The Friday Letter | August 29, 2014

The

Party in the Park Wednesday Nights 5:30-9:00 pm

Music Box Lunch Series Tuesdays & Fridays 12:00-1:30 pm

Saturday, September 20 CajunFest Live music starts at 3:30

One Time Benefit Cash Out Ends Today!

The County will undergo a pay date change this September. You will receive a paycheck on September 5 and then again on September 26.

Because we are extending the pay date one time in September and there will be three weeks before you receive your second September check, you have the option of “cashing out” up to 40 hours of accrued benefit time.

This one-time benefit cash out ends today, August 29, 2014.To request your cash out, login to myHR and click the ‘myTime Cash-out’ link under the Payroll and Compensation section.

The extra money will be included in your September 5 paycheck. You can use any combination of vacation, sick or holiday hours. This would give you up to 40 hours of extra pay in 2014. This is not mandatory; you can also choose not to cash out any of your time.

Mecklenburg County News RSVP Now for Employee Fest 2014 Mark your calendar and make plans to join your County Manager, department directors, and your co-workers from across Mecklenburg County at Employee Fest 2014 on Thursday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Park.

Please click here to RSVP for the event to save your spot for great food and to help us plan how to meet your transportation needs. Also, please encourage your co-workers to RSVP and come out to Freedom Park during this event.

Similar to last year's employee celebration event, Employee Fest 2014 will be a celebration of your hard work this year and will include recognition of Customer Service Heroes of the Year, Team of the Year and Employee of the Year. You can submit your nominations for Team of the Year and Employee of the Year now.

Employee Fest 2014 also will feature diverse performances and interactive games throughout the day, and lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Carry-out lunches are not available.) Transportation will be provided from several County facilities.

Finally, make sure to check the Employee Fest 2014 site periodically for updates on the event gets closer.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, October 2!

Here’s what’s on the menu: Hand Pulled Pork Smoked Sliced Turkey Baked Beans Mac and Cheese Creamy Cole Slaw (vegetarian) Green Beans (vegetarian) Garden Salad (vegetarian and vegan) Original and Wheat Buns Chocolate Chip Cookies Brownies Sweet and Unsweetened Tea Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Carry-out lunches are not available.)

Please click here to RSVPand save your spot for great food at Employee Fest, Thursday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Park.

Make sure to check the Employee Fest 2014 site periodically for updates on the event as it gets closer.

Mecklenburg County News Sign Up Now For Your New County Badge We will issue new photo ID badges to all County employees starting in September. Employees must sign up in myHR for a date, time and location to have a photo taken and a new ID badge made.

The badge sign-up sessions are now open in myHR. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office will send out separate information about the badging process for MCSO employees.

The process will be very simple and you are only required to bring your current County ID badge and a state-issued photo ID or passport. We estimate that it will take about 15 minutes from the time you get to the check-in desk at your chosen location to receipt of your new badge.

The badges are necessary for increased building security and also for use with our new time capture system (“myTIME”).

Since building access activation will be staggered, please keep both badges. Use your old badge to access authorized buildings until directed to use your new badge. Even with the new badges, employees will still have to use other building access cards that have been issued to them to gain access at the following sites: CMGC, the Courthouse, and Sheriff’s Office locations.

If you have questions about myTIME, please visit the myTIME page on MeckWeb. Here’s how to sign up in myHR for your new badge: 1. Login to myHR and look for the “Request Training Enrollment” link under “Training”.

2. Click on “Search for ALL Courses”.

3. Scroll down to see the “BADGE” sessions and look for a location that is convenient to you.

It’s only a month away: Employee Fest 2014 is Thursday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Park.

We have something special planned for you this year, but need your help. Get your team together and send us your picture. Teams do not need to be formal (departments or divisions) -- they can be small work groups or committees, too. Photos can be funny and creative, and should show the personality of the team. Submit your photos to Peggy Brown by Sept. 12.

Don’t forget to nominate YOUR Customer Service Hero/Employee of the Year and Team of the Year that exemplifies diversity and customer service standards by this Friday, Aug. 29. The categories for Employee of the Year and Customer Service Hero Award are:  Service Quality  Ethics  Communication  Timeliness  Courtesy & Respect And last but not least, make sure YOU don’t miss out on all the food, fun, games and a special THANK YOU gift this year – RSVP for Employee Fest 2014! By responding to this RSVP survey, you will help us plan for food, entertainment and transportation options. Also, please encourage your co-workers to RSVP and come to Freedom Park for YOUR event.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Latta Plantation Nature Preserve - Revolutionary War Reenactment A reenactment of The Battle of Charlotte will be part of a two day event at Historic Latta Plantation, located within Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. The event will take place this Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, 10 am - 4 pm. In September, 1780 British troops under the command of Lord Cornwallis entered Charlotte and found a “Hornet’s Nest” of resistance from the colonists. Come out and learn more about the struggle that took place in Mecklenburg County, through demonstrations, talks, and activities for all ages. The battle reenactment will be held each day at 2 pm. There will be timeperiod vendors and food vendors including The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Historic Latta Plantation is located at 5225 Sample Road in Huntersville.

