 ABOVE: Family members enjoyed the tug-of-war at the DPS Employee Picnic last month. BELOW: Commissioner Jacobson and Assistant Commissioner Cunningham were joined by their families at the picnic.
Thank you to all who joined us for the DPS Employee Appreciation Picnic on June 22 at Battle Creek Regional Park. It was a hot one, but DPS employees demonstrated their resilience, with some even emerging from the picnic shelter to lend their weight to the tug-of-war competition!
Highlights of the picnic included K-9 Bia demonstrating her uncanny cash-sniffing abilities with handler and Special Agent Brad Rezny; a special delivery of soccer balls for the kids from the Maplewood Police Department; getting a driver’s view from the Maplewood Fire Department’s firetruck; and, of course, hanging out and eating good food on a summer night with DPS co-workers and their families.
Our gratitude goes out to the volunteers who made the picnic all the better through their contributions:
- Team member Angela’s son, JT, for pitching in to set-up and clean-up.
- Celebrity server (and AGE Director) Carla Cincotta for serving up burgers and hotdogs to guests.
- Brad and Bia for their awesome demo.
- The OOC for donating two memorable sports-related door prizes.
- OJP’s Vicky Anthony, Allison Hostrawser, and Suzanne Elwell for helping out at the grill.
- AFSCME and MAPE representatives Sandy Lutz and Allison Camper for delivering cool swag and key union information.
Finally, a huge thank you to all in the Commissioner’s Office for their presence and support of this annual event.
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 Kids at the picnic had the chance to sit in a Maplewood fire truck.
 The Base Invaders softball team, which is comprised of players from Department of Public Safety, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health Services and Office of Higher Education, is on a winning streak and remains undefeated in the newly-formed state softball league. A recent game found a number of DPS employees in the stands to support the team – including members of the unofficial Kasey Cable Fan Club from our Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division.
Caps off to intrepid players Kasey Cable, Joe Siegfreid (RoseMarina Armstrong’s recruit), Yuri Selby Pfahl and Travis Schneider for rostering with the team. We hope other interested DPS employees decide to step up to the plate next year and will send out information on how to join before the 2024 summer season.
It’s not too late to donate school supplies to the DPS School Supply Drive, but the July 31 deadline is fast approaching!
Please visit the Charitable Opportunities Committee’s webpage here for more information on what supplies are needed and how to donate. The main DPS reception area in Town Square has a table for drop-offs, too, if your office is working remotely or under renovation without a designated drop-off site.
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Quiz – Prepare for the Fair
Given that DPS divisions once again will be a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fair, we thought we’d focus our newsletter quiz on getting ready for tabling, food, fun, and crowds at that greatest of all Minnesota get togethers.
Those who answer all five questions correctly and submit them to us at eerc.dps@state.mn.us before Aug. 24 will be entered into a drawing for one of five summer-themed DPS swag-filled bags.
1. What is the name of the building where DPS has its booths?
a) 4-H
b) Ramberg Center
c) Commissary
d) Education
2. How many days will DPS be tabling at the fair, which runs from Aug. 24-Sept. 4?
a) Every day
b) The first five
c) The first 10
d) Until we run out of swag
3. What downtown St. Paul restaurant will be a new food vendor at this year’s fair?
a) Dark Horse Bar & Eatery
b) Afro Deli
c) Barrio
d) Gray Duck Tavern
4. What famous band formed in the 1990s is performing at this year’s fair?
a) Boyz II Men
b) The Turtles
c) Duran Duran
d) The Jonas Brothers
5. The highest attendance record set for the Minnesota State Fair was in 2019, with how many fairgoers, according to Google?
a) 1,126,551
b) 1,626,551
c) 2,126,551
d) 2,626,551
Leslie’s Reasons to Recognize
While we encourage everyone to start thinking about nominations for DPS’s Annual Awards Ceremony in December, there are plenty of occasions to recognize and show appreciate for your DPS colleagues in the interim.
- July 27 – National Intern Day
- July 28 – System Administrator Appreciation Day
- Aug. 9 – International Co-Working Day
- Sept. 11 – National Boss/Employee Exchange Day
- Sept. 12 – National Police Woman Day
- Sept. 16 – Working Parents Day
- Sept. 25 – Research Administrator Day
Cooking with Tom
Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
Craisins are dried cranberries. Normally I avoid anything cranberry, but this is my exception. These are really good. Oh, and they have both oatmeal and berries, which means, they’re healthy, right?
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3⁄4 cup sugar
- 3⁄4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1⁄2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1-2 tsp cinnamon
- 3 cups cooking oats
- 1 package Craisins (6 ounces)
- 1⁄2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) (Editor’s note: no, it’s not)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugars until well blended. Add the eggs and vanilla and blend well. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Add the oats, Craisins, and chocolate chips if you opt for them. Stir until mixed well. Drop by rough balls onto ungreased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Makes about four dozen.
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