Working@Duke - December, 2008 / January, 2009

8/14/2019 Working@Duke - December, 2008 / January, 2009

1/8


2/8

T

he Rev. Joseph Lowery, who hasbeen called the dean of the

Civil Rights Movement, willgive the keynote address for theuniversitys Martin Luther King Jr.commemoration. CNN anchor andspecial correspondent SoledadOBrien is also scheduled to speak.

Lowerys speech, at 3 p.m. Jan. 18in Duke Chapel, is part of a programcelebrating Kings life. Thecommemorations theme is WhatBecomes of the Dream? Faith andPolitics, Vision and Leadership andincludes music and dance. It is freeand open to the public.

Dr. Lowery and Dr. King werepartners in laying the foundation forthe changes that we now see occurring in Americas public life, said BenReese, a King committee co-chair and Dukes vice president for institutionalequity. His appearance here will give the Duke community an opportunityto reflect on that foundation and inspiration to build upon the principles andtenets of Dr. King.

OBrien, who recently hosted the CNN Presents: Black in Americaseries on CNN, will speak at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Griffith Theater. She will showclips from the series and other work related to the legacy of King.

Lowery and Martin Luther King Jr. were part of the group thatfounded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in

Atlanta in 1957. Lowery later served as president of the organization from

1977 to 1998. He was an activepartner with King throughout the

Civil Rights Movement, leadingmarches and sit-ins againstsegregation.

Lowery has pastored churches inMobile, Memphis, Birmingham and

Atlanta. As an activist, he haschampioned such causes as MiddleEast peace, ending apartheid in South

Africa and cleaning up toxic waste inNorth Carolina.

O'Brien joined CNN in 2003and distinguished herself by reportingon transformational stories such asHurricane Katrina and the tsunami in

Thailand. She also anchored a highlyacclaimed CNN documentary

featuring King's private writings, notes and teachings, which represented thefoundation of his life's work as a preacher and human rights activist.

The 6-hour Black in America series, which aired in July, is an on-airand digital initiative that reveals the current state of black America 40 yearsafter Kings assassination. It features fresh analysis of the real lives behind thestereotypes, statistics and identity politics that frequently frame the nationaldialogue about black America.

By Camille Jackson

Communications Specialist

Office of News & Communications

NewsbriefsA toast to professional development

Hone your public speaking skills by

joining the Duke Toastmasters Club in 2009.

The club, formed in 2003, is a local

chapter of Toastmasters International

comprised of Duke staff and faculty from

various departments. The group typically

meets from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the second

and fourth Wednesday of each month in the

Duke Credit Union at Erwin Square, 2200 W. Main St. The clubs next

meetings are at 7 a.m. Dec. 10 and Jan. 14.

Staff and faculty can attend an initial meeting as a guest without

paying a membership fee. To join, members pay a one-time enrollment

fee of $20 and a recurring fee of $39 every six months.

For more information, visit duketoastmasters.org or send an e-

mail to [email protected].

Mystery diners get free meals at DukeThe adage theres no such thing as a free lunch isnt

necessarily true at Duke.

Through Duke Dinings Mystery Diner Program, staff and faculty

can savor meals at no charge at more than 30

eateries on campus. Whats the catch? You

must complete a Customer Care Review within

a week to provide feedback about customer

service and food quality.

Volunteers first schedule an appointment

with Tammy Hope, who oversees the program,

to review policies before receiving an

assignment that specifies location and whether the visit is for

breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This is a great way for staff and faculty to explore many of the

unique places to eat on campus, Hope said. Completing the review

usually only takes about 10 minutes, which is a good trade for a free

meal.

For more information, send an e-mail to [email protected]

or call (919) 660-3926.

New online technology training programFaculty and staff can take online technology training classes

anytime, anywhere through a new Duke Office of Information

Technology pilot with Lynda.com. The site offers more than 30,000

online training videos on topics ranging from Microsoft Word and

Excel to Web design and computer programming.

During the pilot program, a limited number of individual accounts

will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Staff and faculty

can enroll for a two-week trial that will enable them to access training

on the site at no cost. After that, they can enroll for another free two-

week trial if an account is available, or they will be placed on a waiting

list.Staff and faculty without individual accounts can review the

training tutorials from Lynda.com by using designated workstations at

the ACT Warehouse lab, Multimedia Project Studios, the Center for

Instructional Technology and the Link.

