**Number range CHAPTERNESDIS Diversity Council Meeting Minutes**

**September 29, 2004**

**1:30 -- 3:00 pm**

The meeting was held in Silver Spring from 1:30 -- 3:00 p.m. in Room
8331, SSMC1, Silver Spring, Maryland with VTC sites at Camp Springs,
Suitland, Asheville, Boulder, Wallops, and Bay St. Louis. Colleen
Hartman chaired the first part of the meeting and Charlie Baker chaired
the second half.

The following individuals were in attendance:

Colleen Hartman, Lori Simmons, Charlie Baker, Christine Carpino, Chuck
Wooldridge, Lori Simmons, Annie Reiser, Christopher Fox, Don Nortrup,
Michael Matson, Alfreda Alexander, Kurt Schnebele, Freud Park, Kathy
Kelly, Terry Babb, Sharon Leduc, Carmella Watkins, Arlene Craig, Dave
Vercelli, Mary O'Chery, Joe Stinus, Mike Crane, Jose Gutierrez, Mike
Hales, Maureen Chiarizia.

The minutes of the June 9, 2004 meeting were approved.

***[Diversity Happenings:]{.underline}***

# NGDC -- Christopher Fox & Annie Reiser

-   Annie Reiser and Chris Fox attended

-   Lisa Taylor at ADR Training

-   Lisa Taylor participated in the FDR Conference

-   Lisa Taylor accepted into NOAA Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
    cadre

-   ADR video shown on four separate dates -- 49 people attended

-   Annie Reiser reported on her attendance and training at the NOAA
    Diversity Summit 2004 and remarked about how well organized and
    professional the conference was.

-   Chris Fox reported on Boulder Labs 50^th^ Anniversary activities and
    in particular NGDC's participation in the 2-day Science Festival
    that attracted over 3,000 visitors. NGDC was praised by the NOAA
    Outreach Coordinator and organizer of the event as, "enjoying the
    great distinction of providing the largest number of Science
    Festival volunteers. . ." (29 in total). NGDC staffed an NGDC
    Exhibit Booth, "Wooly Magma" Hands-On Project, and Presentations on
    "Plate Boundary Activities". An article and photo composite on
    NGDC's detailed contributions was submitted for the NESDIS Diversity
    Newsletter.

[NODC -- Kurt Schnebele and Freud Park]{.underline}

-   ADR video was shown to 34 employees during an All Hands meeting held
    on September 20.

-   Freud Park, NODC EEO/Diversity advisor, attended FDR conference in
    Phoenix, AZ (August 16 - 19).

-   Lori Simmons provided EEO/Diversity training for employees on
    August 5. Fifteen employees attended this make-up training.

[NCDDC -- Joe Stinus, Mary O'Chery and Mike Crane]{.underline}

MAGIC Outreach ("Multi Agency Government Internship Committee")

On Sept 21 two regional offices sent representatives to the Career Day
at Xavier University, New Orleans LA. Twelve resumes were received and
the three very strong candidates were identified.

On August 27, the MAGIC team had a meeting with the Computer Science
Dept. at the University of New Orleans. National Science Foundation has
awarded the UNO Computer Science Dept an Educational Grant to fund
interns at the undergraduate level. SAIC is exploring an agreement with
NSF to expand the grant to include graduate students and extend the time
to twelve months.

# Women's Equality Day 

Our graphics staff prepared all the posters, flyers and promotional
artwork for the Women's Equality Day event. The program was expanded to
include a seminar session prior to the banquet and award ceremony.

# OSD- Don Nortrup

OSD explored the use of Global Media Group to get the recruit action for
the Deputy GOES Program Manager position before an extended minority
candidate pool. There was no apparent response from that pool reflected
in the final list of candidates.

Similarly, OSD explored the possibility of filling the Observing Systems
Architect position with an IPA through USAJobs.Com. This generated
considerable response, however the process resulted in selection of an
existing federal employee for the position.

