Join the club

The Faculty Club wants you to know that its doors aren’t just open to Penn professors—they’re also open to all staff, alumni and graduate students at the University. And now’s the best time to join. For annual dues of just $52.50 (good through Aug. 31), members can enjoy all of the privileges of good food and good company. Members can opt for a generous hot and cold prix-fixe buffet Monday through Friday for $9.20 per person, or the soup and salad light lunch for $5.95. Members can also stop by before the workday begins for complimentary morning coffee and pastries or enjoy the elegant theme dinners offered at the Club throughout the term.

To apply online, just use your credit card at the Faculty Club website (www.upenn.edu/facultyclub/) or download an application from the membership page. For more information, call Club Coordinator Natalka Swavely at 215-898-4618 or email her at fsaclub@pobox.upenn.edu.

PMS study

Do you experience severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? Women who do may want to participate in a 21-month study being conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine. Participants will receive free evaluations and treatment using a commercially available antidepressant. Those wishing to volunteer should call 215-662-3329 or 1-800-662-4487 for more information.

Flu shots available

Despite worries last fall Penn would not be able to run its usual flu shot program this year, the University has since acquired a supply of vaccines to be offered to faculty and staff.

The Division of Human Resources sponsored two vaccine clinics in late December, but Penn still has limited doses of vaccine available to eligible faculty and staff. The vaccines are available in both flu shot and nasal mist form, although eligibility varies for the two vaccine types—the flu shot, specifically, is available to only those Penn faculty and staff members that meet the Centers for Disease Control’s definition of “high risk.”

The vaccines are being offered through the University of Pennsylvania Health System’s Occupational Medicine division. For more information, call Occupational Medicine at 215-662-2367 or Penn Human Resources at 215-898-5116.

Science Café, round two

The first installment of the Penn Science Café, featuring Penn Professor of Biology David Roos, was a rousing success—the event drew 70 people to the MarBar on a cold Monday night to sip cocktails and hear Roos talk about the science of genomics.

The second event in the Science Café series figures to be just as popular, as Penn Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Ben Horton discusses a timely topic—tsunamis—at 6 p.m., Feb. 28, at the MarBar, 40th and Walnut streets. Horton will describe what a tsunami is, how big and powerful they can get, what causes them and what can be done to mitigate damage caused by them.

The new Penn Science Café lecture series is free and open to the public.

Volunteers needed

The Sayre Middle-High School and the Sayre Beacon Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program are looking for volunteers to help staff and run weekly community nights.

Sayre Family Fitness Nights aim to provide after-school activities for children, teens and parents with a focus on physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. They will offer recreational and educational opportunities to the whole family in order to promote health and foster community involvement. Organizers hope to offer a wide range of classes, from line dancing to computer skills, as well as a weekly health-monitoring clinic and free health screenings.

Classes will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. Transportation will be provided. Volunteers are needed to conduct registrations, instruct classes, offer childcare and for general support.

For more information, contact Isabel Mapp, associate director, Faculty, Staff and Alumni Volunteer Services, at 215-898-2020.