Strawberry Field Day...

Don't miss the strawberry field day at Gulf Coast REC on Monday, February 6th, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm.  Several important field trials will be highlighted and new soil fumigant and soil moisture monitoring technology will be demonstrated.  Also included will be *an update on the future availability of methyl bromide soil fumigant, *a display of fruit from the newest varieties in the GCREC strawberry breeding program, and *the latest results on disease, pest, and nitrogen fertilizer management studies

OPS Retirement Plan...OPS employees should see a change in their payroll deductions beginning January 13th (paycheck of February 3rd).  This is the effective date of the mandatory plan that replaces Social Security deductions for OPS employees only.  As December's newsletter informed, all OPS should have received a letter from BENCOR (administrator of the plan) explaining the plan and providing options to choose between a Guaranteed Pooled Fund (interest bearing account) and a variable investment option.  In place of the 6.2% of salary and employer matching amount going to Social Security, 7.5% will be deducted for the new plan.  If you have any questions regarding this retirement fund, please see Patty or long onto http://www.hr.ufl.edu/benefits/ficaalternative.htm

For those who missed all the excitement of the Polycom wedding at GCREC December 21st, here are a few snapshots of the unique wedding.  The groom is a marine stationed in Africa, the bride is in Clearwater, and the officiating judge is in Montana (the only state that allows marriage by double proxy)!  Freedom Calls, a New York City-based organization that helps military families communicate during wartime, located GCREC through a network of communications specialists.  Our center was able to provide the technology for the video conferencing.  The holiday atmosphere of December was a good opportunity for Jack Rechcigl, Center Director, to try his hand at Jack Rechcigl, Wedding Planner.  The media-covered event bringing three distant places and a happy couple together was a first in long-distance, legal marriage. 


(left) groom Jason Druding; (right) Montana judge; (front) groom's brother as stand-in with bride, Francie Mercado.

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