Shuttle Stops Relocate
Due to construction on Center Drive, the campus shuttle stops for Bldgs. 1 and 12A were temporarily relocated on Oct. 27.
The stop for Bldg. 1 will be located on Memorial Drive behind Bldg. 1 at the north end of parking lot 1B from 6:30 a.m. until 3:41 p.m. In the afternoon, between 3:34 and 6:29, the stop will be located at the northwest corner of Center Drive and Wilson Drive adjacent to the stop sign.
The stop for Bldg. 12A will be located at the Ride-On stop on the southeast corner of South Drive and Memorial Drive from 6:30 a.m. until 3:41 p.m. In the afternoon, between 3:34 and 6:29, the stop will remain on Center Drive adjacent to the Bldg. 50 construction site.
If you have any questions or concerns, call Dennis Wise, 496-3426.
NLM's New Exhibit
The National Library of Medicine has opened a new exhibit,
"Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature," which explores
the popularization of the Frankenstein myth and broader questions
about the public's fear of science and its powers. It features 19th
century artifacts on resuscitating the nearly dead, early efforts at
blood transfusion, and attempts to reanimate dead bodies. The
exhibit is on view now through next August in the lobby of Bldg.
38. NLM is also hosting a free film series about the monster on
five Thursdays at noon and 7 p.m. in Bldg. 38A, starting Nov. 6.
Call 435-3270 for more information.
Health Benefits Open Season, Nov. 10-Dec. 8;
Fair Planned, Nov. 21
The Office of Personnel Management has announced an open season for Nov. 10 through Dec. 8 under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). During that period, eligible employees may change their plan, option, type of enrollment or any combination of these. Also, eligible employees who are not currently enrolled may choose to do so during open season. Employees should be aware that they may not be covered as an employee under their own enrollment and as a family member under someone else's enrollment in FEHBP. Likewise, a member of one's family cannot be covered under more than one enrollment in the program.
Commissioned officers, employees serving under appointments limited to 1 year or less and intermittent employees are not eligible for enrollment in FEHBP. However, temporary employees who have completed 1 year of current continuous employment, excluding any break in service of 5 days or less, are eligible to enroll.
Employees eligible to participate in open season may obtain a booklet entitled 1998 FEHB Guide from their personnel office. This contains enrollment instructions, general information about FEHBP, the major features of all plans, premiums, and general categories of coverage such as outpatient and inpatient service, calendar year deductible, catastrophic limit, etc.
Enrollees will be mailed a 1998 brochure by their current health benefits plan. Employees who are eligible for enrollment and are not currently enrolled or covered by a federal plan should contact their personnel office for information on the program or plan brochures.
In conjunction with open season, the Office of Human Resource Management is sponsoring a Health Benefits Fair. It will be held in Bldg. 1, Wilson Hall, on Friday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives from most of the plans available to NIH'ers will be on hand to answer questions.
Wednesday Afternoon Lectures
The Wednesday Afternoon Lecture series -- held on its namesake day at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 -- features Dr. James M. Wilson on Nov. 12; he will lecture on the topic "Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis and Treatment." He is director, Institute for Human Gene Therapy, professor of medicine, and chief of the division of medical genetics, University of Pennsylvania.
On Nov. 19, Dr. M. Judah Folkman gives an NIH Director's Lecture on "New Directions in Angiogenesis Research."
For more information or for reasonable accommodation, call Hilda Madine, 594-5595.
Open Season for Thrift Savings Plan, Nov. 15-Jan. 31
The Thrift Savings Plan is having another open season from Nov. 15 through Jan. 31, 1998. FERS employees who were hired before July 1, 1997, as well as CSRS employees have an opportunity to change their current election, or make an initial election.
Eligible FERS and CSRS employees may elect to contribute to the G fund (government securities), C fund (stocks), and/or F fund (bonds). FERS employees may contribute up to 10 percent of their salary each pay period and will receive matching agency contributions on the first 5 percent. CSRS employees may contribute up to 5 percent of salary, but do not receive any matching contributions. FERS employees who do not contribute receive an automatic 1 percent agency contribution each pay period. They may choose to distribute this among the three funds.
