Drake’s Annual Open Enrollment Period for the 2017 Plan Year ends Nov. 30.

If you wish to continue your current medical, dental, or wellness elections, you NEED NOT do anything; your participation will automatically continue.

If you wish to change your current medical, dental, or wellness elections, you MUST complete a new enrollment form.

If you wish to participate in Drake’s flexible spending account plans during 2017, you MUST complete a new enrollment form.

All forms MUST be received by Human Resources no later than 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

The chair massages originally scheduled for Nov. 15 and 16 have been moved back to a later date. The new dates are Dec. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Cowles Library Heritage/Collier Room and Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room.

Cost is $10 for a 10-minute chair massage paid directly to licensed massage therapist Anne Boal at the time of your appointment—correct change, cash or check only. One name will be drawn after the event and that person will receive a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage!

Click the link below to register for the day and time of your choice. You may register for one or two time slots per registration sheet.

• Dec. 6 (2 to 4 p.m. in Cowles Library Heritage/Collier Room)
• Dec. 7 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room)

For additional information or questions, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For those faculty and staff on Drake’s medical plan who have completed their wellness screening, don’t forget to complete your online assessment via Wellmark by this Tuesday, Nov. 15. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium incentive beginning Jan. 1, 2017. This will save you approximately $300 off your Drake health insurance in 2017. To complete your online wellness assessment log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on “Take Your Wellness Assessment” or “Retake Your Wellness Assessment.” For more information please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Please join members of the University Benefits Committee, Wellmark representatives, and Drake benefit consultant Mark J. Becker for an overview of the status of Drake’s medical and dental plans Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310.

During this final meeting, discover how Drake plans compare to local and national markets, why contribution rates will remain unchanged during the 2017 Plan Year, and why Drake plans have a two-tier structure.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

For those faculty and staff who have completed their wellness screenings, don’t forget to complete your online assessment via Wellmark by Nov. 15. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium incentive (approximately $300 off your Drake health insurance in 2017). To complete your online wellness assessment log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on “Take Your Wellness Assessment” or “Retake Your Wellness Assessment.” For more information please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a time to recognize the men and women who have served the United States through military service.

To commemorate Veterans Day, we invite any Drake employee who served in the military to stop by Human Resources (before the end of November) to receive a printed voucher for a complimentary meal at Hubbell Dining Hall. 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. Thank you for your service.

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Eight individuals joined the Drake family in October.

Jared Richardson, Head Start
Jordan Smith, Public Safety
Theresa Cody, Dean of Students Office
Sarah Alexander, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Catherine Williams, University Advancement
Teresa Nunez Pina, Facilities Planning & Management
Zineta Ramic, Facilities Planning & Management
David Plutschack, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Holiday Trimmings Weight Challenge
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 email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Holiday Trimmings.” Deadline to register is Thursday, Nov. 17.

A packet of information will be sent to you. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, Nov. 21.

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

$10 Chair Massages
Step away from your worries and take a 10-minute vacation with a relaxing chair massage. On Nov. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Cowles Library Heritage/Collier Room and Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room, licensed massage therapist Anne Boal will be giving chair massages.

Cost is $10 for a 10-minute chair massage paid directly to Anne Boal at the time of your appointment—correct change cash or check only. One name will be drawn after the event and that person will receive a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage!

Click the link below to register for the day and time of your choice. You may register for one or two time slots per registration sheet.

• Nov. 15 (2 to 4 p.m. in Cowles Library Heritage/Collier Room)
• Nov. 16 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room)

For additional information or questions, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Food & Mood Presentation
When was the last time you monitored your mood as it relates to what and how much you eat? Emotional eating is a common response to stress and fatigue, but it can lead to unhealthy eating habits, which in turn can lead to chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. In this presentation you’ll learn ways to track mood and food,and identify the difference between hunger, boredom, and stress eating.

Join us Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310/311, for this fun and informative presentation. Johanna Dunlevy from Employee & Family Resources will be presenting.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into drawings for prizes each semester.

The registration form for this class is accessible through blueView’s Employee tab, in the Learning and Development Channel under Human Resources, or by clicking here. Please email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake strives to provide quality benefits, responsive to the needs of faculty, staff, and their families. Human Resources works with the University Benefits Committee to make important decisions about benefit plan design and offerings. All faculty and staff are invited to hear more about benefits at Drake and some of the issues the University Benefits Committee has addressed in preparation for this open enrollment period.

An overview of the benefit review process, as well as the status of Drake’s medical and dental plans will be provided by Mark J. Becker during the enrollment period.

During the upcoming town hall meetings, discover:

• How Drake Plans compare to the local and national market;
• Why Plan contribution rates remain unchanged for 2017; and
• Why Drake Plans have a two-tier structure  (single and family participation)

Please plan to join us at the following Benefits Town Hall Meetings:

• Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m., Cowles Library, Room 201
• Nov. 15, 3 p.m., Olmsted Center, Room 310

—Gary Johnson, Human Resources