The Friday Letter | September 12, 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

All Staff Picnic, September 17 The 2014 All Staff Picnic is planned for Wednesday, September 17th, 10:30 am at Hornets Nest Park (please not location has changed from McDowell Nature Preserve). Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

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 Mark L. Foster Named Assistant County Manager for Financial Services Mark L. Foster has been named Assistant County Manager for financial services. He begins work on Monday, Sept. 15.

Foster will oversee several County departments, including the Financial Services Department, the Office of the Tax Collector, and Information Technology. In addition to these duties, he will be charged with leading the County’s enterprise risk management strategy and will be accountable for financial planning and compliance throughout the organization.

Foster comes with over 25 years of financial management experience from a combination of both public and private sectors. For the past 11 years, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. His experience includes managing approximately $4 billion in financial resources with the state, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees for the State Retirement System. His educational background includes an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Foster also holds the designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Mark’s extensive financial background with private firms and with the state will help us fulfill the County’s fiscal management strategies.

Foster joins Deputy County Manager/Chief of Staff Chris Peek and Assistant County managers Leslie Johnson and Michelle Lancaster on my executive team. Please welcome him to Mecklenburg County.

Effective Oct. 1, 2014, the Reporting Structure for Former BSSA Services Changes From County Manager Dena R. Diorio: I am writing to advise you of several department reorganizations I am making to better align certain functions with similar service areas to enhance outcomes and results. None of the changes result in any reduction in force or loss of compensation. Below is a copy of the new organizational chart based on the revised business portfolio.

Effective October 1, 2014, the reporting structure of the Business Support Services Agency will change. The business functions within the agency will be deployed as follows:  County procurement will become part of the Financial Services Department.  Information Technology will report up through the Assistant County Manager for Financial Services.  Geospatial Information Services (GIS) will become part of LUESA.  Asset and Facility Management will report up through Deputy County Manager Chris Peek.  Business Improvement Services, which includes business process management and project management, will become enterprise-wide services managed by the Deputy County Manager. This will be a division of the County Manager's Office  Economic Development will remain a part of the portfolio managed by Assistant County Manager Leslie Johnson.

I believe these changes will strengthen the accountability, improve transparency, and maximize the performance of our internal services. We are fortunate to have very talented staff in each of these areas and I am looking forward to an even greater level of successful service.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources McDowell Nature Center This month the McDowell Nature Center will host a variety of on-site programs for all ages. From hiking and kayaking to yoga and nature art, the Center’s program calendar has something for everybody. Are you a hiking enthusiast? Come out and take part in our free Nature Hike series on Thursday, September 25th. If you regularly attend hiking programs at McDowell, be sure to sign up for the free 100 Mile Hiking Club and track your miles to earn prizes! If you’ve ever considered planning a backpacking trip and would like to learn more about where to begin, join us for our free Basics of Backpacking program on Saturday, September 21st. Are you more interested in water activities? Sign up for a kayak tour! In addition to regularly scheduled evening and family kayak tours, the Center will host a brand new Sunrise Kayak Tour program on Saturday, September 27th from 6:30 – 8:30 am. If you’re a homeschooling family, be sure to register for our Homeschool Stream Search program, and dress to get wet! If you practice yoga, bring your mat and join us for Yoga in the Preserve on Monday, September 22 nd for an outdoor class with beautiful views of the lake. Registration for these and other programs is now simple to complete online at the new eParks2.0 website. Many of these programs will continue throughout the fall and new programs are always being developed, so keep checking back!

Community and Recreation Center Services Albemarle Road Recreation Center Albemarle Road Recreation Center was established in 1982. The gymnasium was one are that was built without an air condition unit in place.

Countless programs, basketball games, events and more have occurred in the gym. After 32 years ARRC has been approved to implement air in the gymnasium. By the end of September, Albemarle Road Rec will be able to provide a comfortable environment for any special event or program for any patron now visiting the facility. For more information please call 704-567-1941.

Available Now: New Fall Training Schedule "Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets." --Leonardo Da Vinci Signup now for one of Mecklenburg County's Learning and Development Services fall workshops! Just login to MyHR and click on "Request Training Enrollment" to find the learning opportunities available. Among this fall's offerings are two new courses: 1) Supervising 4 Success: A comprehensive six-day workshop required for newly hired/promoted supervisors to be completed within three months of hire/promotion date.

