Score $10 SDSU Football Tickets

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Photo credit: SDSU

Photo credit: SDSU

Gather up the family next weekend for a Thanksgiving tradition—football! San Diego County employees can purchase discounted tickets to San Diego State’s game against Colorado State on Saturday, Nov. 26.

The Aztecs are on fire. The team is currently 9-1. And it’s just one of 11 teams nationally with one loss or less and one of only seven undefeated teams in league play. Plus it may be the last time to see Heisman Trophy candidate Donnel Pumphrey in action in San Diego before he graduates.

The game kicks off at Qualcomm Stadium at 6 p.m.

Don’t miss out on the fun; purchase tickets for $10 (regularly $16). Use promo code RISEUP.

It's Official: Most Awarded County

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County Probation's Trauma Responsive Unit received a CSAC Challenge Award.

Several County departments were recognized at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors' meeting for recently winning eight innovation awards. A representative from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) came to present staff with two Challenge Awards and six Merit Awards—the most awarded to any county in the state this year.

Read more about the County's individual CSAC awards.

The Office of Emergency Services received a Challenge Award for developing a First Responder Access and Functional Needs Training video series.

Have You Seen Her?

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She sits all alone, but can be seen by thousands of motorists every day.

She is Nancy Nguyen, a case manager at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, and the face of a campaign promoting the Master of Social Work at Cal State University San Marcos.

She appears on a billboard along Highway 78 West at the intersection of El Camino Real. It will be up for one more week.

The university asked Nguyen if they could use her image to promote a successful graduate from the program after she first appeared in an internal campaign promoting CSUSM’s Department of Social Work.

Nguyen completed her master’s degree in May of 2015 and started working the Psychiatric Hospital three months later. 

Gallery: CECO's 60th Diamond Anniversary

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The San Diego County Employees' Charitable Organization hosted its 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration at the Mission Valley Resort on Friday. If you missed the big bash, click through the gallery.

The fundraiser featured dinner, dancing, opportunity drawings and more. Plus, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors recognized CECO as a Live Well San Diego partner.

CECO's annual fundraising campaign continues through the end of November. Take the 60 for 60 CECO Challenge or buy a pie or two in the Marie Callender's pie sale. Plus the CECO will host a Bake sale and Bake off at the County Administration Center on Nov. 18.

Brrnnnng! We Have a New Voice Mail System

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Imagine a world without voice mail.

Missed calls. Misunderstandings. Missed opportunities.

Well, we have a new voice mail system taking over Nov. 16. And if you haven’t taken the time to set up your new voice mailbox before then — you won’t have to imagine a world without voice mail. You’ll be living in it.

And you don’t want to go through that experience. So, go to your phone. Set up your new system so you’re ready to go Nov 16.

It’s actually very easy to do. Here’s what you do:

Pick up your phone. Call this number: 495-5050 (You don’t have to punch in an area code, or *9 — anything. Just punch in the seven-digit number.)

A voice will ask you for your code. Punch in 1-2-3-4 on your telephone touch pad. This is your temporary security code to allow you into the system.

Now you’ll be asked to punch in a new four-to-15 digit security code of your own choosing, followed by the # key. You may want to write your new code down in a safe place so you don’t forget it!

A voice will now ask you record your name so your mailbox has your name in it. You push 2 to start recording, 2 to stop and 5 to save your name. Simple.

Finally, a voice will ask you to set a personal greeting. You know, something like, “Hi there! You’ve reached the desk of (your name) in the department of (your department). I’m on another line or away from my desk. Please leave me a message and I’ll get back to you! Have a great day!”  Just like with your name, you’ll push 2 to start recording, 2 to stop and 5 to save your greeting.

Do all of this and you’ll hear a “Congratulations!” This means you’ve done everything right and you’re all done! Way to go!

Here’s an important thing to note. You have to do all of these steps at one time — set a new password, record your name and record a new personal greeting — to complete the process and get that “congratulations” message.

For example, you can’t set up your new password — then decide to hang up and record your name and personal greeting later. When you call again, you’ll be back to square one and have to start over with the temporary 1-2-3-4 security password.

So, if you you’re like many of us — you don’t have a gift for speaking extemporaneously and may stumble over your words as you try to record your new voice message — you may want to write up a few lines and read them. That way you won’t get flustered and hang up before you finish the entire process!

Fortunately, our County Technology Office has sent all of us a lot of information to help us through the process, including a video and guides:

Easy Voice Mail Setup Video Instructions

So, do yourself a favor, take a minute if you haven’t already and set up your new mail box.

You don’t want to get caught in a world without voice mail!

For more information, or if you have questions, call 495-5910. 

Giving to CECO Is as Easy as Pie

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Supporting the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) is as easy as pie this month—plus just as delicious. For just $16, employees can preorder a Marie Callender’s pie and a portion of the proceeds will support CECO.

The cherry on top this year is that the pies will be delivered to one of six workplaces across the county. Employees can pick up their pie(s) between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22—just in time for Thanksgiving get-togethers. You must have your Eventbrite receipt when you pick up.