For more information or to sign up for an account, visit

oit.duke.edu/help/training/online.

Provost lecture series offers insight on timely topicsThe Provost Lecture Series presents free forums on issues the

new U.S. president will face, such as population growth, energy

alternatives and crime.

The series, launched four years ago by Provost Peter Lange,

continues at 5 p.m. Feb. 2 with Paul Ehrlich, a

Stanford University biology professor. He will

discuss U.S. population growth and how

increased consumption of resources andgoods impacts society and the global

economy.

Other speakers include Joseph Stanislaw,

adjunct professor in the Nicholas School of the

Environment and member of the Board of

Advisors for the Nicholas Institute for

Environmental Policy Solutions. He will discuss

the future of U.S. energy policies at 5 p.m.

Feb. 10; and at 5 p.m. on Feb. 19, Bruce Western, a Harvard University

sociology professor, will talk about crime and incarceration.

For locations, visit provost.duke.edu and select the Provost

Lecture Series tab.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include name and contact information.E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail them to Working@Duke

Editor, Box 90496, Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926.Please keep length to no more than 200 words.

EditorsNote

Tiwatha Godley wore a party

dress for the first time in 15

years when she went to see

Sex and the City this summer with

her girlfriends.

It felt wonderful, she said.

Tiwatha has reason to be proud.

A nursing care assistant and health

unit coordinator at Duke, she lost

100 pounds using the universitys

health and wellness resources andher own will and determination.

On Page 3, you will read about

Tiwathas weight loss journey and

find a link to an online video about

her story, an inspiration to anyone

struggling to lose weight and get fit.

It was hard, Tiwatha told me.

She has a message for Duke

employees with New Years

resolutions to lose weight: It was

mind boggling hard, but if I can do it,

you can do it.

She dropped to 190 pounds from

290 by setting smart goals for

diet and fitness. Dont think in terms

of long-term, she said. Set a target

to lose one pound a week. When

you accomplish that, you can moveto the next week, she said.

Tiwathas fitness routine

involves exercising four to five times

a week. Thats a busy schedule for a

mother of two with a full-time job.

She walks for about an hour and lifts

weights. Sometimes, she runs stairs

at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Congrats, Tiwatha. You are

indeed an inspiration. Keep it up!

Thanks for reading,

Leanora

For the schedule of commemoration events, visit mlk.duke.edu

Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.

2

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND CNN ANCHOR TO SPEAK AT DUKE

Joseph Lowery Soledad OBrien

Paul Ehrlich


3/8

3

Virtual weight loss

She decided to

take charge of

her life. Shes focused on

having an overall, healthy

lifestyle, not on being

thin or on a quick-fix.

Dr. Jennifer Jo

Duke Primary Care Physician

DUKE EMPLOYEE LOSES 100 POUNDS USING ONLINE RESOURCES

Check out the health, fitness and nutrition tips athr.duke.edu/eohs/livelife/index.html

VIDEO

100Pounds

Watch a video aboutTiwatha Godleys

weight loss journeyat hr.duke.edu

Tiwatha Godley was in denial about her eating habitsand weight.

I used to tell my doctor that I was taking heradvice, that I was eating right and exercising, saidGodley, a nursing care assistant and health unitcoordinator in ambulatory surgery in Duke UniversityHospital. Id tell her that I had a salad for lunch when Ireally had a fast food burger.

Godley weighed 290 pounds, her heaviest, in 2000and had been overweight more than 19 years. But in thepast three years, she has lost 100 pounds. Withoutsurgery, diet pills or yo-yo dieting, she got moving on herown with Dukes online health and fitness tips.

Godley, 39, signed up earlier this year for the onlineinitiative, Eat Wise and Exercise, offered by LIVE FORLIFE, Dukes employee wellness program. She learnedabout nutrition and exercise, and now receives a daily e-

mail with tips for a healthier lifestyle.Godley took the electronic route because she doesnthave time to participate in LIVE FOR LIFE fitness andnutrition activities and workshops due to her hecticschedule, she said. Because she works in patient care,shes unable to leave her department for breaks duringthe day, and as a single mother with two children,including one with disabilities, shes eager to get homeafter work. Her favorite virtual motivation has been thee-mail tip of the day. She finds the cooking tips aboutcooking with less sodium and fat, and the quick, easyrecipes especially helpful.