2) Crucial Accountability: This two-day course (no prerequisites) teaches a straightforward, step-by-step process for identifying and resolving performance gaps, strengthening accountability, eliminating inconsistency, and reducing resentment. It uses video, group discussions, skill practice, and real-life application to make the course both entertaining and engaging.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Fight Lab 40 – MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) On Saturday, September 13th at 6:00pm the Grady Cole Center will host Fight Lab 40. This mixed martial arts event will feature 10 matchups in various weight divisions. Tickets are available at www.CrownTickets.com. For more information, call (704) 336-2884 or email GradyCole-MemorialStadium@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Registration Is Open for the Healthy Lifestyle Challenge Gather your team and sign-up today! Healthy habits can improve your life. For four weeks, Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, you will have the opportunity to focus on nutrition, activity, hydration, wellbeing and sleep. You’ll learn easy and effective ways to develop healthy habits by tracking your commitment, engaging in team competition, reading healthy recipes and weekly tips.

Register your team here.

For additional information click here or contact Christie Dean at mytotalhealth@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Adult Kickball On Saturday September 13th Adult Athletics will be hosting their first kickball tournament. The tournament will take place at Hornet's Nest Park starting at 9am. Registration forms are available on the Adult Athletics section on the park and rec website. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com, or call us at 704-336-7639.

Men's & Women's Basketball Leagues Men’s A basketball league and the women’s basketball leagues have started their Fall seasons. Men’s A games are played on Sundays at Grady Cole Center starting at 5pm. Women’s games are played on Sundays at Tom Sykes Recreation 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.

Youth & Adult Sports Programming, Revolution & Grady Cole/Memorial Stadium Dive After Five Volleyball Tournament This past Saturday Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation hosted their 8th annual Dive after Five Volleyball Tournament. The tournament took place at Memorial Stadium starting late in the evening. There was a total of 56 teams that participated in the tournament in three different divisions to include Men’s and Women "Open" division, Men’s and Women "A" division, and the Men’s and Women "BB" division. The tournament had an overall great turnout with beautiful weather. 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 Coed Volleyball The Co-Rec BB ended their regular season games for the summer league this Wednesday September 10th. The league will be going into their playoff games starting next Wednesday September 17th. There was a total of 5 teams in the league this season. Playoff games will be played at Tom Sykes Recreation 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 .

Adult Coed Volleyball The Co-Rec B summer volleyball league finished out their playoff games for the season on Monday September 8th. Games were played at Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center on Monday nights. The league had a total of 6 teams participating in the league this season. Team “Plan B� are the champions for the summer league. Fall league will be starting September 15th. For more information on adult leagues please visit our website at www.parkandrec.com or call us at 704-336-7639 .

Torrence Creek Greenway Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Town of Huntersville held a ceremony on Sept. 9, 2014, officially opening Torrence Creek Greenway, Tributary #2.

Located in Huntersville, the 1-mile trail begins near Bradford Hills Lane and connects five neighborhoods to the Torrence Creek Greenway and the Rosedale Shopping Center area. The extension creates a 2.36-mile network of greenway trails.

HELP BUILD THE NEWTOWN PLAYGROUND ON OCTOBER 27-OCTOBER 31 As you may know, Park and Recreation is building a playground in memory of the lives lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012.

Many volunteers are essential for building the playground.

We have opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers to participate in constructing this “stickbuilt� (on-site, piece-by-piece) playground. A very worthy undertaking, this project is also a wonderful team-building experience.

Please consider putting together a team from your department and signing the group up for one or more volunteer shifts.

The 5-day construction will begin on Monday, October 27, and end at noon on Friday, October 31.

At least two hundred (>200) volunteers are needed for each shift: >Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until noon >Monday-Thursday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. >Friday from 8 a.m. until noon Lunch will be provided between the morning and afternoon shifts.

To volunteer, or for more information, contact Lori Saylor at lori.saylor@mecklenburgcountync.gov or 980-314-1045. Please commit by Tuesday, September 30, so shift assignments can be made and teams can be notified well in advance of the week of the project.

The playground is a gift to our community and a tribute to the fortitude and spirit of the Newtown community. We hope we can count on your help to make the Newtown Playground at Park Road Park .

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 36 • September 12, 2014

Clothing Donations Needed 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