Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Amelda and Azelda Ellis, field technical assistants in the Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences, demonstrate how to make play guitars from cereal boxes, yarn, tongue depressors and paper. Recorded at the University Television Center, this demonstration is part of a video series developed by the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network housed in MSU's Extension Service and funded by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The series will show viewers how to create things such as homemade books, homemade chalk, recyclable frames, and homemade paintbrushes for childcare providers, classroom teachers, parents, and other caregivers. PHOTO: Alicia Aiken Barnes | School of Human Sciences

University Health Services: Get the shot — not the flu
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds students, faculty and staff to get the flu shot -- not the flu. A series of clinics offering flu shots will be offered on campus this fall, including one this Wednesday in the Cooley Building conference room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Distracted-driving simulator at MSU on Tuesday
Distracted driving poses a significant and growing threat both to the violators and those traveling with them on the roads. To help Mississippi State students, employees and interested members of the public appreciate the very real possibilities for death and injury, the university's health education and wellness department is bringing a driving simulator to campus this Tuesday.

University hosting PERS seminar Wednesday
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State is hosting a PERS pre-retirement, full-day seminar this Wednesday at Bost Extension Center. The seminar offers general information on a range of topics, including estate planning, Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust, Social Security benefits, and PERS benefits and options. The seminar is available to any covered PERS member at no cost, but pre-registration is required.

Open enrollment for benefits Oct. 1-24
Benefits open enrollment at Mississippi State will be held from Oct. 1 through Oct. 24. During the open enrollment period, MSU employees may add new benefits coverage, change existing coverage, or cancel coverage. All open enrollment benefits elections are effective on Jan. 1, 2013. If you do not want to make changes, your benefits will automatically roll over for 2013 and no action is required to remain enrolled in coverage.

Join Service DAWGS, Habitat for Humanity student groups
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Service DAWGS interest session, Fall Garden Development Program, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity, Pumpkin Palooza, MS BEST Robotics and much more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 10/01/12
Women's Golf opens play in the Johnie Imes Invitational at Columbia, Mo., on Monday... Women's Tennis starts play at the Roberta Alison Fall Classic in Tuscaloosa on Friday... Volleyball is on the road to Auburn for a Friday match at 6:30 p.m., and then heads west to College Station, Texas, for a 3 p.m. match on Sunday. Soccer plays at Auburn at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and then at Missouri on Sunday at 1 p.m. Football travels to Lexington for a 11:21 a.m. kickoff against Kentucky on Saturday... Men's Golf opens play on Saturday in the David Toms Intercollegiate at Baton Rouge... Softball plays an exhibition doubleheader against Marion Military Institute at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

MSU celebrating historic land-grant legislation
Mississippi State commemorates a congressional passage of one of the nation's most important pieces of education legislation with a conference this week. The university's historical investigation of the sesquicentennial land-grant university is called "Thinking Land Grants: A 'Cerebration' of the 150th Anniversary of the Morrill Land-Grant Act" and will take place in buildings across campus.

Wiseman, Salter say debates will get 'social'
There's a trump card in the 2012 presidential debates, and while nobody's really talking about it yet, almost everybody is talking through it. That card is social media. Two Mississippi State University experts -- one, a political pundit, the other, a political scientist -- bring different kinds of election expertise to the debate discussion, but they agreed that social media's response to the presidential debates, to be held Oct. 3, Oct. 16 and Oct. 22, could be the game changers of this election.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigns for the White House and other federal offices well underway for the Nov. 6 general election, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity.

Governor visiting Mississippi State on Wednesday
Mississippi State University will host Gov. Phil Bryant and energy-industry leaders this week for “Powering Mississippi in the 21st Century.” The Wednesday program examining Mississippi’s energy future takes place from 1-3:30 p.m. in MSU’s Colvard Student Union Foster Ballroom. The Mississippi Energy Institute and Mississippi Development Authority are sponsoring the panel discussion, which is free and open to all.