Event

Event Details

SAVE THE DATE!

PPSA Holiday Donation Drive and Happy Hour
December 16th, 2009

Start gathering non-perishable food and new toys for the PPSA food and toy drive.
Last minute donations will be accepted on December 16th at the PPSA Holiday Happy Hour at the Blockley Poor House from 4:30-6:30.  Please join us!
More information will be forthcoming.

An offer for staff from the new MidAtlantic Restaurant & Tap Room, 3711 Market Street (In the University City Science Center):
 
At MidAtlantic Restaurant and Taproom, Chef Daniel Stern combines his innovative culinary style with the flavors and traditions of Pennsylvania Dutch and Northeast Regional Coastal cooking, celebrating country food as well as the flavors of the vibrant market that resided from Center City to the bank of the Delaware.
 
MidAtlantic is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30am-2pm, dinner Monday through Saturday from 5pm-11pm, and has snacks at the bar Monday through Saturday from 4:30pm until Midnight. It is located at 3711 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (215) 386-3711.
 
MidAtlantic would love to offer all University faculty employees 10% off any entrée item on their check anytime during lunch or dinner through the end of 2009.  To take advantage of this offer, let the server know that you are a Penn employee and present your PennCard to them before receiving the bill.

For more information about the restaurant, go to http://www.midatlanticrestaurant.com/

MAINTAIN, DON'T GAIN

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, signaling the start of the festive winter holiday season–a time to celebrate and enjoy the company of family and friends!  Unfortunately, it’s also one of the hardest times of year to maintain your waistline, as many of the holiday celebrations revolve around food and drink.  Human Resources wants to help you during this challenging time by again offering the “Maintain, Don’t Gain” holiday weight maintenance program.

“Maintain, Don’t Gain” helps you track your weight with pre- and post-holiday weigh-ins at convenient locations across Penn’s campus.  Inspiring messages throughout the holiday season will motivate you and keep you focused.  And most participants do succeed– last year, nearly 93% of participants were able to either maintain or lose weight!

TEAM COMPETITION!

Create a team with your office mates or friends on campus.  Give yourselves a name.  Let us know that you are part of that particular team at your first weigh-in.  We will track how all team members are doing, average your results in January, and let you know.  Teams with all members who maintain* and/or lose weight by the final weigh-in will be highlighted on the “Maintain, Don’t Gain” Honor Roll on Human Resources’ website.

What do I have to do?

Participating is easy.  Once you’ve registered, just come to the pre- and post-holiday weigh-ins and maintain your weight* throughout the program.  All weights and other private information will be kept strictly confidential.  You will be given a record of your initial and final weigh-in amounts. 

*Maintaining your weight

- No more than a 2-pound increase for those under 175 pounds
- No more than a 3-pound increase for those 175 pounds or more

Please note that pre-registration is required for participation.  Pre-registration allows us to be prepared for demand.  It keeps lines down and reduces wait times to a few minutes.  Pre-registration also gives us the information we need to provide you with inspirational and motivating messages on how to tackle the greatest challenges during the holidays.  To pre-register go here or contact Suzanne Smith at 215-898-5116 or suzsmith@upenn.edu.

Also, take note of this year's new "Eat This, Not That for the Holidays" workshop listed below. We're offering this presentation to further enhance your ability to manage your holiday experience and come out even more fit than before the holidays started.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REMEMBER: Penn's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work & Family Benefits (WFB) are available for full- and part-time faculty and staff and their immediate family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  They provide FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 1-ON-1 COUNSELING SESSIONS to address personal issues and PHONE CONSULTATION on dependent care issues.  Just call 1-888-321-4433 to access this support.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GLOBALFIT

GlobalFit's extensive network of thousands of fitness centers nationwide allows you to choose a club that fits your personality.  Their state-of-the-art fitness center search engine helps you to select the features that are important to you, from childcare to pools to yoga and Pilates.  So why not get started on a healthier, more energetic YOU today?  Go to http://www.globalfit.com/club/ to start.

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION

For information about other health and wellness activities on campus, go here or call 215-898-6100.

