Darell Schmick had a “resource tip” article published in the February issue of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Library newsletter:
http://hslibrary.ucdenver.edu/newsletter/archives/appendixFEB11.html#6 (adapted from his presentation here last fall)
Gena Scott has accepted an offer to be the new Director of Development for University Scholarships. She will start March 7th, and she will be housed in Reynolds Alumni Center. Gena has worked as the Director of Development for MU Libraries for almost 10 years and has been successful in her efforts in raising funds for the program. Gena will be responsible for major gift fundraising for the Flagship Scholarship program and for general university scholarships. March 4th will be her last day with the MU Libraries.
Ride to Wellness Odometer Program
Ride to Wellness encourages movement for those riding bicycles or using wheelchairs. For $20 participants receive an odometer and log book. When you reach 500 miles, turn in the booklet for a prize and receive a $20 refund. To enroll, send or bring a $20 check (our cost, made payable to Healthy for Life) to 205 Heinkel Building, MU. Click here for more information.
Workplace Fitness Opportunities
Take advantage of these classes that fit your budget. Full payment is due at the beginning of the first class and space is limited. Please contact the instructor directly to register or for questions. All classes are designed so that exercises can be performed in work clothes.
Health-related Websites
Ø Healthy for Life now has Yoga videos on our website! Check them out at http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/curators/wellness/video.shtml. There’s even a few videos for chair yoga.
Ø Livestrong.com has been recommended to us by several faculty and staff members, so we thought we’d share it. This website allows users to record their nutrition and exercise, read lots of healthy articles, and chat with an online community for support—all for free. For a fee, users can set goals and track their progress toward reaching those goals.
Research Opportunity
The Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction has launched its Veterans and Shelter Dogs Initiative, which consists of research programs directed at facilitating successful adoption of shelter dogs and helping combat veterans fight the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to re-ingrate into civilian life. This is a three-phase study with incentives. See the attached flyer for study details and how to become a participant.
Stop by the Health Sciences Library’s table at the 4th Annual Women’s Wellness fair! The fair will take place on March 4th from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm in Memorial Union. There will be healthy snacks and information from more than 20 campus and community organizations. The event is free and open to MU students, faculty and staff. Hosted by the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women.
Dear Colleagues,
Everyone is welcome and you are most cordially invited to the Black History Month Art Show Reception on the 25th. Meet Lois Ingrum and experience her compelling work. There will be food, entertainment and good company as well.
Take care,
Paula
A library employee recently noticed an increase in tax withholding on his 2/16/11 pay check and asked me for information. My research discovered some interesting information that should be shared library-wide. For those of you that may be asking “Why did my Federal Withholding increase in 2011,” or “Why is my net pay less than it was?” here is a website that addresses the two questions rather nicely: http://forums.blackbaud.com/blogs/fundaccounting/archive/2011/01/10/why-did-federal-withholding-increase-in-2011-why-is-my-net-pay-less-than-it-was.aspx
In layman’s term the Federal Government reduced the Social Security tax also know as (FICA-OASDI) from 6.2% to 4.2%, effective January 1, 2011. It shows up on our pay advices as “Fed OASDI/EE”. What we didn’t hear was that the “Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act” of 12/2011 did not extend the “Making Work Pay Credit Act” of 2003, which reduced federal withholding and resulted in more income going into employees’ paychecks.
What all of this mean for biweekly paid employee is that the 1/5/11 & 1/19/11, paychecks did not reflect the reduced 2% Fed OASDI/EE. To correct this problem Payroll department placed the refund for both of these pay periods in the 2/2/11 paycheck. For monthly paid employees your end of January pay check will reflect the correct deduction for your Fed OASDI/EE.
In contrast, the expiration of the “Making Work Pay” credit will result in an increase to the Federal Withholding tables. For most biweekly employees, you’ll see an increase in Federal Withholding on the 2/16/2011 pay check. That amount should be the normal federal withholdings in future checks. For Monthly employees your end of February pay check will reflect the increase in your “Fed Withholding”.
I would advise everyone to consult with their tax accountant or tax consultant on how to change one’s W4 forms to offset any undesired increases from the above changes reflecting in your pay checks. Here is the new IRS tax Withholding: http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/notice_1036.pdf
Hope this information was helpful.