I used to print them out and tape them to the deskas reminders, Godley said. It was very encouraging,

and it was also convenient.

In 2005, Godley faced reality after seeing aphotograph of herself at her youngest daughters soccergame. She said she couldnt believe how big she looked.I didnt like what I saw, Godley said. That December,

I just started walking. I didnt go far, and I got out ofbreath quickly. But I didnt give up.

Godleys determination and positive attitude havemade her successful, said her Duke primary carephysician, Dr. Jennifer Jo.

She decided to take charge of her life, Jo said.Shes focused on having an overall, healthy lifestyle, noton being thin or on a quick-fix. Im very proud of herbecause I know how difficult it was for her to initiallybe honest with herself.

Godley said she realized her unhealthy habitsaffected her daughters. They were following in herfootsteps, especially her youngest daughter, Jayda Henry,12. Now, mother and daughter exercise together.

My daughters keep me going, Godley said. I wantto be healthy for them, and I want them to be healthy.Before, I couldnt be involved in their activities. Id gethome from work and take a nap. Now they can hardlykeep up with me.

Godleys seen the rewards. She ran her first half-marathon in August and received a Lifestyle Change

Award this year from the American Heart Association.She weighs about 190 but wants to lose 25 poundsbefore she turns 40 in May. My goal is to be a healthysize by then, she said.

By Elizabeth Michalka

Writer/Public Relations Specialist SeniorFuqua School of Business

Tiwatha Godley, upper left and center,

regularly exercises with her daughter

Jayda Henry, at Peak Fitness gym in

Raleigh. Above, Godley proudly displays

an old pair of size 26 pants, a size she

wore from 2001 to 2005. She now wears

size 14.


4/8

4

To register for a seminar, visit dukefcu.org and select seminar sign-upunder Quick Links; send e-mail to [email protected] or call (919) 660-9745.

Duke research associate Karthik Vishwanath and his

wife, Vrinda Kalia, did their homework before buyinga new home in southwest Durham.

After calculating how much they could afford andcomparing rates at several banks, they applied for, andreceived, a mortgage through the Duke University FederalCredit Union.

Now were paying about $850 amonth to own a home, which is only alittle more than we paid for rent,Vishwanath said.

Despite the national credit crisis,the Duke Credit Union has nottoughened lending criteria, said DanBerry, chief operating officer. The creditunion offers competitive loan rates forqualified buyers for home equity andmortgages, automobiles and

educational expenses.Unlike lenders that offeredsubprime loans and are experiencing ahigh rate of late payments andforeclosures, Duke Credit Unionsdelinquency rate in 2008 is only about1 percent, Berry said.

This means that one out of 100 of our loans is notbeing paid as agreed, he said. Our loan portfolio is stablebecause our policies have never allowed borrowers to takeout loans based on unrealistic repayment plans. Were thesame reliable lender that weve always been.

The credit unions strong reputation has encouraged425 new members to join this year, boosting ability tomake loans, Berry said. With members trusting us with

additional deposits in these difficult economic times, DukeCredit Union has the resources to lend, he said.

Nationally, about 90 million people belong to about8,000 credit unions. Deposits are insured by the NationalCredit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency in

Washington, D.C. Coverage was increased to $250,000 onindividual accounts; $250,000 on Individual Retirement

Accounts through Dec. 31, 2009, as part of the federalfinancial stabilization package.

Rodney Hood, vice chairman of NCUA, said creditunions like Dukes, which are non-profit and tax-exempt,typically offer lower interest rates on loans and higher rateson savings than commercial lenders.

Credit unions like Dukes really are weathering thisstorm well, said Hood, a Durham resident.

So far this year, the Duke Credit Union has approvedmore than 40 mortgages for homes valued at a total ofmore than $5 million, and the applications keep rolling in,said Scott Baker, the credit unions mortgage lendingofficer.

