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Disclaimer: Even though employees may be pictured without masks, we remind everyone to stay vigilant with mask wearing, social distancing and handwashing as well as staying home when experiencing symptoms.
From the OWE Director’s Desk Dear Fellow State Employees: Thank you for taking this journey with us. We embarked on this journey in the first quarter of 2020 with the hope and desire of demonstrating the power and dedication of the state workforce. We shared tips and strategies related to wellness and recognition. We highlighted great accomplishments and charitable work as well as the literary talents of state employees. This magazine is about you. We never expected that 2020 was going to be a year of challenges, loss, turmoil, and at times, frustration, but nevertheless, what may have been perceived as insurmountable, the voice and acts of employees and citizens across this nation gave us hope. It is your dedication, your accolades and constructive feedback that motivate us to continue moving forward. Your voice, your action and your commitment to public service matters. When I joined the Commonwealth of Virginia in November 2018, I was charged with Enhancing Employee Engagement (E3) for employees across the Commonwealth. I knew that this task could not be achieved in a silo because to ensure that any strategy I implemented was inclusive, I needed to hear the voice of employees. You have shared your stories, concerns and ideas through not only this magazine, but the various E3 Think Tank initiatives and focus groups. Thank you for your willingness to give of your time and talent. Engagement goes beyond a smile—it is about assuring that every employee within an organization has a sense of belonging; that his/her needs are being met through the work environment in exchange for his/her talent; that leadership sets the example; that resources, when necessary, are provided; that you can show up authentically without fear of discrimination and even disenfranchisement; that you are recognized for the work that you do and not about who you know, but it is about what you do that amplifies your career opportunities. Your rational and emotional commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia (COVA) state government is critical to COVA’s success. As we prepare to enter this new year, let us reflect on the good work that has been accomplished in 2020. How you pivoted to meet the needs of the citizens during a global pandemic while balancing the reality of COVID-19 in your personal life. When you were exhausted, you still powered through. Let us celebrate you. This is the Commonwealth of Virginia state workforce in action. Enjoy this photo montage. Sincerely, Vilma Alejandro Director, Office of Workforce Engagement, DHRM
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Letter from the Editor
Dear readers and fellow Commonwealth employees, They say a picture is worth a thousand words. These pages are filled with photos that tell some stories of life in 2020 and the experiences Commonwealth employees had during the year. I will admit that I did not necessarily want to “relive” 2020 in words or photos, at first. However, though this year has been filled with curve balls, many lessons stood out to me as I stretched and grew as an employee as well as a person overall. Flexibility. Life changed drastically, often, and without much notice. Being able to go with the flow has never been so essential. Compassion. Everyone has seen and felt the events of 2020 differently. Listening and understanding has become so important for all. Patience. We “waited” often and for long periods of time. Often, the wait was as bad as expected—and sometimes, it provided highlights we would not have seen otherwise. Appreciation. Value the people in your lives and let them know it. Enjoy the small things that create smiles. See the blessings—big and small, obvious or those requiring effort to find. Enjoy your journey through 2020, and see you in 2021.
Sue Perry
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WRAPPING IT UP!!!!
By Necil B. Oliver, VADOC
© October 2020
We are kind of wrapping it up, I say; Much has happened that came our way! We have seen some bad but good has happened too; This year, 2020 may not have been the best for me or you! But we are wrapping it up, I say; Much has happened that has come our way! Shortly in, the world had a pandemic that put us on lock; It hit us so bad, our health, finances, we can’t even talk stock! We had other troubles & problems all over the land; We can overcome it, as said once before, yes we can! So we are wrapping it up, I say; Turmoil & strong winds can't stay! With all that was, is going on and still to come; We've had joy, laughter & some back in the day fun! Helping one another & pitched in when we could; And hoping our co-workers, family & friends understood! Yes, we're wrapping it up, I say; As we welcome holidays coming our way! Whether you celebrate specifically or in general et al; Look forward to what's ahead & stand tall! Hold on to good memories, whether grand or small; While making new ones to display on a wall! A gift, yourself in a blanket or the end of the year, whether - what may; Wrap it up, gentle and tight, as good tidings come to you, I say!
