The university is modifying its financial systems to be "Year 2000 compliant." The year 2000 issue for computer systems arises historically from storing and using only two digits for the year, i.e., 97 for 1997.

After reviewing alternatives, including upgrading to the next version of its accounting system and considering newer financial systems, the university decided to modify its existing system. This will allow the university to handle changes in the century with no impact to users.

Nominations are being accepted for the 1997 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Service. The awards program recognizes and encourages community service by staff and faculty members of The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Any person who has volunteered time and energy to benefit others in 1997 may be nominated. Nominations must be received in the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources no later than Nov. 14. For information, call Judy Peregoff at 410-516-6060.

The offices of Residential Life and the Dean of Students are sponsoring a shuttle bus to BWI Airport for the Thanksgiving break. The service is a one-way trip to the airport. The bus will leave from the front of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library on the Homewood campus, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at these times: noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The service will be available to any staff, student or faculty member of Johns Hopkins and the surrounding area. A ticket must be purchased to take the shuttle. Tickets, which are $10, will be sold at the Residential Life Office, AMR2, during the week of the shuttle.

This year a return ride from BWI Airport will be offered on Sunday, Nov. 30. This is a free, complimentary service and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The return shuttle will pick up from 6 to 8 p.m. For information, call 410-516-8283.

A Baltimore edition of the game Monopoly has been designed to benefit the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The game is true to the classic Monopoly game with four corner squares, original tokens and rules; only the properties have changed. Players may buy deeds to Baltimore City properties like the Baltimore Orioles, the Preakness, Center Stage, the Babe Ruth Museum, the Baltimore Sun and The Johns Hopkins University.

The game premiere and card swap party is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the B&O Railroad Museum. All guests will be eligible to win thousands of dollars in prizes, donated by local businesses. For ticket information, call Mary Ellen Graf at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center at 410-223-1730.

The Wilmer Vision Center is sponsoring a fall sale of eyewear, scheduled for Nov. 10 to 14, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discounts of 40 percent will be available on complete pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses, 20 percent on contact lenses. Free adjustments and cleanings will be offered. Customers must bring a copy of their current eyeglass prescription. They are also encouraged to schedule an appointment for an eye examination in advance.

In addition, truck showings of fashion eyewear are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during the sale and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday: Monday, Calvin Klein; Tuesday, Guess; Wednesday, Harley Davidson and Geoffrey Beene; Thursday, DKNY; and Friday, CAZAL. For more information, call 410-955-9373.

"Life After Welfare Reform" is an Institute for Policy Studies seminar scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Clipper Room in Shriver Hall, on the Homewood campus. The speaker will be Patricia Ruggles, deuty assistant secretary for human services policy, and chief economist for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.