The Wire, March 8: Tools to tell your story

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March 8, 2022

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A thought for the day …


"The greatest art in the world is the art of storytelling."

– Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) American film director, producer, and actor

IN THIS ISSUE 

Giving you the tools to tell your story

Terri Dresen

Guest notes from Terri Dresen

Communications Director

The Communications department supports the Met Council with a wide range of services and skill sets, and while I’m sure you’re aware of our more visible work – like videos, social media posts, internal and external messages, and design pieces – you may be less familiar with some of our behind-the-scenes work. One of those less-prominent things we manage is our organization’s branding and story.

Communications is built into the fabric of the Met Council and is a critical piece of the puzzle for an organization of this size. We help connect the dots and maintain a consistent look and feel across divisions and work areas, and we give you the tools you need to communicate so you can focus on your subject of expertise and your operations.

One way we do this is by providing templates for your documents. While you may not give them much thought, high-quality templates are crucial for successful organizations as tools for effective communication and efficient work processes. We rely on presentations and reports to spread our word and convey a story – whether it's internally, with our Council members, at the Legislature, or out in the communities we serve – and it’s important templates are designed well, adopted by all, and used correctly.

Our templates for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word allow us to maintain the brand identity of the Met Council and stay consistent with styles and themes, but most of all they make it easy for staff to build professional presentations and reports quickly. You are the experts on your work, and we’re here to help you communicate successfully with your audience – building documents and presentations should not get in your way.

And just like everything else, templates need to be updated, so today we’re launching new templates for the Councilwide PowerPoint and our committee meeting materials in Word. Our new templates have refreshed designs and improved accessibility, but they will also help shift our culture toward more visual storytelling in our presentations. By using graphics and images to help tell our story, we can move away from reading our PowerPoints and simply relying on data and words on a slide. We hope you find these new designs easy to use and effective tools for connecting with your audience.

The Communications teams is always here to support you and your work. Read more about the templates in today’s Wire, and please reach out if you need assistance or want to learn more about the communications tools and offerings at the Met Council.

New online library and template designs launch today

The Communications department has launched a new SharePoint library for storing our organization's templates and graphic resources as well as some new template designs for Microsoft PowerPoint and Word. 

New Graphics and Templates Library

The new online Graphics and Templates Library is your one-stop-shop for the Met Council's graphics and document creation resources. In these pages you can find:

  • Met Council and Metro Transit templates for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • Accessibility instructions and document best practices
  • Logo files and brand standards for Met Council and Metro Transit
  • Screen and Microsoft Teams backgrounds
  • Access to the Met Council Digital Image Library
  • Email signature setup instructions


Now staff can grab templates either through the Microsoft Office application or this SharePoint library, making it easier to find the templates you need. For detailed instructions, review the guide on how to access and open Office templates (PDF).

You can always navigate to the library with brand standards and templates through the top menu in MetNet, under Workplace Resources > Create Content.

Updated templates for PowerPoint and meeting materials

The design update includes the Councilwide presentation template in PowerPoint as well as several templates in Word for our committee meetings: agenda, meeting minutes, business item, information item, and committee report. Other PowerPoint and Word documents received updates for accessibility and consistent styles.

The new Councilwide PowerPoint template introduces a new focus on images and minimalist slides in an effort to help shift our organization's culture away from reading words on a slide toward more visual storytelling in our presentations.

Trainings and support

Recording secretaries and those who frequently create content for committee meetings were invited to trainings on the PowerPoint and Word templates in the last week. If you could not attend, please watch one of the trainings linked on the library home page.

The Communications team will host an "office hour" event on Microsoft Teams on Friday for staff who would like to hear more about the templates and ask questions of project staff.

Office hour: New templates
Friday, March 11, 11 a.m. to noon
Microsoft Teams (add to calendar or use this link to join)

If you have questions or feedback on the new template designs or the Graphics and Templates Library, please submit them through this form. The Communications team will review submissions and create additional documentation as needed. In addition, an info session is being planned for late March; check the next issue of The Wire for details.

Seeking Title IX stories

Are you a female former college athlete? This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal funding. If you have a story to tell about the impact of Title IX and college athletics on your life and career opportunities, let us know.

Contact Carol Critchley in the Communications department at Carol.Critchley@metc.state.mn.us if you’re interested and want more information.

COVID-19 updates for employees

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.

COVID-19 icon

Read the most recent bulletin (March 1), which includes:

  • Met Council employees are no longer required to wear a mask while working onsite. The COVID-19 Face Coverings Procedure is no longer in effect.
    • Masks are still required on transit vehicles at least through March 18. Operators will continue to wear masks related to that mandate from the Transportation Security Administration.
    • You can still wear a mask and continue to distance at your discretion.
  • Employees are no longer required to test or be vaccinated prior to reporting onsite. The COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure is no longer in effect. Managers will no longer receive the go/no-go list on Fridays, as well.
  • The Incident Command teams are reviewing state guidance about timelines for reopening public buildings and returning teleworkers to onsite work. We will have additional information in the next week or so regarding that timeline and will make sure staff have at least 30 days' notice prior to that transition.
  • Other policies and practices related to the pandemic remain in place, and we will notify staff as soon as possible if there are changes. We will continue to be guided by public health recommendations and adjust our requirements and policies as needed.

Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:

COVID-19 testing:

Legislative update: I/I bill signed into law, audit bill passed

Capitol logo

Read the full story on MetNet for these Met Council-related highlights:

  • February state budget forecast projects larger surplus
  • Gov. Walz signed inflow and infiltration bill into law on Friday
  • Chair Zelle presented supplemental budget and Green Line Extension update
  • House passed a bill requiring Green Line Extension audit
  • Bill heard in Senate committee to establish administrative citation program for fare enforcement
  • Bill heard in House committee to establish a Pig's Eye Landfill Task Force


For questions or more information, email Brooke Bordson in Government Affairs at Brooke.Bordson@metc.state.mn.us.

Project town halls taking place this month

Chair Zelle speaking in METRO Green Line Extension video

The METRO Green Line Extension project is a transformational transit and economic development project that will last for generations. While no one likes to see cost increases, we have negotiated a very favorable agreement with the contractor moving forward.

Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle recently sat down to talk about the project. Watch a video with his remarks on our website.

Upcoming events

Project outreach staff for both extensions are holding town halls this month.

METRO Green Line Extension town halls
Staff will answer questions and share updates on construction progress and other important project information at virtual town halls for each of the five cities along the METRO Green Line Extension route. 

City-specific virtual town halls
March 9 through March 22, evenings
Webex (find meeting details and links on the project website)

METRO Blue Line Extension info session
The project team is hosting a virtual information session on March 15 to share how comments on the Draft Route Modification Report released in December are shaping the recommendation in spring 2022 of a community-supported METRO Blue Line Extension route.

Virtual information session
Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Webex (use this link to join)

More people looking to wastewater for clues about COVID-19

Interest in wastewater remains high. That’s due to the work of Environmental Services, specifically Steve Balogh, principal research scientist, and George Sprouse, manager of process engineering and research and development, along with the University of Minnesota Genomics Center (UMGC).

For months we've been tracking the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants in wastewater flowing into the Metro Plant. In January, a cross-divisional team began posting the prevalence of the virus online. The data went viral and was conveyed broadly in print and broadcast media.

COVID-19 wastewater data graph

Posts on Twitter were shared widely and contributed to new Met Council account followers, increased impressions for our content, and record traffic to our website.

In February, the Met Council webpage on wastewater surveillance had nearly 17,000 page views, making it the most visited page on the MetroCouncil.org website.

"That’s a lot of activity on our site," said multimedia manager Ed Lube. "It outpaces our homepage, which is typically the most visited page on our site."

Dan Huff, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), shared his praise and gratitude for the team and this important work.

"At MDH, we have a lot of respect for the staff at Environmental Services and UMGC for digging into the science behind this disease," he said. "Their passion for research and their desire to help address the biggest public health crisis of our time has given us at MDH and the public invaluable information about this pandemic and the virus that caused it. We thank them for doing this work and making their data available to us."

Staff update the Environmental Services data online every Friday.

Transit equity display at Minneapolis library

History display traces transit's path toward equity

Metro Transit is hosting a Transit Equity through History exhibit at the Minneapolis Central Library during the month of March. The exhibit shares a timeline of major events in Twin Cities’ transit history and goes into detail about how focusing on equity has become more and more important for the agency since it became public in 1970.

The exhibit will be showcased in the Atrium Display, located on the first floor, near the main entrance of the library and can be viewed any time the library is open. In addition to this exhibit, a scavenger hunt focused on transit history is open to participation throughout the Twin Cities.

Equity and inclusion specialist Rachel Cagle and graphics designer Missy Dodge spearheaded the project with support from members of the Equity and Inclusion team and staff with knowledge of transit history.

Visit MetroTransit.org/TransitEquity to download the transit history hunt map, hear Chair Charlie Zelle discuss transit equity, and watch a short video about Transit Equity Day.

Staff are also invited to complete this form to help Metro Transit create a shared definition of transit equity.

QUICK REMINDERS

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Benefits webinar March 16: Flexible spending accounts

TASC logo

The Benefits team is hosting quarterly webinars this year on specific benefit plans to help keep our employees informed. This year's first event will be on flexible spending accounts (FSA) and include some basics for those new to FSAs and share the new processes and opportunities offered by our new FSA administrator, TASC.

Benefits series: Flexible spending accounts
March 16, 11:30 a.m.
Microsoft Teams Live Event

Watch for an Outlook calendar invitation coming soon, or use this link to join. These events are open house style, so join as you can and bring all your questions.

Reminder: Teams recording retention change in April

Microsoft Teams logo

As part of a change to retention, starting in April, video recordings in Microsoft Teams will be automatically deleted after 60 days, unless marked otherwise. To prepare for this change and to avoid losing necessary material, either upload the video to Microsoft Stream, manually save the video longer, or finalize the meeting minutes before the video is deleted.

This change does not impact videos that have already been uploaded to Stream; those videos will continue to be available in Stream.

Follow the instructions in a past issue of The Wire to upload to Stream or manually save the video. Reach out to Information Services with questions or for training on records management.

