CVC to Aid Victims of Terrorist Attacks

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, which in the past has aided nearly 1,000 non-profit organizations primarily in Virginia, became a vehicle through which public employees can make donations to agencies assisting in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist bombings in New York and at the Pentagon.

Following the attacks, agencies were notified that donations were being accepted for three CVC charities- the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund, the Sept. 11 Fund (United Way) and the Salvation Army Disaster Relief Effort.

In light of the national emergency, no administrative fees will be charged toprocess donations made to the three organizations.

No state employees were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center towers or at the Pentagon, though State Trooper Michael Middleton, 35, was critically injured at the Pentagon., where he was among the first rescuers to enter the building after the attack.

Trooper Middleton and Trooper Merlin Wimbish, 53, both assigned to the Arlington office, were "valiant" when they "entered the smoke-filled building in an effort to save lives," a State Police spokesperson said. The attack killed or left missing 189 persons.

The incident has led to heightened security at state office buildings, where employees are being required to show identification badges before entering. Visitors must show identification and sign in before being admitted to state facilities.

Department of Accounts launches PAYLINE

The Virginia Department of Accounts has launched PAYLINE, a new Web site that uses the Internet to provide state employees with faster and more comprehensive information about their own pay and benefits.

The service is faster because it allows employees to view their personal payroll information at least four working days prior to payday. It is comprehensive because it expands on information currently provided to employees each payday on paper check stubs and earnings notices by including never-before-seen details of employer-paid costs supporting the employee's benefit package.

On-line definitions and help screens assist in clarifying the frequently puzzling aspects of payroll taxes and benefits. Employees of agencies using the central leave-keeping system will have the added benefit of viewing a detailed history of their personal leave records.

A state-of-the-art security system ensures complete confidentiality for this unprecedented access to personal payroll information.

PAYLINE allows state employees to view:

• Current and year-to-date employee-paid categorized by earnings type.
• Current and year-to-date employee-paid deductions including benefits and tax withholdings.
• Current and year-to-date employer-paid benefits and Social Security tax contributions.
• Federal and state withholding tax elections, allowances and withholding amounts related to each payment date.
• Direct-deposit banking information and deposit amounts related to each payment date.
• Health care and retirement elections related to each payday.
• Current and year-to-date FICA, state and federal taxable wages.
• Annual leave accrual rates and maximum year-end leave balance carry-over limit based on years of service.
• A history of leave detail transactions related to each period.

Management training programs focus on future

A pair of management training programs - one old, one new - aim to develop a new cadre of supervisory and management personnel for the Commonwealth's public work force at a time when the ranks of senior management are thinning because of retirements.

Both the Virginia Collaborative Leadership Program (VaCLP) and the Virginia Certified Public Managers Program (VCPM) use reality-based case studies to assist participants in gaining management and leadership skills that can be put to use in their respective agencies.

VaCLP is in its 11th year of operation in Virginia and more than 300 "alumni" have taken the course during that time. Susan Mongold, program coordinator for the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), said that "60 percent of those who have gone through the course have received a promotion or a significant upward job change within two years" of completion.

The program places a premium on teamwork, the "collaborative" part of the title. Susan D. Payne, a member of this year's class, said the "way the program is designed, it forces you into thinking collaboratively. It takes collaboration to a very, very different level." Ms. Payne, the manager of the personal assistance and nursing home outreach services unit for the Department of Rehabilitative Services, added that the program "has made me think very differently about how I perceive some things about the staff that I'm responsible to and for."

Employee concerns about the level of training for supervisors and management voiced during the Town Hall meetings held by the administration three years ago helped boost the development of the Certified Public Managers Program, also operated by DHRM.

VaCPM is open to public employees in local, state and federal agencies who are now in a management or supervisory position or those who "aspire" to one day be in those positions, said Debbie Jackson, program coordinator.