LET’S GET TO WRAPPING IT UP!!!!
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Recognize a Co-worker 2020 has been a turbulent and chaotic year in the Commonwealth and around the world. As we are tested by concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no better time to recognize employees making a difference. Please join us in celebrating these employees who made a difference and thank them for their service. Click here to read more about these outstanding colleagues. Shelia Taylor, DOLI Crystal Barber, VPISU/CE All Employees, VA State Parks Christine Matthews, DBHDS Selena Ruben, VT Shannon Feinman, SVCC Carolyn Miller, DARS Cindy Jones, DBHDS Meghan Wallmeyer Rose, ABC Peggy Bivins, CNU J.J., Megan and Nancy, UVA Admin Team and all employees, VSDB Tishaun Ophelia, VEC Tiffany Jones, DARS Lynn Lineberger, DARS Barbara Boyd, ODU Shelly Williams, DMAS Phillip Gregory Porter, DJJ
Elizabeth “Liz� Shifflet, UVA Sarah Merrill, VDOT Division VI Communications Center, VSP Constance (Tamara) Simmons, VDH Lynn Crump, DCR Allie Yarbrough, DBHDS Alexis Burton, VDH Tonya Thompson, DMV Renee Robinette May, DSS Dam Safety & Floodplain Mgmt. and GIS Support, DCR Cold Spring Correctional Unit & CCAP, DOC Sandra Goode, DBHDS Katie Morris, DMAS Kathleen Knight, LFCC Facilities Management & Planning, Reynolds CC
If you would like to recognize any employee (or group of employees) for going above and beyond to help maintain operations, assist co-workers or the public, or ensure safety during these turbulent times, click here to complete a short form. DHRM will continue to post these notes of recognition on our website and/or social media. 6
Food drives, packing meals, and serving meals are all ways to help in the community!
Slipper & casual days
Angel trees & gift drives
Fundraising meals
Department of Health Professions
All ways to be the good in the community! Food drives
www.cvcgives.org 7
Work Life in 2020
Ruth Potter, GMU (Family artwork, refinished family heirloom table, and homemade chair mat)
Chelsea Blake, VDHR Conservator working on “Betsy” as a NPS grant.
Lana Kenedy, MECC and her new officemate, CeCe.
Librarian of Virginia Sandra Treadway spoke to Library Board members during a virtual meeting on September 14, 2020.
(above) Katherine Ridgeway, VDHR Conservator testing taxidermied ducks for arsenic. (right) Visitors Linda Whealton (left), of Norfolk, and Dr. Virginia Whealton (right), of Lubbock, Texas, explored the exhibition We Demand: Women’s Suffrage in Virginia on September 3, 2020. The Library of Virginia’s Exhibition Gallery reopened to the public on August 26, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the day the 19th 8 Amendment was certified and added to the Constitution.
Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan led a virtual panel discussion on the timely topic of voting rights with historians Lauranett Lee and Megan Taylor-Shockley on October 8, 2020. Sponsored by the Library of Virginia, “Unfinished Business: What the 19th Amendment Didn't Do” explored the struggle for the vote that remained for many citizens after the passage of the 19th Amendment. The event complemented the Library’s exhibition We Demand: Women’s Suffrage in Virginia.
(below) Ophelia Griggs, Ed.D , PHCC, Retention and Academic Coach for Student Support Services
Circulation and archival assistant Trinette Moseley assisted Shelby Driskill, a researcher in the Library of Virginia‘s West Reading Room, on July 7, 2020, the morning the Library reopened to researchers by appointment.
