Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Editors: Kelly Sprute and Judy Rude                                                                                                           Nov. 1, 2016

New Federal Overtime Rules Affect NIFA Grantees

This spring, the U.S. Department of Labor published new regulations to determine whether white collar employees are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime pay protections.  The new “overtime” rule applies to employees at institutions of higher education, including those funded by NIFA grants.  Learn how this new overtime rule affects NIFA grants and grant applications by visiting the NIFA website.

Congratulations to the NIFA Green Belt Graduates. They are the first employees to achieve this significant milestone and receive certificates. This accomplishment shows the growth and maturity in NIFA’s Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) program. Photo caption, left to right (front row) Adam Preuter, PARS; Scott Dockum, SBIR; Lisa READ, OGFM; Teresa Bailey, OIT;  Priscilla Bosco, OGFM; Caroline Sherony, IFPS; Meneca Brown, IFSN, Dr. Robert Holland, Assoc. Director for Operations; (back row) Jeanette Thurston, OD; Lisa Hampton-Buie, IYFC; Junell Scheeres, NIFA; Cynthia Montgomery, OGFM Deputy Director; Liz Ley, OIT. Not shown: Pushpa Kathir, IFPS; Beverly Samuel, IFYC; David Sosa, IYFC.

CPI Detailer Announced

Congratulations to Lisa Read (DePaolo)! She has been selected to serve in the CPI Coordinator Detail for the next 89 days.  Lisa is the third detailee, behind Caroline Sherony and Adam Preuter, that NIFA is lucky to have in this position. She will start in the position Nov. 7. Thanks for all of you who applied for the detail opportunity.   NIFA is lucky to have so many people interested in furthering our process efforts.

NIFA’s New OIT Chief Enterprise Architect Welcome Kristen Boyd to NIFA. She is the new Chief Enterprise Architect in the Office of Technology; Information Policy, Planning, & Training Division.  Prior to joining NIFA, she supported the Social Security Administration. Kristen held positions in the Enterprise Architecture and Capital Planning Investment Control teams, contributing to the planning, implementation, and execution of processes that incorporate the two areas. Prior to SSA, Kristen has 23-plus years in project management, analysis, and related experience in the government, private, and non-profit sectors. Her career highlights include: Lockheed Martin, contracting for AT&T, and spearheading several non-profits targeting at-risk youth, land preservation, and other community enrichment programs.  Stop by and say “hello” to Kristen at room 4217.

Keep the Beet Fresh… Give Us Your Feedback! By Kelly Sprute, Editor  As the new editor of “The Beet” I want to learn how the newsletter meets your communications needs. To do this; I need your feedback about the newsletter, what you like, what you don’t like, or what you think needs to change.  The Beet was created to keep you informed on NIFA happenings, education and training opportunities, leadership messages, and motivation stories. We have gone through a few changes in the past and want to make sure “The Beet” stays relevant to your needs. This survey will help me determine how to keep the newsletter current.      The Beet will be heading into its third year and I want to make it the best employee newsletter I can. This is your newsletter. So take the survey and tell me what is important to you. Looking forward to reading your suggestions!

NIFA CFC Silent Auction Coming this December The NIFA Silent Auction will be Dec. 7 in rooms 1410 ABC. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, that raises millions of dollars each year to improve the quality of life for people in need. Support the CFC Silent Auction by donating any items you no longer need and might be considered a treasure by another! Donations must be received by Dec. 5. Donate an item and make a difference. Drop-off locations on each floor: 1st floor, Ellen Danus, room 3211 and Kelly Sprute, room 1133, 2nd floor, Mark Simmons, room 2218, 3rd floor, Pushpa Kathir, room 3157 and Dewell Paez, room 3175, 4th floor, Sylvia Montgomery, room 4462, Linda Toppin, room 4319, and I’eisha Williams, room 4424

November Events

Nov. 8, All-Hands Meeting, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., room 1410

Nov. 9, Veterans Group Photo, 9:50 a.m. Lobby

Nov, 10, Wellbeing Seminar Series, Retirement Planning 

Nov. 10, NIFA Veterans Celebration, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., room 1410

Nov. 11, Veterans Day

Nov. 15, National Caregivers Month, Live Webinar: Beating Caregiver Burnout 

Nov. 24, Thanksgiving

Dec. 6, Wellbeing Seminar Series, Wills, Trust and Estate Planning

Dec. 7, CFC Annual Silent Auction 

Dec. 14, Winterfest

Do your civic duty and your constitutional right. Get out and vote Nov. 8.

Tips

Discover - Tips, tricks, and To-do’s

Did you know that you can view the drawdown of an award in GMRA (Grants Management Reporting Application)?

Follow these steps to see the current draw down for an award:

• Logon to NEWAG (https://oitapps.nifa.usda.gov) using your network credentials
• Launch GMRA
• Under the Funds ManagementàDisbursement menu, select the ‘Obligations and Disbursements’ report
• Select the Award Drawdown Report on the Reports drop down list

Next to the Report drop down, select the graph button to display the chart. A default filter has been applied. You can change the Grant Number displayed by clicking on the filter link  and entering a new grant number and clicking ‘Apply’

Reading Room

(Editor's Note: If you have professional or quality of life articles of interest for NIFA employees, please send to thebeet@nifa.usda.gov.)

The Future of Extension Leadership Is Soft Leadership

By Jamie Seger and Paul Hill, Journal of Extension

Over the next decade, if Extension can attract and retain young professionals, the current leadership will have the opportunity to select the most creative and bright among them to serve in leadership positions across the country. Extension needs a paradigm shift—the most influential leaders beat to a different drum. We must collectively adopt the leadership practices that work and stop doing things that do not add value. Future leaders must possess soft skills, be adept communicators, be proactive while quick to respond, and be willing to create a flattened organizational structure that encourages creativity and innovation from the bottom up..

Leaders Don’t Blame Other People

By Janis Burl, Govloop

I know you have heard these words spoken before: “It’s not my fault!” And when I hear these words from someone in a leadership position, that “leader” quickly loses credibility with me. That is because leaders don’t blame other people when something goes wrong.

A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

Video by SoulPancake

We all need a little encouragement every now and then. Kid President put together a video you can play when you need a kick in the right direction. Take a moment and spread some encouragement.    

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Lab engineer helps Native Americans achieve energy independence

By Kenneth K Ma, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Engineer Suzanne Singer, a postdoctoral researcher who works in the Computational Engineering Division, is a Native American whose parents are both from the Navajo Nation. It has always been her goal to improve the lives of native communities using knowledge she gained from her science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and engineering experience. Singer is working passionately to bring sustainable energy to tribes around the country. Read more of about Suzanne Singer. 

To submit material for a future edition of The Beet, email thebeet@nifa.usda.gov. Submissions are due by noon on Thursday for publication the following Tuesday.