Participants will be poised to take advantage of career advancement opportunities as today's managers and supervisors move into new positions or retire. The program announcement notes that "[a]s the Commonwealth of Virginia grows and changes to meet the needs of the state, agencies will have a strong cadre of fully development managers" ready to step into new roles.
The 300-hour, two-phase training course is a combination of classroom work, distance learning and on-line instruction over a three-year period and includes instruction on a variety of topics, including ethics, change management, organizational awareness and budget management.

While no costs have been finalized for the program, it is estimated each course will cost upwards of $125 plus materials.

For further information about VaCLP, contact Susan Mongold at (804) 225-2723 or by e-mail at smongold@dhrm.state.va.us. To learn more about VaCPM, contact Debbie Jackson at (804) 225-2275 or by e-mail at djackson@dhrm.state.va.us.

CVC Helps Others Every Day Through Nearly 1,000 Groups

Keondra nestles in the crook of her mother's arm as they sit on the couch in their tidy Richmond apartment. There are smiles now where there once were tears. She's with her Mom.

Lisa Higgs, Kenodra's mother, believes the turn in her life over the last 18 months has been nothing short of a miracle. "I've gotten a chance at a new life with the help of other people," the former drug addict says.

Lisa found that help at the Richmond Emergency Shelter, one of the nearly 1,000 local, state and national organizations supported by the annual Commonwealth of Virginia (CVC) campaign."I was in a rehab program and they suggested that if I wanted to try a different way of living, they had some people that were willing to help me if I was willing to stop using and do something different," she says now.

The sign-up period for this year's campaign runs through Nov. 30. Last year, more than $3.1 million flowed to CVC-supported activities through employee donations.

Virginia public employees can contribute to CVC through a variety of methods, though a payroll deduction is the most convenient way to help throughout the year. Contributions can be made by cash as well as by credit card.

The assistance that CVC provides spans the Commonwealth and its residents. "It is possible for Habitat [for Humanity] to complete its work building decent, affordable houses for people in need in our community because of the support of people like you," writes John Dodge, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity. The organization received an earmarked $1,548.38 through the CVC.

In 2000, the Special Olympics of Virginia enjoyed the greatest amount of support from CVC, receiving $188,750.18, while the United Way, Thomas Jefferson Area was the second highest recipient. CVC contributions also went to the Virginia Division of the American Cancer Society, the Massey Cancer Center at the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Hospice of the Piedmont. The Richmond-area Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had more than $31,000 earmarked for its annual operations through the campaign.

As for Lisa, now employed as a printer at a state agency, she has not forgotten the help she received from The Emergency Shelter. Linda makes a contribution to CVC earmarked for The Emergency Shelter. "Maybe I can help someone the way others helped me," she says.

For further information about the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, contact Janet Brooking, Program Manager, at (804) 225-2159 or visit the CVC Web page at www.cvc.vipnet.org.

Internet Revolutionizes the Way Business Gets Done

"Virtual" government in Virginia is changing forever the way employees, the public and vendors interact with each other.With a few key strokes, anyone with an Internet connection can customize a license plate, develop a personal job search page or order office supplies through the new "eVA" Web site offered by the Department of General Services (DGS).

Also new is a service for lenders and others to get online employment and salary verification 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a joint effort between the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) and VIPNet, the Commonwealth's gateway to government information.

The DHRM Web site, www.dhrm.state.va.us, opens the dusty personnel file cabinet and places it where anyone with questions about policy, employment, training opportunities and benefits can find answers.
The Web site also highlights the Commonwealth's effort to reduce costs by placing the RECRUIT job posting publication on line, with daily updates rather than a bi-weekly printed publication that often was out of date. The "Hot Jobs" section lists immediate employment opportunities for hard-to-fill positions such as nurses and forensic scientists.

In all, the use of the Internet for employment postings has saved more than $1.4 million in newspaper advertising after an Executive Order last spring curtailed such spending.

The EmployeeDirect portal on the Web page allows state employees an opportunity to update family information and change the health care plan or membership level during open enrollment.
The Web is also increasingly being used for state procurement via the eVA Web site operated by the Department of General Services (DGS). Launched last March, the site allows vendors a variety of options, including on-line registration, electronic submission of bidcs and proposals, the posting of vendor catalogues and electronic order receipt.

