ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mandatory Fire Drills

E-Files Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

Changes to the Thanksgiving Week Shuttle Schedules

New Metro Access Pick Up Locations on Campus

Faculty/Staff Alumni Volunteers Needed

Your Students Can't Make it into the Writing Center for an Appointment? They Can Meet with a Tutor Online

Share Your Achievements in Accolades

2009 White House Holiday Ornaments Available in the Johnson Center

Mason Dining

Apple Federal Credit Union

Now Accepting Nominations for the Experienced Supervisor Leadership Seminars (ESLS)

Work/Life Featured Discount: Sears Commercial Expands Your Purchasing Power

Reporting Storm Damage to State-Owned Property

EVENTS

Holiday Concert Collecting Toys for the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

TRAINING

Fiscal Services Workshops

HR

Environmental Health and Safety Office

Mason E-Files

Posted November 23, 2009

E-Files Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday the next Mason E-Files will be distributed on Tuesday, December 1. The deadline for submissions will be 12:00 noon on Monday, November 30.

Faculty/Staff Alumni Volunteers Needed

Looking for a great way to interact with students and show some Alumni Pride? Help the Alumni Association hand out free scantrons, pencils and blue books as we wish the students luck on their finals. Let's show students that alumni care.

December 14 and December 15, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (on both days).

Interested? Email cbannor@gmu.edu or call 993-3847.

Are you a Mason Faculty/Staff alumni interested in becoming more active in the Alumni Association? Sign up to volunteer. We could use your help for various events in and around campus. It's fun reaching out to students and meeting great alumni.

To subscribe to the alumni volunteer listserv, send an e-mail message to: listserv@listserv.gmu.edu, leave the subject line blank and in the message body, enter: subscribe Alumni-Volunteers-L lastname firstname

You will receive a confirmation e-mail message to complete your subscription.

Your Students Can't Make it into the Writing Center for an Appointment? They Can Meet with a Tutor Online

As the semester progresses, students have less and less time to meet in person with a Writing Center tutor. To help students get the assistance they need, the Writing Center wants to remind you about our Online Writing Lab (OWL) services. And, students can now sign up for an OWL session just as they would for a face-to-face session in the Writing Center, choosing the date and time of the appointment.

Students can:
• View the OWL schedule previously only visible to our tutors
• Sign up for an online session for a preferred date and time (as available)
• Request an OWL session even before they have completed your draft (so long as you provide the draft by the time the appointment is scheduled)
• Know exactly by what date and time they will receive your feedback (no more three to five day waiting period)
• Sign up for a session with a tutor with whom they have worked with in the past and would like to continue to build a good working relationship

Learn more about OWL and sign up for an appointment at www.writingcenter.gmu.edu.

Share Your Achievements in Accolades

The deadline for Accolades, the Mason Gazette column recognizing the professional achievements of Mason faculty and staff, is Tuesday, November 24. Send submissions--publications, honors, awards, presentations--to gazette@gmu.edu. Accolades will be published on Tuesday, December 1.

Mason Dining

Check out the Mason Dining Web site (dining.gmu.edu) for hours of operation during the holidays.

Join our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/masondining) or follow us on Twitter (masondining) to receive updates and coupons to your favorite restaurants on campus. On our Facebook page, there is currently a $1 off coupon for any food item at Burrito Del Rey in Student Union I-- just become a fan of our page and print off the coupon.

Mein Bowl, Sangam, Taco Bell, and Freshens in the Johnson Center now have extended hours on Fridays -open until 10:00 pm. Burrito Del Rey in Student Union I also has extended hours - open Monday-Thursday 11:00 am-7:30 pm.

Join us at the Mason Rathskeller, located in Student Union I, Monday - Friday from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm for the Rat Hour. Get discounted beverages and appetizers.

Don't forget to check out George's, located on the 3rd floor of the Johnson Center, for lunch every Tuesday during the month of November for some authentic Indian Cuisine. In addition, each guest will receive a coupon for a free appetizer at the Mason Rathskeller.

Apple Federal Credit Union

Money Management Video Contest for Students. Win up to $500. Calling all money savvy persons ages 16-23. Tell us one of your money management secrets — in a 1-2 minute video you’ve created — and we may just share our cash with you. Deadline for video submission is 11:59 pm, Wednesday, January 20. Grab your camcorders or cell phones and go make your videos. Details at HowBoutThemApples.org

$50 Bonus for Direct Deposit with Apple FCU. Mason employees who open a new Apple Checking with a Direct Deposit of $1,000 or more will receive $50. Offer not valid for on Second Checking accounts or for members with a closed Checking within the past 12 months. Open your account by November 30 to receive this offer.

