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Wynn To Speak at NLM African-American History Program

The National Library of Medicine will celebrate African-American History Month in 1999 with a special program on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. in Lister Hill Auditorium, Bldg. 38A. The theme will be "The African-American Medical Experience: Perspectives and Prospects." There will be two speakers — Rep. Albert Wynn of the 4th Maryland congressional district, and Prof. David McBride of the African-American studies program at Pennsylvania State University. They will be introduced by NLM director Dr. Donald Lindberg.

Elected in 1992, Wynn currently serves on the commerce committee, where he is a member of the subcommittee on telecommunications, trade and consumer protection as well as the energy and power subcommittee. He is also a deputy Democratic whip and is a member of the Democratic message group.

McBride has written extensively on African-American medical history, including such topics as the history of tuberculosis and venereal disease in the Black community, and the historical availability of Black physicians. His books include From TB to AIDS: Epidemics Among Urban Blacks Since 1900, and Integrating the City of Medicine: Blacks in Philadelphia Health Care, 1910-1965.

The program is open to all; no tickets or reservations are required. Sign language interpretation will be provided. For more information call David Nash, 496-1046.

Raffle Benefits Pediatric Patients

Symposium Honors Edwin Taylor

"Myosin, Microtubules and Motion — A Symposium on Science Fostered by the Contributions of Dr. Edwin W. Taylor," will be held Feb. 11-12 in the Natcher Conference Center. It will feature talks on current research on myosin, actin, kinesin, microtubule assembly and related topics. The symposium begins Thursday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. (registration at 12 noon) and adjourns at 5 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 12, the symposium begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Cosponsors are the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the Biophysical Society. To register via the Web, visit http://www.nih.gov/niams/grants/meeting/meeting.htm.

R&W Gift Shop Moves Temporarily

Due to construction in the area, the Bldg. 10 R&W Gift Shop has moved temporarily to the Bethesda Room at the rear of the B1 cafeteria. The shop will return to its original location by Tuesday, Feb. 16. R&W apologizes for the inconvenience and confusion. If you have questions about the move, call 496-6061.

Management Intern Program Seeks Applicants

Tired of sitting at the same desk day after day? Consider becoming a leader for the 21st century! Looking for an opportunity to change jobs, meet new people, enhance your career potential, learn new skills? Well that's what the NIH Management Intern Program is all about. Graduates from the class of 1998 (below) urge you to add your name to the "Wanted" list.

This year's graduates include (top, from l) Julie Jacob, Judy Lin, Tony Moore and (bottom from l) Kelli Carrington, and Karen Hardy. Tony and Kelli are management intern graduates. Julie and Judy are presidential MI grads; Karen graduated from NCI's Administrative Career Development Program.

The Division of Career Resources and the NIH administrative training committee are currently recruiting interns for the 1999 NIH Management Intern Program. Deadline for applications is Mar. 8. The program is designed to prepare individuals demonstrating high potential for careers in administrative management.

To learn more about applying, attend one of the information sessions listed below; all are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Feb. 10, Parklawn/Conf. Rm. O; Feb. 12, EPN/Conf. Rm. E& F; Feb. 17, Rockledge/9112 & 9116; Feb. 18, Bldg.10/2C116.

Application packages are available through the Division of Career Resources, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1B29 or by calling 496-2403. They will also be offered at several off-campus locations such as Executive Plaza South, Solar Bldg., Willco Bldg., Parklawn Bldg., NCI/FCRDC (Frederick), NIEHS (North Carolina) and NIA (Baltimore).

Panel To Discuss Ethnic Diversity, Feb. 11

The NIH Black Scientists Association, in conjunction with the NIH Hispanic Employee Organization, the NIH Office of Equal Opportunity and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is sponsoring a panel discussion titled "Ethnic Diversity in the Biomedical Research Community: Why Is It Important? How Can It Be Achieved?" on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Lipsett Amphitheater, Bldg. 10.

The panel includes representatives from NIH's Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander communities. Each panelist will give a 10-minute presentation. The talks will be followed by a question-and-answer period. The event is open to the public. Scheduled to participate are Wayne Bowen, NIDDK; Arlyn Garcia-Perez, NHLBI; Al Gordon, NINDS; Milton Hernandez, NIAID; Hameed Khan, NICHD; Clifton Poodry, NIGMS; Anthony René, NIGMS; John Ruffin, OD; Harold Slavkin, NIDCR; and Sudhir Srivastava, NCI.

