Events

The Circus Will “Zing Zang Zoom”
Into Town This March

13^th Annual Children’s Premiere Night
With Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Benefiting the NIH Children’s Charities

This very special show is back again!!! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® and the NIH/NOAA R&W invites Children of All Ages to join the Ringling Bros. team in the ALL-NEW, ALL-LIVE 139^th Edition of The Greatest Show on Earth! This year, through the mystery of magic and mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound by Zing Zang Zoom a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion. Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus while warding off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of “heavies’ who try to bring everyone down. Be mesmerized when a four-ton elephant disappears before your eyes, and a gravity-inducing nemesis transforms into a ferocious tiger. Stand in awe as two formidable, female human cannonballs are blasted through the air in a daring display of bravery. Become electrified as the dangerous double wheel of steel, the gasp-inducing high wire and soaring gigantic swings, defy both gravity and logic. Fun-filled magic merges with traditional circus arts to create a world of infinite possibilities where apprentice illusionists levitate their parents with a wave of a wand, and audience spirits keep rising as this high flying circus is (literally) turned upside down. Watch in amazement as a herd Asian elephants, Bengal tigers and Arabian and Friesian horses join forces with human performers to create an experience that will surprise and delight Children of All Ages, render us speechless and remind us that the magic of The Greatest Show on Earth lives forever in our hearts and imaginations.

Your escape from the everyday begins one hour before show time when you make your way to the arena floor. The FREE All-Access Pre-Show allows families to interact with the stars, mingle with an amazing group of acrobats, aerialists, animals, clowns, jugglers and more. You can even step into a circus closet and slip on a costume. There’s so much the Pre-Show has to offer and the show hasn’t even started! So grab your cotton candy and be prepared to be whisked away into a whirlwind of action and adventure. Join us for the 13^th Annual Children’s Premiere Night hosted by the NIH R&W, benefiting the NIH Charities on Wednesday, March 17^th at 7pm with the FREE (pre-show at 6pm). You won’t hear about this on the radio or television because this night is only for special invitees from the NIH R&W…and you and your friends and family are invited!! This event is a fundraiser for the NIH Charities and is a wonderful opportunity for the R&W to provide a magical evening to many special needs children in the local metro area. Over the years, with your help, we have treated over 25,000 deserving children to the circus. The NIH R&W has a goal to fill the entire Verizon Center with friends and family, so we need your help. Pass the word along to all your friends and family and have them join you for this special evening. Tickets are on sale at the R&W Activities Desk in Bldg. 31 Rm. B1W30 or call 301-496-4600. Orders can be placed for tickets at any R&W store. Tickets available include Circus Celebrity - front row/interactive seating where you become part of the show (reg. $115), Front Row (reg. $75), VIP (reg. $52), 100 Level (reg. $35), and 200 Level (reg. $30). Discounted ticket prices will be announced via the R&W ListServ and will be listed in the February R&W Newsletter later this month. Don’t delay…we have the best seats in the house for this special R&W hosted evening, but they won’t last long! We’ll see you at the circus!

NIH Sailing Association Spring Open House

Would you like to learn to sail? Can you imagine being part of a group filled with skilled sailing instructors, enthusiasts and boat owners? Join the NIH Sailing Association on Thursday, February 25^th, from 5 to 8 pm at the FAES House on the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Cedar Lane. This club offers instruction, sailboats for charter, racing, cruises, parties and fun!! $5.00 at the door includes pizza and sodas; cash bar for beer and wine: $1.00 each. Look for our posters and flyers around campus!! For more information please visit www.recgov.org/sail.

Books Are Fun Book Fair
South Lobby of Bldg. 10

Books Are Fun will be holding a book fair in the South lobby on the first floor of Bldg. 10 from Wednesday, March 3^rd – Friday, March 5^th. Come to the Book Fair and shop in the convenience of your workplace. Save up to 70% off retail prices on an incredible selection of books for all interests and ages and fine gift items. Many items will be themed towards Black History Month and will feature African American books (biographies, novels, etc.), and gifts. You can also choose from a large selection of sports, educational and children’s books. The book fair will take place daily from 9am – 2pm. .

