Holiday Trimmings is a six-week program designed to encourage you to maintain or lose weight over the holiday season. If you have trouble dodging festive yet fattening foods, like pecan pie, sausage stuffing, and egg nog, this challenge is for you.

Beginning and ending weights will be recorded and throughout the challenge you will receive healthy holiday tips. Everyone who maintains or loses weight will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

For more information, or to register to participate, please send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Holiday Trimmings.” Deadline to register is Thursday, Nov. 15.

A packet of information will be sent to those who register. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, Nov. 19.

Let’s make this a happy and healthy holiday season.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

With the holidays quickly approaching, some Drake faculty and staff may travel by air to visit family and friends. If that sounds like you, did you know that Drake employees receive a 50% discount (or $3.50 per day) at the Keck Airport Shuttle Parking, located at 5555 Fleur Drive, for business and personal travel?

Simply take a ticket at the gate and park your car in any open space.  A shuttle will pick you up in the parking lot and drop you off outside the terminal for quick and easy entry into the airport. Upon returning to the airport, the shuttle will pick you up outside of the baggage claim doors and drop you off at your car.

When you pull up to the cashier window to pay, identify yourself as a Drake employee, show them your Drake ID or business card if asked, and you will receive the discount.

And, if you need a reminder of our upcoming Holiday dates, review them here: 2018-2019 Holiday Schedule.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Have you ever thought of yourself as your own brand? It may seem like terminology that is only specific to product marketing, but today personal branding can be your path to success in professional development, whether you are wanting to expand your career, achieve personal recognition or just work better with your colleagues. Carlyn Crowe, Visiting Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will provide several tools for developing or enhancing your personal brand by identifying and learning to express your unique set of values. You’ll leave this session with tools you can use immediately for understanding and communicating your brand that will give you more confidence and empowerment for professional and personal success.

As part of the conversation, individuals will incorporate knowledge on their personal traits, through Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). If participants are uncertain of their type, individuals can take the Jung Typology Test, at http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality.

Please join us on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 1–3 p.m. in Olmsted, 310 for this productive session.  Register online. 

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Please plan to stop by the Annual Benefits and Wellness Fair this Friday, Nov. 9, from 8:30–11:30 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Parent’s Hall North. This annual, come-and-go event provides an opportunity to learn about the wide range of benefits and wellness opportunities available at Drake University. Representatives from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Advantage Administrators, Delta Dental of Iowa, TIAA, Long Term Care Strategies, Principal Life Insurance Company, Employee and Family Resources, and Human Resources will be present to answer individual questions. The line-up also includes Drake University’s Recreational Services and Athletics/Ticket Office. Bring a co-worker and

• Visit with colleagues.
• Submit benefit election forms.
• Enter drawings for vendor prizes.

Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Veterans Day is a federal holiday held every November 11^th  to honor all military personnel who have served in the U.S. armed forces. This year, Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, with most states observing it the following day (Monday).

Drake University would like to thank all of our employees who are veterans of our armed forces. In honor of service to country, we will offer our veterans a free meal at Hubbell Dining Services.

To receive a printed voucher for a complimentary free meal, which may be used at any time during the month of November, please bring evidence of military service such as a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, a current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), or your Veterans Organization Card. Alternatively, provide a photograph of yourself in your military uniform to Human Resources, located at 3206 University Avenue, anytime during the month of November.  Thank you for your service.

Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Please join Human Resources in welcoming 10 new, full-time Drake employees for the month of October.

Taresa Lombard, Head Start Teacher Associate, Head Start
Macey Coppess, Family Engagement Specialist, Head Start
Kerra Beilman, Head Start Teacher Associate, Head Start
Eric Merten, Assistant Director of Admissions, Office of Admissions
Matthew (Matt) Lyons, Senior Associate AD for External Affairs, Athletics
Magen Renner, Administrative Assistant/O.T., CPHS
Geena Rasmussen, Development Data Specialist, University Advancement
Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid, Student Financial Planning
Joni Kinnan, Administrative Support Specialist, College of Arts & Sciences
Jeremy Ray, Classroom Support Technician, ITS

Have you ever thought of yourself as your own brand? It may seem like terminology that is only specific to product marketing, but today personal branding can be your path to success in professional development, whether you are wanting to expand your career, achieve personal recognition, or just work better with your colleagues.

During a session on Nov. 7 from 1–2:30 p.m. in Olmsted, Room 310, Carlyn Crowe, visiting assistant professor and internship coordinator for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will provide several tools for developing or enhancing your personal brand by identifying and learning to express your unique set of values. You’ll leave this session with tools you can use immediately for understanding and communicating your brand that will give you more confidence and empowerment for professional and personal success. Register online.

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Holiday Trimmings is a six-week program designed to encourage you to maintain or lose weight over the holiday season. If you have trouble dodging festive, yet fattening foods like pecan pie, sausage stuffing, and egg nog, this challenge is for you.

Beginning and ending weights will be recorded and throughout the challenge you will receive healthy holiday tips. Everyone who maintains or loses weight will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

For more information, or to register to participate, please send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Holiday Trimmings.”  Deadline to register is Thursday, Nov. 15.

A packet of information will be sent to those who register. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, Nov. 19.

Let’s make this a happy and healthy holiday season!

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join this interactive session with Scott Raecker, Executive Director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, and learn how to integrate Drake’s core values into your team’s work experiences. Scott will share tips on how to have intentional conversations about values and bring them to life in day-to-day interactions across campus. This session will be on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 9–10:30 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310. Register online.

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Drake’s Annual Open Enrollment Period began Oct. 19.  If you haven’t already done so, please visit the Benefits Portal in myDrake to make benefit elections for the 2019 Plan Year.

As noted previously, you are not required to visit the Benefits Portal if you do not wish to make changes to your medical, dental, or wellness participation.  However, if you wish to participate in Drake’s flexible spending account plans during 2019, YOU MUST make a new election in the Benefits Portal. Additionally, it is important to ensure your basic and voluntary life insurance beneficiary information is correct in the Benefits Portal.

Please note you will periodically receive emails from Drake’s online benefit enrollment system during the annual open enrollment period. Emails promoted by eBenefits Edge will be provided via the address below, and should not be disregarded as SPAM.

SBDEBEANALYST <SBDEBEANALYST@exchange.principal.com>

Should you have questions, please contact Diana at 515-271-1871 or Marlene at 515-271-1901. Benefit elections for the 2019 Plan Year must be made on or before Nov. 30, 2018.

Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources