Vision: A community of opportunity where everyone has hope and can reach their full potential | |
Mission: To solve our community’s toughest challenges by connecting people, resources and ideas | |
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There was a lot of activity over the weekend. The RealSense team held a training for site coordinators. These dedicated volunteers have all served as site coordinators in the past and are returning because of the joy and satisfaction they receive from helping people claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
At the same time, the Volunteer and Community Engagement team was at Southside Middle School with Fidelity team members supporting their annual Fidelity Cares volunteer project. Fidelity employees took their Saturday morning to weed, plant, mulch, paint and decorate the school grounds. They also assembled care kits, raised plant beds and furniture so Southside Middle School staff and students know they are cared for.
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Connecting people, resources and ideas is how we change our world. We live in community with each other for a reason – we need each other, and when we connect with other people, we experience love, happiness and purpose. Everything we do as a team is connecting with people: from 211 and 988 to our finance team. We are all connecting with people every day. Thank you for extending love and joy in your connections with each other and the people we serve.
-Melanie
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Happy Birthday:
Linda Olson – 11/8
Kayla Huggins – 11/9
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Staff Profile
Lavon Wilkerson
Position/Department: 211 Team Lead I, Community Impact
Years at United Way: 8
Why are you passionate about United Way and/or your work?
I've always been passionate about helping my community; working at United Way only enhanced that passion. Just knowing that I can provide hope to others brings me joy.
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I love throwing themed parties. This year for my 50th birthday, I'm doing the Wild Wild '50s western theme.
Favorite Book: Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah and Just Pray by John Hannah
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Favorite Band: Frankie Beverly & Maze and The Gap Band
Favorite Movie: Top Gun and Best Man Holiday
Hobbies: Cooking, planning events and family movie nights with my kids.
Pets: I have two grandpups at home, Dior and Prada Belle (shorkies)
Favorite thing to do in Northeast Florida: Sitting by the water in silence. That's where I find my peace.
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Holiday Bonus Days
As announced in our All Staff meeting, we will be awarded with four bonus days during the holiday season. All four bonus days will be discretionary, and you will be able to use them anytime between Nov. 20 and Jan. 5.
Please note, our office will be closed on Nov. 23 and 24, Dec. 22 and 25, and Jan. 1 for our regularly scheduled organizational holidays.
Before finalizing any plans to take time off, please review them with your supervisor and get approval. After approving, supervisors will need to manually enter bonus days on their nonexempt/hourly employees’ timecards as well as on their own.
To add bonus days to timecards, please select from the drop-down menu in Paychex.
211 and 988 teams will have until Jan. 12 to use their bonus days due to their 24/7 schedules.
We will have a spreadsheet posted in Teams for everyone to insert the days they will be working during the holidays. More to come on this.
*Bonus days must be taken as full days (8-hour increments); no partial or half days.*
Enjoy this gift of time and have a wonderful holiday season!
Contact Tracy Pickett with any questions you may have.
| REMINDER: ACTION REQUIRED BY ALL EMPLOYEES by Wednesday, Nov. 8 | |
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Sign the 211 Non-Disclosure Agreement
All United Way employees are required to sign a new “211 Non-Disclosure Agreement” by Wednesday, Nov. 8. This is related to a compliance requirement for a grant that funds our 211 operations call center.
Because we all work for the same organization, United Way of Northeast Florida employees might be exposed to 211 call center operations and confidential information regarding client’s needs, requests for services, personal situations, identity information, etc.
Therefore, all employees must read the Non-Disclosure Agreement and then sign and submit the form online using the link below. Do not print the form; sign it electronically using the link below. The completed online forms will be documented and retained by Human Resources.
Read and sign the 211 Non-Disclosure Agreement here.
If you have any questions about the 211 Non-Disclosure Agreement, please contact Mary Clarke in Human Resources.
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A Reflection on our Vision, Mission and Values
As we work together each day, it is a good idea to pause and reflect on what drives our daily work at United Way. As you know, we have been talking a lot about our new values of Teamwork, Innovation, Mission Focus, Integrity and Excellence (TIMIE). Let’s also remember to reflect on the importance of our:
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Vision: We envision a community of opportunity where everyone has hope and can reach their full potential.
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Mission: Solve our community’s toughest challenges by connecting people, resources and ideas.
The work each of you performs is critical to the success of our programs. Your efforts help create opportunities for people to have hope so they can reach their full potential. A powerful quote that captures that truth is:
“Hope is not a passive waiting for something to happen but an active participation in the unfolding of a future that we ourselves help to create.” - Gabriel Marcel
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Halloween Contest Winners!
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, hope your Halloween fun was doubled! Congratulations to our Halloween Contest winners!
