Inside Gustavus January 28, 2010 | Volume 42, Number 19

News & Announcements

No Newsletter Next Week... Inside Gustavus will not be published on Thursday, Feb. 4, during Touring and Activity Week. Next publication date is Feb. 11, following the start of the spring semester.

Health Screening Reminder... All employees, retirees, and spouses are invited to participate in the 2010 Health Screening free of charge. The health screening will be at the River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic Lab in St. Peter on Feb. 1-5 and Feb. 8-12. Five-minute time increment appointments are available during these dates between 6:30 and 8:55 a.m. on a first-call, first-serve basis. Thirty minutes of release time will be allowed for employees to participate in the screening. To sign up for a time, call the Human Resource Office at x7304 Mon.-Fri., 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-4:45 p.m.

Announcing a New Library Catalog... The staff of Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library is pleased to announce the launch of a new library catalog. It's the same great data with a bold new look. MnPALS Plus, which was developed locally by our library consortium, boasts improved location information, sophisticated ways to refine searches, and a number of other features that make it more user-friendly and in line with the next generation of library catalogs. MnPALS Plus will become the library’s default catalog, but fans of the old catalog (Classic MnPALS) will still be able to access it from the library’s homepage. The transition will be completed by the beginning of spring semester, but you can preview MnPALS Plus now.

Employee Enhancement Days Next Week... The 2010 Employee Enhancement Days are scheduled during the Touring and Activity Week, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Feb. 2-4. This year's program features two prominent workplace trainers: Tuesday's guest speaker, Bob Ash, has provided training and education to 1,200+ organizations and businesses, numbering over 320,000 individuals, through his company, Life Lessons. Wednesday's speaker, Fran Sepler, is a nationally recognized expert in employment investigations who founded a company in 1991 to provide high-quality, rigorous training focused on the prevention of harassment and discrimination, improved communication, and conflict management/resolution. The schedule of presentations follows.

• Tuesday, Feb. 2, Alumni Hall:
  -8:15 a.m. - "Providing World Class Customer Service," Bob Ash (session repeated at 1 p.m.)
  -10 a.m. - "Managing Difficult People and Issues," Bob Ash
  -2:45 p.m. - "Earning the Right to Lead," Bob Ash

• Wednesday, Feb. 3, Alumni Hall:
  -8:15 a.m. - "What Employees Need to Know about Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace," Fran Sepler (session repeated at 1 p.m.)
  -10:30 a.m. - "What Supervisors Need to Know about Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace," Fran Sepler        

• Thursday, Feb. 4, Linner Lounge:
  -8:30 a.m. - "CPR Certification and Recertification Training," Jason Stratman (space is limited; please reserve a place by calling Jason at x7494)

TIAA-CREF Individual Counseling Sessions... A TIAA-CREF representative will be on campus on Feb. 17, 18, and 19 for individual counseling sessions. There are a limited number of openings. To schedule an appointment, go to the TIAA-CREF website at www.tiaa-cref.org/events. You must have a username and password to enroll online. If you do not wish to enroll online, you may call 1-952-830-3118 to schedule an appointment.

Campus Happenings

Chapel Schedule... All are invited to the worship services at 10 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Christ Chapel. The upcoming schedule is as follows.

• Friday, Jan. 29 - Chaplain Rachel Larson
• Sunday, Jan. 31-Sunday, Feb. 7 - NO CHAPEL, Touring Week
• Monday, Feb. 8 - Jeff Stocco (dean of students' office)
• Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Anna Versluis (geography)
• Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Morning Praise
• Thursday, Feb. 11 - Nick Strimple, "Music in the Holocaust," with the Choir of Christ Chapel
• Friday, Feb. 12 - Transfiguration Talks: Peter Shea (philosophy)

'Music in the Holocaust'... In partnership with the St. Peter Choral Society, Gustavus welcomes Nick Strimple, author and professor at the University of Southern California, for a public lecture on music as a central part of the culture of the concentration camp Theresienstadt in 1944. His presentation, "Music in the Holocaust," begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, in Nobel Hall's Wallenberg Auditorium. This lecture precedes the society’s performance of Mendelssohn’s famed oratorio Elijah on March 6 and 7.  Strimple also is the homilist at Christ Chapel on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. The Choir of Christ Chapel, directed by Patricia Kazarow (music), will perform Strimple’s composition Valley of Bones. For more information, contact the Office of Fine Arts Programs at 933-7013.

