The Friday Letter | September 5, 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

Labor Day Weekend, Romare Bearden Park Labor Day Weekend, Romare Bearden Park celebrated 1 full year of programming as well as the park’s namesakes 103rd birthday. Thousands of people joined us for a weekend of Jazz music, art, family activities and fun! The Bearden Birthday Bash kicked off the final month of weekly programming at Romare Bearden Park with Music Box Lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays and Party in the Park on Wednesdays. Romare Bearden Park will also host the 2nd Cajun Fest on September 20th and finish out the year with the Pumpkin Patch Party on October 25th.

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 International Vulture Awareness Day at Carolina Raptor Center!

Mark your calendar! A day dedicated to vultures might seem like a joke, but vultures are actually a serious conservation topic. Some vulture populations around the world are declining at an alarming rate, with some species even facing extinction. Carolina Raptor Center, located within Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, is offering a special event focused on these little appreciated but important birds. Come out for a visit this Saturday, September 6 from 11 am -3 pm, to discover why we need vultures. Be sure not to miss the vulture feeding from 12:30 – 1 pm. The event is free with regular admission.

Community and Recreation Center Services Berewick Recreation Center The Berewick soccer players prepare for another great season of soccer. Soccer and flag football begins September 6th at various sites through-out the county. For more information on youth sports and other programs please contact staff at 704-432-4934.

Community and Recreation Center Services Albemarle Road Recreation Center “YWCA�

To end the YWCA summer reading program "Banana's Over Reading", United Way and Vanguard hosted a banana split/ice cream party for the youth at Albemarle Road Youth Learning Center. During this special celebration each child enrolled in the program received a book by Dr. Seuss entitled "Oh The Places You Can Go". Volunteers from Vanguard read this special book to our youth, and each child got opportunity share "The Places They Will Go" this school year. For more information on programs at Albemarle Road please call 704-567-1941 or via email at AlbemarleRoadRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Wet and Wacky Specialty Camp at Mallard Creek Recreation Center During the week of August 18, elementary aged children enjoyed camp with the wet and wacky them which included anything and everything water related. Campers went on daily field trips and visited Bass Pro Shop for a demonstration in their aquarium, the Sea Life Aquarium and fishing at McDowell Nature Preserve. The campers were creative while painting ceramic piggy bank fish, making their own underwater pinball games, shark tooth necklaces and paddleballs. The campers had a blast right before heading back to school! For more information, contact Erica.Espinoza@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or704-548-8234.

Community and Recreation Center Services Summer Camp Palooza at Mallard Creek Recreation Center Mallard Creek campers had a blast at Summer Camp Palooza 2014. Campers enjoyed a wide variety of activities, arts, crafts, guest speakers, spectacular field trips each week, and building new friendships with others. Campers experienced weekly trips to Double Oaks pool for swim lessons, a trip to Reedy Creek Nature Center, making the American flag in support of team U.S.A in the world cup, learning about fire safety and touring a fire truck with Charlotte Fire Department, visiting the rain forest inside Discovery Place, and dressing as their favorite super hero during Super Hero Week. Thank you to all the staff, parents, and campers for making the 2014 Summer Camp Palooza a huge success. For more information, contact Chris.Cash@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov, or (704)-548-8234.

Community and Recreation Center Services REC Mentee - Professions in Recreation Training Recently, the Recreation Employment Corps visited three unique recreation facilities in an effort to expose our current staff to the wide range of recreation professions that Park and Recreation offers.

Mentees were privileged to travel from Revolution Park Sports Academy, to the Mecklenburg County Aquatics Center, and finally Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Complex. Leaders at each site were very gracious to donate their time and lend their expertise to the future Park and Recreation leaders. 26 young adults attended the training and had a great time learning through hands on programming training, interactive lectures, and guided tours. Thank you specifically to our internal presenters: Mike Daly, Ivan Jones, Daniel Leatherman, Ken Koonce, Marquisha Clayburn, Al Simpson, Jeff Carwile, and Ariel Henderson. The REC Mentees were also afforded the opportunity to hear from Tia Cooper from Human Resources, and Dr. Lyons from Queens University. For more information on this program, check out the REC information session at the upcoming NRPA conference next month!

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Grady Cole Center & Memorial Stadium On Saturday, September 6th at 5:30pm the 8th Annual Dive After Five Volleyball Tournament will be held on the turf grass at Memorial Stadium while the Grady Cole Center will host the Charlotte Roller Girls who will take on the Atlanta Apocalypstix in a charity bout beginning at 6pm. On Monday, September 8th the Little Panthers Game of the Week will feature a Pop Warner pee wee match-up between PAL and Steele Creek. Kick off starts at 7pm. For more information, call (704) 336-2884 or email GradyCole-MemorialStadium@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Volleyball Women volleyball fall league started this Thursday September 4. A total of 5 teams will be participating in the league this season. Games are played on Thursday nights at West Charlotte Rec Center starting at 6:30pm. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Women's Basketball Women basketball summer league starts this Sunday September 7. The summer league will have a total of 6 teams participating in the league. Games will be played at Tom Sykes Rec Center starting at 2pm.

For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639.

Adult Basketball - A Division The fall league for men’s A basketball will be starting this Sunday September 7. There will be 8 teams participating in the league. Games will be played at Grady Cole Center starting at 4pm. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Adult Basketball - B Division Men’s B basketball summer league started this Tuesday September 2. The summer league will have a total of 7 teams participating in the league. Games will be played at Hickory Grove on Tuesdays and MLK on Thursdays starting at 7pm. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639.

Tot Time The Revolution Park Sports Academy is offering “Tot Time” for kids, ages 1 ½ to 5. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 11am. Participants learn the basics of several sports, improve their motor skills, and develop social skills through various games and activities. For more information on this program and others contact Revolution Park Sports Academy at 704-432-4963.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Youth Soccer and Flag Football Seasons Begin The 2014 youth soccer and flag football seasons will commence this Saturday, September 6 at several parks throughout Mecklenburg County. Participants ages 4 to 10 will begin regular season play and continue every Saturday until early November. Single elimination tournament play begins in November. For more information email YouthSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call Revolution Park Sports Academy at (704) 432-4963.

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 336-8840

Recreate All Year!

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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 35• September 5, 2014

The Substance Abuse Services Center is a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year program of the County’s Provided Services Organization. The facility, located at the Sam Billings Center at 429 Billingsley Rd., provides services to men and women 18 years of age and older. Most of the center’s consumers are homeless, and have lost everything when they come to us for services.

The Substance Abuse Services Center would like to enlist your assistance with donations of clothing items. Part of the recovery process is restoring self-esteem, instilling hope, and being able to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. You can help make those needs a reality.

As colder weather nears, the Substance Abuse Services Center needs donations of new underwear, bras and socks, as well as gently used casual pants, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and shoes. These items will be very helpful to their consumers as we head into fall and winter. There is a need for a range of sizes; however, there is often a particular need for XL, 2XL, and 3XL sizes.

Donations can be dropped off at the back dock of 429 Billingsley Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Angel Green, director for the center, at 704-336-5651 or at angel.green@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

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