Penn Book Club
Wednesday, November 25
12PM
This month's book is "The Longest Trip Home" by John Grogan.

November 20th
All Day Event - All Over Campus!
Penn's First Campus Arts Crawl
Join dozens of Penn's arts and culture institutions, student groups, College Houses and more for a one day taste of all that Penn has to offer.
You can pick up schedules all day in the Terrace Room of Cohen Hall starting at 10 am! Events include film, a cappella, theatre, visual arts, live music and more!
Penn or College Student ID Required.
For a current list of events, times and locations go to http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/platthouse/artscrawl.php

Participants include:
40th St. Artist in Residence Gallery
Addams Gallery
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Arthur Ross Gallery
Christian Association
The Graduate Student Center
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Kelly Writers House
Kroiz Gallery of Architectural Archives
Fisher Hassenfeld, Ware and Rodin College Houses
Morris Arboretum
Music Department
Off The Beat
Penn Art Club
Penn Bookstore
Penn Libraries
Penn Museum
Pennchants and Quaker Notes
Platt Student Performing Arts House
The Rotunda
Theatre Arts Program
University City Arts League
United Minorities Council and the Civic House
Up on Stage
WXPN

December 9
3:00pm
A Life in the Theatre - A Conversation with Hal Prince
Location: Harold Prince Theatre
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts invites you to join us for "A Life in the Theatre - A Conversation with Hal Prince", with Rebecca Bushnell, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, and Rose Malague, Director, Theatre Arts.
Come and join the conversation with Harold Prince (C'48), the renowned Broadway director and producer of such hits as Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Company, and A Little Night Music.
Reception to follow hosted by Kaki Marshall, the Theatre Arts Program and University Life Initiatives.
Tickets are FREE but are going fast - Reserve your seats today by clicking here
: http://ticketing.theatrealliance.org/tickets/reserveTickets.aspx?perf_no=10755&org=nn

H1N1 VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR PENN FACULTY AND STAFF ELIGIBLE UNDER CDC GUIDELINES

With the H1N1 influenza (often referred to as swine flu) adding to the normal flu season already in full swing, Penn has been working hard to ensure that our campus has access to vaccine supplies as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Our seasonal flu shot program was very well attended, and now we're able to announce our plan for 2009 H1N1 vaccinations.

YOU MUST MEET CDC ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES TO RECEIVE THE H1N1 FLU SHOT
As you may know, the government is making the H1N1 vaccine available for distribution through local agencies. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has been working with the University to provide the vaccine to members of the priority groups identified by CDC guidelines. Supplies of the vaccine are limited, so the H1N1 vaccinations will be available only to individuals who meet those CDC guidelines.

Two of the highest priority groups are Penn students 24 years of age or younger and University healthcare service providers. Student Health Service and Occupational Medicine are coordinating H1N1 vaccinations for these groups. For more information on this distribution plan, please visit the University's flu prevention and preparedness home page at http://www.upenn.edu/flu/.
Faculty and staff who meet CDC high-priority guidelines will be able to receive H1N1 vaccinations at no charge through a program coordinated by Human Resources in collaboration with Occupational Medicine. When you arrive to get your H1N1 vaccination, you will be required to complete a CDC form verifying your eligibility. The high-priority groups for faculty and staff are as follows:
* Pregnant women
* Individuals 24 years of age or younger
* Individuals who live with and/or care for children younger than 6 months old
* Emergency care/first responders
* Individuals between 25 and 64 years of age with high-risk medical conditions, including: pregnancy, cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease [including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)], diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain and spinal cord), neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis), and people with weakened immune systems

PROGRAM DATES MAY CHANGE DUE TO SUPPLY DELAYS
Although Penn has been scheduled to receive shipments of the vaccine on certain dates, there is a chance that we may not receive the supplies exactly as scheduled. Manufacturers are working quickly to produce enough vaccine to meet demand, but there are nationwide reports of delays in shipping. Because of this, the dates and locations for Penn's H1N1 vaccination program for faculty and staff should be considered TENTATIVE.

