**NPA Diversity Task Force**

**Minutes -- October 24, 2006 Teleconference**

1.  **Check-in and Welcome: Kevin**

> Area Office: Heather Gossel, Garnet Francesca, Mickey McGuire, Larry
> Chandler, Barbara King, Jan Jones
>
> Locations:
>
> Kevin Dahl, Sidney
>
> Eduardo Casas, Clay Center
>
> JoAnne Gresens, Manhattan
>
> Gautam Sarath, Lincoln
>
> Janet Fergen, Brookings
>
> Bill Kemp, Fargo
>
> Lori Dimmer, Fargo
>
> Sue Sorum, Grand Forks
>
> Diona Austill, Miles City
>
> Holly Johnson, Mandan
>
> Beth Redlin, Sidney
>
> Dana Blumenthal, FC/Cheyenne
>
> Francisco Calderon, Akron
>
> Missy Stuart, Laramie
>
> Theresa Pitts-Singer, Logan

2.  **Timelines: Barbara and Kevin**

> [Diversity Survey]{.underline}: The survey is scheduled for mid to
> late January, and all permanen[t]{.underline} employees will be
> invited to complete it.

-   [Feasibility of using Sharepoint for the Diversity
    survey]{.underline}: All locations should be migrated to Outlook by
    the end of CY 06, so everyone should be able to access Sharepoint.
    Heather noted that the IT folks will take an active role in
    Sharepoint, and she suggests that task force members sit-down with
    other employees and show them how to navigate in Sharepoint. Task
    force members will likely serve as contacts at their location, so
    all members should begin familiarizing themselves with at least the
    task force Sharepoint site. There is some concern that the some
    employees may have some apprehensions about using Sharepoint, so it
    will be important for task force members to take the lead in helping
    their locations. The task force members will be asked to test the
    survey before making it available for everyone. Sharepoint
    Coordination with location IT staff is essential, and the Area
    Office IT staff will help with that coordination. Barbara noted that
    the Area Office used the Sharepoint survey software this past
    summer, and although loading the questions was somewhat cumbersome,
    using/responding to the survey was easy to use. The Area Office will
    be responsible for uploading the survey.

> [Recruitment Survey]{.underline}: The West/recruitment group drafted
> several specific questions relating to recruitment, and it has been
> suggested that a separate survey just for selecting officials (RLs,
> LAOs, and other designated supervisors) be developed. This will be a
> separate survey from the all-employee survey. Timelines have not yet
> been established for this survey.
>
> [Newsletter]{.underline}: The newsletter is on schedule to be posted
> to the NPA web site in mid to late December. The newsletter will be
> posted in a PDF format, and locations can then print copies for
> distribution and/or posting.
>
> **3. Working Group Reports**
>
> [Sue (NE Group]{.underline}**)**: The NE and NW teleconferenced in
> July and agreed that the focus of the first newsletter will be on
> student internships, mentoring, and outreach activities. The groups
> also recommended that the newsletter be published every six months,
> with a different theme for each issue. Articles for this first
> newsletter will include the Native American Summer Internship Program,
> the NPA Summer Intern/Apprentice Programs, the nuts and bolts of
> internships, and the mentoring component for new scientists. Articles
> are to be emailed to Beth by November 1^st^. The newsletter will also
> include an announcement of the upcoming survey.
>
> [Diona (NW Group]{.underline}): In addition to the comments made by
> Sue about the newsletter, Diona added that the NW group sees the
> newsletter as one way of educating Area employees about diversity,
> civil rights, EEO, etc.
>
> [Gautum: (East Group]{.underline}): The group has been developing
> questions for the survey, focusing on diversity issues and concerns.
> The West and East groups are coordinating with one another to
> consolidate the two sets of questions into one survey.
>
> [Theresa (West Group]{.underline}): This group had their first
> teleconference on September 1^st^ and primarily talked about job
> diversity on personnel issues, and shared lots of personal experiences
> about recruitment. Many of the initial draft questions were very
> specific to the recruitment process, and it was decided that a better
> way of gathering that information was to develop a separate survey for
> RLs, CDs, LAOs and other supervisors.
>
> **4.** **Other Business**
>
> [Disability]{.underline}: Missy also mentioned that diversity also
> includes disability awareness, and that she would call Barbara with
> some ideas.
>
> [Sharepoint]{.underline}: Everyone is urged to familiarize themselves
> with Sharepoint, and set up alerts so that they are notified when
> changes are made to the site. If you need assistance, contact Kevin,
> Heather, or Barbara.
>
> [Next teleconference]{.underline}: January 30, 2007, 1:00 Mountain
> Time.

Minutes prepared by Garnet Francesca and Barbara King.