National Wear Red Day:
Taking Women’s Health to Heart

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute unites Americans in raising awareness about the #1 killer of women: heart disease! National Wear Red Day is an annual event held on the first Friday in February. On Friday, February 5, 2010, women and men across the country will wear red to unite in the national movement to give women a personal and urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease. One in every four women dies of heart disease and although significant progress has been made in increasing awareness among women, from 34 percent in 2000 to 69 percent in 2009, most women fail to make the connection between risk factors and their personal risk of developing heart disease. While heart disease risk begins to rise in middle age, heart disease develops over time and can start at a young age, even in the teen years. It's never too early, or too late, to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease. Everyone can participate by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or by wearing the Red Dress Pin (available at any R&W store). Join this national effort by wearing red on February 5^th, and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to do the same. By participating in National Wear Red Day, employees at NIH and NOAA are joining The Heart Truth. The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign to alert women about their risk for heart disease and motivate them to take steps to lower their risk. The centerpiece of the campaign is the Red Dress—the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. What's a Red Dress got to do with it? A simple Red Dress works as a visual red alert to get the message heard loud and clear: "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear, It's the #1 Killer of Women."

The campaign, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is reaching women with important heart health messages in community settings through a diverse network of national and grassroots partner organizations. Please join in and help spread the word about women and heart disease. For additional information about National Wear Red Day—including local community activities—as well as The Heart Truth and its Red Dress symbol, please visit www.hearttruth.gov .or wassermankt@mail.nih.gov and/or the Federal Relay 1-800-877-8339 5 days in advance.

Baseball Opening Day Auctions

Orioles - The R&W will also be holding a silent auction via email for the Baltimore Orioles 2010 home opener vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. We have two tickets in Section 14BBB. The opening bid for the pair will be face value, $120 ($60 per ticket), and bidding will be done in increments of $5. The email auction will begin Tues., March 2^nd at 8am and end Thurs., March 4^th at 3:30pm.

Nationals - The R&W will be holding a silent auction via email for the Washington Nationals 2010 home opener vs. the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies. We have four tickets in Section 219 Row D which will be sold as sets of two. The opening bid for each pair will be face value, $120 ($60 per ticket), and bidding will be done in increments of $5. The email auction will begin Tues., March 9^th at 8am and end Thurs., March 11^th at 3:30pm.

If you are interested in participating in either/both auction(s) please email nihrw@mail.nih.gov and note which one(s).

Orioles and Nationals Ticket Sale

Batter Up! It’s that time of year again! The R&W will once again offer tickets to the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. Orioles’ tickets will go on sale Tuesday, February 23^rd in Bldg. 31, Rm. B1W30 (outside the R&W gift shop) at 8am. Available tickets will include two regular season tickets (2 seats behind first base – Section 14BBB seat 7-8), and in addition we will have tickets available for 13 Sunday games (4 seats behind third base – Section 58MM). You may buy one set of tickets the first time through the line. After the initial line ends you may come back through again to purchase additional tickets. Arrive early to get in line if you have a particular game in mind. Nationals’ tickets will be on sale on Thursday, February 25^th in Bldg. 31 Rm. B1-W30 (outside the R&W Gift Shop) at 8am. We will have 4 seats in Section 219 Row D. The process to purchase tickets will be the same…line up outside of Bldg. 31 for sales beginning at 8am. Remember, you must be a Preferred 2010 R&W member to purchase tickets. Have your card and ‘10 sticker on hand to purchase your tickets. R&W preferred memberships can also be purchased at the time you purchase your tickets. Membership is $7 for the year.

