While you’re thinking about what you’re going to do next Tuesday (Nov. 11), a university holiday, you should also think about what you’re going to do the next day, which will be your last chance to attend open enrollment presentations and help desks on the Davis campus.

Here’s the schedule for Wednesday, Nov. 12 (all programs in Ballroom B at the Activities and Recreation Center):

• Medical coverage overview (90 minutes; first-come, first-seated) — 8 a.m.
• Help desks for individual counseling on medical coverage (no appointments, first-come, first-served — 9:30-11 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.
• General overview of open enrollment, not including medical coverage (one hour; first-come, first-seated) — 11 a.m. and noon.

Can’t attend the medical coverage overview? Look for the PowerPoint slides and a video on the Health Care Facilitator Program website. You can also view UC's new videos about your benefits.

Open enrollment began Oct. 30 and continues until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 (two days before Thanksgiving).

More information: Dateline UC Davis article, Oct. 28; and the UC open enrollment website.

Mail Services Holiday Food Drive continues

Mail Services’ ninth annual Holiday Food Drive is underway. It's easy to contribute: Just leave your donations in or near your department's outgoing mail bin — and mail personnel will pick up the food!

The drive runs until Friday, Nov. 21, on the Davis and Sacramento campuses, for the benefit of the Food Bank of Yolo County, and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, respectively.

Here’s a list of suggested items: canned, ready-to-eat meals; canned meat, fish and soups; canned vegetables and tomato products; dry beans (any type); enriched rice and pasta; ramen; boxed macaroni and cheese; canned fruit (in juice); peanut butter (plastic container); iron-rich cereal (45 percent or more of the daily value); powdered milk; fruit juice (100 percent, in plastic containers 48 ounces or smaller); and powdered milk formula and Similac baby food.

Workshops for staff, faculty within five years of retirement

The Retiree Center is once again offering its Transitioning to Retirement series for staff and faculty, to help them cope with the life changes that for many people can be unexpectedly challenging.

The series comprises four classes on consecutive Fridays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 6, at the Buehler Alumni Center. Enrollment is limited to staff and faculty within five years of retirement; if you're interested, you should sign up as soon as possible — owing to the fact that space is limited.

Classes for staff members will run from 9 a.m. to noon, and for faculty members and other academics from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 

You may sign up for one or more classes, although the organizers recommend all four. Note: Supervisors will not be automatically notified when employees register for these workshops.

Some of the workshops will be taped for online viewing. Send an email to the Retiree Center to ask to be notified of this option.

Here are the topics: Introduction and Understanding UC Retirement Plan Income Options  (Jan. 16), Retiree Health Care Benefits and Social Security  (Jan. 23), Financial Planning for Retirement  (Jan. 30), and Work and Lifestyle Transitions  (Feb. 6).

Session descriptions and registration links are available on two different Web pages: one for staff, and the other for faculty and other academics.

More information is available on the Retiree Center’s “Planning for Retirement” website, or by contacting the Retiree Center by phone, (530) 752-518, or email.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.