A thought for the day…
"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think."
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) American poet and educator
 IN THIS ISSUE
Notes from Mary Bogie
Regional Administrator
Each year, as we settle into fall and embrace – I hope! – the chillier temperatures and changing leaves, I find myself taking time for reflection. Even though it can be a busy time of year, it is a great opportunity to pause and take stock.
And during the pandemic, maybe you’ve been like me and have felt like you’re taking things more day by day than ever before. I encourage you over the next few weeks to take a step back from your work and busy lives and take the time to participate in the annual Met Council activities taking place over the next few weeks. Through these offerings, I hope you can pause, reflect, and consider new ways to engage in your health and wellness, your community, and in support of each other.
Open Enrollment is a couple weeks away, during which we’ll have the chance to adjust or enroll in employee benefits, deciding on the best health plans and flexible spending accounts for ourselves and our families. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to review your benefits and make sure you have what you need moving forward. There will be several virtual information sessions to explain the various options and answer your questions, and the Benefits team is available by phone to help you plan for the year ahead.
It’s also an important reminder to take care of ourselves and get back to those regular check-ups we may have been ignoring during the pandemic. And as we wrap up October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I can’t say enough how important those cancer screenings are. As a breast cancer survivor, I know that your life may depend on it. Make that appointment.
We’re also getting the chance soon to invest in new ways in our community through the annual Charitable Giving Campaign, which begins Friday, Oct. 22. The pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time, and the impact has not been felt the same throughout our region. Every employee at the Met Council, whether you feel it every day or not, is supporting the health, wellness, and success of our communities through our critical services and operations. And through the giving campaign, we can each financially support those in need and build on that investment we contribute to daily through our organization.
Finally, we have the annual Councilwide Employee Recognition event on Nov. 15. Being held virtually again this year, we will be celebrating the work and resilience of our staff over the last year, with remarks from leaders and recognitions in each of our divisions. I invite you to join us as we support and lift each other up, celebrating our successes and the hard work we’ve put in to make this a thriving region for all.
Over the next few weeks, take the time to step back and reflect on the ways you can better support yourselves, your families, your community, and each other. And thank you, as always, for all you do to contribute to the strength and resilience of our communities – on and off the clock.
|
 
The Met Council’s annual Charitable Giving Campaign is set to run from Oct. 25 through Nov. 5. During the campaign, employees will be encouraged to sign up to have a portion of each paycheck directed to an eligible charity of their choice. You may choose to pledge donations to one of four participating federations or to any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of your choice.
Virtual kickoff event: Oct. 25
Mark your calendars for the Councilwide virtual kickoff event on Monday, Oct. 25, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Staff will hear about changes to the list of federations supported by this campaign and find out more about how our pledges impact our local communities. An Outlook event invitation was sent to all Met Council staff. Please email CharitableGiving@metc.state.mn.us if you did not receive the invite.
Online, live silent auctions: Nov. 3 – 4
Two silent auctions will be held online starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 3 and ending at 2 p.m. on Nov. 4. All Met Council staff are welcome to bid in either the Metro Transit or Councilwide auction, and all proceeds will be divided among the four federations supported by the Charitable Giving Campaign.
If you or your work unit would like to participate by providing a gift basket or item, please follow these steps (PDF) to submit an item by Oct. 26 for the Metro Transit auction or fill out this vendor form by Oct. 22 to be listed in the Councilwide auction. More details to come on bidding in the silent auctions.
Food drive and family events
Contribute what you can to the food drive running throughout the campaign at various Met Council locations. Learn more about the drop-off locations and needs (PDF) or review the Amazon wish list for items to donate. The drive will benefit several local food shelves.
Check out this events flyer (PDF) for two family-friendly events in this year's campaign: submit photos by Oct. 25 for the pumpkin-carving contest or for the Halloween costume contest. Voting for both contests will end on Oct. 29. Participation is free, but donations to the campaign are encouraged!
Contact the Charitable Giving Campaign Committee with any questions at CharitableGiving@metc.state.mn.us. For more information about the campaign or to make a pledge online or by using the pledge form, visit the Charitable Giving Campaign MetNet page.