NIH Philharmonia Orchestra Concert

The NIH Philharmonia Orchestra will present its third concert of the season on March 6^th at 7:30pm at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (917 Montrose Rd., Rockville, MD). The concert “Let’s Order American” includes Goldman – “On the Mall,” Copland – “An Outdoor Overture,” Barber – “Capricorn Concerto,” Morgulas – “Sydney the Sea Squid” (world premiere), and Sousa – “Liberty Bell.” Tickets are FREE. For further information visit the orchestra’s website www.NIHPhil.org. Look for more information about their upcoming spring concert “It’s for the Birds.”

R&W Seminar Series

Planning Your Retirement Paycheck – February 9^th – 12-1pm Bldg. 31A Rm. 2 – There’s never been a better time to start putting time on your side. During this complimentary seminar we'll explore issues like: everything you need to know about retirement plan distributions, financing the retirement lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of, how to provide a stream of income during retirement, how to take advantage of tax-free retirement income, how your expenses will change in retirement and how to increase your income and reduce your taxes. RSVP to Alicia Burrell at 240-314-4339 or Alicia.k.Burrell@ampf.com.

Turning your Savings into a Retirement Paycheck - February 25^th – 12-1pm Bldg. 31A Rm. 2 – Most Americans work over 90,000 hours during their lives so it is important to spend time on the retirement planning process. This seminar provides a very straightforward and graphic approach to explaining retirement plan distribution options, the fundamentals of investing when approaching retirement, and some strategies to help one efficiently turn their retirement savings into an income stream for the rest of their life. RSVP to Christine Mantich at Christine_mantich@ml.com or 301-230-5776.

Manage Your Taxes. Use the Opportunities in Current Tax Laws – March 4^th – 12pm-1pm RKL II Rm. 9100, and March 18^th – 12pm-1pm Bldg. 10 Rm. 2C116 - Presented by Brian Thoms, CFP®. During this complimentary seminar, you’ll learn ways to: Manage the amount you pay to the government in taxes, Align tax treatments with your investment objectives, and Find the right balance of before- and after-tax investments for your situation. RSVP to Alicia Burrell at alicia.k.burrell@ampf.com or 240-314-4339.

Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow - March 9^th – 12pm-1pm Bldg. 31 Rm. 2 - Did you know that 9 out of 10 women manage their finances alone at some point in their lives? That’s why it’s essential that women be knowledgeable and confident about their personal and family finances. This seminar, presented by First Command Financial Services, is an engaging, informative presentation on personal financial planning that looks into the individual financial situations of four women in different life circumstances and provides participants the opportunity to interactively discuss solutions for each. Topics include: financial challenges women face and the opportunities they enjoy, the three cornerstones of financial management , the importance of having a financial plan to pursue your goals and how thoughtful planning can help enhance quality of life. RSVP to 703-418-9360.

Road To Retirement – March 25^th – 12pm-1pm Bldg. 31 Rm. 2 -Plan for your retirement during these tough economic times. Attend “Road to Retirement,” sponsored by the NIH Federal Credit Union. This complimentary seminar will teach attendees how to develop their own personal retirement goals, implement a retirement income plan and navigate retirement income obstacles. Please RSVP to mcruz@nihfcu.org.

Managing the Risk of an Income Shortfall In Retirement – April 1^st – 12pm-1pm RKL II Rm. 9100 - Whatever your vision of retirement, it requires a combination of planning and smart income, investment, and distribution strategies to achieve and sustain it. During this seminar we will discuss three of the critical risks investors face when they begin taking distributions from the savings they have accumulated for retirement. These risks include: longevity risk, inflation or purchasing power risk, sequence of returns risk (risk of early losses at the beginning of retirement). After we define and examine these risks, the second half of the seminar will discuss several strategies to mitigate the risk of a shortfall of income in retirement. The seminar will be given by Jeff Seitz, CRPC®, First Vice President - Investments Matthew Bosley, CFP® Financial Advisor. RSVP to Christine Mantich 301-230-5776 or Christine_Mantich@ml.com.

Get a Head Start on College Savings!

