Weekly Bulletin

Theater Department presents Career and Internship Forum

Information on summer jobs, internships and career opportunities will be discussed by a panel of alumni and local theater representatives at the Department of Theater's Career and Internship Forum on Friday, Feb. 14, 4-6 p.m. in the Rand Theater.

Panelists also will discuss working in New York, graduate schools, touring companies, starting one's own company, and other topics. Participating students will be able to network with theater professionals and obtain information about helpful resources.

The event is open to Five College students and the public and refreshments will be served.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Humanities and Fine Arts Careers Office.

HomeSharing looking for participants

The HomeSharing program is seeking participants who are interested in sharing space in their home in exchange for services, as well as people who would like to provide services in exchange for an affordable place to live.

If your home has extra space and you would like someone to help you with an overnight presence, childcare, elder care, yard work or housework, or if you would like to offer such services in someone's home, call a HomeSharing contact. Paulie Sicard (773-5555, ext. 297) organizes elder care, and Ashleigh Sullivan (5-4488) makes child-care matches. Either can answer general questions about the program. HomeSharing is funded in part by the town of Amherst, Franklin County Home Care Corp., Highland Valley Elder Services, and undergraduate trust funds.

TIAA-CREF counseling

TIAA-CREF is offering individual financial counseling sessions to University employees on Thursday, Feb. 20 and Wednesday and Thursday, March 12-13, 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Treasurer's Office, 100 Venture Way, 2nd Floor, Small Library.

TIAA-CREF also will be offering a financial education seminar entitled "Save on Taxes, Invest in SRAs" on Tuesday, March 11, noon-1 p.m. in 903 Lincoln Campus Center.

Appointments may be scheduled on the TIAA-CREF Web site
(www.tiaa-cref.org/moc) or by calling Kathleen Maida at (800) 842-2004. Space is limited.

Blood drives

The Hampshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct blood drives on Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in 174 Lincoln Campus Center.

Healthy women wanted to participate in nutrition study

Researchers in the Nutrition Department are looking for healthy postmenopausal women to participate in a study on the effects of dietary flaxseed consumption on hormone levels in blood and urine.

Participants must have undergone a natural menopause, and not have taken any hormones, including estrogen replacement therapy, for the past six months; be non-smokers and have no prior medical history of cancer, diabetes or bowel disease.

Qualified individuals need to plan on participating in the study for four months. Financial compensation will be provided.

Anyone interested in being part of the study should contact research manager Sara Sabelawski at 7-4298 or by e-mail (sara@nutrition.umass.edu).

USA accepting nominations for officers, delegates

The University Staff Association is calling for nominations for seats on its executive board and delegates to the Massachusetts Teachers Association annual meeting and the National Education Association representative assembly.
Nominations are being accepted for president, vice president, general secretary, treasurer, grievance officer, membership secretary, parliamentarian and four at-large slots on the executive board.

Approximately 19 delegates are needed to attend the MTA meeting to be held May 30-31 in Boston.

About six delegates will be sent to the NEA meeting to be held July 1-6 in New Orleans.

Any USA member in good standing may submit nominations and more than one candidate may be nominated. Self-nominations are allowed. Candidates may run for both the MTA and NEA conventions.

Nominations close at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.

Nominations may be made orally, in writing or by e-mail to USA office manager Jane Litwin Taylor at 5-0165 (usa@external.umass.edu) or Elections Board chair David Litterer at 5-4503 (litterer@admin.umass.edu). Taylor can be reached weekdays 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or nominations may be by voice mail.

Voting is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 in 163C Lincoln Campus center from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Absentee ballots may be arranged.

Exercise Science study seeking pregnant women

The Exercise Science Department is seeking pregnant women in all trimesters to participate in a research study validating a physical activity questionnaire. Participation involves two meetings lasting about 30 minutes. Subjects will be paid $50 for their participation.

For information, contact Dawn or Rebecca in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at 5-1583 or by e-mail (droberts@excsci.umass.edu).

MSBDC co-sponsors workshop on technology planning

Laurie Breitner of Breitner and Associates will present a workshop entitled "Put Technology in Its Place" on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Upper Double Suite, Springfield Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. The session is co-sponsored by the Western Massachusetts Regional Office of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) and the Springfield Enterprise Center.

According to a recent study, high levels of automation equate to higher profitability and faster growth. This workshop will teach the essentials needed before making technology decisions -- seven steps to take and three common pitfalls to avoid -- and will enable participants to start their next technology projects with confidence.

Breitner, is an organizational improvement consultant with 25 years experience in corporate management and education. She helps businesses on the road to success through strategic planning, organizational development, project management, operational improvement and technical and process documentation. Her industry experience includes insurance, financial services, pharmaceuticals, shipping, manufacturing, and education.

The registration fee is $35 and includes lunch. Reservations are required. To register, call 737-6712.

Nominations for 2004 honorary degrees

The Advisory Committee on Honorary Degrees will meet later this semester to consider nominations from the campus community for honorary doctoral degrees to be awarded at the 2004 commencements.

Candidates for an honorary degree may be nominated by any faculty, staff, students or alumni of the Amherst campus. To ensure full consideration by the committee, nominations should include a cover letter explaining why the candidate should be considered and detailed biographical information, such as a resume or an article drawn from a standard biographical reference publication such as Who's Who in America or the Directory of American Scholars. In general, candidates for an honorary degree should be individuals of exceptional distinction. Factors considered in the deliberations of nominations include outstanding intellectual, social or creative achievements in a specific field of endeavor and/or extraordinary contributions to the University or to the Commonwealth.

Address nominations to Ernestine Kulon, Chancellor's Office, 374 Whitmore. The deadline for nominations for this round of consideration is Friday, March 28.

Big Friday

Paychecks covering the period from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8 will be issued on Friday, Feb. 14.

Notify Chronicle of circulation changes

Campus units should contact the Chronicle office (5-4818) to change the number of papers received each week or to update the location of delivery sites.

Canella, Lappas to address Weekly Sports Luncheon

Men's lacrosse coach Greg Canella and men's basketball coach Steve Lappas will be the guest speakers at the Weekly Sports Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon in 1009 Lincoln Campus Center.

The cost for the buffet lunch is $6.50. Call 5-4289 for reservations.

Monday class schedule

Due to the Presidents' Day holiday on Feb. 17, a Monday class schedule will be followed on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Presidents' Day holiday

Presidents' Day will be observed as a state holiday on Monday, Feb. 17. Most campus offices will be closed.