Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Are you in the loop?

Good Morning!

On my way into work I heard a news report regarding the weather forecast for this winter.  I was hoping to hear that the Chicagoland area is expecting a mild winter with warm, sunny days...but that did not happen.  Instead, the new reporter indicated that all meteorology reports indicate a very snowy winter this year - over 55inches of snowfall anticipated.  The basis of the report was to inform the public that area officials have been meeting with internal and external agencies to ensure that everyone is prepared for inclement weather when it hits.

While none of us can be certain of Illinois weather, we can all do are part to make sure we are prepared for whatever comes our way.  Here are some tips to ensure that you are in the "loop" in case of emergency weather delays or closings.

1.  Participate in the College emergency notification system to receive e-mail, text and voice messages alerting you to campus closures, delays and emergency situations.  


2.  Check with the "Know Before You Go" website.


3.  Update your contact information with you supervisor.  Each area has an emergency phone tree that is utilized during emergency closing or delays.  Double check your information with your supervisor to ensure that you will be contacted in case of closure.

**No system is 100% successful - by using ALL THREE methods of notification you can save yourself time and frustration in the event of an emergency closing or delay.**

Finally, I am pleased to share that as of this post there are only 

111 days,  7 Hours,  9 mins, and 33 secs until spring!

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine!

Debbie



Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Holiday Decorations - Must Read

Good Afternoon!

A memo has been circulated by Human Resources regarding holiday decorations at the College.  Please review the following message from Joe Kilinger-
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As a public institution it is important the a professional environment be maintained at all times.  This is a friendly reminder that individual departments may not apply holiday decorations to any exterior/interior walls, windows, common spaces, or doors.  In addition, decoration may not be hung from the ceiling.

Employees may decorate their desks or their personal office or cubicle spaces.  Those decorations may not interrupt or interfere with the operations of the office.
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Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Debbie

Final Stretch

Good Morning!

Now that the holiday weekend is over we are heading into the final stretch of the semester.  Please remember to do whatever you can to easy the stress for the students during this time.  Below are some announcements about upcoming events/activities on campus-

College Hour Today!!!
Please plan on attending the College Hour today regarding the new ERP system.  Implementing this system requires support from all members of the campus community -please come and learn about how you can support the transition!  Click on this link for more details.  college hour: the new erp


Flower Shop Sale
two-for-one sale at the flower shop


Winter Staff Part!
The College community invites all staff to attend the annual winter holiday party!  Please click on the link below for more information.
You’re invited to Triton’s holiday party at Elmcrest banquets


Have a great week!

Debbie

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Short Work Week

Good Morning!

Just a quick note to let all of you know how thankful I am to have such a great team in our Division.  Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to student success is evident on a daily basis.  I appreciate you and all that you do for the Triton College community.

Debbie 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Celebrate Veterans!

Good Afternoon!

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day!  In celebration of those that protect our country several businesses are offering specials for veterans and active service members.  Please share with someone you know!

2011 Free Veterans Day Meals

Applebee’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee’s served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from. Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com/.

Chili’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available during business hours on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.

Golden Corral – Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.
Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Hooters – Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Hooter’s is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Choose one of the new specialty items on the Hooter’s menu. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military
veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Friday November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants – free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 13, 2011: McCormick & Schmick’s is celebrating their 13th annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick’s as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: M&S Veterans Appreciation Event.

Outback Steakhouse – A week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes Monday Nov. 7 – Friday Nov. 11. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America’s military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran’s Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), DD form 214 Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), Photograph in Uniform, Wearing Uniform. For more information, visit, http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx.
The Outback understands commitment. For the past two years, The Outback, with the help of their patrons, has donated $2 Million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization providing everyday and emergency support for active troops, wounded warriors and their families.

Subway – Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran’s Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.

Texas Roadhouse – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.

T.G.I. Friday’s – Buy one get one free Nov 11-14. At participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. November 11-14.

Uno Chicago Grill, Friday, Nov. 11. Uno’s is offering a free entree or individual pizza with a purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value. Offer good for all military for veterans and active duty military. ID or proof of service required: Show up in uniform (if your service permits), provide military ID, show a picture of yourself in uniform, or have other ID showing proof of service. More info here.

Home Depot and Lowes Coupon Updates
Update: Home Depot and Lowes 10% Military Discount Available Everyday.