If we don't receive our supplies as scheduled, we will need to adjust the dates listed below. Although the details may change in the coming days and weeks, we invite eligible faculty and staff to register for the H1N1 vaccination now. If any schedule changes need to be made, we'll send email updates to all registrants. You'll also find the most up-to-date information on the Human Resources website at
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/Quality/Wellness/FluShots.aspx.

Due to the uncertain nature of this program, we encourage you to take advantage of other means for receiving the H1N1 vaccination that may become available to you (e.g., your personal physician's office).

DATES AND TIMES
Eligible faculty and staff can register for H1N1 vaccinations from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. on the following dates. Please keep in mind that these dates are tentative, pending receipt of sufficient vaccine supplies.
* Monday, November 16, 2009
* Tuesday November 17, 2009
* Wednesday, November 18, 2009
* Tuesday, November 24, 2009
* Monday, November 30, 2009

LOCATIONS
On-campus H1N1 vaccinations for eligible faculty and staff will be administered at five convenient locations: the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, the School of Design, and Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES). You'll see the exact locations when you pre-register online. If any schedule changes need to be made, these locations may change as well.

PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-registration is required for H1N1 vaccinations. This allows us to be prepared for demand and manage lines in order to avoid long waits. It also gives us your contact information so we can update you if any program details change. To pre-register, visit the Human Resources website at
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/Quality/Wellness/FluShots.aspx.

You can register up until the day before the date you select. But time slots fill up quickly, so we encourage you to pre-register as soon as possible. The first and last time slots typically fill up most quickly, so try selecting some time in the middle for easier registration. If you're unable to register online, contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or suzsmith@upenn.edu.

COMPLETING THE CDC ELIGIBILITY FORM
According to CDC guidelines, anyone receiving an H1N1 vaccination is required to verify his or her eligibility prior to vaccination. When you arrive to get your vaccination, you'll be required to complete a CDC form requesting a description of the basis for qualifying for the shot and a certification that all information is current and accurate. The completed form will be reviewed by the nurse administering the shot to confirm that each person is eligible. The form will then be sent confidentially to the CDC for their records.

WHAT TO BRING
You'll need to bring your PennCard to the vaccination location. Also, remember to wear clothes that provide easy access to your upper arm. You won't need to bring any money since the H1N1 vaccination will be provided free of charge to eligible faculty and staff.

QUESTIONS?
For more information about H1N1 vaccination or the pre-registration process, visit the Human Resources website at
www.hr.upenn.edu/Quality/Wellness/FluShots.aspx or contact Human Resources at 215-898-5116 or suzsmith@hr.upenn.edu.

There is a new partnership with the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance to promote arts and cultural offerings produced at Penn, as well as a new online ticket program for the Penn community to take advantage of, for terrific  discounts.

· We are happy to be working with the Cultural Alliance who so successfully promotes the arts in Philadelphia, but who also has the capacity to educate their members in the fine points of arts marketing and arts advocacy. The arts and cultural community at Penn is poised to take advantage of both resources.
· We are excited that student arts groups will have the chance to join for free this year, and take advance of all that there is to learn about arts administration as a way to round out their education inside and outside the classroom. 
· Our goal is to showcase the great arts assets and support individual arts organizations with marketing support, and help new audiences discover the arts at Penn and University City as a destination.

Below is the site to the Philly Fun Guide, a site that generates about 10,000 hits a day and is the region’s comprehensive site devoted to arts and entertainment. We created a unique page to house all the wonderful things at Penn in one easy to navigate place. http://www.phillyfunguide.com/group/detail/47

In addition, visit the link on our site http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/artsandculture/pennsavers.html to sign up for your  “Penn Savers” promotional program and to get the weekly email ticket discounts.  

Event

Details

The Upper Room at the Christian Association House (118 S. 37th St. - enter on 37th) is a quiet, peaceful room on campus where you are welcome to visit during regular office hours (10am-4pm). The Penn community is welcome to meditate individually, or to come with a group (it is recommended that you call ahead to reserve the space for a group).
You are also welcome to just stop by for a nap or some quiet time.
Please take a virtual tour on our website: http://www.upennca.org/top/facilities/meditation_room/
For more information, please email upennca@dolphin.upenn.edu or come visit us at 118 S. 37th St.