Special Kendall Center 'Teachers Talking' Event..."Seven Liberal Arts and Counting," a symposium with Deborah Goodwin (religion), Max Hailperin (MCS), Lisa Heldke (philosophy), Doug Huff (philosophy), and Brian Johnson (chaplains' office), will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 4:30 p.m. in the Lind Interpretive Center. What do Brancusi and William Morris have to do with the liberal arts? What does it mean to MAKE your life count? This year's Hanson-Peterson Chair event is a special Kendall Center Teachers Talking, co-sponsored by the Sponberg Chair.

Noted Environmentalist to Speak on Campus... Environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author Paul Hawken will deliver a free public lecture at Gustavus on Thursday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m., in Alumni Hall. Hawken has started and managed ecological businesses, written and taught about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulted with governments and corporations on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy. He is the author or co-author of dozens of articles and papers, as well as six books. His 1999 book, Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, is published in 14 languages. His latest book, Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being, and Why No One Saw It Coming, was published in 2007. Hawken’s appearance is sponsored by the Environmental Studies program, the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, the Gustavus Lecture Series, and the Center for Vocational Reflection.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Only a Few Spaces Remain... Classes in making hand-felted Scandinavian Slipper will be held at the St. Peter Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 6, but only a few spots remain. Two classes are available: Class 1 at 8:30 a.m.-noon, or Class 2 at 2:30-6 p.m. You will learn to lay out fibers, employ a wet-felting technique, and custom-make seamless slippers, with no knitting involved. Register at www.stpetercommunityedonline.com for one of the two sessions available. You may also call 507-934-3048 for more information. Cost is $40 + fiber costs (available from instructor or bring your own).

Benefit Breakfast for SPHS Grad Party... The 22nd Annual SPHS All Night Graduation Party Pancake and Sausage Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 7, at the St. Peter American Legion, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tickets are available from any SPHS student or at the door. All proceeds help sponsor the St. Peter High School All-Night Graduation Party. Supplemental funds are being provided by Thrivent for Lutherans.

Facility Hours

Library Hours for Touring Week... Friday, Jan. 29 - 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 30, & Sunday, Jan. 31 - CLOSED; Monday, Feb. 1-Friday, Feb. 5 - 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 6, & Sunday, Feb. 7 - CLOSED.

Lund Center Building Hours for Touring Week... Friday, Jan. 29 - 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 30 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 31 - noon-5 p.m.; Monday, Feb. 1-Friday, Feb. 5 - 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 6 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 7 - noon-10 p.m.

Fun Facts from RecycleMania

2009 RecycleMania Results... Gustavus is again participating in a recycling competition among colleges and universities across the country. For a 10-week period beginning Jan. 15, data on waste and recyclables is being collected and reported to RecycleMania officials. To provide perspective on our efforts and encourage participation, campus RecycleMania coordinators have supplied last year's campus results:

