SAA – Advisory Council for Office Professionals

1. SAA – Advisory Council for Office Professionals Annual Meeting Held in Charleston, SC March 2-4, 2010

2. WHO ARE WE for 2010? Wanda Rohrer, Miami, FL –NACOP Representative Wanda.Rohrer@ars.usda.gov Misty Stephens, Clemson, SC –Chair Misty.Stephens@ars.usda.gov Jacqueline McDonald, Griffin, GA –Co-Chair Jacquie.McDonald@ars.usda.gov Deborah Osborne, Tifton, GA – Newsletter Deborah.Osborne@ars.usda.gov Joyce Paist, Charleston, SC – Recorder Joyce.Paist@ars.usda.gov Rhonda Gantt, Athens, GA – Webmaster Rhonda.Gantt@ars.usda.gov Vacancy – Currently submitted names to be filled – Historian

3. Roll Call • In attendance • Wanda Rohrer • Misty stephens • Joyce paist • Jacqueline mcdonald • Rhonda gantt • Absent • Deborah osborne • Deborah roland VISION Our vision is to serve as a foundation to the South Atlantic Area office professionals to enhance self awareness, strengthen skills and provide leadership

4. Called to Order Revision to “Just a Minute” for distribution to SAA Office Professionals for past conference calls was conducted. Motion made, Seconded and Approved to distribute to SAA. Motion made, Seconded and Approved to accept budget line items for Proposed Council Budget. • Meeting was called to order by Chair, Wanda Rohrer. • Items Attended To • Motion made, Seconded and Approved to accept February Conference Call Minutes. • A discussion detailing what tasks each Council Member conducted at their various locations for their position titles was held during review of the responses to the Training Needs Survey.

5. Announcements Agreements Training Coming Soon Key Task Calendar Now Available Review of the Training Needs Assessment Survey was conducted. Approval for Assistance from Area Office Program Assistant, Sharon Jett to aid in planning and presentation will be submitted to Area Office. Training is planned to be offered at different levels. (Beginner, Intermediate …) with an open forum for questions and live interactive slides. Total training session to last between 1- 1 ½ hrs. including question/answer section. A Key Task Calendar is now available on the SAA ACOP website. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=11359 This calendar is a great reference guide in a month by month format to keep you current on tasks you should be working on now and in the future. **Save to your desktop and edit with your own ideas or personal tasks. **If we left something off, let us know. Please check it out – it’s a wonderful tool.

6. Dr. Richard Fery, Research Leader for the US Vegetable Laboratory gave the Council a tour of the facilities including offices, labs, and greenhouses on Wednesday morning. We were introduced to many Federal employees as well as employees with Clemson University. It is a beautiful facility and we greatly appreciate Dr. Fery taking the time from his busy schedule to show us around. “Thank you for your gracious hospitality.” Tour of US Vegetable Lab by Dr. Fery

7. Accomplishments • Non-Monetary Awards created & preparation for presentation • Token Item created and distribution planned • Training Needs Assessment Survey distributed • Revisions made to Website • Implementation of Strategic Plan Year 1 • Mentoring Program: Contact list updated, Survey on program created, Mentored several individuals • Held Monthly Conference Calls • Welcome Packets Assembled and Distributed to new employees • Newsletter Created and Distributed • Minutes Distributed and Uploaded to Website • Updated Council Brochure • Created a Proposed Budget to submit for approval • Presented Award to Office Professional of the Year, Shelia Jackson • Added 4 New Members to Council • Compiled information for Partners in Excellence Brochure revision • Prepared Annual Report for NACOP • Election of Officers • Revision and Execution of Charter

8. Goals & Action Items • Participate in Planning 2011 Leadership Conference (Display Board) • Distribute Partnership in Excellence Guide • Update Website: • Set up Individual Webpage • Upload templates & forms • Inclusion of SAA Map with locations • Prepare & Distribute Semi-Annual Newsletter • Keep Sponsor Advised of Issues in SAA affecting Office Professionals • Personal Contact with Locations, Area Director, & Sponsor • Implement Strategic Plan Year 2 • Fill Vacancy on Council • Represent SAA at NACOP Training Conference • Conduct Training on Agreements • Update Resource Assistance List • Call Locations: Seek concern items; shortcuts/ideas to assist others • Seek approval to include Council Welcome Packet into Orientation Packet presented to new employees

9. To enhance self-awareness: through Welcome calls and Welcome packages to let the SAA office professionals know they are not alone and we are here to help. To strengthen skills: through the Mentoring program, webcast training, scholarship program, as well as training in AgLearn and other USDA-sponsored programs. To provide leadership: by volunteering on subcommittees and council projects, by conducting surveys, distributing promotional items to recognize office professionals. VISIONOur vision is to serve as a foundation to the South Atlantic Area office professionals to enhance self awareness, strengthen skills and provide leadership Next Conference Call scheduled for April 22, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting was then adjourned. Our Website address http://www.ars.usda/gov/saa/acop