Home Depot: The Home Depot(R) is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran’s Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 and is available at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center(R) locations. The 10% discount is available everyday for active duty and retirees, but not all veterans. Home Depot makes this offer available to all veterans on most military holidays. You can also find Home Depot discounts online.

Lowes: Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10
percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available Nov. 7 – Nov. 11. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards. Like Home Depot, Lowes offers this discount daily to active duty military members, but not to veterans. However, they extend the offer to military veterans on military holidays. You can also find exclusive discounts at Lowe’s.com.

Free Park Admissions for Veterans Day
Anheuser-Busch Parks. Anheuser-Busch Parks offers Active Duty Service Members free admission for them and up to 3 dependents to any of their parks once a year. Throughout 2011, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission. The Here’s to the Heroes program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman. Eligible parks include: Adventure Island, Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay or Williamsburg), SeaWorld (Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio), Sesame Place, and Water Country USA. Not valid at Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. For more information and to register, visit: Free admission summary, and ticket application.

Colonial Williamsburg Free Admission. Colonial Williamsburg offers free weekend-long admission tickets to active-duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, and their immediate dependents from Friday, Nov. 11
through Sunday, Nov. 13th. The complimentary ticket incudes admission to Colonial Williamsburg exhibition sites, art museums, and most daytime programs, as well as free parking and use of the shuttle bus system. Tickets are only available at on-site ticket sales locations. Tickets are also available to families of deployed servicemembers. Tickets available on the following dates: Nov. 11-13.

Historic Jamestowne – Free Admission. The National Park Service commemorates Veterans Day with Fee Free days at Historic Jamestowne November 11-13. Free admission for everyone. See events calendar.

Knotts Berry Farm Military Tribute Days – Free Admission. Knott’s Berry Farm has an annual Military Tribute event in which they offer military members past and present by offering free park admission. This year the Military Tribute Days run from November 1 – 24 November (Thanksgiving Day). Veterans or current serving military personnel plus one guest get in FREE with proper ID presented at Knott’s turnstile (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or Active Military Service ID). Purchase up to six additional tickets for just $17 each. More info.

Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veteran’s Day weekend – November 11-13, 2011. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event.

San Jacinto Monument and Museum (La Porte, TX). November 7-13: Free admission to the theatre, Observation Floor, and (on November 12-13) the special exhibit to all veterans and their families. More info.

Bed and Breakfast for Vets - In the third year of the program, B&Bs for Vets has organized over 485 (and counting) participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns across the US and Canada which will be offering veterans a free night’s stay on November 10th, the night before Veterans Day. This offer is available to both active duty military members and veterans with ID, but space is limited. Each Inn and B&B has at least one
room available for this promotion and reservations must be made directly through the participating Inns and B&Bs. For more information visit B&Bs for Vets.

Free Hugo® Canes for Veterans - Sam’s Club® locations nationwide will distribute 36,000 Hugo® canes free of charge on November 9th, 10th, 11th, 2011 to U.S. military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Limited quantities available, while supplies last. Sam’s Club® Membership is not required, but proof of military service may be required. For more information, visit HugoSalutes.com.

Other Veteran’s Day Discounts
Free Car wash. Thousands of car washes around the country are offering vets a free car wash on Veterans Day. Find a list at Grace for Veterans, which helped veterans receive 101,537 FREE Washes on Veterans Day in 2010.

Amazon.com – Discount “Veterans Day Honor” MP3 album download. This downloadable album includes 12 songs as performed by the military bands and ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces. Visit Amazon on Veteran’s Day to download the album.

Netflix – One Month Free Trial.

Sport Clips – FREE haircut to active-duty military & veterans. Offer only available at select locations. Please call to verify local participation.

Tim Hortons – all US locations are offering a free donut to all veterans (check out the Star Spangled donut!).

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

TEST - National Emergency Broadcast System

Please be aware FEMA, DHS, and FCC will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) today. This nationwide three-minute test is the first of its kind designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public and will kick off at 1:00 p.m. The test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band stations and across all time zones. Additional information is available regarding this test at FEMAs website

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Great Team Work!!!

