gardener with thegrounds and horticulture staff,was the winner of the SpringGathering costume contest.
Students joined the fun atthe Celebration of Commu-nity on Sept. 7.
