Voting is now open for representatives to the University Staff Congress. Ballots have been mailed to members of the University Staff who have one or more candidates running in their District. Ballots must be postmarked by May 31 and in the Office of the Secretary at 271 Bascom Hall before June 7. Voter participation in shared governance elections is important. Even if only one candidate is running in a particular district, University Staff are strongly encouraged to mark and return their ballots. The vote will determine who will serve in the 6th Congress of the University Staff. More information can be found online at ous.wisc.edu.

Registration is now open for the UW–Madison Research Professionals Conference, scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at Cooper Hall. This free conference is designed to build skills and facilitate idea-sharing among research staff who work as laboratory technicians or laboratory managers. Sixteen breakouts sessions will be held on topics such as career advancement and development, working with undergraduates, research compliance, conflict resolution, negotiation skills, and giving and receiving feedback. The full schedule will be announced at the end of May. The registration deadline is June 7.

Volunteers are being sought for a study of the public transportation system in Dane County. UW–Madison employees representing all shifts, including second and third shift, are encouraged to volunteer. Participants who are selected will be interviewed about their experiences with public transportation and will receive $40 for their time. The goal of the study is to increase access and equity in the public transportation system. Interviews can be conducted in English or Spanish. Interviews will not take place during work hours. To be considered, complete an interest form (available in English and Spanish) at tinyurl.com/businterview. You can also call, text, or leave a message at 608-571-7725.

If you were covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) in 2018, your WRS Annual Statement of Benefits is now available. To view your statement, go to MyUW and launch the Benefit Information module. Then click on the Statements tab and choose “2018 ETF Annual Statement of Benefits (WRS) Issued 2019.” The statement includes your 2018 earnings, retirement benefit projections, primary beneficiary designation(s) for your WRS account, and more. Resources to help you understand your statement can be found online at etf.wi.gov/members/statement. If you have questions, please contact your human resources office.