# OSO -- Kathy Kelly, Terry Babb and Jose Gutierrez

Lori Simmons conducted EEO / Diversity Training with the ADR video
presentation for 17 supervisors and 44 employees in a total of 5
meetings during August and September. Supervisors and employees alike
have made very favorable comments about the quality and importance of
the training material as well as of Lori\'s planning and presentation.

Two employees of the SOCC attended the 2004 Diversity Summit in early
August in Norfolk, VA. The training was reported as excellent. The daily
opportunities provided for participants to \"debrief" and compare
experiences was a real plus.

One SOCC employee has been chosen to be a member of the NOAA Mediation
Cadre. Terry Babb received 80 hours of intensive training, earning a
certificate in Federal Workplace Mediation from the Northern Virginia
Mediation Service in August.

Jose M Gutierrez of OSO at the Wallops CDAS is the newest member of the
NESDIS EEO / Diversity Advisory Committee.

# OSDPD -- Alfreda Alexander and Mike Matson

As OSDPD liaison, Alfreda attended and helped recruit at the 75th annual
LULAC convention in San Antonio, Texas. Working with Jose Guitterez,
Wallops, we had the opportunity to provide one-on-one information on
NOAA employment opportunities.

Alfreda also attended the NOAA Diversity Conference in Norfolk, Va., the
best conference to date. Barbara Marshall Bailey and the staff provided
an excellent service to the many attendees. As a member of the Group
Processing Team, she found the training superb.

Lori Simmons came to the WWB to give Diversity/EEO training to more than
20 supervisors and managers on September 1. The 4-hour training session
was informative, interactive, and well received.

All OSDPD personnel have viewed the ADR film.

# ORA -- Maureen Chiarizia

-   Maureen attended the Federally Employed Women's National Training
    Conference.

-   The ADR video was viewed by 27 people.

-   The supervisors received EEO/Diversity training presented by Lori
    Simmons.

# NCDC -- Sharon Leduc and Carmella Watkins

-   Three employees attended the Federally Employed Women's National
    Training Conference.

-   This summer NCDC hosted a sign language class; now they are
    considering Spanish classes.

-   The NCDC EEO & Diversity Council has prepared and submitted a
    two-year plan for their activities, including a budget. Carmella
    agreed to send this to Lori who will share with the Diversity
    Committee.

# 

# IPO -- Arlene Craig

-   30 NPOESS IPO employees have viewed the ADR Video, 100%
    participation

-   One IPO employee attended the Diversity Conference

-   IPO all hands held, personnel from the Air Force were awarded
    promotions, NASA employees were recognized, as well as NOAA
    employees.

-   During the summer, a group of college instructors came to the IPO to
    learn about NPOESS, they will share the information they obtained
    with their students.

# CIO -- Dave Vercelli 

-   OCIO staff supported the NOAA display at the Smithsonian Folk Life
    Festival.

-   Candis Peterson, who worked in the OCIO as part of the Workforce
    Recruitment Program, is now on a Student Temporary Employment
    Program appointment.

-   Nina Jackson participated in the Historically Black Colleges and
    Universities Conference

-   CIO held a town hall meeting and showed the ADR video

-   Nina Jackson completed the Council for Excellence in Government
    Fellows program, a leadership training program for mid-level federal
    employees. Nina will be a co-coach for the upcoming 2004-2005
    Fellows program. (Nina is the second OCIO employee to complete the
    program. Ida Hakkarinen was a 1998-1999 Fellow while at NWS and
    served as a co-coach during 2000-2001.)

# IIA -- Mike Hales

-   The IIA office recently hired an International Relations student
    intern

-   All personnel have viewed the ADR training video

-   They are planning a retreat for next year

# AA Office -- Chuck Wooldridge

-   The ADR video was viewed by his staff.

-   Colleen Hartman and Nina Jackson attended the Satellites and
    Education conference in California.

-   Greg, Colleen and Charlie to hold a Town Hall meeting on October 1
    in Silver Spring.