In the Best Costume categories, the winners were:
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1st Place Individual, Kristie Wallace as a Na'vi from Avatar
Awards: $25 Amazon gift card and the witch’s hat trophy
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2nd Place Individual, Theresa Viets as a Unicorn
Award: $20 Amazon gift card
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3rd Place Individual, Patrick Moran as Ted Lasso
Award: $15 Amazon gift card
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And for the Best Team Costume, “all you need is faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust” to be this year’s winning team! Congratulations to Peter Pan (Sarah Henderson), Wendy (Wendy Boord) and Tinkerbell (Milena Gil). | |
Award: the Pumpkin Team Picture Trophy | |
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For the Best Halloween Office Decorations, congratulations to Theresa Viets who went batty for Halloween! Awards: $25 Amazon gift card and the ghost trophy
A Happy Haunting honorable mention goes to Theresa and her amazing Halloween Jeep! Theresa had a SKEL-E-TON of a good time decorating her vehicle! It was a fun and frightful sight to see her spooky Jeep parked on E. Adams Street.
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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION | |
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Extended Office Hours for Signatures
Reminder: please plan to update your signature by Nov. 9 using the new PDF in the Templates folder in Marketing Resources folder on Teams. This file has links to build your specific signature based on your department and/or team. Please follow the instructions on the PDF.
If you need help, Milena Gil and Wendy Boord are scheduling a second block of time this Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 4-5 p.m. to answer questions and help troubleshoot.
Updating your signature is required by every staff member to ensure brand continuity and organizational brand cohesion.
If you have any questions or suggestions on what you'd like to see in the Marketing Resources folder, please email Milena Gil.
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Zoom/Teams Backgrounds! NEW to the Marketing Resources Folder | |
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Today, we’re excited to share we added not one, not two, not three, but FIVE Zoom/Teams backgrounds for use in virtual meetings to the Marketing Resources folder in the All Staff Team. Each have a slightly different design, and you can use your favorite or choose a different one every day! The choice is yours – just please plan to no longer use the “Amplify Good” backgrounds.
Download the new backgrounds here, and remember, there are all kinds of cool things in the entire Marketing Resources folder for you to explore.
Questions? Email Milena.
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Last Call for Veterans Day Parade Sign Ups
The Veterans Day Parade is this Saturday! If you would like to join us, please make sure to RSVP here. Family and friends are more than welcome!
We're asking attendees to wear their red or white United Way shirts along with any patriotic adornments they wish. Any volunteers who need a shirt will be provided a white Live United shirt. Parade starts at 11 a.m., with a meet-up time of 9:45 a.m.
See you there!
Questions? Contact Erica La Spada.
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VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | |
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Fidelity Investments at Southside Middle School
Over 55 volunteers participated in Fidelity Investments' Transformation Day at Southside Middle School on Saturday, Nov. 4. Transformation Day is part of United Way of Northeast Florida’s contract as the Points of Light Affiliate in North Florida.
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This is the fifth year that Fidelity Investments has chosen to work with Southside Middle, amounting to over $100,000 in projects and supplies to the grateful school, in addition to over $10,000 in volunteer labor value! Some of the projects included landscaping, assembling teacher appreciation kits and confidence kits, painting the Zen Den and updating various other areas of the school.
A big thanks to Coretta Hill for speaking at the morning kick-off event (and for saving the day and picking up extra supplies during a supply snafu) as well as Melanie Patz for stopping by to talk to volunteers and staff. Stay tuned for Fidelity Investments’ announcement of their "Invest in My Education" pilot program in Florida next week with United Way of Northeast Florida!
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United Way Volunteer Hub
If your department uses volunteers in any way or you want to learn more about the United Way of Northeast Florida’s Volunteer Hub, please be sure to reach out to the VCE department. VCE is eager to be of service and to share the awesome benefits of the Volunteer Hub!
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Don't see below a key date you'd like listed? Request your supervisor submit to it in next week's Monday Message template (due Friday).
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Nov 8: Tocqueville Salute to Service Event
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Nov. 9 and 16: RealSense Dinner and Certificate Financial Literacy Series
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Nov. 10: Veterans Days observed (United Way offices closed)
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Nov. 11: Veterans Day Parade
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Nov 11: RealSense Tax Site Coordinator Training
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Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving Holiday (United Way offices closed)
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Dec. 2, 9 and 16: RealSense Volunteer Income Tax Program Training
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Dec. 19: Board of Directors Meeting
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Dec. 22: Christmas Eve observed (United Way offices closed)
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Dec. 25: Christmas Day (United Way offices closed)
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Jan. 1: New Year's Day (United Way offices closed)
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Jan. 4, 11 and 18: RealSense Dinner and Certificate Financial Literacy Series
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Jan. 6, 13 and 20: RealSense Volunteer Income Tax Program Training
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Jan. 13: MLK Day of Service
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Jan. 15: MLK Holiday Grand Parade
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Jan 27: EITC Awareness Day
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Feb. 5: UNF Black Alumni Week Mental Health Forum (United Way is a sponsor)
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Feb. 11: 211 Day
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April 13: 100th Anniversary Community Celebration
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