In the past few months, things have reallybeen picking up, Baker said. This August, I had18 applications for first mortgages, compared to sixlast August.

Many loans are with the HomeExpress program thatprovides 100 percent financing for applicants with a creditscore of 660 or higher.

Vishwanath, who received a HomeExpress loan,encourages Duke employees to check out the credit union.

They have good rates and sat down with us to discussour options to make sure it was a payment we coulddefinitely afford, he said. That helped us feel comfortablebecause we didnt want to overstretch our budget.

By Missy Baxter

Writer, Office of Communication Services

Duke Credit Union offersstability in uncertain times

How clean is your credit report?

4

BUILD A BETTER CREDIT SCORE WITH DUKE CREDIT UNION

Attend A SeminarRetirement Strategies for Women

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dec. 9Searle Center

Creditability: Build A StrongCredit History

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 9Teer House

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 13Duke Credit Union, 2200 W. Main St.

Planning For Retirement: The Basics12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 27

Searle Center

M

aintaining good credit is crucial, especially asbanks tighten the reins on loans.

With the credit crunch and foreclosuresgrowing, creditors are looking closer at credithistory and credit scores, said Scottie Dowdy, afinancial counselor with Duke University FederalCredit Union.

The Duke CreditUnion offers free workshopsto help members dig out ofdebt and improve theircredit score, a three-digitnumber lenders use todetermine ability to repay aloan. The number, typicallyranging from 300 to 850, is

calculated based onpayment history, available credit limits and totaldebt. The higher the number, the better.

The score affects what credit is available toborrowers and the terms (such as interest rates)that lenders offer.

A low credit score could prevent you fromgetting a loan, while a strong credit history willusually allow you to get lower rates on car loans,mortgages, credit cards and insurance, Dowdysaid during a recent workshop. Plus, somelandlords and employers also look at credit history,so negative information in your credit report couldeven prevent you from getting an apartment or a

new job.Learn more about credit scores at myfico.com.

BUILD A BETTER SCORE

Get a copy of your credit report and file writtendisputes for any inaccuracies. To request a freeannual credit report from each of the threenational credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian andTransUnion, call (877) 322-8228, or visitannualcreditreport.com. Keeping an eye onyour credit report is also a good way to makesure the information on it is accurate and tohelp prevent identity theft, Dowdy said.

Pay bills on time. It might take a while toimprove your score, said Dowdy, but makingtimely payments is critical, even if it meansasking lenders to adjust the due date.

Lower credit card balances. Keeping creditcard balances near your credit limit has anegative impact on your credit score, she said.Its important to bring down those balances.

Cancel unused credit cards. The availablecredit on those accounts could have a negativeimpact when potential creditors calculate yourability to repay a new loan, Dowdy said.

Scottie Dowdy

L

L

L

L

Duke research associate Karthik

Vishwanath, right, and his wife,

Vrinda Kalia, received a mortgage

for a home in Durham through the

Duke Credit Union. They have

good rates and sat down with us to

discuss our options to make sure it

was a payment we could definitely

afford, he said. That helped us

feel comfortable because we didnt

want to overstretch our budget.


5/8

5

5

Watch a video about retirement planning at hr.duke.edu

What impact has the global financial crisis had

on Duke?

Duke is strong financially. That being said,we are watching things closely, and we are goingto have to be very careful about the new

commitments we make. Our intention right nowwill be to protect what we have rather thanmaking new investments.

We are fortunate not to have had some ofthe problems other institutions had with variablerate debt, bond insurance, and investments. Wetend to have a pay as you go mentality. If youlook at some of the corporations in trouble, theyhave 30 times more debt than the value of theirassets. Duke has net assets of $8 billion and only$1.2 billion in debt. There are few corporationsin America that have that kind of balance sheet.

If you look at the financial performance ofthe 25 largest research universities in this

country, Dukes performance during the last twodecades has helped put us among the topschools.

How have stock market losses affected the

universitys endowment?

Out of an investment portfolio of nearly $8billion, including an endowment with a marketvalue of more than $6 billion at the end of thepast fiscal year, less than 20 percent was exposedto global equities, which suffered worse thandomestic markets.

