Recognizing the extraordinary stressors put upon our membership in the past semesters, the FA is launching a wellness series in the spring. Members' health and safetey is of paramount importance. (logo by Cynthia Eaton)

As we conclude the fall semester and reflect on the year 2021, I feel a bit overwhelmed. We have lived what feels like multiple years of experience in this one year, as if 2020 could not be topped. Our stress and anxiety levels are high, and the chaos and uncertainty around Covid seems to only be increasing.

Reflecting on the year, it is important to note that the Covid death toll in the U.S. recently exceeded 806,000, which has surpassed the total number of deaths from the Civil War which is believed to be the largest single-event loss of life in American history. Many of our members, including our retirees, have lost family members and friends. Our students have also suffered terrible loss from family members who have passed away from Covid. This has been heartbreaking. I am not sure if we have truly processed the profound loss.

As I have often written, Mother Jones reminds us that we must "Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." As an academic unionist, I think of this mantra often when struggling to navigate tragedy and loss. It reminds me to keep our lost loved ones in my memory while reinvigorating my determination to help makes things better for others.

Looking ahead to the new year and the spring semester, our union has a lot of work to accomplish, and our care for our members comes in a variety of forms. We'll kick off the new year with the 2nd annual FA/Guild Winter Party; read about how to RSVP on our FYI page. Also don't miss the health and safety article by Kevin McCoy, chair of our health and safety committee, on what to expect for winter and spring.

Be sure to check out Cynthia Eaton's article on the new federal regulations for distance education courses; next year's transition from Blackboard to BrightSpace is the perfect opportunity to revise your DE courses to ensure full compliance with these U.S. Department of Ed requirements. Murph Kinney also offers smart online teaching advice, and Kim Ng Southard provides helpful reminders, advice and information for our adjunct members to help prepare them for next semester.

In addition, I'm proud to announce a new initiative. The FA will be hosting a wellness series open to everyone in the college community. This series will include a presentation on the biology of the Covid vaccine as well as discussions on exercise, nutrition and sleep management. Additional sets of workshops will be delivered on stress management, mindfulness and yoga and meditation.

Finally, we will be engaging members during the spring as we gear up for contract negotiations since our current contract expires on August 31, 2022, including a comprehensive survey and contract forums. At our December 9 Executive Council meeting, the EC approved a 32-member negotiations team that will play a critical role in the negotiations process.

Please take the time through the holidays and New Year to get some rest and eat some comfort food to nourish your soul. Many of us may be seeing family and friends for the first time in person since the 2019 holidays. Enjoy your time together and please stay safe and healthy as we move forward into 2022.