NEWS BRIEFS

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New Council member appointed for District 6

John Pacheco Jr.

Gov. Tim Walz appointed John Pacheco Jr. to serve as the Metropolitan Council member for District 6, and he was sworn in on March 2. Pacheco is president and founder of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota and has extensive experience with the business community and workforce inclusion. Pacheco previously served as a Council member from 1990 to 1992 during the Perpich Administration. Read more about Pacheco on MetroCouncil.org.

District 6 includes portions of Minneapolis, and the Hennepin County cities of Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and St. Louis Park. Pacheco fills the term vacated when former Council Member Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson resigned in late 2021. The term continues through Jan. 2, 2023. Watch a quick video of his swearing-in ceremony on Twitter.

Celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day on March 18

Transit Driver Appreciation Day March 18

For the past two years, bus and train operators have served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our region moving forward. To recognize the contributions of our coworkers, you're invited to celebrate Transit Driver Appreciation Day on Friday, March 18. Please consider:

  • Writing a commendation for your favorite operators or offering support for all operators
  • Submitting a short "thank you" video using Facebook Messenger or by emailing Drew Kerr at Drew.Kerr@metrotransit.org 
  • Sending a letter or card to a garage or light rail facility (please put the location's name and Transit Driver Appreciation Day on the envelope)
  • Waving or giving a thumbs up as operators drive by or pull into a light rail station
  • Sharing your appreciation on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #tdadmn

Stay up to date with Metro Update

Looking to hear more about the fantastic work your colleagues are doing in other departments or divisions? Check out the Met Council's monthly external newsletter, Metro Update.

Read these stories and more in the February issue:

  • Met Council awards record $8 million to increase, preserve affordable housing
  • Frontline workers keep essential services going throughout the pandemic
  • New tool helps cities preserve and enhance their tree canopy
  • Transit ridership begins to recover in 2021
  • Gov. Walz seeks applicants for District 3 seat

MEET NEW STAFF

Kelsey Schultz

Kelsey Schultz

Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Training Specialist

Human Resources


Primary duties
At its core, my role is to design, develop, and deliver skills trainings to Met Council employees based on their unique needs. I also participate in the administration, coordinate, and help oversee learning-related programs alongside my teammates in Learning and Organization Development (LOD).

Started
Jan. 18

How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It has been a smooth transition thanks to Jerilynn Sushko and the rest of the fabulous LOD team. As an introvert, I don't mind working from home. Though, I am very excited to get to know folks at the Met Council virtually and soon in person as well.

Hometown
Excelsior, MN

Current residence
Minneapolis, near Lake Nokomis

Family
I have a wonderful wife, Jenn, and three fur babies: Bowser, Buddy, and Rupert.

Education
I have a master's degree in clinical social work and a master's degree in gender and sexuality studies, with a focus on trauma-informed leadership development and program development across difference.

Experience
I have more than seven years of experience facilitating inclusion, diversity, equity, and social and emotional learning education, providing cultural and operational audits for local and national organizations, developing culturally responsive community engagement and outreach programming, and teaching at several universities in the Twin Cities and Chicago-land area.

Other interests
I like to sew, hammock, bike ride, throw on my wheel (pottery), read, and host "Chopped" competitions (like on TV) with friends.

SALUTE TO SERVICE

Hearty congratulations to the following Met Council employees who celebrate major service milestones in March. This recognition includes Robert Street employees and Regional Administration employees working off-site. Read Insights and ES Update for recognition of Metro Transit and other Environmental Services employees. The information is shared when it is made available by Human Resources.

Years of Service

30 Years

Cecile Cloutier, Human Resources Assistant, Human Resources

15 Years

Iris Yang, HRA Coordinator, Metro HRA

10 Years

Bill Morann, Technical Support Specialist 2, Information Services
Sue Stroinski
, Manager, Project Management Office, Information Services

5 Years

Julie Melville, Business Analyst 3, Human Resources
Amy Sherman
, Training Specialist, Human Resources

New Staff

Dominique Archiebald, Feb. 28, Principal Administrative Specialist, Metro HRA
Kathryn Olson, March 14, Head of Data Practices, Office of General Counsel

Departures

Biniam Tiruneh, Jan. 28, Applications Developer 2, Information Services
Theresa Nistler, Feb. 5, Assistant Director, Finance and Budget, Information Services
Charlene LaMusga, Feb. 5, Senior Account Specialist, Finance
Shawn Skinner, Feb. 19, Technical Support Specialist 1, Information Services
Max Yang, March 12, Account Specialist, Finance

COOL PHOTO!

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Clearing snow on a light rail platform
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Clearing the way, no matter the weather

Responding to winter weather is a team effort. From our service garages to our Transit Control Center, employees are out early and often preparing for, responding to, and ultimately cleaning up any time snow falls. As snow fell on Feb. 22, Metro Transit staff caught up with several of the people who help get riders where they need to go, no matter the weather. Here, facilities maintenance crews were out at light rail stations clearing snow from platforms. Check out the Rider's Almanac blog to experience a day of winter weather operations through photos.

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 to 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

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.

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