Through partnerships between Penn and our cellular providers (AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless), the Cellular Service Plan Discounts program provides discounts to Penn’s faculty, staff and students (minimum 10% off monthly service plans of $34.99 or higher) on their personal cellular plans. Details, including discount percentages, plan provisions, and customer service contacts, are available at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/voice/cellular/ .

Since the program commenced in 2004, nearly 7,000 members of the Penn community have enrolled in the program, resulting in over $300,000 in savings per year to them.

Information on a variety of other discount programs can be found at:
http://www.purchasing.upenn.edu/buytools/personal.php

Penn Ecard Greetings
http://www.upenn.edu/ecard/

Visit Penn's new Ecard Greetings site -- http://www.upenn.edu/ecard/ -- go green with your holiday greetings this season!

SOUTH STREET BRIDGE CLOSURE INFORMATION
http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/ssbridge

The City of Philadelphia has notified the University of Pennsylvania that the South Street Bridge will close for reconstruction at 9:30 AM on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. The bridge will be closed to ALL TRAFFIC, including pedestrians, bicycles and cars.

The closure of this important access point to University City will result in many changes to traffic patterns, signs and signals, and volume in the vicinity of campus. Please adjust your commute accordingly.

University City Station will remain open and accessible during the South Street Bridge reconstruction project. The station entrance on South Street will be closed. Passengers must use the station entrance on Convention Avenue. For more information, visit http://www.septa.org/.

Penn is providing the following services to enhance your commute. Additional details and other resources are available at http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/ssbridge

• Public Safety - Penn Police, in coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department, will be stationed at key intersections during the morning and afternoon rush hours to mitigate congestion.
• More Bike Racks - Secure, indoor bicycle racks have been installed inside two Penn Garages - Garage #37 at 34th and Chestnut Sts, and Garage #40, (FreshGrocer) at 40th and Walnut Sts.
• Shuttle Service to Hollenback - Until the Weave Bridge is installed to provide access to the Hollenback area, Penn Transit is providing on-call daytime shuttle service. Visit http://www.upenn.edu/transportation/ or call 898-RIDE for information.
• Walking Escort Service - Commuters with safety concerns are encouraged to use Penn's Walking Escort Service. Call 898-WALK (9255) for information.

Have a question about commuting to campus during the South Street Bridge reconstruction project? Please contact ssbridge@exchange.upenn.edu.

PennCard Issuance Changes
http://www.upenn.edu/penncard/announce/

Business Services and ISC jointly launched a project designed to improve processes and systems associated with issuing PennCards. We are pleased to announce that the project team has recently completed software modifications that will enable new employees to obtain a PennCard within one business day after the payroll record has been entered into the Payroll/Personnel system by the hiring officer, allowing new hires to receive their PennCard on or even before their start date.

For more information, please go to http://www.upenn.edu/penncard/announce/

SPECIAL: TIAA-CREF and Vanguard Information
Download PDF: http://www.upenn.edu/ppsa/pdf/
0146_Statement_Financial_Svcs_Volatility_09.pdf

Because of the market issues - some individuals may be concerned. This is a information from TIAA-CREF and Vanguard that has been provided to us. It is shared for your information.

Link to Vanguard is:

For more on the Lehman-related impact, read this article:

https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=NewsWallStreetWobbles

In this video interview, Gus Sauter, Vanguard's chief investment officer, offers his thoughts on the resiliency of our financial system:

https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=VideoSauterMarketTurmoil

TIAA-CREF info:

TIAA continues to hold the highest possible ratings from all four of the leading rating agencies.*

The ratings are based on an independent analysis of TIAA’s balance sheet, capital position, reserves, asset quality, liquidity and other key indicators of financial stability.

CREF & Mutual Funds

Of course, the CREF variable annuity accounts and TIAA-CREF Mutual Fund returns are based on the market returns of their portfolios, so they are not immune to the overall markets.

