Intercom and Student News contributions
Any items you wish to have posted in the Intercom and Student News can be sent to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
Foundations of Leadership applications deadline extended
The deadline for Foundations of Leadership applications has been extended to July 19, 2013. If you are interested in being considered for this course, please submit your application to Linda Racine to be included in the pool of applicants for this opportunity.
To review the course information and to access the application, click below.
Foundations of Leadership For questions, please contact Linda at 5-2004 or lracine@nmc.edu
NMC will march in the 2013 National Cherry Festival’s Cherry Royale Parade, Saturday, July 6, 2013
Don’t forget! NMC Student, Staff, Faculty and extended Family will be walking in the National Cherry Festival’s Cherry Royale Parade occurring on Saturday, July 6, 2013.
This is a call out to those who would like to participate in the fun and festivities. Our day begins with a continental breakfast then we march in the parade!
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON TIME and LOCATION:
- We will be meeting at staging area #81. (For more details on drop off locations and staging area line up contact Kay at the number below.
- Bata will be running the day of the parade if you want to get a ride back to your car if you parked at the Hagerty Center. The bus leaves on the quarter hour to go to the transfer station and then immediately goes to Hagerty.
- All vehicles must be in place by 10:00 am. Walkers must be in line and ready to go no later then 10:30. The parade step off is at 11:15 and noone can join up once we start to move.
- We will supply t-shirts for those who march with NMC on parade day.
Come and join the fun!
For more information call Kay Hall 995-1119 or email khall@nmc.edu
Benefits corner
How your FSA works
Ever wonder why Priority Health sends you a check for $2.50 out of your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) without you requesting it? Ever wonder how to get reimbursement for a dental or vision expense out of your FSA? Do you wonder if an FSA would fit your needs?
How do I set one up and why would I?
- At open enrollment, if you are on the Core Plan, you decide on an amount per pay to be deducted pretax throughout the calendar year to be used for uninsured health care expenses. This amount cannot be changed during the year unless you have a qualifying event as outlined by the IRS.
- You should budget this for the calendar year’s expected expenses, but if you have not used it all, you can use for qualified expenses through 3/15 of the following year.
- You can use the entire amount which you committed up front, even before it is deducted from your check, and you get the pretax advantage with these funds.
- If you opt out of NMC’s medical plans, you can still set up an FSA for your health care expenses with another plan.
- If you are on a high deductible health plan, you cannot be covered by both an HSA and an FSA. You can, however, have a Limited FSA, but there are special IRS guidelines on how you can use these funds.
How do I get the money reimbursed?
- If you are on the NMC Core Plan, Priority Health will automatically reimburse you from your FSA for both medical and prescription claims that they process.
- For expenses not processed by Priority, such as dental, vision, or non-NMC medical plans, you must submit a request form and documentation to substantiate your request.
- If you have other insurance coverage for the expense you are requesting, you must include an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from that insurance company so that Priority knows what has already been covered – you cannot submit just an invoice for these types of expenses.
- If you would prefer not to be automatically reimbursed, you can call Priority Health’s Customer Service Department and have your account changed to manual reimbursement only.
- If you have other medical coverage for you or your dependents such as Medicare, Medicaid, spouse’s or military insurance, then Priority Health requires that your FSA have manual reimbursement and will set it up that way.
- You can access Priority Health’s online Withdrawal Request Form for your FSA at https://www.priorityhealth.com/member/handbook/~/media/documents/ceh/fsa-withdrawal-form.pdf, and for your Limited FSA at https://www.priorityhealth.com/member/handbook/~/media/documents/ceh/limited-fsa-withdrawal-form-for-hsa.pdf
If you have any questions about this or other benefits, feel free to contact HR at 995-1362 or 995-1025.
Intercom and Student News contributions
Any items you wish to have posted in the Intercom and Student News can be sent to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
Position vacancies
For information on positions currently open at NMC, please visit NMC’s web page at https://jobs.nmc.edu/ Information on internal postings has been emailed.
Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating anniversaries soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Laura Jaquish Science/Math Instructor 14 years
Deb Kalchik Assistant – Extended Educational Services 34 years
Craig Shattuck Custodian – Museum 6 years
Marjory Smith Communications Instructor 20 years
Megan Ward Writing Center Coordinator 5 years
Chris Weber Vice President for Enrollment Mgmt. & Student Services 3 years
Dennos Museum announces ‘Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution’ a major exhibition for Summer 2013 from the National Geographic Society
Starting June 16, 2013, take a journey to New Guinea and the exotic world of birds-of-paradise with “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution,” a National Geographic Traveling Exhibition coming to the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College that reveals all 39 species of these elusive birds for the first time. Highlighting the groundbreaking research of photographer Tim Laman and Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientist Edwin Scholes, the exhibition, born out of the duo’s important scientific achievement, features the extravagant plumage, crazy courtship dances and bizarre behaviors of the extraordinary birds. The exhibition will run from June16 through September 22, 2013.