The universitys long-term investment model

assumes an annual return of roughly 10 percent.For the last decade and a half, we have averagedmore than 15 percent. We have a lot of reservesbuilt up over time. We would obviously like notto spend them, but the model has alwaysassumed there would be ups and downs. So weare fairly well buffered to weather financialstorms such as this.

Of course, like almost every otherinvestment fund, our portfolio has declined in

value since July, though by a lower percentagethan the overall drop in global equity markets.But, we look at a three-year rolling average whencalculating the payout and, ultimately, theimpact on the University's operating budget, soif you add the losses this year with the gains fromthe two preceding years, we are still up morethan 15 percent.

What impact does the financial crisis have on

Dukes other sources of funding?

Other than the endowment, our primary

sources of funding include grants, tuition, anddonations. The federal government is the largestsource of grant and contract funding for Duke,and currently the federal government is spendinga lot of money on other things. It is possible thatgrant money we receive from the federalgovernment will be reduced.

Regarding tuition, we are committedto making sure Dukes education is affordable,regardless of a students ability to pay. Ourcommitment to financial aid for students is rocksolid. We anticipate a greater need for financialaid, and weve put aside money for this. It is tooearly to tell about future giving to Duke. Whilea lot of the people who have been very generous

with us have been hit by losses in the market,Duke donors have been steadfast during goodtimes and bad.

Has the credit freeze changed Dukes plans for

the future?

Eighty-five percent of Dukes debt portfoliois fixed rate, which means it does not change

with the market. The 15 percent that is variablerate only totals $174 million from a total debtportfolio of about $1.2 billion.

The big decision will be how much newdebt we take on for capital projects. We havecapacity to take on some new debt, but if youadd up all the proposed capital projects, it is farbeyond what we would want to assume. Thissituation has forced us to think through what isreally important.

What operational changes might be

implemented at Duke as a result?Were not intending to impose any

immediate or specific budget cuts right now.My biggest concern is about our expectationsgoing forward. We dont currently have problemsin our operating budget, but we could createproblems by trying to take on more than wecan afford. I think any changes will primarilymanifest themselves in our inability to do somethings that we wanted to do in the future.

Our employee benefits will be just asgenerous as they were this year, and it is tooearly to determine salary increases for next year.I think people at Duke are more secure here thanat any other place they might work.

At the same time, I hope people generallyunderstand that we are in very uncertain times,and any actions we can take now to be moreefficient with resources will help us later.

By Paul GranthamAssistant Vice President

Office of Communication Services

AQ&

Duke is strongfinancially

The fallout from the failure of

financial institutions and declines in

the stock market have fueled concerns

about the economy and raised questions

among faculty and staff about the impact

on Duke. Executive Vice President TallmanTrask III sat down with Working@Duke

recently to discuss the Universitys

financial position and impact of the

financial crisis on operations and

Dukes future plans.

with Tallman Trask III, Dukes Executive Vice President

Tallman Trask III

VIDEO


6/8

Jean Ross hopes to spend her golden years jet-settingaround the globe.

I love traveling and when I retire, I have a long listof places I want to visit, said Ross, 55, a staff specialist

with the Office of the University Registrar.

She realizes, though, that life doesnt always go asplanned. Thats why she is enrolled in Dukes group longterm care insurance provided by Prudential. It coversexpenses for nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, homehealth care and adult day care.

Benefits-eligible staff and faculty can enroll year-roundto purchase long term care insurance for themselves,spousal partners, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents,grandparents-in-law and children age 18 and older,including those who live outside North Carolina.

Duke Benefits will mail long term care enrollmentpackets to employee homes in January for specialenrollment Feb. 2-23. Information sessions are Feb. 3-12.

Long term care generally covers people with prolongedphysical illness, a disability or cognitive impairment such as

Alzheimers disease. Without insurance, care can be expensive;the national average cost in 2008 for a private room in anursing home is $209 per day, according to the AARP.

Long term care insurance helps protect your assetsand gives you the flexibility and freedom to choose whereyou get care, said Saundra Daniels, Duke Benefits planmanager.