DGS Director Donald Williams said the site is "to be about business. We want lower prices and more efficient operations for our agencies," according to a lengthy profile of the system that appeared in the June issue of Government Procurement magazine.

He added that eVA's is flexible and not a one-size-fits-all portal. "We believe that agencies have unique missions and unique needs…eVA will be used at different levels by different agencies."
By September, some 2,700 vendors had registered on the site and 350 catalogues been posted. At the same time, 110 state agencies are "live" on eVA, Mr. Williams said.

Future enhancements call for a "Knowledge Center" to be established that will provide continuing in-house and on-line training for agencies and vendors.

The magazine quoted Mr. Williams as saying that the training "will be Virginia's commitment that no vendor will be left behind. We will have a team of people who will go out in the field and continue to train people [such as] vender personnel. We'll make sure that no matter how large or how small this company is, that it will have access to all of the information they need to do business with Virginia."

With the advances in Web-based technology, no longer are policy manuals or procurement practices shrouded in secrecy. They are there on the Web, waiting for the world to use them.

New Health Care Options Available for Married State Employees

Additional health benefits membership categories are now available when both spouses are state employees. However, membership changes may be made only with a qualifying mid-year event (previously referred to as a qualifying status change or life event). The new enrollment options are identified below.

State employees married to each other who wish to cover themselves and one or more children are eligible for either the Double State membership (Family - Both Spouses State Employees) or separate health plans at any membership level.

Under the Double State membership, a special state contribution applies to the premiums for the health benefits plan selected. The employee, spouse, and child or children must be enrolled together under the same health benefits plan to receive the special state contribution. Information about the special application process for Double State membership is available from each agency's benefits administrators.

When both spouses are state employees and wish to cover only themselves, each may choose Single membership or be enrolled together in Employee Plus One. When enrolled in two Single memberships, they may select different plans. Although each may now enroll in a separate plan, both parents may not cover the same child as a dependent.

Threat of workplace violence targeted for training

The figures are chilling: In 1999, 645 homicides nationally occurred in the workplace. In all, an estimated two million people are victims of workplace violence each year in the United States.

To protect Virginia public employees, special training is planned later this year to help managers, supervisors and others identify potentially violent situations and learn how to diffuse them before they turn tragic.

According to a national study, perpetrators of violence on the job fall into four categories:

• Criminal intent: The perpetrator has no legitimate relationship to the business or its employees and is usually committing a crime in conjunction with the violence. These crimes include robbery, shoplifting and trespassing. The vast majority of workplace homicides (85 percent) are in this category.
• Customer-client: The perpetrator has a legitimate relationship with the business and becomes violent while being served by the business. This category includes customers, clients, patients, students, inmates and any other group for which the business provides services.
  It is believed that a large proportion of customer/client incidents occur in the health care industry in settings such as nursing homes or psychiatric facilities. The victims are often patient caregivers. Police officers, prison staff and teachers are examples of workers who may be exposed to this kind of violence.
• Worker-on-worker: The perpetrator is an employee or past employee of the business who attacks or threatens another employee or a former employee in the workplace. Worker-on-worker fatalities account for approximately 7 percent of all workplace violence homicides.
• Personal relationship: The perpetrator usually does not have a relationship with the business, but has a personal relationship with the intended victim. This category includes victims of domestic violence assaulted or threatened while at work.

Editor's note: As the capstone of the Public Service Week ceremonies last spring, Gov. James S. Gilmore, III, presided over an awards ceremony on the portico of the Capitol in which 10 employees of the Commonwealth were singled out for honors for the work they do in service to others.