Win a 52” HDTV. Tackle your high interest rates and multiple payments by consolidating up to $35,000 with rates as low as 7.99% APR. Plus, your loan qualifies you for our Tackle Your Debt Giveaway – prizes include a 52’’ HDTV and more. Don’t take a time out—apply today at AppleFCU.org, any Apple branch or call (703) 788-4800.

For rules and restrictions of Apple promotions, and up-to-date rates, visit AppleFCU.org, call (703) 788-4800, or stop by the Mason Branch in the Johnson Center.

Now Accepting Nominations for the Experienced Supervisor Leadership Seminars (ESLS)

The Experienced Supervisor Leadership Seminars (ESLS) offers advanced leadership training to Mason supervisors who have successfully completed the New SUPERvisor Series or who have more than 5 years of supervisory experience at Mason.  The program includes professional development workshops, case studies, a project, networking opportunities, and a mentoring program.  For all the information and an application packet, visit http://hr.gmu.edu/training and click on the Experienced Supervisor Leadership Seminars tab.  Applications must be submitted to the HR & Payroll Department no later than December 11. 

Questions? Contact Dr. Lori Ann Roth at 993-2621 or laroth@gmu.edu.

Reporting Storm Damage to State-Owned Property

Heavy rains and strong winds from weakening tropical systems can cause power surges and flood damage. The following tips are offered to minimize damage to state-owned property.

Shut down all electronic equipment prior to leaving for the day (even better unplug the equipment from the power source in the event of a major storm).

To minimize water damage basement and ground floor offices should remove all items from the floor (especially electronic equipment). In addition, if your building is prone to leaks cover your desk, books, and other items with a heavy plastic or a tarp. If you have noticed leaks in the past be sure to have the area checked before another storm occurs.

Consider parking your car away from trees. The center of the lot may be a better choice or the parking deck.

Any office that suffers damaged or lost property as a result of these events should notify the Office of Risk Management at 993-2599 or email risk@gmu.edu. If Mason's total losses exceed $1000, an insurance claim will be filed.

Holiday Concert Collecting Toys for the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Winter Wonderland Charity Concert
Monday, November 30
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Patriot’s Lounge, Student Union I

Hear your favorite holiday music and help the needy at next Monday’s Charity Toy Concert. Several musicians from the Mason community will be featured, as well as group caroling. A representative from the shelter will also speak. Admission is one new toy or a monetary donation. All proceeds will go to the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter. A full list of needed toys is available online at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214579126320.

Contact Rachael Dickson at rdickson@gmu.edu if you’d be interested in playing a few holiday songs or volunteering at the event. Donations will be accepted through December 4.

A holiday cookie sale will be taking place in conjunction with the concert. Look for the kiosk in the Johnson Center starting today through December. 4. Cookies will be sold for a monetary donation to the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter.

Training

HR

New SUPERvisor Series: The ABCDs of Public Speaking. This course in the new SUPERvisor series focuses on four primary issues related to public speaking: the Audience, the Build, the Content, and the Delivery. The session, presented by Dr. Andy Finn, is open to all supervisors and will take place on December 2 from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm in Research I, Room 161.

Lunch & Learn: 7 Hot Books Coming Out Soon. Back once again by popular demand. Join Peggy Bercher from the Fairfax County Public Library as she highlights the season's hottest new reads. Peggy always brings along a diverse selection of books and makes all the books available for checkout after the seminar (with library card, of course). Want to hear about a particular book? Email us at hrtrain@gmu.edu and we'll pass your suggestion along to Peggy.  Join us on December 3 from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm in SUB II, Rooms 1 & 2.

EPAF Training. Join us for this Banner software training.  Participants will be given access to a computer and, using support documentation and several practice employee entries, will learn how to enter full or part time employees on temporary assignment into the Banner system without error.  This class will also include training on form I-9.  Join us on December 3 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm in Johnson Center, Room 311C.

To register for any of these workshops, visit http://hr.gmu.edu/training/ and click on Courses.

Environmental Health and Safety Office

The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) is offering the training sessions listed below. Registration is required. For complete training session descriptions and to register for training, visit the EHS website at http://ehs.gmu.edu.  

December 1; Fairfax Campus, Police & Safety Headquarters, Room 230
Bloodborne Pathogen Training, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Hazard Communication Training, 10:00 am to 11:00 am

December 2; Prince William Campus, Occoquan Building, Room 110A
Bloodborne Pathogen Training, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Hazard Communication Training, 10:00 am to 11:00 am

It is the policy of George Mason University to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodations to fully participate in training, contact EHS prior to the training date. For non-English speaking employees, translation services may be available upon request.

Note: training starts promptly and late arrivals will not be given credit for attending.