• In the 2009 Grand Champion Contest (combined trash and core recyclable materials), Gustavus placed in the first quartile, 49th out of 206 participating schools with 36.64% recycling rate.
• In the Per Capita Recycling Contest (combined amount of paper, cardboard, and bottles and cans per person), Gustavus placed 52nd out of 293 participating schools with 20.06 pounds recycled per person.
• In the Waste Minimization Contest (least amount of combined waste and recyclables), Gustavus placed 83rd out of 148 participating schools with 54.74 pounds of waste produced per person.
• In the "Gorilla Prize" Contest (highest gross tonnage of combined paper, cardboard, and bottle and cans during the ten-week competition, regardless of campus population), Gustavus placed 151st out of 293 participating schools with 72,900 total pounds recycled.
• In the Paper Category, Gustavus placed 73rd out of 204 participating schools with 6.05 recycled pounds per person.
• In the Corrugated Cardboard Category, Gustavus placed 31st out of 204 participating schools with 8.57 recycled pounds per person.
• In the Bottles and Cans Category, Gustavus placed 29th out of 210 participating schools with 5.34 recycled pounds per person.
  

IT Tips

Technology Training... Gustavus Technology Services is pleased to announce the availability of free, hands-on technology training sessions for faculty and staff. These training sessions will be in small groups held in the Olin Technology Classroom (Room 124B) beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting about an hour. They are aimed at all different skill levels, so all are welcome. Our goal is to make you feel more comfortable using technology, software, and other online resources. Topics and dates for this upcoming semester include:

• Technology: Classroom Techniques - Feb. 2
• Hands-On Moodle - Feb. 16
• Podcasting at Gustavus - Feb. 23
• Google Calendar - March 2
• Windows: Getting Started - March 9
• Macintosh: Getting Started - March 16
• Introduction to Social Networking - March 23
• Gustavus Online Resources - April 6
• Basic Word 2008 for Macintosh - April 13
• Basic Word 2007 for PC - April 20
• Proper Data Backup Techniques - April 27
• Internet Safety - May 4
• Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop - May 11

For more information, see the GTS blog post. To sign up or view a full list of class offerings and descriptions, please visit gustavus.edu/gts. Then click the "Schedule an Appointment" link. Click the topic titles on the classes you are interested in, or click "Book Now" to sign up for the class. You may also call the Technology Helpline (x6111) to schedule a session. Remember, these are in small groups so attendance is limited. Take advantage of this opportunity to better understand and utilize the resources available to you. If you have any questions regarding the classes, feel free to call Gustavus Technology Services at x6111 or e-mail helpline@gustavus.edu.

Plugs

For Rent... Two-story Victorian farmhouse with two porches, situated just outside St. Peter along a wooded ravine and fields. Available for term rentals to faculty or visiting faculty, etc. Spacious and newly restored, complete with a country kitchen and pantry w/ “secret stairway” to the cellar, front-parlor family living room, dining room, den, and half bath on 1st floor. Three bedrooms, plus a library or nursery, full bath, and sitting hall upstairs. Hardwood floors throughout. New appliances including washer and dryer. Room for extra storage in the basement. May be made available furnished (monthly fee listed is for unfurnished). One-car detached garage. $1,350 per month plus utilities, etc. References, background check, and security deposit required. Please contact Patti at patrock59@aol.com or by phone at 574-276-6303.

For Rent... Semi-furnished one-bedroom duplex near College. Free satellite TV and Internet. $450 per month plus $50 for utilities. Available any time. Call Marilyn Wood at 934-2414.

"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and/or services to others in the community, or seek the same from them. It is not meant to accommodate ads or announcements from area businesses such as real estate agents or retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.

Corrections

The summary notes from the President's cabinet meeting published in the Jan. 21 Inside Gustavus stated that Mimi Gerstbauer (political science) chaired the MLK Day Lecture Planning Committee. Mimi writes that that honor goes to Virgil Jones (Diversity Center) this year. "Just want to give credit where credit is due!"

 



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Inside Gustavus is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during the week of Thanksgiving, the Christmas break, Touring Week, and the Spring and Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online submissions are preferred, items may also be submitted typewritten on a letter-sized sheet of paper. Send "snail mail" items to: Inside Gustavus, Office of Marketing and Communication. Items must reach the office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The week of Nobel Conference the deadline is 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Steve Waldhauser (waldo@gustavus.edu or x6413).

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