Eugene Education Association
2815 Coburg Road • Eugene, OR 97408 • Phone 541-345-0338
RETIREMENT EARLY OUT INCENTIVE PLAN
In an effort to diminish the impact of potential FTE reductions for next year, the 4J School District is offering an incentive plan for retirement eligible licensed employees. The offer is limited to 40 teachers/specialists. Members must e-mail 4J Human Resources as outlined in the letter sent via 4J e-mail and sign paperwork no later than 5:00 p.m. April 1st. Please refer to the February 12th e-mail from Celia Feres-Johnson for additional detail.
PERS INFORMATION
If you are thinking about retirement, the PERS website is a great source of information. Links to sign up for Education Sessions and to schedule a Retirement Application Assistance Session are both on the PERS home page: http://www.oregon.gov/pers/Pages/index.aspx. The toll-free number for PERS is 888-320-7377.
The PERS Pre-Retirement Guide can be found on the PERS Members Publications page: http://www.oregon.gov/pers/mem/pages/section/form/publications.aspx. This publication provides step-by-step information about the PERS retirement process.
In order to retire with PERS, you must contact PERS directly in advance of your retirement date. You must complete the necessary PERS forms and submit them to PERS directly so they can process your retirement. 4J does not process PERS retirement forms.
MOVE IT MONDAYS!
Thanks to Rachel Farkas for sharing this tip from the health and wellness experts at the Cleveland Clinic!
Whether you are trying to begin a new fitness routine or reenergize your current plan, you may want to start your week off right by joining the Move It Mondays campaign. The Move it Mondays plan is another in a series of Healthy Monday public health initiatives started as a collaborative effort among Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University and Syracuse University. It’s the beginning of a new week and, hopefully, you are refreshed from the weekend, so it’s the perfect time to lace up your sneakers and go for a walk, take an exercise class or hit the gym. When you commit to exercising each Monday, you can feel good about adding more fitness into your life. A Monday workout may also set the stage for you to work out tomorrow and the next day too. Every workout you do brings you that much closer to reaching your goal of 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week. Remember that even just a few minutes of exercise are infinitely more effective than zero minutes: any exercise is better than none, and every step you take is beneficial, so start small and work your way up.
Commit to Move it Mondays to be healthier and feel great!
7 HEALTHY THINGS TO DO INSTEAD OF SNACKING
The next time a snack attack hits and you want to resist temptation, try one of these healthful activities instead.
Take a walk. Research has shown that a 15-minute walk can really reduce cravings and change the circuit to how we eat. Additionally, taking a walk will help you feel more alert and burn off a few calories.
Work on a word puzzle. You can keep mindless munching at bay while sharpening your mind by working on mentally challenging activities like crossword puzzles, word searches, or sudoku. Engaging in such games, along with physical activity, helps reduce the cognitive decline associated with aging. Given that pounds seem to climb on with the years, this is a great way to wage the war against aging on two fronts.
Laugh it off. If stress causes you to reach for something to munch on, defuse the tension by watching a funny video. The benefit is more than just distracting yourself from life’s hassles – a good dose of the giggles can increase levels of endorphins, reduce stress hormone levels, and strengthen your immune system.
Talk about the big things. Instead of talking on autopilot, discuss the day’s headlines with someone. A study from the University of Arizona shows that the happiest people are those who have more meaningful conversations – in fact 46 percent of their daily discussions fall under the category of “big thoughts” rather than “small talk.” Try throwing out a meaty subject to chew over with your colleagues or spend the evening talking over world affairs with your friends or family.
Drink to your health. Keeping a refillable water bottle at your desk can help keep you hydrated and help you resist the urge to snack. People often mistake thirst for hunger so see if a glass of water satisfies you before reaching for the nibbles.
Zap that remote. Watching TV is one activity that is specifically tied to increased eating. Research shows that distracted television viewers don’t pay attention to what they’re eating – they eat to the pace of the program or until the program is over. Studies have shown that this mindless eating leads people to consume over 40 percent more than when the TV is off.
Brush your teeth. Take the bite out of the munchies by grabbing your toothbrush. Besides the benefits of minty-fresh breath and a bright smile, you may just reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that there is a link between plaque buildup on your teeth, which contributes to gum disease, and plaque buildup in your arteries. Keeping junk food out of your mouth and out of your system is bound to be good for both conditions. And, of course, be sure to floss, brush, and see your dentist regularly!
HEART ATTACK SIGNS
Many people know that crushing chest pain may herald a heart attack, but it’s important to be aware of other symptoms as well. The sooner you realize you’re having a heart attack, the sooner you can get to a hospital – and the more likely you’ll survive without major heart damage.
While chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women, more women (about one-quarter to one-half, especially in middle age) do not have this classic symptom. Instead, women are more likely than men to report that the first symptom is unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, a pounding heartbeat, nausea, and/or pain in the jaw, neck, shoulder, back, or ear. A feeling of intense anxiety also is common in women having a heart attack.
Getting expert medical help immediately is essential if you think you are having a heart attack. Don’t try and explain your symptoms away – call 911. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital – wait for the ambulance. The emergency medical workers can begin treatment immediately and communicate with the hospital so that a medical team is ready when you arrive.
WELLNESS CLINIC: SPRING BREAK & CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
The 4J Wellness Clinic will be closed the week of spring vacation, March 25 – March 29, 2013. Regular clinic hours will resume Monday, April 1st.
Remember that the next drop-in cholesterol screening for the 2012-13 school year will occur Wednesday, April 3, 2013. These quarterly drop-in cholesterol screenings at the 4J Wellness Clinic are done on a first come, first-served basis from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. and are a fasting cholesterol finger stick, with the results available in about 5 minutes.
If you have questions about whether it is time to have your cholesterol screened, please consult your health care provider.
SICK LEAVE BANK – 2ND ENROLLMENT PERIOD
The 2nd enrollment period for the Sick Leave Bank began February 1st and runs through April 5, 2013.
In order to maintain an active membership in the SLB you must donate one day every two years. If your last donation to the SLB was in the spring of 2011 or before, you will need to donate during the upcoming enrollment period to maintain or reactivate your SLB membership. If you have never joined, you are welcome to do so during the enrollment period.
For more information about the SLB, please visit the EEA website: http://www.eugea.org/. From the home page, click on the link for 4J Members to access Sick Leave Bank guidelines and forms (4th row in the box at the top of the page). Donation forms were e-mailed to all licensed employees via the 4J e-mail system on January 30, 2013.
Not sure when you last donated? The information is not available online, but if you send me an e-mail I am happy to look it up for you (wenzl@4j.lane.edu).