The features of the plan and directions on how to make a plan election or to change your current withholding are described in the Thrift Savings Plan Open Season leaflet, which will be distributed to eligible employees by their ICD personnel office. More detailed information is provided in the Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees booklet and is available in your ICD personnel office.
Seminar on Government Contracting, Nov. 19
The Bethesda/Medical chapter of the National Contract Management Association is hosting a brown bag lunch seminar entitled "My Company's Been Excluded from the Competitive Range. Now What?," on Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in EPN, Conf. Rm. H. Speaking will be attorney Jeffrey Weinstein. All are welcome; no registration needed. For more information call Sharon Miller, 496-8611.
'Quality' Nominations Due, Nov. 21
The NIH quality of work life committee is accepting nominations of individuals, teams and organizations for the Quality of Work Life Award. The award recognizes superior performance or special efforts to advance the quality of work life at NIH. It is designed to reinforce the growing importance of improving the workplace and helping employees balance their work and family lives. The award recognizes employees who have made a significant contribution to the quality of work life, and as a result, the quality of science at NIH.
Thirty-eight winners were selected last spring for a wide variety of contributions. These include helping employees balance work and family obligations, helping foster new skills and promote workplace learning, and facilitating better employee health, more diversity, and a better work environment.
Award nominations may be submitted throughout the year and will be reviewed on a regular basis. Recipients will be recognized by a certificate and reception.
The next deadline for nominations is Friday, Nov. 21. Submit them to the quality of work life committee, Bldg. 1, Rm. B1-60. Applications are available at the same address and have been distributed to institute personnel officers, executive officers, and EEO officers for dissemination. Contact Julie Jacob with any questions at 594-7551 or at julie_jacob@nih.gov.
Use or Lose Annual Leave
Annual leave in excess of the maximum carryover balance (in most cases 240 hours) is normally forfeited if not used by the end of the current leave year. Employees who have not already planned to take those excess hours should discuss leave plans with their supervisors now, while there is still time to schedule leave. Bi-weekly Earnings and Leave Statements (pay slips) tell how much annual leave must be used or lost when the leave year ends on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Despite planning, circumstances sometimes arise that prevent taking scheduled and approved leave. In such cases, employees and supervisors are jointly responsible for ensuring that "use or lose" leave is rescheduled in writing. This year, use or lose leave must be scheduled in writing no later than Saturday, Nov. 22.
Questions on use or lose leave policy should be directed to ICD personnel offices.
Join Martial Arts Club
The R&W Chinese Martial Arts Club is now accepting new members. Training sessions are Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in the Malone Center (NIH Fitness Center), Bldg. 31, B4 level. The training includes meditation, physical conditioning, internal and external exercises, self-defense and traditional kung fu in the Jow Ga style. Everyone interested is welcome to come and watch or participate in a free introductory session. For more information call (703) 759-9869 or visit the web site at http://www.recgov.org/r&w/cmac/cmac.html.
25th Holiday Auction Planned, Dec. 3
The Clinical Center's clinical pathology department will hold the silver anniversary version of its holiday auction on Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, held in the pathology conference room and library, benefits the Patient Emergency Fund and the Friends of the Clinical Center.
Organizers seek, in addition to donations of theme baskets, crafts, holiday decorations, plants, white elephant items and donated baked goods, gifts of silver. "Plated or solid, nickel or sterling, old or new, dented with character or shiny with never having been used, we welcome it all," said one planner. "Some of those wedding gifts never come out of the box. After 20 years, it might be a relief to get rid of it."
Beginning at 9 a.m., coffee and breakfast breads will be sold, and a silent auction begins at 11. At lunch time, sodas and pizza will be available. The auction ends at 2 p.m.
To arrange a donation, contact Norma Ruschell, 496-4473, or Sallie Seymour, 496-3386, both of whom are in Bldg. 10, Rm. 2C324.
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