The campus Benefits Office, in cooperation with the UC Davis Staff Assembly, will host the 2005 Benefits and Wellness Faire on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Freeborn Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual event provides an opportunity for employees to learn more about improving or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as learning about their group insurance plan benefits from the insurance carriers.

Highlights of the Benefits and Wellness Faire will include flu shots, available to 250 employees; massage therapy; nutrition information; testing for sun exposure and blood pressure; exercise demonstrations; and apples for the first 1,000 attendees.

All UC Davis group insurance carriers will be available to answer questions concerning the University's health plans and discuss the 2006 health care plans and benefits for employees. (This year's Open Enrollment period runs from Nov. 1-30.)

Also, three wellness lectures will take place at the Memorial Union next door. They include:

• Carol Kirshnit of the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, on "Dealing with Depression," in the Garrison Room at noon;
• Dr. Ron Cotterel of the Sutter Center for Integrative Health, speaking on "Complementary and Alternatvie Medicine for Better Health and Wellness," in the East Conference Room at 1 p.m.;
• Rachel Adler, director of the ARC Wellness Center, on "The Wellness Way,," in the East Conference Room at 2 p.m.

Release time with supervisory approval is appropriate. For details, call the campus Benefits Office at (530) 752-1774, or visit www.hr.ucdavis.edu.