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The Commonwealth Took On the CommonHealth New River Trail Challenge
Smita Jain, DCLS/DGS James Ratcliff, VA Defenders, and trail mates Karen Gregory, Donna Copley, and Lauran Johnson
VDOT’s Anne Margaret White’s walking buddy, Brody Allison Craft, VT
Laura Hickerson, JMU Marcella Luna, VDHP
Lucy Smith, DHP
Below, Tammie Havens, DSS, with husband, Darrell, and puppy , Willa
Left, Richard Hurst, TNCC Above, Monique Dean, DSS 10
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Angela, Andrea, and Audrey (Elections) Rebecca Bates and Whitney Booker (Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity)
VDOT Suffolk
11th CSU: Iris Mathews, Katressa Buard, Nichelle Smith, Shannon Wilson, and Colleen Maxwell VDOT Accomac Residency Nikki Honeywood (VDH)
Nottoway Campus Pharmacy 12
VDH Norfolk
VDOT Suffolk
Megan Klewin and Michelle Schultz (DARS)
VDOT Suffolk
VDH Norfolk Library of Virginia’s Public Services staff members dressed in black and white on September 22, 2020, as part of Spirit Week activities
Greg Freshour (VDOT, Lynchburg)
VDH Norfolk
Tamara Wright (DCR, VSP Reservation Center) as Elisa Maza from Gargoyles VEC 13
Twins day College Game Day Employees Show Spirit Beyond Spirit Week! DJJ Portsmouth Cracks the Code together on a holiday. Craig Nicol promotes autism awareness at DEQ in VA Beach. VDH community event to promote awareness of breast cancer.
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2020 Anywhere Pumpkin Contest
Clockwise from top left: Victoria Phillips , Stacy Litchford, Valerie Soto, creators listed in photo, William Merritt , Wendy Wang, Amanda Newhouse , Caroline Bumbera, (Jada Howard, Emma Baker, and Tess Kendrick ), Paula Nunnally . Center-Laura Frazier 16
Clockwise from upper left: Joni Coleman, Kristina Banks, Shanette Carter, Susan Perry, and Rebecca Konow
Introducing...The Contest Winners
Brianne Scott, Amy Womack, Heather Wheeler, and Terresa Leopold.
Thanks to all the participants! They are all fabulous! 17
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Creativity Applied to COVID Response is a Success for the House of Delegates Written by Sharon Crouch-Steidel, Deputy Clerk for Information Technology and Anna Mulvany, Help Desk Administrator
Beginning mid-March, Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn and Clerk of the House Suzette Denslow began addressing the continued function of the House of Delegates during what was then a potential health crisis. Staff members were given mobile devices to connect to their office computers so the legislation passed during session could make its way through the process of becoming law without missing a beat.
Jeannine Layell, Indexing/Enrolling Assistant Clerk, works from her home office connected to her office computer at the Capitol. Photo credit: Brooke Layell
Support and Finance staff still had to be on site to deliver mail and certify payrolls. Every precaution has been taken to protect these staff members and ensure a safe environment for them.
Virtual meeting applications including Teams and Zoom allowed the Clerk’s staff to meet at a moment’s notice, for any length of time, without thought to travel or risk to health.
Penelope Rose Pope attends a planning meeting with her Granny, Deputy Clerk for Information Technology Sharon Crouch-Steidel. Photo credit: Sharon CrouchSteidel
The House staff adapted to teleworking. Staff had to plan for the constitutionally-required Reconvened Session, knowing that we couldn’t have 100+ people in the House Chamber. This session occurs annually on the sixth Wednesday after the General Assembly adjourns and there was no option for postponing it, so we needed a plan and had about four weeks to devise it.
Dennis Maxey, observing all safety protocols, including social distancing. Photo Credit: Anna Mulvany
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With the health of staff and members as the top priority, Speaker Filler-Corn chose to hold the 2020 Reconvened Session outside on Capitol Square under a tent cover.
Photo credit: Virginia Capitol Police Photo credit: Sharon Crouch-Steidel
Staff set up the Siegel Center as a Chamber over several days, and the House met for a four-hour session on August 18. House IT Development staff created a custom voting system that was used. The House voted on a change to the 2020-2021 House Rules to allow future sessions of the House to be held remotely. Thus, more planning commenced to prepare for remote floor sessions and remote committee meetings. The 100 delegates had to adapt to legislating in the new virtual world, and the virtual meetings had to be implemented in a way that maintained transparency in the process, allowed for citizens to engage as appropriate, and kept staff and members safe.
