Special Emphasis Program

**Diversity Advisory Committee Meeting**

**November 15, 2005 -- Building HR Conference Room**

**9:00 a.m. -- 10:30 a.m.**

**Present:** Frank Baca, Office of the Director

Janelle Armijo-Sanchez, Hispanic Employment Program Manager, SSO

Dave Bovene, Representative for Roger Liddle, Champion, OWP

Elizabeth Donnelly, Older Worker's Program Manager, OPA

Michelle Mallory, Black Employment Program Manager, HRD

Mike Perez, Committee for People with Disabilities Program Manager, OBS

> Shirley Peterson, Federal Women's Program Manager, OPA

Sheila Rednose, American Indian Program Manager, Facilities Engineer Div

Blanca St. Clair, CWPD Alternate, MOSD

Denise Trujillo, American Indian Program Alternate

Yolanda Girón, EEO & Diversity Office

> Debbie Allison, EEO & Diversity Office
>
> Karen Harger, EEO & Diversity Office

Denise Ramos, EEO & Diversity Office

Mae Harris, EEO & Diversity Office

Suzanne Sandoval, EEO & Diversity Office

**Absent:** Maggie Woods, Vice-Chair, (unable to attend)

Andrea Kaniho, Asian Pacific American Program, NESD, (unable to attend)

Pat Cream, Gay & Lesbian Program, OST, (unable to attend)

**Recorder:** Yolanda Girón and Karen Harger

**[Welcome & Introductions]{.underline}:** Frank Baca, Chair

Attendees introduced themselves.

Franks stated, "That the Committee was established by Karen Boardman to
integrate diversity across the Service Center." Frank gave his thanks to
Dennis Umshler for his efforts on the Committee Charter.

Frank gave Maggie Woods' regards and apology that she could not attend
this morning. Also apologies from Karen Boardman, she was on her way to
Washington D.C.

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

Frank noted he had good feedback on the diversity day. Feedback received
on the drawings that perhaps the drawings should exclude council
members.

-   Discussion: those present in favor of excluding council members from
    participation. Further, suggested that the Committee change the
    requirement from "need to be present to win" -- to better
    accommodate Service Center employees' schedules.

-   Yolanda thanked all of the team for making the day successful, and
    noted the actions of Sheila Rednose and Pat Cream.

**[2006 Planning]{.underline}:**

-   Suggestion from Veteran's at the Service Center resulted in a flag
    raising ceremony on November 9, 2005, which was successful. Should
    this committee pursue making a Veteran's event one of your goals?

    -   Discussion: Incorporate into SEP Committee goals a regular event
        acknowledging our military employees.

-   Frank expressed appreciation to participants and their supervisors
    for your participation with the individual programs as well as the
    larger Committee. Further, thanks to the Diversity Champions for
    your role: having senior managers involved supports the leadership
    role of commitment to diversity.

-   SEP Operational Plan:

    -   Goal One: *Support management in maintaining a strong, viable
        and diverse work force.* Janelle Armijo-Sanchez will Champion

    -   Goal Two: *Increase coordination and cooperation among SEPs.*
        Mike Perez will Champion and Elizabeth Donnelly volunteered to
        help.

    -   Goal Three: *Advance teambuilding within NNSA and local
        communities...* Shelia Rednose will Champion and Elizabeth
        Donnelly volunteered to help.

    -   Goal Four: *Share best practices, special events, noteworthy
        accomplishments (individual or organization) and success with
        all programs and employees.* Frank appointed Andrea Kaniho
        Champion (Mike Perez will contact Andrea).

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-   Action Items for the Goal Teams:

1.  Review the objectives in the '05 Plan, have a discussion with anyone
    else to be involved.

2.  Have a discussion with the SEP Committee to give a status update on
    your goal.

> Mike Perez will work with the Goal teams to develop the overall '06
> Plan. Mike will send out a meeting notice to Goal Champions to get
> together in the next few weeks.
>
> Shirley Peterson requested the groups send out a draft prior to the
> SEP Committee next meeting, for review and was agreed to by Mike.

-   SEP Committee Meetings: Quarterly works, however, where a special
    event or circumstance calls for, an "ad hoc" meeting will be called.

-   HQ Diversity Council: Frank reported that Mary Ann Fresco is working
    to establish a national council with the focus on:

    -   Recruitment

    -   Retention

    -   Promotion

    -   Recognition

> Members of the NNSA SC SEP Committee will assist:

-   Recruitment: Roger Liddle (Champion), assisted by Sheila Rednose and
    Elizabeth Donnell

-   Retention: Debby Miller (Champion), assisted by Shirley Peterson and
    Andrea Kaniho

-   Promotion: Dennis Martinez (Champion), assisted by Mike Perez and
    Michelle Mallory

-   Recognition: Ray Corey (Champion), assisted by Pat Cream and Janelle
    Armijo-Sanchez

> Next Steps:

-   Mary Ann will send out expectations for the teams

-   Teams will get together to brainstorm initiatives to meet the team
    expectations. Example: the promotion team may look at promotions at
    the GS 13/14 level and find that interviews are an area for
    development. The team would develop actions to address that need
    such as interview practice methods available to employees via
    handbooks, courses, web information.