Health insurance does not typically cover long termcare costs. With Prudentials long term care plan, Dukepolicy holders can select from a variety of daily benefitmaximums and coverage limits. Monthly premiums varybased on the insured persons age and coverage level. Forexample, a 40-year-old unmarried employee would pay$26.99 monthly, without the inflation option, to coverlong term care expenses with a daily benefit maximum of

$200 and a total lifetime benefit maximum of $219,000.Prudential offers an automatic inflation option to

help protect against rising healthcare costs by locking inthe premium for the life of the policy, an importantconsideration.

Ross purchased long term care insurance about 10 yearsago and recently increased her daily benefit maximum from$100 to $250 for care received in nursing homes andassisted living facilities.

I read an article that said the number one cause ofbankruptcy is from medical bills during an illness, Rosssaid. I signed up for long term care insurance becauseI dont want that to happen to me.

By Missy Baxter


Long term care insurancefor unexpected life events

Diversity AwardCharles M. BeckerResearch Professor & Master of Arts DirectorEconomics

In 2003, Becker arrived at Duke as part of the universitys effortto bring the American Economic Associations Summer Minority

Program to campus. The association is the leading professionalbody of academic economists in the U.S. It created the SummerMinority Program more than 30 years ago to boost the numberof minorities who pursue careers in economics. Becker movedthe program from one that courted minority graduates at eliteuniversities to one that reaches out to historically black andurban colleges across the U.S. and world. In addition to blackand Hispanic students, Native Americans, Eastern Europeansand Asians have graduated from the program.

Dr. Charlie Becker has generously donated his time, energy,and intellect to building bridges between people of allbackgrounds in order to enable them to help themselves.Ultimately their success enriches Duke, Durham, the nation,and the global community.Nominators, Dr. Thomas Nechyba,

Gail A. McKinnis, Lori L. Leachman, Jennifer R. Socey

Teamwork/DiversityawardsWinners of the Diversity Award and Teamwork

Award for 2008 were were honored by DukeUniversity and Health System leaders during aluncheon Nov. 13. The Diversity Award recognizesfaculty or staff members who demonstrate, throughpositive interactions with others, a respect and

value for differing backgrounds and points of viewat Duke. The Teamwork Awardhonors employees

who collaborate and work together on a project or

significant effort that advances departmental goalsand/or Dukes mission. In addition to universitystaff recognized, a Diversity Awardwas presentedto Rebecca W. Johnson, nurse clinician, CardiacCare Unit, Duke Hospital. Members of DukeMedicines Medical Center Library & Archivesreceived the Teamwork Award.

Charles Becker, center, winner of the Diversity Award,

accepts the honor during a ceremony at the Sarah P.

Duke Gardens with nominator and economics Professor

Thomas Nechyba, left, and Ben Reese, right, vice

president for Institutional Equity.Vice Provost Judith Ruderman, center, accepts the Teamwork Award on

behalf of 35 reaccreditation team members with nominator and Provost

Peter Lange, left, and Ben Reese, vice president for Institutional Equity.

6

To purchase long term care insurance, visit hr.duke.edu

Teamwork AwardThe Duke Reaccreditation Team, Judith Ruderman; Bart Brunk, Robert Byrd, GinnyCake, Bruce Cunningham, Laura Eastwood, Pat Hull, Eulena Jonsson, Anne Light,

Jacqueline Looney, Caroline Nisbet, Katherine Pfeiffer, Jim Roberts, Kendrick Tatum,Tim Walsh, Lee Willard, Linda Franzoni, Elizabeth Gustafson, Kerrie Hillman, KatePiva, Laura Turcotte, Laceye Warner, Mary Champagne, David Bell, Richard Burton,Sharron Docherty, Colleen Grochowski, Emily Klein, Kathy Hollingsworth, David

Jamieson, Matt Serra, Jessica Thornton, Bob Newlin, Mary Nettleton and Peter Linnartz

The Duke Reaccreditation Team comprised 35 inter-department members whoprepared Dukes compliance certification report for the Commission on Colleges,Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Every decade Duke must seekinstitution-wide reaffirmation of accreditation by its regional accounting body. Thisincludes a report that demonstrates compliance across Duke with 88 corerequirements, comprehensive standards, and federal regulations. The team began

work in February 2006.

