2009 Annual Report Available Now

The 2009 Wake County Annual Report is now available online at www.wakegov.com. The report highlights the County's achievements throughout the 2009 fiscal year, and showcases some of the ways Wake County continues to serve its citizens with innovative initiatives and strong leadership.

Printed versions of the report are available at County facilities.

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2010 Open Enrollment Starts Today

The 2010 Open Enrollment period for employee benefits begins today, November 3, 2009, and ends Thursday, November 19, 2009. Enrollment this year includes Health, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, Supplemental Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Short-term Disability.
 
There are a number of benefit changes implemented for the 2010 year, providing cost-savings to the County and employees. These changes have resulted in no premium increases to employees for health, dental, life and disability insurance.  

This year’s Open Enrollment is an “active enrollment.” Employees are required to confirm their current benefit elections or make changes to their current elections in the Online Open Enrollment Systems to maintain benefits for the 2010 plan year. While online, employees can also find information about 2010 benefit changes, plan information and enrollment instructions.

In addition, employees are encouraged to learn about upcoming benefit changes by attending one of many county-wide open enrollment meetings. Upcoming meetings are:

Eastern Regional Center
November 4, 2009
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Southern Regional Center
November 5, 2009
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Public Safety Center
November 6, 2009
11 a.m.

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Flu Care Tips

Over the last several weeks, more people in Wake County have become sick with flu-like symptoms. Because more people are becoming sick, it more important than ever to be prepared ahead of time and to get the right type of care if you are sick.

The most basic types of care begin when you are well – by practicing good health habits and preparing a home emergency kit. Good health habits include avoiding contact with sick people and staying home when you are ill, washing hands frequently, sneezing into your arm or a tissue, and conducting normal cleaning using antibacterial products. A simple flu emergency kit includes a working thermometer, soap, hand sanitizer, tissues and acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. It is important to know the correct dosage for each family member.

Most people who become sick with H1N1 or seasonal flu will experience mild symptoms and can be cared for at home, benefitting from:

• rest at home – away from work, child care or school,
• reduction of fever with appropriate doses of Tylenol or ibuprofen, taken at appropriate intervals
• enough fluids to be sure that they are still producing pale-colored urine

Most people will recover in 5 to 7 days without treatment. If someone with flu-like symptoms becomes dehydrated or has a prolonged high fever, contact their normal medical care provider.

What's different about seasonal flu, and especially H1N1 flu, is that some people – such as children of certain ages and those with other medical problems – are at risk for more serious complications of flu, including dehydration, pneumonia or hospitalization.

If you or a family member is at high risk of developing complications from the flu, contact your normal medical care provider within 48 hours of becoming ill.

Anyone who is ill should not return to work or school until they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen.

For more information on seasonal and H1N1 flu, visit www.wakegov.com/flu.

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Employees Invited to Participate in Annual Arts Competition

Wake County, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County invite all current Wake County and City of Raleigh employees and their immediate family members to enter the 7th Annual National Arts Program® competition and exhibit.

The deadline for employees to submit the intent-to-enter registration form is Monday, November 9, 2009, at 4 p.m. Registration forms and details can be found at www.wakeemployees.com in the left-hand column.

There is no fee to enter the competition and each person may enter one work of art. Cash prizes will be awarded in each of the five artistic classifications and age groups. A jury of recognized artists and arts professionals will judge all works.

Registration forms can be faxed to 856-6181 or delivered to the 10th floor of the Wake County Office Building, 337. S. Salisbury St., Raleigh.

An opening reception will be held December 3, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex for all Wake County and City of Raleigh employees and their families to view the exhibit. The exhibit will run through January 11, 2010.

For more information, call Sharon Brown at 856-6555.

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November is National Adoption Month

There are currently 129,000 children in the United States who are waiting to be adopted. In North Carolina, more than 700 children are in foster care and in need of adoption.

In fiscal year 2009, 98 children in Wake County were adopted by 66 families. The County is actively recruiting adoptive families for approximately 60 children in foster care. Most of these children are children of color and they are school-aged. Many of them have siblings with whom they need to be placed.

For more information about adoption in Wake County or to learn about Wake County children waiting for adoption, contact Wake County’s Adoption Resource Team at 212-7471.

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North Regional Library to Host Local Authors

The North Regional Library will host an Author Talk featuring local authors Therese Fowler, Diane Chamberlain and J.D. Rhoades on Tuesday, November 5, 2009, at 7 p.m. Fans and aspiring writers are encouraged to join Fowler, Chamberlain and Rhoades for a discussion of their books and writing styles. There will also be a question and answer session, and the authors will sign copies of their books.

Therese Fowler is the internationally acclaimed author of the novels Reunion and Souvenir. She writes about choices and consequences, mistakes, misapprehensions, redemption and love in all its forms.

Diane Chamberlain is the best-selling author of 18 novels including Secrets She Left Behind, Before the Storm, and the Target Book Club pick The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes. Her books, frequently set in North Carolina, are complex stories about love, compassion and forgiveness, with a touch of mystery and suspense.

J.D. Rhoades is the author of Breaking Cover and The Devil’s Right Hand. He also authored Good Day in Hell and Safe and Sound featuring North Carolina bail bondsman Jack Keller.

Borders is partnering with the library and will be onsite selling copies of the authors’ books.

To register for the event, call 870-4000.

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Celebrate GIS Day on November 18

Employees are invited to learn about various uses for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the Capital Area GIS Showcase on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 205 Fayetteville St., Raleigh.

This free open house will feature a map gallery, exhibits and demonstrations of how GIS is used to benefit people’s daily lives on a local and global scale – impacting more than weather maps, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) devices and Emergency response. GIS departments from the City of Raleigh, Wake County and N.C. State Government are sponsoring the event.

Demonstrations and exhibits include crime mapping, coastal area management, public health issues, visualization and analysis, and the N.C. Geodetic Survey GPS.  Visitors can vote for their favorite map or display in the map gallery, and winners will receive prizes.

GIS Day is celebrated globally during National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week. For information, contact Anne Payne at 856-6383.

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Exhibit Created by Historic Oak View County Park Open at the North Carolina Museum of History

The exhibit, In Search of a New Deal: Images of North Carolina, 1935-1941, created by Historic Oak View County Park in 2004, began a lengthy run at the North Carolina Museum of History on October 29, 2009.

The exhibit is a collection of 50 photographs taken in North Carolina during the Great Depression by photographers working for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Farm Security Administration. The opening of the exhibit commemorates the 80th anniversary of Black Tuesday, the stock market crash that is commonly associated with the beginning of the Great Depression.

Since its creation by Historic Oak View County Park in 2004, the exhibit has traveled the state for showings at eleven different venues in North Carolina. The exhibit will be on display at the North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh, until January 31, 2011. 

More information can be found at the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

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