Governor's Career Achievement Award Patsy Hockaday Enrollment Services Specialist Mary Washington College (Fredericksburg)	Patsy initially came to Mary Washington as a clerk stenographer and receptionist and, through hard work and dedication, has risen to her present role of office manager in Academic Services. She is widely recognized for her institutional knowledge and is regularly consulted by administrators, faculty, staff and students regarding policies and procedures. Additionally, Patsy leads a group in support of a faculty?advising program that promotes efficient and effective interaction between faculty and students. Her committed service to the college for almost a quarter of a century makes her the keystone not only to Academic Services, but to nearly every other office and department at the college.
Governor's Customer Service Award Elizabeth Harmon Clinical Social Worker Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (Staunton)	Liz goes beyond what is expected in providing outstanding services to troubled adolescents and their families. She is a strong advocate, helping families negotiate the complex network of services for children, using her vast knowledge of the system and her numerous community contacts to develop an effective plan that will meet the needs of both the child and the family. Liz works diligently with her young clients, their families and local agencies to assure that her clients receive the supportive services they need. According to an appreciative family, Liz offered support and caringly helped them understand the agency's policies and procedures. As they stated, "Thank you again for caring for our son when we couldn't."
Governor's Innovation Award George Pilarinos Personnel Practices Manager Department of Health (Richmond)	On his own initiative, George has helped transform the agency's human resource processes. While not a computer professional, he has helped develop everything from automated human resource forms and electronic record retention to distance learning and videoconferencing. For example, George created software that automatically calculates Virginia Sickness and Disability Program formulas for agency employees, saving thousands of dollars of labor costs and enabling the agency to submit a product with a 100 percent accuracy rate. George has materially improved the quality, accuracy and consistency of HR activities in his agency. His innovations have enhanced communications and enabled the agency to delegate unprecedented authority to geographically disbursed offices through ideas that have produced results that make a difference.
Governor's Agency Star Award Linda Cole Human Resource Assistant Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Richmond)	Linda loves a challenge. She is a quick learner and is involved in many areas. When a need is identified, Linda volunteers to take on new duties. She took the initiative to learn the leave system and assisted the Human Resource staff while performing her fiscal duties at the same time. Linda approaches the responsibilities of her position in a very professional manner and is known for her excellent customer service. The Commonwealth is extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated, conscientious and talented individual in our workforce. Linda is a STAR, not only for the agency, but for the Commonwealth as well.
Governor's Agency Star Award Tammy Kast Housekeeping Supervisor Virginia Tech (Blacksburg)	Tammy has demonstrated a strong work ethic and dedication in maintaining a neat and clean environment for students, staff and faculty. She is at work early, willingly assisting in times of emergencies, always with a pleasant demeanor while showing respect for everyone she encounters. She is a self?starter and recently was promoted to a supervisory position where she continues to demonstrate the same motivation, customer service, energy and attention to detail. As one department head said, "Tammy makes us look good, she makes us more efficient in our work, often in spite of ourselves."
Governor's Community Service Award Elizabeth Nelson Systems Analyst Department of Information Technology (Richmond)	In addition to her good work at the agency, Beth has served in many different capacities as a volunteer in her community. The list is extremely long, including these highlights: She has served as a Room Mother at Grange Hall Elementary School and has been active in the Bailey Bridge Middle School and Manchester Middle School PTAs. She has been a Team Mom for Chesterfield Little League Baseball and an active member of the University of Richmond alumni club. Besides being a member of the Chester Junior Women's Club, Beth assists the Phillips Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and is active in her church. She has also assisted the American Red Cross, the American Lung, Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Associations. She is involved with the Boy Scouts of America and began Scout Day at DIT, organizing volunteers to help Scouts earn their Computer Merit Badge.
Governor's Workplace Safety Award Delbert J. Garrett Institutional Safety Specialist Lunenburg Correctional Center (Lunenburg)	Delbert has promoted a safe and healthy work environment. Because of his hard work and dedication, the accident rate is the lowest of any institution in the Department of Corrections, experiencing only one accident in the past 840 days that resulted in lost workdays. In addition, Delbert has designed a system of classifying chemicals used at the Center and prepared the Center's application for the STAR Certification Program through OSHA. In short, Delbert promotes safety through a variety of programs, initiatives and his own actions both at work and in the community.
Governor's Long-term Quality Service Award Kenton G. Berkley Material Management Supervisor Senior Department of State Police (Richmond)	Throughout his tenure with the State Police, Ken has been involved in various aspects of procurement and in the supervision of the purchasing of materials, supplies, equipment, printing and nonprofessional services. His institutional knowledge is extensive and his performance has always been exemplary. Ken's long term quality service has contributed to the success of the department. Ken has worked for the State Police for 54 years and is the employee with the most service in the history of the Department. And as far as we know, he has no plans to retire.
Governor's Agency Star Award Patricia Dewey Speech and Hearing Services Administrator Department of Health (Richmond)	Pat has spent most of her career giving of herself to children with hearing or speech impairments. As the program manager for Virginia's Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Pat serves a crucial role in ensuring that children throughout Virginia receive early detection of hearing loss by three months of age and are receiving appropriate treatment by six months of age. Pat's leadership has led the way to this important and necessary screening and follow?up service that is now a reality in Virginia. As her department noted, Pat exemplifies how dedication can get extraordinary things done.
Governor's Agency Star Award Diane Cole Patient, Family and Community Education Coordinator University of Virginia Health System (Charlottesville)	Diane has a long tenure as a health educator in both the breast care program and the Cancer Center. Besides writing and publishing many articles on cancer prevention, education and lifestyle, Diane has created, organized or taught many self?help programs. She has been recognized by the American Cancer Society for outstanding contribution to control cancer and received the American Library Association Most Notable Document Award. Most importantly, Diane has offered counseling to literally hundreds of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. She has provided extraordinary comfort, compassion and education to individuals and their families at a very difficult time in their lives.

