Year: 2020

An all staff meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 10, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The meeting is to share updates from agency leadership and will be recorded for those who are unable to attend. The recording will be available approximately 24 hours later on the staff website under Resources > Working during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Zoom information to join is as follows:

• https://centralriversaea.zoom.us/j/88540493741
• Meeting ID: 885 4049 3741
• One tap mobile +13126266799,,88540493741# US (Chicago)

Be sure your Zoom is updated to the current version and these instructions will help you check your version along with how to use closed captioning if you would like that option.  For technical assistance, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231

With American Education Week just around the corner (November 16-20), the agency is celebrating YOU and all that you have accomplished this year – especially in light of the challenges of COVID 19. The agency is hosting a “selfie challenge” which invites you to share a photo of yourself at work sporting your face covering or other protective gear. Here’s how to enter:

1. Take a horizontal photo of yourself at work sporting your face covering or other protective gear. (If you are out in a local school district, be sure not to capture anyone in the background due to confidentiality concerns.)
2. Upload your photo to this Google folder by November 11. (Label the photo with your first and last name.)
3. Head over to Wellness Wave and claim your $10 incentive for participating in an “agency event” (under “Social Well-being”).
4. Wait to find out if you are selected as the grand prize winner of $50 to use toward CRAEA apparel from the apparel store!

The grand prize winner will be announced on November 16!

For more information, contact Beth Strike.

The holiday season is almost upon us and in the past Central Rivers AEA has participated in many in-person giving opportunities throughout the communities we serve.  Due to the continuing pandemic, our efforts will need to be done differently this year and many of the local relief organizations find themselves in greater need than ever before. 

Some of the organizations our staff has supported in the past include Food Bank of Iowa, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club of the Cedar Valley, Habitat for Humanity, and several homeless shelters in our local communities. All accept mailed donations and online contributions. 

Please consider making a gift to one of the above organizations or to your favorite charity to help those in need and make the holidays a little brighter for children and families! While we won’t track our effort as an agency, those in need will greatly appreciate your help!

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the safety and well-being of our staff is a priority and as an agency, we will continue to follow the same guidelines that were put into place in August with the Return to Work plan. 

If practices need to be adjusted, you will be notified and if you find yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe, please let your supervisor or Human Resources know so that support can be provided. More on this topic will be shared at the November 10 all staff meeting.

With winter right around the corner, stay in the know whenever there’s an office closing or professional learning cancellation. Sign up to get Central Rivers AEA weather alerts via text, call, or email. Staff members can contact Shirley Horak, Human Resources Coordinator (shorak@centralriversaea.org) for information on signing up. 

If further clarification is needed, please visit with your direct supervisor. 

Don’t forget to change your voicemail greeting and set an away message to your email during both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday breaks so that callers and/or e-mailers will know when they can expect to hear from you.

Voicemail example:

“Hello, this is (your name). Our office will be closed beginning Thursday, November 26  and will reopen on Monday, November 30. Please leave your name, telephone number and a brief message and I will return your call on the 30th. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Central Rivers AEA.”

Email “away” message example:

Thank you for your email. I will be out of the office beginning Thursday, November 26 and will respond to your email upon my return on Monday, the 30th. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

If you need assistance with either task, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@centralriversaea.org or 319-273-8231.

*Please note the office closure dates for the Christmas holiday break are Thursday, December 24 – January 1, 2021. Offices will reopen on Monday, January 4th. 

Similar to Wellmark and VSP, Delta Dental is now offering a hearing exam and hearing aid discounted pricing to those employees/members enrolled in the dental plan. They are partnering with Amplifon for this service.  Providers are located in Cedar Falls, Mason City and Marshalltown.  View the Delta Dental flyer for more information.

For information (and to compare) other hearing exam/aid discounts provided, click on the links below or visit the portal under My Benefits > 20-21 Insurance Information.

• VSP – TruHearing, Hearing Aid Discount brochure
• Wellmark – Blue365 Discount brochure
• Delta Dental – Hearing Exam/Aid Discounts brochure

For further information, contact Betty Hesseling, Benefits Specialist (bhesseling@centralriversaea.org)

With support of the insurance committee, Central Rivers AEA will implement an infertility benefit with a lifetime maximum of $15,000, effective on January 1, 2021.  Once more information is received from Wellmark, it will be added to the portal under My Benefits > 20-21 Insurance Information.  Please contact Betty Hesseling, Benefits Specialist, (bhesseling@centralriversaea.org) if you have any questions.