Reaccreditation of the entire university is complex, labor-intensive and too oftenthankless work. This large, tireless and remarkably diligent team played closeattention to what we do and could do better, and recommended how our policiesand procedures could be improved, not just to meet regulatory requirements but toactually make Duke better. Nominator, Provost Peter Lange

Fast FactEmployees who enrolllater than 60 days from

date of hire must complete

medical questionnaires for

Prudentials review before

coverage is granted. But

during special enrollment

in February, employees are

not required to complete

questionnaires, unless

they enroll in the unlimited

lifetime maximum benefit.

Dependents are required

to complete medical

questionnaires.

Jean Ross purchased long term care insurance.


7/8

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R G R E E N N E W S A T D U K E

Sustainable uke

7

Learn more about transportation alternatives at parking.duke.edu

Scooting

to Duke

W

hen she fills up at the gas pump, CherylMaloney doesnt feel the same pinch as some

motorists. She spends no more than $5 to fill upher tank.Thats because Maloney, a program director for the

Population, Policy & Aging Research Center, drives to workfrom Raleigh on a TGB Sunset scooter a round trip ofabout 45 miles.

One day I saw a scooter and thought it was time for achange, she said.

Over the summer, she got rid of her Nissan MuranoSUV that got 23 miles per gallon. Now, she gets about 65.Maloney contributes fewer carbon emissions, while alsosaving nearly $700 a month in various costs.

Duke doesnt charge a parking fee for employees whoride scooters to campus because they dont need a parking

pass. Maloney said thats a convenience of driving herscooter, since she pulls right up to the side of Dukes TerrySanford Institute of Public Policy and parks her scooter nextto a bike rack.

Take a look around campus. Its easy to see that witha hurting economy and higher prices at the pump, morestudents, faculty and staff are turning to two-wheeledalternatives to save money and help the environment. Andscooter sales in the Triangle are on the rise.

During Maloneys daily commute to West Campus onback roads to and from Raleigh, she takes the time to clearher mind and organize her thoughts. Even with the threatof ice or snow, Maloney said others ride scootersthroughout the year just fine, so why not her? Its just

better for me all around, she said.

Maloney isnt the onlyemployee on campus bundlingup extra for the daily trip to

work.Kim Hanauer, director

of Young Alumni and StudentPrograms in Alumni Affairs,has been riding her HondaMetropolitan II for more thantwo years. Even though she stillhas a car, she said shell onlydrive it if it snows, when she

needs to transport large items,or if shes with her dog.

Otherwise, she said, its a waste of gas and not as good forthe environment.

Ninety percent of the time youre driving in a car,youre alone in it, so it can be so wasteful, said Hanauer,

who lives about a mile away from her office and doesntmind riding her scooter in the rain.

During colder months, Maloney and Hanauer said theywear biking clothing or ski outfits to keep them warm anddry. But, Hanauer said being cold is probably the onlydownside that comes with riding a scooter.

As long as gas prices stay the way they are and theeconomy stays flat, this isnt going away, said Danny Hoag,general manager at the Scooterz Inc. store in Raleigh, whereMaloney bought her ride for about $1,800. Now, itsalmost as if youre not cool if you dont ride one.

Hoag said that Scooterz sold more than 400 units in itsfirst 10 months after opening in October 2007. He addedthat the broad appeal of scooters in North Carolina ishelped by laws that allow anyone over 16 to drive one.They also dont need a license or auto insurance.

But, Maloney said those shouldnt be the only reasonssomeone decides to ride a scooter.

Its caused me to slow down and appreciate mysurroundings because I feel a lot closer to nature and have lessstress, she said. Driving is an enjoyable experience now.

By Bryan Roth


Kim Hanauer, director of Young Alumni and Student Programs in Alumni Affairs,

has been riding her Honda Metropolitan II to work for more than two years.

Got ASustainabilityStory?Write us at

[email protected]

One day

I saw a

scooter and thought

it was time for a

change.

Cheryl Maloney

Program Director

Terry Sanford Institute of

Public Policy


8/8

There hasnt been an immediate impact because Im 25 to30 years away from retirement, but I have seen a negative

impact on my childrens college funds. But, my investmenttheory is if its a decades long investment like the college funds,you shouldnt worry about it right now.

