Team – As we reach the end of July, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate each of you for your dedication and hard work. The summer has been filled with fun activities like picnics and ice cream socials, and it has been wonderful to see everyone come together and enjoy these moments as a team. The summer has also been spent working hard on projects like the ITSD Co-Location at Document Solutions and enduring the shutdown of the GSA auctions and overcoming revenue challenges at Surplus. In addition to things happening at work, we’ve also had the added challenge of a drought and extreme heat here in mid-Missouri. Please ensure you’re staying safe and keeping those close to you safe as well. This week, the Commissioner reminded us that we should plan ahead when we have activities outside. Pre-hydrating helps your body withstand extreme temperatures better, so be sure to think about what tomorrow holds as we plan our water intake today!

As we head into the final days of summer, I encourage each one of you to savor every minute and make the most of this season. Take time to relax, spend quality moments with loved ones, and recharge your energy. Some of you may even have some leave on the books that has to be used before the annual sweep in October. Use that time wisely now and avoid the scramble and scheduling challenges of trying to use it at the last minute.

I have no doubt that the rest of the year holds more challenges for our teams, which in turn means more opportunities for accomplishment and growth. Thank you for your continued commitment and enthusiasm. Here's to making the most of the remaining summer days and embracing the exciting times ahead.

With warmest regards (pun intended),

Crystal Wessing
Division Director, General Services

Shout Out to CARO's Megan McCarty!

The Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA) recently praised our Central Accident Reporting Office (CARO) Unit Manager Megan McCarty for the amazing presentation she gave to their HR group on Workers' Comp 101. Those who attended the presentation provided very positive feedback, saying the information was extremely helpful for their team! The CARO Team is excited to offer more of these individualized training sessions for other agencies that would like to learn more about the injury reporting process and may not be able to attend their regular Coffee with CARO sessions.  Thank you, Megan and the entire CARO Team, for all you do for your fellow state team members!

"I just wanted to share that I have had great experiences with several team members from Document Solutions today – Nathan Jacober, my CSR, has been so incredibly patient and helpful in the face of a deluge of MSECC projects in the last week or so, and Joshua Hale in the mailroom was also very helpful today in delivering a package and then working with me to set up transferring some items back to Document Solutions that I have been storing here in preparation for the campaign. I know our campaign stuff can be a big lift in a busy time of year, but they always help with a smile! It is always a pleasure to work with both of them!" --Leah Strid, Office of Administration

Talk about a rave review. Keep up the great work!

General Services is filled with amazing team members, dedicated to making a difference in and out of the office. Earlier this month, our very own Carla Bernskoetter was spotted in the News Tribune after volunteering at the inaugural Special Olympics Missouri Pickleball State Championship. 

Carla, pictured in white, graciously spent her Saturday volunteering at the Jefferson City Area YMCA, filling out brackets before the matches. 

She also helped keep score throughout the tournament. Photo credit: Kate Cassady/News Tribune.

Participants in the tournament were from St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Fulton, and Cape Girardeau. About 60 athletes and 25 unified partners competed during the event.

Click here to read the full news story.

REMINDER:
QPS Closes Friday, July 28

There's still plenty of time to complete the 18th Quarterly Pulse Survey (QPS), if you have not done so already. As of Monday, July 24, 22% of state team members had completed the QPS. Your feedback is essential to helping the state improve. To see how your previous feedback has directly impacted the workforce, check out the QPS In Action section of the QPS Website.

The Department of Social Services is a great example of how to use QPS to improve culture and belonging. Here's what they had to say about their approach to QPS.

The QPS closes at 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, July 28, 2023.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, contact the Talent Management Helpdesk at tmhelpdesk@oa.mo.gov or call 573-526-4500.

Quote of the Week

If you would like to recognize a fellow team member in the GS Weekly, please let us know! Contact communications@oa.mo.gov for more information.