As part of our commitment to reducing barriers and increasing opportunities for small, targeted businesses, the Metropolitan Council recently approved a resolution empowering staff to implement a new 6% preference in certain bids from vendors in the Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) program. For the purpose of determining the low bidder, the Procurement department will remove 6% from the bid amount from MCUB vendors and will compare that amount to the bids from non-MCUB vendors.
Procurement and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) have collaborated to launch this initiative, dubbed the MCUB Preference, that will help even the playing field for MCUB vendors in bids for non-federally funded goods and services. This is another lever available to us to promote MCUB participation and to ensure that the Met Council contracts and spends its money in an intentionally equitable way.
For this 6% preference to be impactful, though, we need to engage MCUBs in our work throughout the organization, and it starts with project managers.
Employees should consider MCUB firms any time you make a purchase or procurement. Here are some of the most important things you can do to increase MCUB commitments:
- Start the process of finding a vendor early, and think about scope. Consider separating out portions of work to intentionally include MCUBs; don’t bundle work merely for simplicity if it limits who may be able to perform the work.
- Think MCUB first with any purchase. Pause before you and your team order from your usual vendor and look to see if an MCUB can provide what you need instead.
- Engage with Procurement and OEO early to help plan and scope the project, solicit MCUB firms, and navigate the process.
- Search for firms in the MCUB Directory to identify MCUB vendors who offer the goods and services you are looking for.
And you can help build the network by actively sharing information about the MCUB program with businesses you come into contact with and notifying OEO of businesses that could be added to the certification programs.
The Met Council now has three initiatives for increasing contracting opportunities for MCUB firms:
- MCUB Direct: The Met Council applies the micro-level purchase process for a procurement up to $25,000 when purchasing from an MCUB firm – a higher threshold for micro purchases than when purchasing from a non-MCUB vendor.
- MCUB Select: The Met Council establishes a sheltered market process where only MCUB firms are solicited for a procurement of goods or services up to $175,000 when at least three MCUB firms are able to participate.
- MCUB Preference: The Met Council provides a 6% evaluation preference in the bid amounts from MCUB firms for a procurement for goods or services between $25,000 and $175,000. Beginning in January, the preference will be extended to procurements of goods and services over $175,000.
Read more about the importance of our MCUB program and creating more inclusive opportunities in the Aug. 24 issue of The Wire. Learn more on the MCUB Program page on MetNet.
Please reach out to any member of the Procurement or OEO Small Business Unit teams if you have questions about the MCUB Preference initiative. Email MCUB@metc.state.mn.us for questions on the MCUB Directory. OEO is also available to provide training to your work unit on the MCUB program.
Thank you for investing in our region and supporting economic inclusion and growth!
Open Enrollment begins in a couple weeks, and your Open Enrollment packet should arrive in the mail soon. When you receive it, start looking it over and think about your options. Then make your selections during the Open Enrollment period from Monday, Nov. 1, through Friday, Nov. 19. Keep in mind that:
- You can choose to keep your current medical or vision plan or choose another.
- You can add or subtract yourself or family members from the medical, dental, and vision plans.
- You can enroll in one or more Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) with pre-tax dollars – for health care that’s not covered by your plan, dependent care, and work-related parking costs.
The health care selections you made for 2021 will roll forward to 2022 if you make no changes to them. But if you want a health, daycare, or parking FSA for 2022, you must enroll during this year’s Open Enrollment period.
Watch these videos for more information on the health plan:
Enroll online at MetCouncilBenefits.hrintouch.com starting Nov. 1. You will receive a separate packet in the mail with enrollment instructions just before Open Enrollment begins.
Due to COVID-19, there will not be in-person/face-to-face benefits fairs this year. Benefits staff will be available for phone calls and are offering online information sessions (click the link to add the Microsoft Teams session to your calendar):
- Monday, Nov. 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 3, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 4, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 17, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 19, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Important to remember in emergency situations
If you use Microsoft Teams Calling (softphone) to call 911, you must stay on the line to confirm your location with the 911 operator. Our network will not be able to identify your correct location automatically based on the phone number being used.
What is a softphone?
A "softphone" is a piece of software that allows the user to make telephone calls securely and reliably over the internet via a computer.