However, please know that TIAA-CREF manages portfolios to seek consistent growth for long-term investors. Our basic philosophy is to acknowledge that unexpected events do occur and then try to minimize the impact of problems at any single company.

While some TIAA-CREF funds and accounts have been adversely affected by their exposure to specific financial companies, the impact of recent developments has generally been limited as a percentage of overall portfolio holdings. For example, Lehman Brothers stock represented no more than one-fifth of 1% of the assets of any single TIAA-CREF mutual fund or variable annuity account as of July 31, 2008.

For More Information

http://www.tiaa-cref.org/support/news/articles/gen0809_131.html

Penn Transit Offers GPS tracking
More info: http://www.upenn.edu/gps

Tired of waiting for Penn Transit buses or shuttles? Now you can use Penn Transit's new GPS system to find out precisely when your bus will arrive at your transit stop. You can access the new system on your computer, cell phone or PDA by going to: www.upenn.edu/gps . The GPS system will also track Penn shuttles while they are on campus. Not only does this enhancement improve customer service, it also provides an extra level of safety for riders. In addition to the new GPS system, Penn Transit has added four new buses which use ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and can also be converted to biodiesel fuel, should those options become available.

GlobalFit

Penn has made available a special opportunity to join a fitness center at a discount rate and with numerous other related services. Check out GlobalFit's extensive network of thousands of fitness centers nationwide to choose a club that fits your personality. Their state-of-the-art fitness center search engine helps you to select the features that are important to you, from childcare to pools to yoga and Pilates. So why not get started on a healthier, more energetic YOU today? Go to http://www.globalfit.com/club/ to start.

Department of Recreation
For information about other health and wellness activities on campus, go to http://www.upenn.edu/recreation/programs/ or call 215-898-6100.

Penn's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Worklife Resources

Available for full- and part-time faculty and staff and their immediate family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They provide FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 1-ON-1 COUNSELING SESSIONS to address personal issues, and phone consultation on a range of personal life needs, from legal and financial questions to dependent care needs. Just call 1-888-321-4433 to access this support or go to http://new.mylifevalues.com/login.aspx. For your username, enter upenn and for password, enter eap.

UPennAlert

The UPennAlert Emergency Notification System enables fast and efficient dissemination of critical information to members of the University community during a major emergency via text messaging, voicemail and email. If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes now to register or update your contact information. All information is secure and confidential.

Students:
Access Penn InTouch via Penn Portal: http://www.upenn.edu/penn_portal
Access Penn InTouch directly at: https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouch

Faculty/Staff:
Access the Penn Directories via, http://www.upenn.edu/directories
or Access U@Penn directly via, http://www.upenn.edu/u@penn

Penn Student Agencies
Services for Staff
http://www.upenn.edu/ppsa/pdf/staffoffers.pdf

PSA services include:
Apparel and Gifts for the Family and Office
Event Flier distribution on campus
Catering Service for your next important meeting by the Williams Cafe
...and much more!

Download details here:
http://www.upenn.edu/ppsa/pdf/staffoffers.pdf

Student Run, Penn Driven.

Division of Public Safety
Operation Theft Awareness
http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/
Theft_Awareness.asp

Download posters and table tents by clicking on the “media kit” on the lower left.

Mentors @ Penn Program
http://www.hr.upenn.edu/Learning/MentorsPenn.aspx
mentors_penn.asp

The Board of the PPSA welcomes all Penn staff to participate in the Mentors @ Penn Program operated by Human Resources. Be placed in a mentoring relationship with another Penn staff member in which you will either be the Mentor (offering the benefit of your experience and knowledge) or the Mentee (receiving guidance and assistance on your professional life).

The Board of the PPSA supports the Mentors @ Penn 100% - every member of the PPSA Board is a registered Mentor - and we welcome you to do the same!

Important PPSA News

Next PPSA Meeting
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009
12:00pm-1:00pm
Van Pelt Library, Meeting Room 302
(Class of 1954 Seminar Room)

Next University Council Meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009
4:00pm-6:00pm
Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
3417 Spruce Street

Latest News updated 11/13/2009!