Eugene Education Association
2815 Coburg Road • Eugene, OR 97408 • Phone 541-345-0338
RETIREMENT REMINDERS
If you are a Plan A retiree (hired in 4J prior to July 1, 1998) and are planning to retire in the period from April 1 – November 15, 2013, you are required to provide the District with your official written notice of intent to retire by April 1, 2013. Plan A retirees who fail to meet this notification deadline may be subject to financial penalties in their District retirement benefits.
If you are a Plan B retiree (hired on or after July 1, 1998) and will be enrolling in the retiree insurance at retirement, you will need to provide your written notice of intent to retire at least 60 days before your intended retirement date.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement language regarding retirement benefits and notification requirements can be found in article 4.10. Please refer to the CBA for additional detail: http://www.eugea.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2010-2013-EEA-4J-CBA-copy.pdf.
In addition to your written notification to the District, you’ll need to schedule an appointment to sign your 4J retirement paperwork. While your paperwork does not need to be signed by your notification deadline, it should be done in a timely manner. Like all teachers, I will be out for spring break the week of March 25th and will not be available for retirement appointments during that week. If you know you are going to retire at the end of this year, please call or e-mail me to schedule your retirement appointment.
Whether you plan to retire under Plan A or Plan B, your written notification should be sent to Janis Brew in 4J Human Resources (brew_j@4j.lane.edu) and must include your intended retirement date. If you make your final retirement decision during spring break, please copy Bernadette Adeniran (4J Human Resources) in your written notification to the District (adeniran_b@4j.lane.edu).
Please remember that you must work directly with PERS to complete your PERS retirement process. There is not a person in 4J who oversees the PERS retirement process – that is a separate step that you must complete independently.
QUALIFIED STATUS CHANGES
In most cases, the plan selections you made during the OEBB open enrollment period remain fixed for the full plan year. You are not allowed to alter your plan selections during the plan year unless you experience a Qualified Status Change (QSC) event.
A QSC event is a change in work or family status that allows you to make limited mid-year changes to your benefit plans, provided you notify 4J within the required number of days. Most QSCs require you notify the District within 31 days of your QSC event; however, there are a few exceptions. Please refer to the OEBB QSC Matrix for more details: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/QSCMatrix.pdf
If you have experienced a QSC event, are within the QSC window, and would like to make enrollment changes, the form you need to complete can be found on the forms link of the Benefits section of the 4J website: http://www.4j.lane.edu/hr/benefits. When complete, this form must be submitted to 4J Human Resources.
SHINGLES
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, causes a painful, blistering skin rash that can last 2 to 4 weeks. Some people may develop severe nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the rash goes away.
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox in the past, then VZV is inside you. It never leaves your body but remains in a dormant state. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later and cause shingles.
A new review by the Cochrane Collaboration has confirmed that the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of shingles in people over 60 by about half and reduces the severity of an outbreak if one does occur. It also found that the vaccine is more effective in people in their sixties than in those over 70, since older people have a weaker immune response to it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bases their immunization schedules on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and currently recommends the vaccine for people 60 and older. The FDA has approved the shingles vaccine in people 50 to 59 years of age, but at this time, the ACIP does not have a recommendation for that age group. ODS covers routine immunizations, including the shingles vaccine, as recommended by the ACIP. If you haven’t had your shingles vaccine yet and are at least 60 years old, it may be in your best interest to get your shot sooner rather than later.
The 4J Wellness Clinic does not stock a large supply of the shingles vaccine. If you opt to get your vaccine at the 4J Wellness Clinic, please make sure and schedule your appointment in advance to ensure that clinic staff will have time to order the vaccine prior to your appointment.
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
February is American Heart Month! Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there are things you can do to fight back against heart disease and stroke.
As you age, asking your health care provider questions relating to your heart health is one of the best ways to learn how you can improve your health the 99% of time you are not in a medical office. At your next appointment, you may want to ask these questions:
- What is my risk for heart disease?
- What does my blood pressure mean for me, and what can I do to improve it?
- What do my cholesterol numbers mean for me, and how can I improve them?
- Do I need to lose weight?
- Based on my blood sugar level, am I at risk for diabetes?
- Do I need to take any other heart disease tests?
- What kind of physical activities can I do to protect my heart?
- Should I see a registered dietitian about eating healthier?
- For smokers: What can you do to help me quit smoking?
What helps your heart can help your brain too. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can lower your chances of having a stroke, and it can also make a big difference in your mental abilities as you age. You can learn more about the heart/head connection on the American Heart Association website: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
HEART-HEALTHY EATING AWAY FROM HOME
Heart-healthy eating is easier to do in your own kitchen – where you have total control over the menu, ingredients, and meal preparation methods – than it is when someone else is doing the cooking. The health advisors from Harvard Medical School offer these 7 tips to help you stay within your eating plan, even when dining out.
- Curb portions. For two people, consider ordering one salad, one appetizer, and one entrée — that will nearly always provide enough food for both of you. When ordering individual meals, set aside some of what is on your plate to bring home for lunch or another dinner.
- Resist refined carbohydrates. Just as you would at home, go for whole grains and limit white bread, white rice, and other highly processed starches. If the breadbasket is hard to resist, ask your waitperson to remove it from the table.
- Make smart, colorful choices at the salad bar. Load your plate with plenty of colorful vegetables, fruits, and small amounts of lean protein. Skip the creamy and ranch dressings. Low-fat and fat-free dressings often contain a lot of sugar, so use healthy oils with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice instead.
- Choose dishes that are grilled, roasted, steamed, or sautéed. This is an easy way to cut down on calories and avoid heart-unfriendly trans fats.
- Ask for healthier side dishes. Don’t be afraid to request a salad, vegetables, or fruit instead of starchy side dishes.
- Take the opportunity to enjoy some fish. When you eat out, take advantage of having an expert chef doing the cooking and order fish or seafood.
- Share desserts. If you decide to have dessert, share it with your dining companion(s). Don’t ignore heart-healthy choices, such as fresh fruit.