Ian Baucom

Professor, Department of English

11 years at Duke

How has the financial crisis affected you?

I dont travel as much as I used to just locally. If I goout on the weekend for errands, I dont try to run here

and there because I dont want to burn gas. I clip coupons out ofthe paper and sometimes I shop at secondhand stores for itemsI can use. Just miscellaneous items like magazine racks orsomething I can use at home. Maybe a sweater.

Bernice Patterson

Staff assistant, Administrative Office in Perkins Library

1 year at Duke

Ive seen an increase in the cost of groceries, so Im using coupons and doing morecomparative shopping for the best deals. Thats my main thing. Im even doing

comparative shopping for gas.Michele Jones

Administrative assistant, Office of Undergraduate Education

4 years at Duke

dialogue@DukeHOW TO REACH USEditor: Leanora Minai

(919) 681-4533

[email protected]

Assistant Vice President:

Paul S. Grantham

(919) 681-4534

[email protected]

Graphic Design & Layout:

Paul Figuerado

Photography: Bryan Roth, Office

of Communication Services;

Duke University Photography;

and Stewart Waller.

Support Staff: Mary Carey

Working@Dukeis published monthly

by Dukes Office of Communication

Services. We invite yourfeedback and suggestions for

future story topics.

Please write us at

[email protected] or

Working@Duke, Box 90496,

705 Broad St., Durham, NC 27708

Call us at (919) 684-4345.

Send faxes to (919) 681-7926.

WORKING@DUKE

D U K E T O D A Y For daily news and information, visit

By Bryan Roth


Have

ideasforstories?

[email protected]

Call681-4533

from Duke employees. We were very pleased and gratefulto the university for working with us to try to build abetter system, a better community, Kell said.

Sylvia Alston, Kiels former supervisor and now associatechief nursing officer for Recruitment and Hospital

Administrative Systems, said

the program shows the impactthat a few people can have oneach other. Alston has donatedtime to the program. I maynot be able to do anythingabout someones illness ortheir diagnosis, but donatingtime to them is a way that Ican help.

Sheila Alexander, anadministrative assistant inthe executive vice presidentsoffice, has also benefitedthrough her colleagues

generosity.She was diagnosed withglaucoma last May andneeded more than the 18accrued days she had savedto go through three surgeries, including an emergencyoperation to save an optic nerve in her left eye.

I dont know what I would have done without theKiel program, said Alexander, who missed about threemonths of work. It was a blessing to know that I didnthave to worry about not getting a paycheck or losing mybenefits because I had to take so much time off.

When Alexander needed to draw from the Kiel pool,her colleague Anne Light, assistant to the executive vicepresident, sent a request to Alexanders current and formerco-workers to donate time. Approximately 500 hours weredonated to Alexander.

Sheila is a valued employee

who was in a hard spot, and I knewshe had a number of friends andcolleagues at Duke willing tosupport her, said Light, whodonated some of her own time offto Alexander.

Alexander was touched by thegenerosity. They gave up time thatthey could have used themselves, shesaid. That really meant a lot to me.

Gump, the administrativeassistant in Fuqua, has only beenable to build her paid time off upto a few hours, she said. The

Gumps have a nurse who stays withDonald seven hours a day, butNancy Gump still took some timeoff to fill in gaps when the nursecouldnt be there.

In the 40 years that Ive been working, I never hadthat opportunity with other places where fellow employeescould help you by donating their time, she said. Theydidnt have to do it, but they did and that says a lot aboutthe people at Duke.

By Bryan Roth and Elizabeth Michalka

Writers, Office of Communication Services

KIELTIME OFF

DONATED IN

200728,664

TOTAL DONATED HOURS

28,028HOURS GIVEN TO

RECIPIENTS

636HOURS GIVEN TO

GENERAL POOL

979DONORS

164NEW RECIPIENTS

I dont

know

what I would have

done without the

Kiel program. It was

a blessing to know

that I didnt have to

worry about not getting a paycheck or

losing my benefits because I had to

take so much time off.

Sheila AlexanderAdministrative Assistant

Executive Vice Presidents Office

TIME ON THEIR SIDECONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Working@Duke - December, 2008 / January, 2009

Documents