Just a quick note of thanks for the amazing team work displayed by all areas of the Division during the fire alarm today.  Fortunately this was a false alarm.  However, it did give us an opportunity to see our response during a perceived emergency.  Needless to say, I was very proud of our ability to evacuate our areas in such an efficient manner.  Thank you for your leadership and dedication to keeping our students, faculty and staff safe while in our facilities!

Debbie

Monday, November 7, 2011

Weekly Announcements

Good Morning!


I am pleased to see the expansion of "followers" on this blog - thank you!  Here are some announcements for this week.


Library
Some of you may have seen several people looking at the floor in the front of the Library over the past few weeks.  I am pleased to say that the main entrance of the Library will be getting new flooring and a much needed upgrade in the coming months.  Stay tuned for more updates on this project.


The Annual Library Book Sale is here!  The Sale begins November 28th and runs through December 5th - please help spread the word!


Academic Success Center
iPad2 units have arrived!!!  Students can check out iPad2 units for use in the ASC as an alternative tool for supporting learning needs.  For more information please contact Hanan Merheb, Director of the ASC at ext. 3573.


ETRC
The ETRC is revamping the support materials for distribution to students taking online courses.  The College recently upgraded to a new version of BlackBoard and the ETRC is finding new ways to support student success in these courses.  


Thank You!!!
Thank you to all of the staff within the Division that participated in the Completion Agenda kick-off event.  It was also great see so many people at the President's Reception.  Thank you!


Triton Trojans
Please support our student athletes by attending an upcoming event-


Men's Basketball - 

Tue. Nov. 15 McHenry River Grove, IL 7 p.m. 
Thu. Nov. 17 Morton River Grove, IL 7 p.m. 
Tue. Nov. 22 Olive-Harvey River Grove, IL 7 p.m. 



Women's Basketball-


Sat.Nov. 12Judson University (JV)River Grove, IL1 p.m.
Tue.Nov. 15McHenryRiver Grove, IL5 p.m.






Thursday, November 3, 2011

Trojan Pride!!!

Triton College Men’s Soccer Team Wins Fourth Straight Region IV Championship

The Triton College men’s soccer team’s dominance of Region IV continued Oct. 26 in Buffalo Grove. The Trojans won their fourth consecutive regional crown in their 2-0 win over Joliet Junior College.

The current Triton run of championships equals the school record for consecutive titles achieved previously from 1985-1988.

The Trojans, 15-1, are one win away from returning to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Herkimer, NY, and will travel to Coon Rapids, Minn., to face Anoka-Ramsey Community College for the District C Championship this Saturday at noon.

These two teams are no strangers to one another as Triton defeated Anoka-Ramsey 3-0 in last year’s district final.

“It’s a great accomplishment to win four region championships in a row,” said assistant coach Piotr Sliwa. “However our work is not done. We’ll have a challenging game in Minnesota and need to continue to play good team soccer if we want to achieve our ultimate goal and that’s to make it back to New York for nationals.”

Early on in the clinching win over Joliet, the two teams played at a high pace but had difficulty generating many scoring chances in the unseasonably chilly conditions. But the Trojans offense hit the jackpot with their only goals coming in a 90-second span midway through the first half.

Dawid Wisniewski (East Leyden) scored the first tally off an assist from Gewargis Samuel (Mather) in the 23rd minute. Seconds later Dimitrios Floros (Truman Middle College) struck from 25 yards from Samuel Samuel (Mather) to give Triton all the offense they needed.

Goalkeeper Jorge Perez (East Aurora) made the lead stand up by recording his fifth straight shutout. The Trojans have not allowed a goal since their only loss of the season to Milwaukee Tech on Oct. 5. Triton has outscored their opponents 15-0 during this stretch.

After the victory, head coach Tom Cholewa was awarded Region IV Coach of the Year and Dimitrios Floros was named Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player.

For more information on Triton College Athletics, visit www.triton.edu/athletics or call Athletic Director Harry McGinnis at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3784.

Germs Are In The Air!

Happy Thursday!

Fall is here, the cold weather is coming and so are the germs!  Many of us have been fighting cold/flu symptoms which is a great reminder of what lies ahead.  Please make sure that you are taking great care of yourselves, wash hands, cover mouths and stay healthy!  If you area needs more hand sanitizer please let me know - we can work to get you more.  

Thanks again for all of your hard work - I am inspired everyday by your dedication and commitment to our students.  

Debbie