Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 13 November 19, 1998 - BULLETINS

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

BULLETINS

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 13 - November 19, 1998

Leave sharing needed
Virginia Tech employees in the College of Veterinary Medicine Residential and Dining Programs (two) have requested leave donations.
There are still employees in the Museum of Natural History and Physical Plant.
These employee(s) are eligible to receive leave through the leave-sharing program. Any salaried, classified employee or a 12-month regular faculty member, can participate by donating annual leave in increments of eight hours.
There is no maximum-donation limitation per year, nor is there a minimum balance that must be maintained.
Leave donations received after the employee's eligibility status changes (such as, return to work, disability retirement, retirement, etc.) will be returned to the donor in accordance with established personnel procedures. To protect recipients, the names and details of the medical condition will remain confidential. However, leave must be donated to either a specific individual or area.
Forms may be obtained from each department administrative office or from the Personnel Services Department at 1-9331. Return completed forms to Mary Chapman Gearheart, leave administrator, personnel services.
Hurricane Mitch relief effort organized
Graduate students have organized an effort to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Mitch and Hurricane Georges. The Latin American and Iberic Graduate Student Association (LAIGSA), and the International Club, among other organizations on campus, are organizing an effort to help the victims of the hurricanes in Central America and the Caribbean.
The situation in countries such as Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Dominican Republic, among others, is critical due to the extensive damage and destruction throughout the region. In Nicaragua and Honduras, it is estimated that more than 1 million people have lost their homes and property.
Needed donations (in kind or monetary) are: medicine (eye, gastro-intestinal and respiratory infections, micosis, etc.); clothing (for all ages, but specially for children); personal hygiene products (soap, dental care, etc.); non-perishable food items (canned and dried); blankets, water purifiers (filters and tablets), towels, and tents and other camping equipment.
Drop-off points and contacts on campus are: Cranwell International Center--contact: Belinda Pauley (1-4866) bpauley@vt.edu .; 112 Major Williams (Geography Graduate Student Office)--contact: Tina and Gary Schlosser (953-3384) tschloss@vt.edu .; 133-BB Cheatham (next to room 149); Hillcrest (first floor)--contact: Juan C. Guzman (2-5332) jguzmana@vt.edu .
Items can also left at the Graduate School, Sandy Hall.
Orientation set for study tour to Switzerland
The International Studies Office will again be organizing a study tour for faculty and staff members to the university's Center for European Studies and Architecture in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Departure date from the U.S. will be June 21. The estimated cost, including airfare, room and board, and local excursions is about $1,800. An orientation meeting will be held today at 4 p.m. in 233 McBryde. For information call International Studies,1-5874, or e-mail: schuetza@vt.edu .
Festival will offer an international flavor
The International Gift Festival will be held on Friday, Dec. 4 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday, Dec. 5 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Cranwell Center.
This world-service project helps artisans in 35 developing countries by selling their crafts to produce real income for medicine, housing, education, and food in these countries. Proceeds will also benefit a Y student-service project building a school for women in Belize.
Holiday items, home accessories, stationery, toys, musical instruments, linens, and many other items are available.
This event is sponsored by the YMCA and Virginia Tech International Programs. For more information, call Kim Beisecker at 1-6962.
Greeks to provide childcare to faculty member
On Friday, Dec. 4, the Virginia Tech Panhellenic Council will hold it's annual "faculty night out" program. The program, which is a service provided by campus sororities, allows faculty members to enjoy an evening out while Greek women provide free childcare. Children between the ages of 3 and 10 are allowed to come and enjoy games, movies, crafts, food and beverages between the hours of 6 and 9:45 p.m. in Squires 341/345.
Faculty members must RSVP no later than Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. RSVP in the LSOP office by calling 1-5725. For more information, contact Mary Nicole Mayzel at 951-8778 or mmayzel@vt.edu.
CASSA to collect food, blood
The College of Arts and Sciences Staff Association (CASSA) hopes to collect 40 pints of blood for the Red Cross and a truckload of food for the Interfaith Food Pantry during its Thanksgiving-break drive.
The CASSA food and blood drive will be held Tuesday, Nov. 24. The bloodmobile will be parked on the sidewalk outside McBryde across from the Performing Arts Building from 8:30-11:15 a.m. and 1-3:15 p.m., and a pickup truck will be parked nearby to receive non-perishable food items for the pantry.
"You don't have to donate blood to drop off food items," said Jamie Evans, chair of the CASSA Special Projects Committee. "We hope people who give blood will participate in the food drive, but we also hope those people who cannot give blood will donate food." Those donating blood will receive refreshments, and both blood and food donors can register for door prizes.
While walk-in blood donors are welcome, appointments to the bloodmobile are preferred and can be made by contacting Debbie Nester at 1-8972 or debbiell@vt.edu . For available appointment times, see the web page at http://www.cas.vt.edu/cassa/blood/ .