> Suggestion: Everyone please review the Diversity Committee
> implementation plan (copy attached).

**[Other Items]{.underline}:**

-   All SEPs are continuing their monthly meetings

**[Updates:]{.underline}**

-   AIP -- Shelia Rednose: the "Turkey Trot" will be held November 16,
    2005; attended the SNL American Indian event with a guest speaker;
    the Jemez Pueblo feast day was held this past weekend; two science
    fairs are upcoming and volunteers are needed (EEO & Diversity Office
    will forward Sheila's request for volunteers to all NNSA SC);
    attended the ACES Conference in North Carolina, talked to about 50
    students, gathered 5 resumes from Graduate and Bachelor's degree
    students.

> Mike Perez shared that interviews for FLP, in some cases, where a
> student wanted to attend, but wasn't from the host University, i.e.,
> UNM, the student could pay a nominal fee which went to the UNM Career
> Center, and attend an interview. Discussion: perhaps Jerry Truax is
> reconsidering having the separate interview for FLP so that NNSA
> doesn't miss out on the larger career day audience.

-   AIP -- Denise Trujillo: looking forward to the year as alternate.

-   CPWD - Mike Perez: celebrated a successful event last month to
    increase awareness on disability issues; for '06 looking at goals
    and tying them to work goals (recruitment, awareness, promotion);
    welcome to Blanca as alternate and her working through this year and
    learning, getting ready for moving from alternate into program
    manager in '07.

-   Karen Harger, EEO & Diversity Office: liaison for three committees:
    AIP, FWP, and the APAP, which will be meeting November 29, 2005.

-   Mae Harris, EEO & Diversity Office: liaison for BEP and CPWD.

-   OWP -- Elizabeth Donnelly: had first meeting and brainstormed ideas
    on issues that would appeal to all employees. Examples: being
    financially fit as you approach retirement; long-term health care,
    when is the best time to buy? And, planning a life that includes
    activities outside of work. OWP is still in need of an alternate
    program manager.

-   HEP -- Janelle Armijo-Sanchez: Marcus Garcia is the alternate. Goals
    for '06: increase membership; sponsor families for the holidays;
    partnered with Grace Cantu at the UNM Career Fair; partnered with
    Team Kirkland to give \$500 scholarship to local high school
    student; art supplies to a middle school student; and art classes to
    an elementary school student.

-   Debbie Allison, EEO & Diversity Office: will be moving from
    involvement with the SEPs, yet still available for support, to
    programmatic issues for the EEO & Diversity Office, i.e., the
    mediation program and marketing that, as well as the prevention of
    sexual harassment training (a computer-based training), coming out
    in '06.

-   Suzanne Sandoval, EEO & Diversity Office: update for Gay and Lesbian
    Program (Suzanne is liaison), met last month. Looking at a name
    change to indicate inclusiveness to all NNSA employees. Looking at
    pursuing the pink triangle used to indicate safe zones for employees
    to come and talk about issues; June '06 event, possibly a panel
    featuring PFLAG (parents, families and friends of Lesbians and
    Gays); also GLP is in need of an alternate program manager.

-   Denise Ramos, EEO & Diversity Office: liaison for OWP and HEP. EEO
    Diversity Office currently working on year-end reports.

-   FWP - Shirley Peterson: Glad to hear about the GLP open invitation
    to all employees, and encouraged we all support each others
    programs; FWP involved in the Diversity Day; new Champion Don Garcia
    and liaison Karen Harger; sponsored the ice cream social as a
    membership drive, the video is still available on V-Brick; will be
    readdressing goals for promotion of women as a part of the
    workforce.

-   OWP -- Dave Bovene for Roger Liddle: glad to attend this meeting to
    get the larger perspective on issues, and welcomed suggestions
    heard, he will pass onto Roger.

-   BEP - Michelle Mallory: Lisa Marie Buffkins, Alternate and Mark
    Baca, Champion. BEP will partner with Kirtland for Martin Luther
    King Jr. Day as well as Black History Month events, will held at the
    Mt. View Club; Sponsor three Thanksgiving families and one Christmas
    family; working on FY '06 goals (Lisa, Michelle, and Mark); next
    meeting, this Thursday; three members attended and helped out at a
    Black's In Government (BIG) Health Awareness held in El Paso TX,
    October 29, 2005 for a health initiative concentrating on children
    in border cities.

-   CPWD -- Blanca St. Clair: Made a big impact on NNSA SC facility
    accessibility issues; expressed appreciation to the managers that
    participated in the disability awareness activity last month.

-   Yolanda Girón, EEO & Diversity Office: Thanks to Debbie Allison for
    her work in the past years with the SEPs; diversity champions, while
    not mandatory to attend this quarterly meeting, are invited and
    strongly encouraged to attend.

**[Closing Remarks/Suggestions]{.underline}:**

-   Leadership will again contact the diversity champions to encourage
    their re-commitment to their role and attendance at their SEPs
    meetings.

-   Possibly a year-end event to thank the SEP program managers,
    alternates, and champions for their participation.

**[Next meeting:]{.underline}** Tuesday, February 14, 2006, 9:00 a.m. --
11:00 a.m., Building 383 Conference Room 116.