• Promotion dates: Remember that page 1 of promotion forms are due on May 15, and the full applications are due on June 15 for full-time faculty.
  
  
• Vote in your local school budget: Don't forget to vote on your local school budget and in the local school board elections on May 17! The outcomes of these decisions make a real difference in the lives of our union sisters and brothers in K-12, so please be informed, active supporters of our local public schools.
  
  
• Commencement ceremony: The college will host Commencement on Thursday, May 19, and the FA encourages all members to participate to help honor and celebrate the achievements of our graduates who have been through so much. There will be two ceremonies, at 9 am and at 1 pm, and if both exceed capacity, the college will add a third ceremony at 5 pm. Watch for a forthcoming email so you can RSVP for the ceremony of your choice.
  
  
• FA negotiates life insurance benefit increase: The board of the FA's Benefit Fund has successfully negotiated to double our Unum life insurance benefit from $10,000 to $20,000, effective January 1, 2022, for active full-time members. Contact Mary Kaffaga for more information and/or if you need to change your beneficiary.
  
  In addition, as NEA members, you should know that the NEA Members Insurance Trust has modified their coverage program so that eligible NEA members in the program will receive the full $1,000 death benefit, regardless of the number of years that the member has been an NEA member.
  
  
• Fall 2022 class dates: Please note that the fall semester starts on September 1 and the last class meeting date is December 23.
  
  
• May 14 is the National Association of Letter Carriers annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive: For 30 years, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has conducted an annual nationwide food drive, collecting non-perishable food donations along postal routes.
  
  The Stamp Out Hunger food drive returns this spring on Saturday, May 14. Place a bag of nonperishable food next to your mailbox on that Saturday, and your letter carrier will take care of the rest. Thank you!