Looking Ahead: Events for Mason Staff

March 2016

In This Issue . . .

• Message from the Chair

• Spring Into Town Hall, Sponsored by the Staff Senate: March 8

• Upcoming Staff Appreciation Events

• From Our Friends in Human Resources and Payroll

• Faculty and Staff Lounge Now Open in the Johnson Center

• Yoga for Well-Being

• Mason Alumni: Gowns for Grads Program Needs Your Support

• February Employee of the Month: Gregory Pirog

• Potomac Arts Academy: Summer Programs Open for Registration

• Spring Telework Week

• Global Professional Staff Exchange: A Glimpse into the Experience

• Registration for Spring Break Camps Now Open for the Mason Community

• Comments, Concerns, Ideas? Share Them!

Message from the Chair

Nicole Roth, Staff Senate. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

If you’re like me, you are feeling the weight of those snow days. We had a few extra days off, but we have been busy ever since. Mason has become a hot spot for visits from presidential candidates. Traffic gets heavier, but the campus is invigorated. All of these things are generating a bit more chaos in our day to day lives. And yet, we’re still here! …

Spring Into Town Hall, Sponsored by the Staff Senate: March 8

Join the Staff Senate for its inaugural Spring Into Town Hall on Tuesday, March 8, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Town Hall will take place in Research Hall, Room 163 on the Fairfax Campus and will be video-conferenced to Arlington (Founders Hall, Room 322) and SciTech (Bull Run Hall, Room 258).

Nicole Roth, Staff Senate Chair, will update constituents on the Senate’s current initiatives. The following presenters will provide updates and answer questions from constituents:

• Linda Harber, Human Resources/Payroll

• Josh Cantor, Parking and Transportation

• Marc Fournier, Mason Dining

• J.J. Davis, University Leadership

The Staff Senate’s Fairfax Staff Appreciation Event will take place immediately following the town hall …

Upcoming Staff Appreciation Events

Staff Senate Coffee Klatch at the Arlington Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University

Join the Staff Senate at its upcoming Staff Appreciation Events! Take a break to enjoy light refreshments, participate in the raffle, attend the information fair, and take our interactive survey.

• Fairfax: Tuesday, March 8, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (immediately following the Spring Into Town Hall event), Research Hall, Room 163

• SciTech: Thursday, March 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Bull Run Hall, Atrium

• Arlington: Tuesday, March 15, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Founders Hall, Multipurpose Room …

From Our Friends in Human Resources and Payroll

Save Some Green: New Discounts
Check out the Life/Work Connections discount page. Discounts can be a helpful way to price shop and save. As with any purchase, find the deal that is right for you. Three new Mason discounts have just been added …

Faculty and Staff Lounge Now Open in the Johnson Center

A faculty and staff lounge is now opened in the site of the old Bistro in the Johnson Center. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University

Mason faculty and staff now have a space on campus reserved for their own enjoyment. The new faculty and staff lounge, located in the former Bistro in the Johnson Center, is open for faculty and staff to relax, work, and socialize. A formal name for the lounge is to be announced. The lounge is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday …

Yoga for Well-Being

Students participate in outdoor Yoga. Photo by Will Martinez/Creative Services/George Mason University.

Weekly yoga for well-being practice helps you recalibrate body, mind, and spirit leading to greater focus, productivity, and well-being. No prior experience needed. Please bring your own yoga mat. Each class is free and open to all students, staff, and faculty. All classes are on a drop-in basis. Beginners welcome! These weekly well-being practices are …

Mason Alumni: Gowns for Grads Program Needs Your Support

Volgenau School of Engineering 2015 Convocation at the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University

Each semester, Mason undergraduate students work hard to earn their degrees. Many of our students do not experience walking across the stage at graduation because they cannot afford to purchase regalia. Bachelor’s regalia was priced at $59.98 (before tax) this winter. Think of this as three tanks of gas, or an outfit the student needs for a job interview …

February Employee of the Month: Gregory Pirog

Greg Pirog, HR & Payroll, as Employee of the Month for February 2016. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services George Mason Universtiy

Heartfelt congratulations to Gregory Pirog, HRIS Analyst with Human Resources and Payroll, for being selected as the February 2016 Employee of the Month award winner. Do you know a superstar? Make sure he or she receives the deserved recognition, and submit …

Potomac Arts Academy: Summer Programs Open for Registration

Malia Pereyra instructs Woodburn Elementary students through the Potomac Arts Academy. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University.

Summer programs at the Potomac Arts Academy are now open for registration! This summer, the Potomac Arts Academy offers a diverse array of creative programs on Mason's Fairfax Campus and at the Chain Bridge Road location …

Spring Telework Week at Mason: March 7-11

Have you ever contemplated teleworking? Now is the time to try it out! From March 7–11, Mason will celebrate its own Telework Week during the university’s Spring Break. An abbreviated, one-page agreement is available at hr.gmu.edu and on the flexible work website at flexwork.gmu.edu. Note that those who participate in Telework Week are doing so under the Flexible Work Policy, #2202 …

Global Professional Staff Exchange: A Glimpse into the Experience

Jon Aponte had the experience of a lifetime when he received the opportunity to study abroad in Toledo, Spain, as a part of the Global Staff Exchange program (GSE). The GSE is an international professional development exchange experience for staff that aims to enhance global awareness, encourage cross-cultural perspectives, and broaden professional expertise…

Registration for Spring Break Camps Now Open for the Mason Community

The Potomac Arts Academy and Human Resources and Payroll have teamed up to offer a pilot program of exciting and interactive camp opportunities for Mason families during K-12 schools' spring break. The camps will be in session from March 21-25. Choose from Game Design, Magical Camp, and Theater Camp. In response to your feedback, we have created an a la carte option for Magical Camp …

Comments, Concerns, Ideas? Share them!

The Staff Senate seeks your comments, concerns, and ideas about issues on campus that are important to you. We welcome all input. You may remain anonymous, but if you wish to have a response, please include your contact information.