Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

December 05, 2005

Nominations Being Accepted for Buford Peace Award
Postage Rates to Increase in Early 2006
Professional Staff Assembly Sponsors Christmas Project
Toys for Tots Drive
UA Men Against Violence Sponsors the White Ribbon Campaign

Nominations Being Accepted for Buford Peace Award

Nominations are being accepted for the Lahoma Adams Buford Endowed Support Fund (Buford Peace Award). The Peace Award is granted annually to a UA faculty member who in his/her teaching, research, practice and professional life has demonstrated exceptional levels of involvement in mediating human disputes, helping overcome prejudice, promoting justice and establishing peace.

The recipient will receive a $1,000 monetary award and will be recognized at a ceremony in spring 2006. Although the award is administered by the School of Social Work, any UA faculty member may receive the award. The specific criteria and nomination form may be downloaded at www.socialwork.ua.edu. The deadline for nominations to be received is Dec. 9. For questions or more information, please contact Shanna Hocking at 348-0182 or shocking@sw.ua.edu.

Postage Rates to Increase in Early 2006

The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service recently voted to accept the Postal Rate Commission’s recommendations to increase most postal rates and fees by approximately 5.4 percent across-the-board to take effect Jan. 8, 2006.

This rate increase – the first since 2002 – is needed to fulfill the requirement of a federal law passed in 2003. That law requires the Postal Service to establish a $3.1 billion escrow account, with use of the funds to be determined by Congress at a later date. Without this federal mandate, it would not have been necessary to raise rates in 2006.

Among the rate adjustments, the single-piece rate for First-Class Mail will increase from 37 cents to 39 cents, and the postcard rate will increase by one cent to 24 cents. The Board of Governors of the Postal Service set Jan. 8, 2006, as the effective date for the changes.

International rates, which are determined separately from domestic prices, will be adjusted to coincide with the domestic rate changes. International rates have not been adjusted since Jan. 2001.

For a chart listing selected rates, visit the Campus Mail News section of the Campus Mail Service Website at http://campusmail.ua.edu/news.html. Contact a member of the mail center staff at 348-7807 to discuss ways your department can reduce postage costs.

Professional Staff Assembly Sponsors Christmas Project

The UA Professional Staff Assembly is sponsoring a Christmas gift card project for Brewer-Porch Children’s Center.

PSA representatives are collecting cash or Wal-Mart gift cards that will be distributed equally among the children at Brewer-Porch. All members of the University community are invited to participate. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 9.

The goal is to collect at least $1,000 ($30 per child) in donations that will be divided among the 31 children. Monetary donations also can be given to C&BA Professional Staff Assembly representative Kimberly H. Diano, 21 Bidgood Hall, 348-2948 or kdiano@cba.ua.edu.

Toys for Tots Drive

The Library Support Staff Association (LSSA) of the University Libraries is sponsoring its third annual Toys for Tots drive. Donations of new and unwrapped toys as well as new handmade items will be accepted through Dec. 16. Collection boxes are located on the first and second floor of the Gorgas Library.

Also, donations may be left at the McLure Education Library, Rodgers Science and Engineering Library and the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library. The LSSA’s goal is to collect at least 200 toys for needy children. For more information, please contact Karen Logan at 348-7023 or klogan@bama.ua.edu or Barry Sartain at 348-6022 or bsartain@bama.ua.edu.

UA Men Against Violence Sponsors the White Ribbon Campaign

The UA Men Against Violence (MAV) group will sponsor the White Ribbon Campaign the week of Jan. 23-27, 2006, as a show of men’s support for ending violence against women.

During the campaign, men at UA will wear or display white ribbons as a pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. Also, MAV plans to run an ad in the “Crimson White” bearing the signatures of participating men. Those who want to sign the ad can do so at the Women’s Resource Center through Dec. 14, or at an information table in the Ferguson Center the week of Dec. 5-9.

MAV is a sponsored program of the Women’s Resource Center, and will carry out the campaign in conjunction with the Student Health Advisory Council. For more information or to get involved with the campaign, contact the Women’s Resource Center at 348-5040 or http://wrc.ua.edu.

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