-   Barbara Brooks was selected as a NOAA Mediator. She also attended
    the Federally Employed Women's and the Federal Dispute Resolution
    conferences.

[CFO/CAO -- Charlie Baker and Christine Carpino]{.underline}

-   The CFO Office hired three summer students this year and two have
    stayed on as part time workers while going to school. He was very
    impressed with students and encourages all to use student
    appointments to screen potential permanent employees.

-   Most of his staff has seen the ADR training tape. Charlie reminded
    everyone to view the ADR training tape and to report numbers to
    Lori.

-   Lori attended the Federal Dispute Resolution training conference
    this summer.

# EEO/Diversity Manager -- Lori Simmons

-   New diversity posters will be sent out soon.

-   The NOAA Diversity Office will be issuing the SFA final report very
    soon.

###### **Old Business**

Lori reminded the Council that Diversity Advisors should have this
responsibility in their performance plan. If rating input is needed from
Lori please contact her.

The NOAA Diversity Committee states that the SFA final report is under
review and is expected to be distributed to the workforce by the VADM
very soon.

####### New Business

# MD 715

NOAA will begin the MD 715 self-assessment in October and NESDIS will
begin theirs in early November. The NESDIS Diversity Advisors will be
meeting in Silver Spring to conduct this assessment. MD 715 requires
federal agencies to conduct an assessment as it relates to being a model
EEO program. The results of the assessment and the recommended actions
will be briefed to the Council and then to Colleen and Greg.

# NOAA Diversity Retreat

The NOAA Diversity Committee is planning a retreat for its members in
mid-November. The purpose of this retreat will be to plot a way forward
for the NOAA Diversity Committee. Team learning will also occur.

# Student Programs

Lori was recently asked to develop a plan to enhance the NESDIS student
program. She prepared a draft briefing that outlined programs currently
in place at NESDIS and NOAA as well as various options available for
student employment. Missing from the draft briefing was a recommendation
for NESDIS. She asked the Council of their thoughts on students programs
-- what is working and what can be improved. Generally, most offices are
using a variety of methods to bring in students -- ORISE, WRP, METCON,
MSI, contracts, work-study, SCEP, and STEP. Currently, funding is
centralized for ORISE, WRP, and METCON within the NESDIS EEO program,
and individual offices fund the other programs as needed.

The general consensus was that no one wanted to further centralize the
other programs or hiring authorities. Each office wanted the flexibility
to manage its own hiring. However, several offices were interested in
having more funding for students or a better way to convert students
into permanent positions. Everyone acknowledged that NESDIS does not
frequently hire at the entry level, which is most appropriate for a
recent graduate. The majority of our lower level positions are
contracted out. Lori and Christine Carpino talked about the SCEP program
that allows for non-competitive permanent hiring of a student upon
graduation. The Council agreed that Lori would work on a plan that would
include an increase use of the SCEP authority and present it
electronically to the group for comment and feedback.

# Team Member of the Month Award

Lori reminded the Council that NESDIS is on the hook for the Team Member
of the Month award in December. Calls will be going out in October for
nominations and the Council will be asked for five people to rate the
nominees sometime in November. Kurt asked Lori to be sure to let all
employees know that any employee at any grade level can nominate a team
member.

# Employee/Team of the Year Award

Lori informed the Council that DOC had a few issues with the proposed
NESDIS Employee of the Year award. Specifically, DOC wanted NESDIS to
remove the references to eligibility criteria that mirrors their awards,
to remove the certificate (plaque only), and to have the policy written
in a format similar to the NOS award. Lori asked the group if all would
agree to remove the DOC "issues" and to re-write the policy in the NOS
format, keeping the basic content of the NESDIS policy as this would be
the easiest way to obtain DOC approval. All agreed. Lori also asked the
Council, given the significant delay already made by the DOC review,
should we press for an FY 04 implementation or take our time and aim for
FY 05. All agreed FY 05 was fine given the fact that the workforce was
not expecting this award this year anyway.

**Next council meeting date / time**

January 19, 2005; 1:30 -- 3:00 pm