The Met Council is moving away from physical desk phones and migrating to softphones through Microsoft Teams for most office workers. Employees with softphones will keep the same work phone number; calls to their work phone number will, however, be rerouted to reach them through their Teams account.
Currently Teams can be used to place internal calls to other Teams users within the Met Council. With this new functionality, employees using Teams will be able to call any phone number, receive phone calls, manage contacts, and manage voicemail – all within Teams.
Trainings and resources
Find more information on softphones, including links to upcoming and recorded trainings, on the Telework Transition FAQ MetNet page. If you have questions or need help, contact the Service Desk at ServiceDesk@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1498.
|
The following highlights provide a summary of important information you need to know related to the Met Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest and most complete information is available in the COVID-19 update emailed to all staff every other week on Thursdays.
Read the most recent bulletin (Oct. 14), which includes:
- Employees who need to test each week must complete their test by 11:59 p.m. each Thursday. Staff may use Council-facilitated testing options, which update their employee record automatically, or choose another way, which must be entered manually in Employee Self Service (ESS).
- The form for submitting proof of vaccination is available in ESS.
- Every employee who has been fully vaccinated and submits their proof of vaccination through ESS and has it verified by Nov. 26 will receive a $150 lump-sum cash incentive.
- Frequently asked questions on the Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure are available on the COVID-19 FAQ page on MetNet.
- The Council and its committees, advisory committees, and work groups will continue to hold their meetings virtually through at least Jan. 3.
- As a reminder, teleworking staff must complete two required trainings in Learn before their teams implement their new work schedules. Teleworking staff should check the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for information on technology, workspaces, planning, and more.
Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:
COVID-19 testing:
|
The Met Council’s 2021 management conference, Leadership Forum on Racial Equity, ended last week. Across the four conference dates, 440 managers and supervisors participated in the required training.
The keynote speakers led discussions with attendees on individual and group reflections, transformational change, and maximizing your impact. Met Council leaders also spoke to the groups, and attendees visited virtual breakout rooms to hear from Fit For Life health and wellness guests, equity change teams from each of the divisions, and some of our equity-related work units and employee resource groups.
For the first time, the Leadership Forum was held entirely virtually, and conference materials and session information were organized in a SharePoint site for attendees to follow along and download resources. The individual sessions were delivered as Microsoft Teams meetings.
Thank you to the entire event planning team, led by Learning and Organization Development Manager Jerilynn Sushko and Workforce and Equity Program Coordinator Roderic Southall, for putting together such a large event in this virtual setting and delivering this important training in difficult circumstances! An extra "thank you" to ECM Architect Jeff Godderz, who facilitated each of the four conference days and set up the technology needed to be successful.
If you have any questions or feedback on the event or the Met Council's broader equity trainings, please email LeadershipForum@metc.state.mn.us.
|
John Rubesch, a 20-year operator who worked at the South Garage, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 9.
Born in Saint Paul, Rubesch was remembered as a friendly and hard worker who was always willing to take on extra work and hoped to someday retire from Metro Transit. Outside of work, Rubesch enjoyed carpentry and riding his motorcycle.
“He was really a great human being and always looked after his follow union men and women,” South Operator Hussein “King” Mohamed said.
Mohamed started the same month as Rubesch, and the two became fast friends. Over the years, Rubesch helped Mohamed with several home improvement projects, and got to know his entire family.
Rubesch is survived by his fiancé, stepdaughter, two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Memories can be shared online.
|
Important dates this fall
Fall is a busy time of year for annual events at the Met Council, so to help you sort through it all, here are some important dates to have on your calendar:
-
Oct. 22 – Nov. 5: annual Charitable Giving Campaign (see story above)
-
Oct. 25: Councilwide, virtual kickoff event, 11 a.m. to noon
-
Nov. 3 – Nov. 4: Online silent auctions, starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 3
-
Nov. 1 – Nov. 19: Open Enrollment period (see story above for details, including info sessions, and keep an eye on your mailbox at home)
-
Nov. 15: annual Employee Recognition Event, on Microsoft Teams at 9 a.m., all employees are invited (staff received an Outlook invitation in late September)
Mammo-a-go-go is back in November for your annual screening
Mammo-a-go-go – the onsite, mobile mammography service from HealthPartners – is a convenient and safe way to get your annual screening mammogram. The Mammo-a-go-go truck is available to all Met Council employees, and the screening is free if covered by insurance; be sure to bring your insurance card with you to your appointment.