Website References:
Blackbaud. (2010). The FundWare Post: The Official Blog of FundWare: Why did Federal Withholding increase in 2011? Why is my net pay less than it was? Retrieved from http://forums.blackbaud.com/blogs/fundaccounting/archive/2011/01/10/why-did-federal-withholding-increase-in-2011-why-is-my-net-pay-less-than-it-was.aspx
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service. (2010). Notice 1036: Early Release Copies of the 2011 Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/pub/newsroom/notice_1036.pdf
Fivecentnickel.com. (2011). Did Your Federal Tax Withholding Increase? Here’s Why… Retrieved from http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2011/01/07/did-your-federal-income-tax-withholding-increase-heres-why/
HubPages. (2010). Federal Payroll Tax Withholding Tables for 2010, 2011 65. Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/hub/Federal-Payroll-Tax-Withholding-Table-for-2009–2010
Intuit. (2011). Small business, rejoice. Federal Tax Withholding Tables and Social Security Tax changes for 2011: Overview: Retrieved from http://payroll.intuit.com/support/kb/2000996.html
IRS.gov. (2010). Payroll Tax Cut to Boost Take-Home Pay for Most Workers; New Withholding Details Now Available on IRS.gov. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=232590,00.html
–Sheena Waggoner
The MU Council on International Initiatives (CII) has selected Kate Anderson as a participant for the 12th Global Scholars Program (GSP). This nationally recognized program is designed to support MU faculty members who seek to internationalize their teaching and research. Since its inception, over 120 faculty members across Colleges and Schools have participated. As a result, dozens of courses have been modified – enhancing the learning experience of thousands of MU students each year. In 2002, the Global Scholars Program received the Andrew Heiskell Award<http://www.iienetwork.org/?p=26627> for Best Practices and Innovation in International Education from the Institute of International Education<http://www.iie.org/>. The program is designed to: 1) expand faculty involvement in MU’s strategic international relationships; and 2) foster tangible new international collaborations for participants, including research grants or papers and/or teaching innovations.
The University of the Western Cape<http://www.uwc.ac.za/>
South Africa
DAC/MULSA Second Annual International Tea and Snack – Thanks to all who attended the event on Feb. 16. A special thanks to those who brought food and helped set-up/take down tables and decorations. Between 40-50 employees stopped by to enjoy snacks and beverages from around the world.
Some additional information – These two links explains the gift that (almost) everyone received, which is a Chinese New Year custom:
These links show various New Year celebrations from around the world and were shown on the screen during the Tea.
Lastly, there are four 2011 Chinese calendars and four stuffed, toy rabbits to give away. This is the year of the Rabbit. If your birth year ends with “1” (e.g. xxx1), then you were born in the year of the Rabbit. If you would like a calendar or a toy rabbit, e-mail Leo at AgnewL@missouri.edu (these will be given out on a first-come/first-served).
Space is available for the remaining Skill Awareness Workshops. For these workshops, attendance is voluntary and open to all library employees, per supervisor approval.
Workshop II – Leo Agnew, Developing Conflict Competency. March 3, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
Workshop III – Greg Holliday and Jill Hermsen, An Introduction to Emotional Intelligence. March 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
Workshop IV – Interactive skit, MU Trainers’ Network, April 7, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., room 4F51-A Ellis
Workshop #2 will be led by Leo and considers the skills needed to increase one’s conflict competency. Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. A 2009 survey by the Center for Creative Leadership found that 85 percent of leaders experience conflict on a regular basis. As such, the question isn’t one of avoiding conflict but rather what you will get out of conflict when it does occur. Participants will identify different types of conflict, discuss the difference between trust and trustworthiness, and identify behaviors that push their ‘hot buttons.’ In addition, participants will be able to reflect upon the skills needed to demonstrate conflict competency, e.g., compassionate listening.
Workshop #3 will be led by Dr. Greg Holliday and Dr. Jill Hermsen, both of UM System HR. Greg is the Director of Talent Management and Jill is the Assistant Director. This workshop will focus on the set of skills that involve the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to distinguish among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.
The final workshop is an interactive skit based on the book written by Patrick Lencioni ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.’ This is a dynamic training program performed by members of the MU Trainers’ Network in which audience members interact with each other and with skit characters, assessing character behavior and comparing their recommendations for improving the skit team. In addition, the skit provides audience members with the opportunity to talk about the listening skills demonstrated by the characters as well as conflict competency, self-monitoring of emotions, etc. As such, this workshop helps to bring together the skill awareness gained in the previous three workshops.
How do you sign up for these workshops? Check your e-mail for Outlook invitation notices. Simply click on ‘Accept’ to add the workshop to your calendar. Or, send Leo an e-mail to reserve a seat (AgnewL@missouri.edu).