Stated Briefly...

· The Virginia Attorney General's office receives countless complaints every year from citizens who are tired of getting calls from telemarketers they have told not to call again. Because of the Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act, approved earlier this year by the General Assembly, Virginia consumers are now empowered to take such telemarketers to court.
Under the new law, Virginians to sue for damages in state court when they receive unwanted sales calls after telling the telemarketer not to call again.
Telemarketing calls are specifically prohibited before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. and telemarketers are required to provide their names and the name of the business for which they are calling when they contact Virginians.
In addition, telemarketers are prohibited from intentionally blocking caller ID information, such as the telemarketers' name or telephone number.
Consumers who prevail in their lawsuits can recover $500 in damages for each violation along with attorney's fees. If a violation is found to be willful, the recovery can be increased up to $1,500.
Virginians can report suspected violations to the Office of Consumer Affairs at (800) 552-9963 or (804) 786-2042. Enforcement actions may be brought by the Attorney General, any Commonwealth's Attorney and any attorney for a county, city or town.
Persons with questions regarding this new law should contact the Consumer Litigation Section in the Attorney General's office at (800) 451-1525 or (804) 786-2116.

· Although the Commonwealth Management Institute is well known as a professional development program for mid-level state managers directed by Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Public Policy, the Commonwealth Managers Association (CMA) may be less well known.

CMA offers training and development opportunities through twice-yearly conferences and other education events to maintain goals and principles needed to effectively provide services to the citizens of Virginia.
Membership is open to CMI graduates and to state employees who are employed in mid-level management positions.

The 10-member Board of Directors, all mid-level managers from state government, oversees the activities of the CMA. Linda Caporale, executive assistant to the director of the Virginia Institute for Marine Science, serves as Board president.

Other Board members are: Karen Larsen, Department of the Treasury, vice president; Betty Ball Bowman, Department of Human Resource Management, secretary; Fran Green, Science Museum of Virginia, treasurer; Russ Uzzle, Virginia Commonwealth University, program chair; James Ferguson, State Corporation Commission; Lisa Russell Hahn, Department of Criminal Justice Services; Ron Hyman, Virginia Center for Health Statistics; Tim Paul, Department of Criminal Justice Services; and Sharon Pitt, James Madison University.

CMA will hold its fall conference Nov. 8-9 at the College of William and Mary's University Center in Williamsburg. Attendance at the conference now qualifies for continuing education credits through VCU.
For more information about CMA, contact Ms. Caporale at (804) 648-7103 or by e-mail caporale@vims.edu or visit the CMA Web site at www.cma.state.va.us.