Do You Have the Recipe for Sweet Success?

Break out the baking sheets, gather up those measuring cups and let the scents of the season fill your kitchen – the Holiday Dessert Recipe Contest is back.

The annual competition, which is part of the County’s Wellness Program, is a chance for those with a passion for cooking to showcase their talents to their colleagues.

“It’s a fun time of the year,” said Wellness Coordinator William Erese. “It’s a time where it’s ok to indulge in something sweet – just as long as you don’t overindulge.”

Employees are encouraged to whip up something fantastic – and low-calorie – and submit the recipe between Nov. 10 and Nov. 21. The top five recipes will be judged on Dec. 11 at the County Operations Center (COC) cafeteria.

Prizes, like a rolling tote bag and electric juicer, are awarded for various places.

The winner will get their delectable treat prepared and featured at the COC cafeteria as the “Recipe of the Day.”

Last year’s winner was Planning & Development Services accounting technician Natasha Garcia. She knocked out her 64 competitors with her Pear-Almond Clafouti.

Think you have the recipe for sweet success? Read the contest rules and learn how to submit your recipe. Happy baking and creating!  

CECO Auction Raises Over $4K; Grant Applications Being Accepted

The San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) raised more than $4,200 in its online auction last month. The second annual event auctioned off nearly 250 items, including beach cruisers, harbor cruise tickets and lunch with CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer.

Plus, nearly 40 more employees have signed up in the last month to donate to CECO through an automatic payroll deduction. All proceeds benefit non-profit programs throughout the San Diego region and County employees in crisis.

Applications for grants funding those programs are now being accepted. Based upon recent donation trends, approximately $200,000 will be available for next year’s grants. In 2014, CECO distributed approximately $214,000 to support 93 local non-profit programs throughout San Diego County, with grants ranging from $305 to $7,940.

Grant applications must be submitted by end of day, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. All selected recipients will receive their grant in March 2015. Visit www.sdceco.org for details on how to apply.

CECO’s Power of One Campaign is still taking place with various fundraising events throughout County departments and opportunities to enroll new membership.

Flash Food Drive a Success - and Raffle Winner Sought

Updated on Nov. 5 at 11 a.m.: Michele Curley from HHSA is the raffle winner.

Halloween was all about fun and fright at the County this year, but it was also about the spirit of giving.

A Flash Food Drive was held at last Friday's Haunted Plaza and 502 pounds of goods were donated in 90 minutes for the San Diego Food Bank.

In addition, a winning ticket for the food drive raffle has been picked. If you have ticket number 057021, contact the LUEG Executive OFfice at 619-531-6256 so you can collect your prize.

Thanks to all who donated food!

County Goes Crazy for Halloween

On Friday, County employees celebrated Halloween in a big way. Some decorated their workspace, others dressed up in costume and even more planned to head to the Haunted Plaza at the COC. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the plaza will be full of tricks and treats.

Share photos of your costumes or office celebrations. Email them to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov with your name and department.

Wicked Winners Named in Halloween Contests

Sam Bledsoe, with the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk

The unnerving wait is over! The fangtastic winners to the Workplace Decorating and Scary Face contests were crowned.

After casting more than 1,300 votes, County employees selected the top three workspace winners. While all participants impressively decorated their workspace with ghastly ghosts, terrifying tombstones and morbid mummies, only three spirits were crowned wicked winners. (See the photos below.)

Sam Bledsoe, with the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s office, won the Scary Face contest. His transformation is frighteningly fun.

Don’t miss out on the thrilling Haunted Plaza on Halloween Day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the County Operations Center. Some of the planned activities include dancing the Monster Mash, games, and more tricks and treats. Employees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the San Diego Food Bank to the big bash. Each person who brings in an item (or items) will receive one entry into a raffle. Winner need not be present to win. 

Patrick Baker, with Sheriff's Department came in 1st place.

Joneal Chu, with Auditor& Controller, came in 2nd place.Norweena Asignacion, with Probation, came in 3rd place.

Diversity on Display at New ERG Wall

 

The County’s Employee Resource Groups, in partnership with the County Library, dedicated a new exhibition space this week to promote cultural awareness. A room at the Library’s administrative offices at the County Operations Center is now home to the ERG Wall, a project honoring individuals for their accomplishments in diversity and inclusion.

The inaugural exhibit “Breaking Barriers—Military Trailblazers” honors a group of veterans. The five established and three forming ERGs selected four individuals who represent each branch of the military: the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy. The display consists of posters of each military leaders with a photo and short synopsis of their support of diversity and inclusion.

Mavette Sadile, with the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees’ Association, said she hopes the ERG Wall exhibit will spark conversation, learning and inspires the community.

“This wall is a great opportunity for the employee resource groups to come together and collaborate on a special project that really speaks to the county’s initiative with regard to cultural awareness and diversity,” she said.

Joe Cordero, Director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance, said the Military Trailblazer exhibit is the first of many installations. The display will be changed quarterly, and after each exhibit’s run on the ERG Wall, it will tour County library branches and other County facilities.