March 2^nd Bldg. 31 Rm. 6C10
All seminars will be held 11:30am - 12:30pm

SAVE HERE. GO ANYWHERE! It’s never too early or too late to start saving for college. The College Savings Plans of Maryland is the easy, affordable and smart way to save for your child's education at nearly any college in the nation. The College Savings Plan of Maryland offers two distinct and flexible plans that will help Maryland parents, grandparents, and family friends give their favorite student a head start. Also, they’re the only 529 plans that offer a Maryland State income deduction for Maryland taxpayers. Maryland Prepaid College Trust - lock in future college tuition rates at today’s prices, and is backed by the security of a Maryland Legislative Guarantee. Enrollment is open though April 5, 2010. Maryland College Investment Plan - managed and underwritten by T. Rowe Price, the plan offers a variety investment options, with no sales commissions or loads, and enrollment is open year-round. Use one or choose both; as little as $25 per month can get you started today. Remember, it’s never too early or late to have a plan. Can’t make the March 2^nd presentation? Two informational webinars are scheduled for Tuesday, March 9^th and Thursday, March 18^th from 11:30am - 12:30pm. You can join from your desk or at home as long you have both telephone and internet access. For info on how to register for the webinars contact Lauren Shipley at lshipley@collegesavingsmd.org. We hope you can attend one of the information sessions in person or online!

Sign Language Interpreters will be provided for all seminars on this page. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Kallie Wasserman 301-496-6061 or wassermankt@mail.nih.gov and/or the Federal Relay 1-800-877-8339 5 days in advance.

Manchester String Quartet
Concerts in Building 10

Please join us for the twentieth seasonal performance of the Manchester String Quartet. The concerts are free and begin at 12:30 pm in the Masur Auditorium, Bldg 10. Future concert dates include:

Monday, February 8
Monday, March 8
Monday, April 5
Monday, May 10

This series is made possible by The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). For reasonable accommodation needs, please contact Sharon Greenwell at 301-496-4713 or email sg115f@nih.gov.

New Course Begins February 10^thLosses in Our Lives, Pathways to Healing

We all experience losses in our lives. Loss and subsequent grief are part of our shared humanity. This workshop is designed to address all types of losses. Participants will be given tools to assist in the healing process and individual journey to wholeness. These accessible skills will be offered as experiential exercises in class, which participants can build on in their lives as routine practices on their healing path. The variety of self-expressive activities includes reflective journaling, music, poetry, storytelling, and other creative venues. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to understand the connection between authentic self-expression and healing, acknowledge their pain in a safe way, grow in their self-awareness of inner strength and personal resourcefulness in dealing with life’s challenges, understand the role loss played in their personal growth, and acknowledge the gifts imparted by loss into their lives. This workshop offers an opportunity to work through our feelings of loss and grief in a healthy way. By acknowledging our pain and our gifts resulting from our losses, we begin the healing process of affirming life, and cultivating our compassion and gratitude in our common humanity. This 3 hour course will be offered twice, Wednesday, Feb. 10^th from 4:30pm-7:30pm and Wednesday, Feb. 17^th from 4:30-7:30pm at the Little Theater, Natcher Bldg., NIH Campus for $60/registrant. To register call the Activities Desk at 301-496-4600 and please denote which date you are registering for. For more info on the class call Sheila Litwin 301-983-5101.

This course will be taught by: Carin Y. Holstein Cooper, RN, MPH. Her business, Full Blossom: Writing for Wellness designs programs that integrate writing and healing. Carin is an RN, has a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and has worked as a health consultant and designed various health projects. She has taught creative writing and poetry classes for eight years; is a poet, writer, pianist, and has a background in dance. Sheila Litwin, MA, LCPC, licensed Psychotherapist with a private practice in the Washington DC area. She has certification in Group Psychotherapy, and has facilitated small and large groups for over 30 years. She has conducted a series of workshops at NIH on “Creative Problem Solving” and has given lectures and conducted workshops nation-wide. Her book, Engendering Creativity is being edited/published. Sheila is a dancer, choreographer, and has extensive training in creative movement and its use is psychotherapy.