Equal parts natural history, photography and science exhibition, “Birds of Paradise” gives visitors an in-depth look into the lives of birds-of-paradise. Visitors will meet Tim Laman and Ed Scholes through introductory videos as they enter the exhibit, where they will also be greeted with natural soundscapes, traditional wood carvings and a montage of all 39 birds-of-paradise species. They will be able to dive into their groundbreaking research and learn brand new information about each of the 39 species, all finally photographed for the first time in history.
In addition, visitors can examine the bizarre courtship dances that the males perform to attract the females. Interactive games such as “Dance, Dance Evolution” let people dance along with the birds to learn their signature moves. The first-ever video of the female’s point-of-view of the dances is shown, captured through an innovative use of equipment created by Laman and Scholes. Photos, videos, bird specimens and a kinetic sculpture of a riflebird (a bird-of-paradise species) also show the transformations that birds-of-paradise undergo to attract their mates and the various moves that make up their mating rituals. Visitors can also manipulate artificial tree branches to trigger video footage of different birds displayed on their perches, with commentary from Scholes.
The exhibition highlights the importance of birds-of-paradise to New Guinea. Maps and diagrams of the birds’ ranges across the country explain how the country’s environment allowed the birds to adapt and evolve over time. Legends and folklore are shared from generations past.
“We were pleased to be invited by National Geographic, in their 125 Anniversary year, to be the opening venue for the national tour of this informative and fun exhibition about these amazing birds,” says Gene Jenneman, Executive Director of the Dennos, “As the Dennos enters its 22nd year of service to our region, we are excited to partner with National Geographic to bring this truly special exhibition to the Grand Traverse area and the State of Michigan.”
Admission to the Dennos Museum Center during the run of this special exhibition will be $10 for adults and $5 for children and museum members.
OPENING EXHIBITION RECEPTION AND EVENTS
Dennos Museum Center members and the community are invited to a ticketed preview opening reception for the exhibition on Saturday June 15 at 7 PM. The reception will feature champagne from L Mawby Vineyards and plated hors d’oeuvres followed by a program in Milliken Auditorium at 8 PM presented by Kathryn Keane, VP of Exhibitions at National Geographic Museum and Edwin Scholes, ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who has studied the birds of paradise for more than a decade and is a leading authority on their behavior and evolution. Scholes will be available to sign the National Geographic book he and Tim Laman produced in association with their research on the birds of paradise as part of the evening’s events.
Tickets for the opening reception and program are $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members. They can be purchased online at www.dennosmuseum.org/birds or by calling 231-995-1573.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
The Dennos Museum Center will present a range of public programs in conjunction with the National Geographic exhibition, Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution. All programs are free with museum admission to the exhibition.
The programs are being developed and will be presented in partnership with two important local bird organizations, Saving Birds Thru Habitat and Wings of Wonder. For more information on these educational programs go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call Jason Dake, Curator of Education at the Dennos, at 231-995-1029.
The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday’s until 8 PM and Sundays 1-5 PM. For more information on the Museum and its programs, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1410 College Dr., Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is nonprofit, member-supported organization with the mission to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Founded in 1915, the Lab is supported by 50,000 members and engages 200,000 citizen-science participants and 6 million bird enthusiasts who connect online at www.allaboutbirds.org. As a proud unit of Cornell University, the Lab has a leading team of faculty, educators, conservation scientists, and engineers continuing a strong history of excellence in science, technological innovation, and outreach. Learn more at www.birds.cornell.edu.
ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations and one of the world’s leading organizers of large-scale, traveling exhibitions. Since it launched “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” in 2004, National Geographic has organized two more Egyptian-themed exhibitions, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” and “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.” Other exhibitions National Geographic has organized include the four-city U.S. tour of “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul.” National Geographic also offers a broad selection of stunning photography exhibitions to museums and venues around the world. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.