Community and Recreation Center Services Art Adventures at Methodist Recreation Center Methodist Home Recreation Center is offering an art program for children of the Shamrock Gardens community. This program will meet on Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00pm starting October 7. We will offer painting, crafts, sculpting, drawing, and abstract art. All supplies are included in the class and students will have the opportunity to broaden their creative skills through the cultural arts. Local artists and guest speakers will drop by on occasion to offer insight and tips to the students about their projects. This class will continue to run throughout the year and is $2 per class per child. Registration can be done in advance online or at the center. For more information, contact Kelly.Hawkins@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or704-432-6455.

Bearden Birthday Bash Celebrates Artist and Park What better way to celebrate the birthday of the late Romare Bearden than with a party at the park named in his honor?

Beginning Friday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Aug. 31, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will hold a celebration honoring the hometown artist and commemorating the one-year anniversary of the grand opening of Romare Bearden Park.

Hours for the Bearden Birthday Bash are noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Festivities include: Live music from some of the region’s top jazz performers An Art Walk featuring many talented Charlotte-area artists Local food vendors Family activities presented by Radio Disney, McDowell Nature Center and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture And much more!

A complete schedule of events can be found at http://romarebeardenpark.charmeck.org/.

The park was inspired by the life and work of Romare Bearden, who was born on September 2, 1911. Images from his time spent in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County were incorporated into many of the artist’s collages, watercolors, oils, photomontages and prints.

Since its opening, Romare Bearden Park has become a very popular and welcome gathering spot in the heart of Charlotte. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has presented many free cultural events in the park, including Romare Fest, the Music Box Lunch Series, the Bearden Music Series and Party in the Park, which have drawn thousands of guests. Romare Bearden Park covers 5 acres on South Church Street in Charlotte and is adjacent to the BB&T Ballpark.

'Get Going' this Fall Using Park and Rec’s New Online Portal Whether you are looking to sign up for a youth or adult athletic league, interested in learning about the great outdoors by participating in a nature education class, or planning to reserve a park picnic shelter or campsite, Park and Recreation makes it easy for you to see all of its activities and amenities just through the click of a button.

The department recently launched “eParks 2.0,” an online program registration and facility reservation portal through www.parkandrec.com. The site allows you to quickly browse through hundreds of offerings or search for a specific one based on set criteria such as the location or type of activity or the availability of a particular shelter or campsite. Once you have selected the desired activity or facility, you will then be asked to take a few minutes to create a free account or log in to an existing eParks account to complete the registration process.

To learn more about Park and Rec programs, events and facilities, visit www.parkandrec.com.

New Telephone numbers for Regional Offices and Administrative Office North Park Region – Hornet’s Nest Park 704.336.886 NorthParkRegion@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov Central Park Region – Freedom Park 704.432.4280 CentralParkRegion@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov South Park Region – Park Road Park 704.643.3405 SouthParkRegion@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov Administrative Office Building 980-314-1000 eparks@mecklenburgcountync.gov

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Recreate All Year!

Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to learn of new and exciting way sto continue recreating during the spring and summer months. Subscribe to the Park and Recreation E-Newsletter to stay up to date on activities that may be available to you.

www.parkandrec.com Please submit all news for the Friday Letter to your Division Director for review and routing.

Park Partners may contact The Friday Letter Team at Kier. Harrison @MecklenburgCountyNC.gov for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 3 • Issue 34• August 29, 2014

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is considering regulations to make all County and municipal government grounds smoke-free and the County park system tobacco-free.

According to the proposed regulations, this means all County-, City- and Town operated buildings, vehicles and grounds would be smoke-free. This includes the city of Charlotte and six surrounding towns. The County park system (greenways, municipal golf courses (except The Tradition,) and facilities) would be free of all tobacco products, including all smoking products, as well as smokeless products (chew, dip, snuff) and electronic cigarettes.

A community forum to inform residents and gather feedback about the proposed regulations will be held Monday, August 11 from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Room 267, 600 East 4th Street, Charlotte. An informal drop-in will be held from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. prior to the forum.

Residents unable to attend the community forum can join the conversation online here via the County website.

The BOCC has set the official public hearing for the proposed regulations for the regular meeting Tuesday, Sept.

6, at 6 p.m.

More information on the proposed regulations is available here.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team Jim Garges, Director Michael Kirschman, Deputy Director James Alsop, Enterprise Services Renea Barber, Human Resources Mario Chang, Budget Administration Lee Jones, Capital Planning Lola Massad, Community and Recreation Center Services Jeff Robinson, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources