Headlines/Oct. 28, 1992

United Way campaign needs boost to reach goals

This year’s United Way campaign will need a last-minute surge
of donations if totals are to match goals, both in terms of money
raised and the participation rate.

So far Personnel has recorded $5,952 in donations, for a 14
percent participation rate. This is significantly less than the
stated goals of $17,000, and a 40 percent participation rate.

Canvassers will be talking to people in the various divisions
about the United Way in order to remind people that the drive is
still on. The UCFV campaign officially ends at the end of
October, but donations or requests to go on the payroll
deduction plan will continue until the end of the year. For more
information, contact Nancy Scarrow at 4526, or consult the
United Way packet sent to all employees.

Equality check

Do you treat everyone equally in the classroom?
Sometimes it’s the little things that create bias, or
perceptions of it. Ask yourself the following questions to
help identify areas where you could improve.

Expectations: Do I have the same behavioural and
achievement expectations for males as for females, for
visible minorities as for members of the dominant culture,
for those with disabilities as for the able-bodied?

Language: Do I use nonsexist language in all written and
spoken communications? Do I use appropriate terminology
when discussing visible minorities or people with
disabilities?

Attitude: Do I take the idea of equality seriously? For
example, do I ensure that I never put down males or females,
or members of visible minorities or people with disabilities,
or make jokes about their abilities, roles or ethnic
backgrounds?

Environment: Are the bulletin boards and visual
materials displayed in my class and office nonracist and
nonsexist? Do I use materials in class which show men and
women in a variety of roles reflecting the many interests of
both? Does my visual material reflect.the diversity of ethnic
groups in Canada?

Curriculum: Do I ensure that the curriculum is nonsexist
and nonracist? For example, do I plan a curriculum which
addresses the needs and interests of both males and females
recognizes the contributions of both sexes and of people
from a diversity of ethnic origins provides for the equal
treatment of both sexes and all cultural groups.

Adapted from A Guide to Curriculum Planning,
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Submitted by
Jean Ballard-Kent.

For those of you planning to win the prize draw if your
division wins in its interdepartmental competition, here are the
standings: Academic has donated $1832, while Careers is at
$1290 (they are tied at a 13 percent participation rate so far).
CE is ahead of ESS, $891 to $297, with 16 and 8 percent
participation, respectively.

The President’s office is ahead of the Bursar’s office, 50
percent to 8.5 percent, but Nancy Scarrow, who’s on the
President’s office team, concedes that there are fewer
employees in that division, so its easier to boost the
participation rate. Donated totals are $1232 and $410
respectively.

Children in the Valley

The Early Childhood Education department invites the UCFV
community to Children in the Valley, a special conference for
all people involved in educating, caring for, and/or parenting
young children from birth to twelve years. It will be a vehicle
for connecting, networking and learning, whereby we ourselves
can become empowered to enable our young children to become
self-assured and self-fulfilled “citizens of tomorrow”. It will run
from Feb. 25-27 at UCFV.

For more information contact June Meyer of Early Childhood
Education at local 4376.

Ready to retire?

Whether you'll be retiring in two years or twenty, you are
invited to a retirement seminar on Nov. 25 from 12 p.m.— 4:30
p.m.

Representatives of the municipal and college pension plans
will be on hand to help you make sense of them.

Doug Armitage of Armitage consulting will discuss the
lifestyle aspects of retirement planning, and Chuck Webb of the
Fraser Financial Group will discuss RRSPs.

Forty spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Spouses are encouraged to attend as well. A light lunch will be
served. All employees are welcome, although it will probably be
of more relevance to those age 45 or over.

Call Linda Dix at 4206 to sign up or to get more information.

Abbotsford site plan forum

Monday, Nov. 9
12:15-1:30 p.m.
Room E428
Come and hear about plans for the new
Learning Centre and other additions to
the Abbotsford campus.