MyPDCA for staff deadline
Reminder: All myPDCA steps should be completed by the June 30, 2013. Please send all completed, signed annual review forms to HR. All SMART goals should also be entered in WingSpan and approved by your supervisor. For questions or assistance, contact Lori at 5-1143/ lhodek@nmc.edu
Parking permits for fall 2013 semester being distributed
In order to serve you better, parking permits are being mailed to all regular faculty and staff through interoffice mail. You will see your parking permit in your interoffice mailbox within the next few days. Please note: Supplemental and student staff will not receive their permit through interoffice mail. If you are not a regular faculty or staff member you will need to pick up your permit in the Records and Registration office before classes begin.
You may display your permit on your car windshield (inside lower left side) at any time, however, please be sure to have the permit displayed in your car window before September 1, 2013. Please be sure to remove past NMC parking decals. There is just one parking permit design this year showing the NMC logo.
In case you do not receive your parking permit in the mail within the next few days, please come to the Records and Registration office. Thank you!
Welcome Katie Spain to NMC!
Katie Spain joined NMC as a Financial Aid Specialist on Monday, June 24. Katie can be reached at kspain@nmc.edu.
Katie and her fiance Adam are currently living in Mio and are hoping to move to Kalkaska area before winter; they will be getting married this summer. Prior to working at NMC Katie worked two part time positions; Bank teller for First Federal of Northern Michigan in Lewiston and Administrative Assistant for Navigator Wireline Service in Roscommon. Her hobbies include following/volunteering at the Ausable river canoe marathon, running and boxing, and enjoying site seeing with their 2 dogs, a boxer named Dennis the Menace and a German Sheperd-pyranese mix named Giovanni.
Foundations of leadership
Foundations of Leadership applications are due by June 30, 2013. If you are interested in being considered for this course, please submit your application to Linda Racine to be included in the pool of applicants for this opportunity.
To review the course information and to access the application, click below.
Foundations of Leadership For questions, please contact Linda at 5-2004 or lracine@nmc.edu
Welcome Cindy Deemer to NMC!
Cindy Deemer joined NMC as a Records & Registration Assistant on Monday, June 24. Cindy can be reached at cdeemer@nmc.edu.
Cindy and her husband Orson moved from Tustin to Lake Ann last August to be closer to family. Prior to moving Cindy worked at Baker College for 14 years and has a heart for student success in Higher Education. You might see Cindy walking around campus during lunch enjoying the fresh air and exercise. Her other hobbies include crocheting, knitting and spending time in the kitchen.
New NMC Scan now available
The latest issue of the NMC Scan is now available for your review. This June issue is the annual demographics issue. The issue contains a wealth of information on topics such as population, educational attainment, and economic variables for the U.S., Michigan and our local region. This current issue as well as archived back issues of the Scan are available on the ORPE intranet site located here: https://intranet.nmc.
Special thanks go to Mary Beeker, Craig Mulder, Tina Ulrich and Chris Weber for their outstanding contributions to the development of this issue.
Please feel free to send any questions, comments and/or reflections about the Scan to Karen Ruedinger in the Office of Research, Planning and Effectiveness.
Benefits corner
Do you currently have your paycheck directly deposited into your financial institution? Has your account recently changed? If you now receive a paper paycheck, would you like to have it direct deposited instead?
And….did you know you can now set up or change your direct deposit account online? Simply go to Self-Service, Employee, Pay Information, Direct deposit allocation. Follow the directions on the site for setting up your account, or click on Update Direct Deposit Allocation to make a change.
Remember: Paychecks are deposited into your account on the morning of each pay date. This allows you easy access to your funds that same day without having to get your paycheck cashed. It also is advantageous to have direct deposit when a pay date occurs on a college holiday, because you may otherwise have to wait until the following work day to get your check.
If you have any questions about this process or if the system does not recognize your bank routing number, you can contact the Business Office for help at 995-1941.
Position vacancies
For information on positions currently open at NMC, please visit NMC’s web page at https://jobs.nmc.edu/ Information on internal postings has been emailed.
Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating anniversaries soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Dave Dalquist Intranet Coordinator 19 years
Lisa Dohm Communications Instructor 2 years
Michael Emerson Communications/Humanities Instructor 16 years
Mike Hochscheidt Great Lakes Maritime Academy Instructor 34 years
Bob Mason Great Lakes Maritime Academy Instructor 34 years
Shelley Rollin Assistant – Admissions 22 years
Adapted in TC: Patriarchs show love when needed most
Susan Odgers’ most recent column in the Record-Eagle.
Adapted in TC: Patriarchs show love when needed most
http://m.record-eagle.com/TRE/