Personnel Office Offers Benefits Reminders

Post '56 Military Service Deposits

Did you know that if you performed active duty military service after 1956 (after June 30, 1960, in the Commissioned Corps), you may need to pay a deposit (including interest) to DHHS in order to receive retirement credit for the military service (FERS employees) at the time of retirement or to retain the credit when you reach age 62 and become eligible for Social Security benefits (CSRS employees)? See your personnel office for details.

Temporary Continuation of Health Benefits Coverage

Did you know that when your child reaches age 22 (or marries before age 22) he or she is no longer eligible to be covered under your health benefits enrollment? This is true even if your child is still in school. You have 60 days from the date he/she gets married or turns age 22 (whichever occurs first) to notify your personnel office. That office will give you information on how your child may enroll in his/her own right for temporary continuation of coverage (TCC). The enrollment will be for up to 36 months and the child will have to pay the full premium (no government contribution), plus a 2 percent administrative charge.

TCC enrollments are also available to you should you leave the government (coverage is for up to 18 months) and for a former spouse should you get divorced (coverage is for up to 36 months). See your personnel office for details.

Making Changes in Your Health Benefits Enrollment

Outside of the annual open season there are only certain events (such as marriage, birth of a child) that allow you to make a change in your health benefits enrollment. Did you know that you may change your enrollment from family to self-only coverage at any time? This is of particular importance to you when the last member of your family ceases to be eligible for coverage under your plan (for instance, when your youngest child turns age 22 and you are divorced or widowed). See your personnel office for details.

Changes You May Make in Your Life Insurance Coverage

Did you know that you may elect or increase your Option B - Additional coverage if you marry or acquire a child? You may also elect option C - Family coverage if one of these events occurs. If you already have Option C coverage and your last family member ceases to be eligible for coverage (youngest child turns age 22, etc.) you should complete an SF 2817 declining Option C coverage. See your personnel office for details.

Remember To Designate a Beneficiary

Did you know that you may complete a Designation of Beneficiary form for Unpaid Compensation, Life Insurance, Retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan if you want the payment upon your death to go to someone other than the person(s) entitled under the normal Order of Precedence? Do you know if your designations are up to date? Did you know that a designation may still be valid, even if your family situation has changed? For instance, if you designated your spouse and you have since gotten divorced, your former spouse is still your beneficiary unless you file a new Designation of Beneficiary, either canceling the previous one or designating someone else.

If you are not sure of the status of your Designations of Beneficiary, see your personnel office.

NIDA Information Products Win National Awards

A National Institute on Drug Abuse video, The Great Disconnect, has won a Gold Certificate in the Questar Awards given by MerComm, Inc. for video communications. And NIDA INFOFAX, a fax-on-demand system, has won the Banner Award given by the American Hospital Association's Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.

The Great Disconnect highlights the power of science in the battle against drug abuse and addiction. It features advances in the drug abuse field, thus bridging "the great disconnect" between scientific knowledge and ideology or myth. MerComm, Inc. is affiliated with the International Academy of Communication Arts and Sciences.

NIDA's INFOFAX system provides a toll-free, 24-hour information service to a range of users. More than 40 science-based fact sheets on drug abuse and addiction can be ordered for free in English and Spanish by fax, mail, Internet, and TTY for deaf callers. Some 250,000 fact sheets have been distributed via INFOFAX thus far. INFOFAX won the Banner Award in the "Use of Emerging Media" category.

MLK Program Rescheduled for Feb. 22

NIH's 1999 Martin Luther King Observance, canceled due to a recent ice storm, has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Natcher main auditorium, Bldg. 45.

Ski Club Entertains Cancer Patients

The NIH Ski Club, sponsored by R&W, recently held a "Camp Fantastic Winter Weekend" at Bryce Mountain Resort for some 70 cancer patients ages 13-25 from hospitals in the D.C. metropolitan area. NIH'ers on hand for the weekend included (above, second from l) NCI's Larry Chloupek and, in photo below, Bob Bingaman (l), president of the Ski Club.

Wednesday Afternoon Lectures

The Wednesday Afternoon Lecture series — held on its namesake day at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 — features Dr. Richard Frackowiak on Feb. 24. He is cochair, Wellcome department of cognitive neurology, University College, London, and will speak on "Visual Perception and Attention: Human Studies with Functional Neuroimaging."

For more information or for reasonable accommodation, call Hilda Madine, 594-5595.

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