Zenobia Howard, with the African American Association of County Employees, introduced the print honoring Adm. Michelle Howard:

 

Angelica Fortin, with the San Diego County Latino Association, introduced the print honoring Lt. Col. Olga Custodio:

 

James Inglis, with the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees’ Association, introduced the print honoring Col. Rayfel Bachiller:

Carl Smith, with VALOR—the veterans’ employee resource group, introduced the print honoring Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith:

Stop by 5560 Overland Ave., Conference Room B, at the County Operations Center to see the display yourself.

Open Enrollment Can Be Done From Home

Due to the high volume of employees accessing the Open Enrollment system from work, the system is at maximum capacity. Many employees are receiving an error message. But don’t give up – Human Resources has some simple tips to ease the process. The department encourages employees to try enrolling during off peak hours or from home.

Review at work and enroll from home.

Employees are encouraged to review, compare and prepare their enrollment at work. Surf over to the Open Enrollment Benefits webpage for information. The page includes medical plan pricing, plan summaries and frequently asked questions. Take notes, print out, or download and email yourself important documents you may need in the decision making process.

Now that you have the 411, enroll from home. That’s right, you can access Open Enrollment from a home computer or even your smartphone. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Follow these steps to access the system:

1. Visit cosdportal.sdcounty.ca.gov and enter your County username and password.
2. Next select “e-Benefits.”
3. At the Tier login, enter your employee ID number and pin. You are in!

Open Enrollment ends this Friday at midnight, but don’t delay and get caught in a last-second rush. Enroll as soon as possible.

Don’t Miss Halloween Contest Fun

There’s still time to sign up for two frighteningly fun contests being held on Halloween at the County Operations Center.  Sign up to dress up or carve it up at the Haunted Plaza on Friday—there are openings in the pumpkin carving and costume contests.

All you need to do to sign up is click on the blue links below. Here are the details:

Pumpkin Carving Contest: The contest is open to both freestyle and pattern carvers. Registration is required, so sign up now. Participants carefully carved creations will be displayed at the Haunted Plaza where County employees will vote for the best of the best. Register to enter as a pattern or freestyle carver by emailing your name, title and department. Read the rules before finding the most perfect pumpkin as your canvas.

Costume Contest: Dress to impress! There are four costume contest categories this year: funniest, most creative, scariest or best group. (For best group, make sure to submit only one submission.) The costumes will be judged during the witching hour (12:35 p.m.) at the Haunted Plaza on Oct. 31. Read the rules before fabricating your disguise.

Don’t miss out on a wicked good time! Attend the Haunted Plaza at the County Operations Center on Halloween day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Some of the planned activities include dancing the Monster Mash, games and contests with sweet prizes, a mummy wrap, and more ghoulish fun.

A new highlight of this year’s celebration is a food drive for the San Diego Food Bank. Employees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the big bash on Oct. 31. Each person who brings in an item (or items) will receive one entry into a raffle. Winner need not be present to win.

Which Workspace is the Most Wicked?

Ghouls and goblins of the County have deviously decorated their workspaces with cobwebs, creepy crawlies and more. Now, it’s your job to vote for the cream of the crop!

The first five photos in the slideshow below are the finalists. Scroll through the rest to see all the creative and festive entries. You can click on the picture inside the slideshow to enlarge.

Winners will be recognized at the Haunted Plaza at the County Operations Center on Halloween.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite finalist!

Verint survey software

The Annual Report - It All Adds Up to a Great Story

Take more than 17,000 employees, serving 4,200 square miles, with their jobs involving everything from flu shots to potholes, weddings to law enforcement, library books to air pollution. County of San Diego workers handle all of those and many more. Their success story is captured in a compact, easy-to-read format that won’t put you to sleep: the County’s new annual report.

The County’s latest annual report has been published and it’s nothing like the fusty volume from your grandfather’s day or even your father’s! The online version is short, crisp and clean. Just the facts on some of the major strides we’ve made in the last fiscal year.

You choose the topics that interest you most. What has the County done for you lately in the way of your safety, your health and your environment? Three separate tabs on just those subjects. How do we do it? Find out more about the backbone structure that supports everything we do. Like numbers? See what we’ve accomplished ‘By the Numbers.’ Where do the tax dollars go? See our easy-to-read pie charts.

The county’s annual report is designed to be a quick read but it does have depth. The figures are packed with links leading to more information, including County News Center videos or articles related to accomplishments, a mini photo gallery, department website or the County’s Operational Plan. Like what you see on ‘By the Numbers’? A link to SDCountyinFocus offers even more numbers from each department.

You can also meet our Board of Supervisors, see how the County departments are organized and scan a short list of our top awards.

The annual report is available online and it’s been optimized for your mobile phone or tablet in an in an easy to navigate format. You can even print an 18-page snapshot of the annual report.         

Remember, the Annual Report is our County story, our success story – so show off what we’ve done.

Send the link to everyone, people you work with outside the office, your family, your friends who wonder what the County does exactly. Point them in the direction of your particular area of expertise and they can see how it fits into the bigger picture.   

Our annual report is a reflection of what you do, what we all do here at the County – and you can be proud.