Check out the Mammo-a-go-go flyer (PDF) for more details on the truck stopping by Heywood on Nov. 2 and Metro Plant on Nov. 4. Call 952-993-3700 to schedule your screening and tell the scheduler which location you'd like for your appointment. Email Shelby.Olson@metc.state.mn.us with questions.
Webinar: Equity in transit
Celina Martina, Senior Manager of Equity & Inclusion at Metro Transit, is one of the panelists at an upcoming webinar focused on equity in transit. The webinar is presented by TransitCenter and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and panelists will discuss how transit agencies can reform internal practices to deliver better outcomes for the people with the most at stake in transit – low-income riders, riders of color, and frontline transit workers.
If you would like to attend the webinar, register online.
Equity in Transit: Internal Practices and Equitable Outcomes
Thursday, Oct. 28
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Read more about equity in transit from Celina in last week's Insights.
Kacie Everman
Pronouns: she/her/hers
HRA Specialist
Metro HRA
Primary duties
I will be doing quality control of the outreach coordinators' files as well as reconciliations and other portability billing tasks.
Started
Sept. 27
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It is definitely a different feel! However, my co-workers/bosses have been super supportive in responding to my chat questions and having plenty of Teams meetings, so I get to see friendly faces every day, too.
Hometown
I was born in Iowa but consider Cass Lake, Minnesota, my true home. My parents owned a fishing resort on Sucker Bay of Leech Lake.
Current residence
Eagan
Family
I have a 20-year-old son, Tayson, who lives on his own in Iowa, a 16-year-old son, Jeyden, and a 13-year-old daughter, Kelis (they will all be increasing age within three months). We also have two dogs, two geckos, two frogs, and a turtle in home.
Education
I have an associate degree from Ellsworth Community College, and my goal is to finally complete my bachelor's in the near future.
Experience
I started in housing at Chicago Housing Authority with Nan McKay and Associates, then moved back to Minnesota two years ago, where I joined Dakota County CDA.
Other interests
I love riding my new Harley, reading, traveling, going to live sporting events, concerts, and getting tattoos. I also work on the weekends at a restaurant in Eagan called Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill. I have been serving for so long that this has been my social interaction throughout COVID-19 and working from home; I really enjoy it!
|
Years of Service
15 Years
Bridget Loser, Business Systems Analyst 3, Risk Management
Marcus Martin, Senior Planner, Community Development
Matthew McGuire, GIS Manager, Information Services
5 Years
Kris Hess, Business Analyst 3, Environmental Services
Teresa Leishman, Purchasing Agent, Procurement
New Staff
Nicholas Barnes, Sept. 27, HRA Inspector, Metro HRA
Kacie Everman, Sept. 27, HRA Specialist, Metro HRA
Shivkumar Iyer, Oct. 4, Director of Applications Services, Information Services
Shannon Keough, Oct. 11, Information Specialist, Environmental Services
Departures
Brianna Berg, Sept. 4, Talent Acquisition Specialist 2, Human Resources
Michael Frencl, Oct. 13, Systems Engineer 1, Information Services
Anqi Li, Oct. 23, Planner, Metropolitan Transportation Services
 It's all about perspective
Jessica Nye, Manager, SAC Program, in Environmental Services, took a dolphin tour in St. Pete Beach, Florida, this summer and had a quick eye for finding a good photo in an unlikely spot. "As we went under this bridge, I had to have them turn around so I could take a picture," she said. "Very cool architecture!"
Looking for your cool photo!
Do you have photos to share? The Wire is always looking for the next cool photo from staff, from a close-up in your flower garden, to scenic vistas up north, to exotic travel adventures, or more artful fare like reflections and silhouettes. The only criteria is that it's a cool photo! Just email the editor at the address below.
The Wire is published every two weeks for employees of the Met Council. Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.
|