Pie flavors are apple, French apple, pumpkin, cherry, peach and razzleberry (raspberry and blackberry).

If you can’t decide, get more than one—it’s for a great cause. Through County employee and retirees’ donations, CECO has distributed more than $6.7 million throughout the San Diego region to local non-profit organizations and employees in crisis since its founding in 1956.

Pre-order these desserts by 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14.

In addition, mark your calendar for the annual CECO Bake Sale and Bake Off. This year’s sweet sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 18 in Room 402A at the County Administration Center. There will be great deals on many homemade treats. And there will be pancit and lumpia for sale, too!

To donate a baked good or more information about the event, please contact sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Learn more about CECO and how to contribute online.

Get Discounted Holiday Bowl Tickets

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Huddle up for a team announcement. For a limited time, County employees can score discounted Holiday Bowl tickets at $10 to $20 off.

The annual bowl game kicks off at 4 p.m., Dec. 27 after the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade floats past the County Administration Center.

Participating teams in the Holiday Bowl are typically announced in early December. The annual bowl game, which has been played at Qualcomm Stadium since 1978, features a matchup of Pac-12 and Big Ten teams. Last year the Wisconsin Badgers took down the USC Trojans 23-21.

To purchase the reduced-price tickets, call the Holiday Bowl box office at 619-283-5808, ext. 303 and identify yourself as a County employee.

The play clock is ticking down—this deal will only last through Nov. 10.

InTouch – Make Time for Yourself

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Can you believe it’s November? And if it seems like the year flew by, you know the pace won’t let up as we get into the crush of holidays.

The scramble for some precious time never ends. You work at the County, so I know your job is demanding. A lot of you have families: kids with their own packed schedules, aging parents that need your help. Some of you have both! You volunteer in the community, have endless projects around the house or a million other daily tasks.

Many of you have also taken part in any number of County-sponsored events, from the annual homeless count to various walks. Sometimes I’ve used this column to ask you to join in. My heartfelt thanks to all who have devoted yet more hours to these causes.    

Now I’m asking for something different regarding your time. And I know it may be more easily said than done.

I’m hoping you can find a little time for yourself. Some “me time.” 

That term rubs some people the wrong way. It sounds so selfish.

Well, if you get carried away it might be. But the “me time” I’m thinking of is essential to your overall well-being. Carving out some time for yourself helps you refresh and grow in a way that makes you more complete as a person.

When we can offer the people in our lives an energized, fulfilled version of ourselves, we’re giving them so much more. Your partner, your child, your co-worker, your customer – they all benefit when you can come to them renewed by time you give yourself.

So how do you do that? For some, it might mean being alone for a bit. For others, it will be some uninterrupted time with a friend or date night with your significant other. For me, it’s watching a sporting event or spending time walking along the beach.

Experts say the quality of your “me time” is more important than quantity. Those who felt they had a high quality of “me time,” not just more of it, had better work-life balance and well-being, and they experienced more engagement at work.

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions from several sources.

  • Schedule your “me time.” Like so many things, if we don’t schedule it, we don’t get around to it. What sort of frequency or length is whatever works for you, but get it on the calendar!
  • Unplug. We all get addicted to our devices. The stream of posts, mails, messages, whatever – it just never ends, and the perpetual nature can keep you on edge.
  • “Satisfice.” That’s a mash-up of satisfy and sacrifice, and it means accepting that things may not always be perfect – especially when they’ll eat up all your free time.
  • Take advantage of small windows of time. Give the news a rest and spend five minutes with your coffee just watching clouds or the world go by. It’s a chance to be alone with your own thoughts.    

A very popular activity in our Employee Wellness Program has been the meditation sessions. If you’re at one of the locations we’re able to offer them, give it a try.  Employees have told me the sessions are an ideal quiet center to a busy workday.

Those are just a few ideas. I’m hoping you’ll find a way to choose what’s right for you and have some time when “it’s all about you.”

Live Well is our vision for the region, but that vision only means something when we apply it at the individual level, too. Having “me time,” creating balance in your life, is fundamental to being healthy, safe and thriving.

The holidays are often filled with get-togethers, travel and preparations, so the next couple months it may be even harder to stake out time you need for yourself. But sneak it in where you can and maybe consider self-care as a resolution for next year – and beyond.

I’ll close with words that are often a casual substitute for “good-bye,” but in this case I really mean them: take care!

 

 

Last month's InTouch column: Our Election By the Numbers

All InTouch columns

 

Perk Alert: Get 25% Off Diapers and Baby Items

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Updated at 12:37 p.m., Nov. 3: This promotion is no longer available through PerkSpot. To see a complete list of retailers' coupons and deals, visit PerkSpot online.

Being a new parent just got easier! Get 25 percent off at Diapers.com through PerkSpot. Diapers.com sells clothing, toys, everything you need for a nursery, as well asdiapering, feeding, bathing and safety accessories.

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts to County employees through hundreds of service providers and retailers, from movie theaters to florists and jewelers. Using PerkSpot is both easy and free. Simply go to SDCounty.PerkSpot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to register.

Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.