This February's mantra is TAKE CHARGE. It's that time of year where new year's resolutions start to wear thin and the holiday season is long gone. Keep in good spirits by reaping the healthy rewards of your actions! View the new emotional health video from Work Life Connections and check out our new incentives for the HEALTHY CHOICES program. Know you're not alone when it comes to this time of year and that you can TAKE CHARGE!

What is Emotional Health?

Emotional health is:

-Being able to accept the things we cannot change
-Being able to fulfill our own needs and not have to look to others to do so
-Being able to manage the tough times

Are you emotionally healthy? If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotional problem, Encompass and GVSU's Employee Assistance Service can help you and that someone you know through it. Given the connection between emotional and physical health, addressing and providing support for emotional health issues and life challenges with faculty and staff will positively impact your  personal and professional life.

Click here to view an informational video that we hope will encourage you to access the emotional health services and support that GVSU has to offer.  

For more information, please contact Sue Sloop at sloops@gvsu.edu or 331-8011 or visit the GVSU Health and Wellness website at www.gvsu.edu/healthwellness and click on Encompass, user ID – GVSU.

Know Your Numbers is back!

TAKE CHARGE of your life and REAP THE REWARDS! Know Your Numbers, a component of our new Healthy Choices Program, is back this year and with NEW INCENTIVES tied to your benefits plan.

Participate MARCH 2-MARCH 23 to qualify for the incentives!

REGISTER NOW!

New GVSU Retirement Options

New GVSU 403(b) & 457(b) Retirement Plan Investment Options:

Effective February 1, 2012, Fidelity Investments and TIAA-CREF will introduce important changes to the GVSU 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans. Your retirement plan will be enhanced with new investment choices, including a brokerage account and lower investment fees. Click here for complete information.

SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR 2012:

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the supplemental retirement account contribution limit for 2012 hsa increased by $500. There was no change in the catch-up contribution limit. The 2012 Grand Valley State University 403(b) and 457(b) supplemental contribution limits are:

          403(b)                     457(b)

   Contribution Limit                        $17,000                  $17,000
Catch-up Contribution (age 50+)    $5,500                    $5,500

Roth post-tax Option:

A Roth post-tax 403(b) supplemental contribution option is available for the GVSU 403(b) Retirement Plan. For more information go to www.gvsu.edu/healthwellness.
If you interested in changing your current contribution amount just go to www.gvsu.edu/healthwellness and click on “Benefit Services” then “Forms”, complete the appropriate salary reduction agreement and forward to HR at 140 LMH. If you have specific questions about any of the retirement programs at GVSU please contact Human Resources at X12220 or e-mail us at healthandwellness@gvsu.edu.

Learn all about: Rita Kohrman

Health and Wellness Success Story February 2012

Rita Kohrman, Educational Librarian, has a goal for when she retires. That goal is to walk the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from the tip of Maine to Georgia. In order for her to pursue her goal, she realizes that she needs to be mentally and physically in shape. 

Rita always had a hard time maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She took classes, worked out, and attempted to change her eating habits, but never saw the benefits. “I participated in various activities, but I was never using the skills properly because I lacked the support I needed. There was no connection for me,” says Rita. She was to a point where she was very unhappy with herself. Then one day, her coworker talked her into reaching out to Grand Health Partners, a medical weight loss clinic, where she later had a lot of success. She attended weekly checkups and classes. “I made the commitment because I had to,” Rita explains. After weeks with the clinic, she has lost and maintained 44lbs. She’s ecstatic about being able to wear fashionable clothes out in public again!

Rita has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Even now, she is working out multiple times throughout the day, participating in GVSU fitness classes with her peers, and decreasing her food portions. “The key is to want to make a change!” explains Rita. Everyone should encourage those around them to want a longer, better life! If it wasn’t for her coworker, and mentor, she wouldn’t be as healthy as she is now.

Do you know a GVSU faculty, staff member  or department who serves as a role model for others living a healthy lifestyle? Nominate your coworker for our next newsletter!