VAC blood drive Tuesday

The Volunteer Action Center (VAC) and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chapel Commons. Sign up for a time to donate blood on this link. Volunteers are needed to help with check-in, snacks and donors. Please stop by anytime to help during the event. You can also sign up on to volunteer at this link. Contact the VAC at vac@wartburg.edu to volunteer your time and if you have any questions.

 

'Don't Cancel Class' workshops

Faculty, do you have plans of attending a conference this semester? Are there times you have to cancel class because of an unexpected illness? In situations like these, we encourage you to utilize the “Don’t Cancel Class” program. Student Life, in collaboration with several departments on campus, can provide a variety of workshops for the class period you need to miss. These workshops are designed to provide students with valuable information and skills. You select the workshop you feel is a good fit for your class. Click here to see workshop opportunities and to sign up. Questions can be directed to Wendy Mohlis in Student Life.

 

TEDxWartburgCollege will bring inspiring speakers to “Explore the Unknown” for the third annual event Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-noon, in McCaskey Lyceum at Wartburg College. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased at www.wartburg.edu/tedx.

Speakers at TEDxWartburgCollege will include:

•	Sanam Tamang: “Navigating the Unknown Journey of Life”
•	Brittany Strause: “Mental Health Has No Face”
•	Matapron Musikathum: “Transition to Adulthood, What’s Your Plan?”
•	Cole Imperi: “Shadowloss: Shedding Light on Our Hidden Grief”
•	Sthela Gun Holly Hanitrinirina: “The Legacy of Unknown Women”
•	Erik Salzenstein: “Why I Had to Go to Prison to Set Myself Free”
•	Umaru Balde: “Eliminate the Comfort Zone to Achieve Success”

 

Join the new Gospel Choir

Want to have fun and praise God through music? Join the Gospel Choir! The first open rehearsal will be Sunday, Jan. 26, at 4 p.m. in the Chapel. All people and musical abilities are welcome. For more information, contact Janet at janet.irankunda@wartburg.edu.

 

Personnel changes in the Business Office

Due to personnel changes in the Business Office, all accounts payable and Wartburg College-issued credit card (PNC) questions should be directed to Tracy Rucker at 319-352-8238 or tracy.rucker@wartburg.edu. If you have cashiering needs, please contact Chantel Sisk at 319-352-8614 or chantel.sisk@wartburg.edu.

 

Let science students watch the kids while you go out for Valentine’s

Want to enjoy a night without the kids? Have your little cherubs join the Wartburg College NSTA (National Science Teaching Association) and future educators for a fun-filled Science Friday. Students will participate in cool science experiments, have fun with reptiles, and learn to LOVE science! The funds raised support future educators’ travel to national NSTA conventions. Cost includes dinner of pizza and juice drinks with additional snacks, four STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) lessons and qualified pre-service educators for teaching and supervision.

When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 5:45 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Becker Science Hall, Room 102
Ages: Pre-K through sixth grade
Cost: $25 for the first student per family, each additional student is $10 (For three students in the same family, total cost is $45.)

Register online through noon on Feb. 15. Parents also can register children at the door the night of the event.

Contact: nsta@wartburg.edu

 

KWAR DJ and podcast meeting Thursday

Interested in having your own radio show where you can talk about sports, entertainment, politics, music or whatever you want? KWAR is looking for students and faculty who are interested in having a radio show. Don’t want to host a radio show, but still have ideas for content? You can start your own podcast! There will be an informational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in McElroy Center room 134 for information about starting a radio show or creating your own podcast. For more information, contact station manager Ryley Seymour.

 

Join the new German/English reading group

A bilingual German/English reading group for faculty, staff, and students is being formed for the winter semester. The group will read together a recent work of German-language literature, either in the original or in English translation. Meetings will be in February and March. No knowledge of German is required to participate. If interested, please contact Dr. Lucy Barnhouse.

 

STAS group for teaching and advising

Are you interested in talking with your peers about teaching and advising? STAS (Sharing Teaching and Advising Strategies) will continue to meet throughout Winter Term for conversation, strategizing, and resource sharing. Winter Term meetings will be the following Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. in the Faculty Resource Room (lower level of the library): Jan. 22, Feb. 5 and 19, March 11 and 25, and April 8. Come any of the dates you are available. Contact Michaeleen Golay or Kristin Wendland with questions.

 

Phil & Lit Society

The Wartburg Philosophical and Literary Society will meet Friday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m. in McCoy West of Seamann Student Center. Faculty, staff, students and community members are encouraged to attend, and refreshments will be provided. The speaker is Michael Luebbers, Wartburg alumnus and soil conservation technician, who will present “Composting Connections.”

 

10-week wellness challenge

Do you need to kickstart your wellness in 2020? Beginning Jan. 19, The W is offering a 10-week wellness challenge for just $10. All activities can be completed on your own and then recorded (using the honor system) on your personal weekly log at The W. All participants will receive a shirt at the end of the challenge, and those who successfully complete five of seven days each week will receive an additional prize at the end. Register at The W before Jan. 19 to get in on the fun! Campus offices are encouraged to participate together. Weekly challenges are:

• Jan. 19-25 - 60 minutes of exercise daily

• Jan. 26-Feb. 1 - Drink 64 oz. of water daily

• Feb. 2-8 - Limit personal use screen time to less than two hours daily

• Feb. 9-15 - No sugary drinks

• Feb. 16-22 - Consume five servings or fruits or vegetables each day

• Feb. 23-29 - 60 minutes of exercise per day and less than two hours of personal screen time daily

• March 1-7 - Drink 64 oz of water daily and eliminate sugary drinks

• March 8-14 - 60 minutes of exercise per day and consumer five servings or fruits or vegetables daily

• March 15-21 - Take 10,000 steps per day

• March 22-28 - Put it all together (60 minutes exercise, limit screen time, drink water, no sugary beverages, eat your fruits and veggies!)

 

TIAA on campus Wednesday

TIAA will be on campus Wednesday, Jan. 15, to present “Tomorrow in Focus: Saving for your ideal retirement” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in WBC 215. Feel free to bring your own lunch!

TIAA will also be available Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for individual counseling sessions located in Vogel Library room 352. Take advantage of one of these FREE sessions and you will get the answers to these questions and more:

•	Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
•	Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
•	How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Register at this link or by calling 800-732-8353.

 

American Association of University Women meeting

The Waverly branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) will meet on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in Science Center room 134. Dr. Caryn Riswold will speak about faith and reproductive justice. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend.

 

Robotics event seeks volunteers

The Waverly-Shell Rock Robotics teams are hosting a FIRST Tech Challenge Super Qualifier Meet on Saturday, Feb. 1. Wartburg College has been a sponsor of the teams since their inception in 2017. The teams are looking for volunteers to serve as officials, judges, inspectors, etc., at the Feb. 1 meet. No prior experience with FTC is required for most volunteer,s and there are volunteer positions in both technical and non-technical areas. Any faculty, staff, or students who are interested in volunteering should contact Laurie Everhardt at ext. 8496 or laurie.everhardt@wartburg.edu.

 

Free respite training for care providers

Are you interested in helping foster families while earning a small stipend? Respite Options of Northeast Iowa is having FREE training for potential respite providers on two Saturdays, Feb. 1 and Feb. 15, from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., at the Cedar Falls Public Library, 524 Main St. Must attend both sessions, be age 19 or older, and complete CPR/First Aid training. If interested or have questions, text or call 319-596-5781 or email respiteoptions@monarchtherapyservices.com. Respite Options was started in 2010 in partnership with Wartburg College's Department of Social Work and now serves foster families in 21 counties.