Mason Staff Senate

LinkedIn Workshop: Watch Now

Did you miss our LinkedIn Workshop with Saskia Clay-Rooks on June 11? Don’t worry! You can check out the recording here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Father’s Day, Mason Dads!

This Father’s Day, take a moment to appreciate the dads who shape and contribute to the diverse and talented workforce at Mason! The Staff Senate would like to celebrate and honor: 1) the wonderful fathers who work on our campuses; and 2) fathers of those working at Mason.

Join the celebration by emailing staffsenate@gmu.edu with the material listed below by Friday, June 21:

Mason Working Dads:
1. Submit your selfie, portrait, or photo with your child(ren) or family to staffsenate@gmu.edu. Include your name and the department/unit where you work.
2. Optional: Include one piece of advice or encouragement that you can offer other working dads.

AND/OR:

Honor Your Own Dad:
1. Submit a photo of your dad to staffsenate@gmu.edu. Please include your dad’s name, your name, and the department/unit where you work.
2. Optional: Include one fun fact about your dad, or some memorable advice he has given to you.

We will put together an album of entries on our Facebook page on June 24 to celebrate and recognize these dads. Submit your entry by Friday, June 21, for the chance to be included. Like us on Facebook to celebrate with us!

Lights Out! Power Down! on Jun. 27

Mason’s Office of Energy Management encourages the Fairfax Campus to participate in “Lights Out! Power Down!” on Thursday, June 27, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Participants are asked to turn off or unplug all non-critical lighting and electrical loads prior to and during the one-hour event to kick-off the university’s summer electrical demand management program.

As a large consumer of electricity, Mason has enrolled in “Interruptible Load Reliability” (ILR), a demand response program that pays customers in exchange for a commitment to reduce electrical load in the event of an electrical grid emergency condition that could result in outages.

Mason has participated in the program for the past five years and has received $600,000 to date. Mason’s commitment this year is a 4,000 kilowatt reduction.

What can we do to save energy? Turn off or unplug the following, when not in use:

  • Lights (office, common area, and hallway)
  • Personal computers/accessories
  • Shared electronics (televisions, projectors, copiers/printers, etc.)
  • Appliances (coffee makers, refrigerators, washers/dryers, etc.)
  • Laboratory equipment

For questions, contact Patrick Buchanan, Facilities Management Operations, at 703-993-2657 or pbuchan2@gmu.edu.

CommonHealth Wellness Champion Award

Nominate a colleague for the CommonHealth Wellness Champion Award! This award celebrates employees who have, in the past six months, made significant changes in health behavior, motivated others to make healthier choices, and helped create a culture of wellness for Virginia.

Up to five awardees will have their stories highlighted in CommonHealth publications and receive a framed certificate, signed by the governor of Virginia, and a gift bag from CommonHealth.

The deadline to nominate a colleague for the award is June 15, 2019. More information, including the full criteria, is available on the Wellness Champs webpage.

Employee Discount Highlights

Image result for saving moneyEscape Room Discount

Looking for a birthday party idea for your older kids? Or maybe a team building activity for your office? The Mason community receives a 15% discount on all private booking parties at both locations of Escape Room Live. Use the code GMU25 when booking.

Coyote Grille

Looking to go to lunch with your coworkers? Receive a 10% discount with your Mason ID at Coyote Grille for lunch only, Monday through Friday, until 4 p.m.

For more details on this discount and for all the discounts you receive as a Mason employee, visit the Human Resources and Payroll discount page.

Mason Administrative Professionals (MAP) Meeting

The next Mason Administrative Professionals (MAP) meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1202, and will feature Cosi Catering.

MAP welcomes anyone working at George Mason who considers themselves to be in an administrative professional role.

For questions and to RSVP, contact mapmason@gmu.edu.

Missed Our June Meeting? Watch President Cabrera’s Visit and Prospective Senator Information Session

If you missed the June Staff Senate meeting with President Cabrera, watch it here!

Are you thinking of joining the Staff Senate? Check out a recording of the Prospective Staff Senator Information Session held during the General Meeting on June 5.

Message from the Chair – June 2019

Lauren Reuscher, Staff Senate. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

Happy summer, Mason staff!

My name is Lauren Reuscher, and I was recently selected to serve as the new chair for Staff Senate. I am excited and honored to step into this role.

I work in the Office of Communications and Marketing, and I recently celebrated my 10-year work anniversary at Mason. I have worked at the Fairfax, Arlington, and SciTech Campuses. I’m also a Mason grad—I completed my master’s in history in 2012 (one of the great benefits of working at Mason!). I am a working mom to a two-year-old daughter, who keeps my husband and me on our toes.

I joined Staff Senate five years ago, and it has been a rewarding experience. Your Staff Senators are incredibly engaged, knowledgeable, and hard-working. They devote time and energy to advocate for and appreciate the work of staff across the university. They are motivated to serve the Mason community beyond the scope of their day-to-day jobs. I’m lucky to be part of such an inspiring group.

If you’re looking for a way to get more involved on campus, consider joining us. The Staff Senate nomination period is open from June 10-21. Check out more information here. You can nominate yourself or a colleague. The Staff Senate thrives by having a variety of perspectives and experiences represented at the table.

As I start this new chapter in my service to the senate, I want to thank our outgoing chair, Chris Maier, for his hard work, dedication, and contributions to the university.

I hope you all can take some time to relax and recharge during the summer months ahead. We know things will only ramp up from here!

Go Mason!

Lauren Clark Reuscher
Chair, Staff Senate

Re-Learn to Relax Well-Being Seminar

When is the last time you felt so relaxed that you could totally unwind? Life moves fast and those moments of quiet relaxation seem few and far between. The Re-learn to Relax: CommonHealth’s Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness for Busy Beginners program will:

  • Guide participants through a five-minute daily meditation exercise
  • Discuss the physical and mental benefits of meditation and mindfulness
  • Explore ways to find moments of calm during busy days
  • Discuss how to use technology to your advantage
  • Address techniques to help you power down for a good night’s sleep

Session details and registration links:

Fairfax Campus
June 13, Merten Hall, Room 1202, 12 to 1 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

SciTech Campus
June 18, Bull Run Hall, Room 247, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

Arlington Campus
June 25, Founders Hall, Room 313, 12 to 1 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

If you have questions, email hr@gmu.edu.

Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship

Are you a faculty or staff member enrolled in a degree or certificate program at Mason? Then apply for the competitive $250 book scholarship!

The application deadline is Friday, June 14, 2019. For details, questions, and to apply, visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship page.