Fully functional sound, video and voting systems had to be deployed in this outdoor area – only a portion of which was on a concrete sidewalk – the rest of the outdoor chamber was on grass. Each delegate was given a table, a voting machine, a microphone, and six feet of personal space. Masks and sanitizer were provided as well. New challenges not typical during a session were tackled, such as the lack of electricity (we rented a generator), dealing with the open air breeze that blew through the tent (we were primarily paperless, which helped), and addressing the problem of electric cords being dislodged – causing sound and electronic outages. Video screens typically used for outdoor concerts were set up at the front of the “House Floor” for displaying the Delegates recognized to speak, and to show the votes. Virginia Public Media (VPM) had to deploy four live camera locations to send video back to a production truck on Capitol Square that then connected to the House video streaming encoder so the public could watch. This outdoor session lasted about seven hours, going into the evening – but the House got their work done.
Photo credit: Jonathan Miller 27
Photo credit: Sharon Crouch-Steidel
(from left to right) House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, House Clerk Suzette Denslow, Journal and Records Director Tricia Vaughan, and Journal Clerk Emily Howard. Photo credit: Anna Mulvany
(from left to right) Network Specialist Jeff Benedetti, Confidential Assistant to the Clerk Andrew Lunney, Telecommunications Coordinator Aubrey Stewart, Deputy Clerk for 28 Information Technology Sharon Crouch-Steidel. Photo credit: Tracey James-Forbes
Using the audio-visual (AV) infrastructure in House committee rooms and the House Chamber, equipment was reconfigured to connect Zoom and Teams meetings to the House sound and video streaming system. House IT Development staff created an application that allows citizens to submit written testimony and sign up to speak at committee meetings. House floor sessions were held virtually, with only the Speaker, Clerk and a few Clerk’s Office staff physically present in the House Chamber. The other members participated via Zoom.
Throughout the past eight months, business processes have adapted. Staff have figured out ways to proof legislation via Teams meetings. Staff have developed ways to allow citizen input safely and without disruptions. Staff meetings are all virtual.
Photo credit: Sharon Crouch-Steidel
The new sounds and sights of this “new normal” are the occasional jingle of a dog collar, the spotting of a cat’s tail or ears going by a video screen and the appearance of children on screen as staff and members alike strive to balance their work with the at-home care and schooling of their children and grandchildren. Phrases like “Can you hear me” and “Please mute your mic” are spoken frequently. As we have worked through these issues and developed “out of the box” methods to conduct the people’s business, we’ve collaborated with others in a collective ‘we are in this together’ approach – comparing notes and sharing successes and failures with other public entities and state legislatures. What a difference eight months has made – we’ve learned a lot along the way, as we are now preparing for Regular Session in January. We are looking forward to the new challenges ahead. One thing is certain – change has come out of necessity and we will benefit long term from some of the lessons we have learned this year.
New discounts
added!
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Sticking Together: NVMHI Spreads Encouragement and Puns
All over Virginia, people are experiencing the stressors of the pandemic, both in their personal lives and at work. At NVMHI this past August and September, our facility dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak. Employees had to juggle new safety guidelines, frequently changing work processes, managing different types of PPE, learning a variety of virtual platforms, and coping with the stress surrounding the increased risk of infection. Some employees had to take extended leave, and others to take on new and more difficult assignments.
During this time, people came together to help out, working harder than ever, and showing a great deal of flexibility and ingenuity in the face of these challenges. Of course, some days have been better than others, and we have all struggled in different ways. NVMHI’s Employees Matter Committee carried out a simple event on September 16th to encourage one another. At the temperature screening station by the employee entrance, we handed out a small pack of gum , some puns, and a smile. We hoped to make everyone laugh, but more importantly to remind them that we can get through hard times by helping each other out and not giving up. STICK with it everybody, there will be better times ahead!
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This magazine is made by employees for employees—and YOU are a big part of that! How can you contribute? Submit ideas, articles, photos, agency information, successes for our next edition early in 2021: Employees in Action Volunteerism Participation in a CommonHealth, On the Square, Anywhere, or any other
engagement activity (in-person or virtual) Recognition events (service awards or stellar performances) Welcomes and Congratulations (hired or promoted?)
Send all submissions to employeeexperience@dhrm.virginia.gov
