New: DEIA Speaker Series Pride Month: Pronouns Presentation on 6/30

Mahri Monson (they/them or she/her) will be the featured speaker. Currently working in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Mahri has advocated for LGBTQI+ workplace equity and inclusion in the Federal government for over 13 years. One of her major accomplishments is championing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) first transgender and gender diverse employment policy and leading EPA to start collecting voluntary, self-disclosed sexual orientation and gender identity workforce data in order to improve the ability to analyze potential barriers to equal employment opportunity.

If you are interested in attending, please use the following Zoom meeting link on the date and time of the event.

https://gsa.zoomgov.com/j/1613760618?pwd=RitHYzJsNEpuOUtlVGdORlA2N1RWUT09

Passcode: 108157

Please note, if there is a need to arrange a reasonable accommodation, please send an email to ohrm-hc-diversity-and-inclusion@gsa.gov.

Reminder: Join GSA's Mentoring Program Mentor Pool

GSA supports a mentoring culture and mentoring as a developmental opportunity for employees. The GSA Mentoring Program is actively seeking employees and supervisors who are willing to help others by passing along their knowledge, wisdom and, guidance.

Joining the pool of mentors is quick and easy, only requiring a few steps in GSA Online University (OLU). You can even select where and how you would like to participate. 

Interested but not ready to sign up? The program is offering three information sessions -- one for new supervisor mentoring on Wednesday, June 29, and two for all employees on Tuesday June 30 and Thursday July 7. You can also direct any questions to Wendy Cobb, mentoring program manager.

Reminder: Virtual Chats with the Administrator and Deputy Administrator

The Office of Strategic Communication is offering virtual coffees (or teas) on a rolling basis to meet with Administrator Robin Carnahan and Deputy Administrator Katy Kale. Sign up here if you’re interested. Additional sessions may be added or group sizes adjusted, depending on the level of interest.

Reminder: Mandatory Security and Privacy Awareness Training Due July 22

Mandatory Security and Privacy Awareness training is now available in Online University. Learn to handle cyber threats, protect sensitive information, and comply with GSA’s security policies.

Update: Watch the Town Hall Recording and Sign Up for the OCFO Equity Team!

For those of you who couldn’t attend last week's town hall, the recording, slide deck, and transcript of the meeting are all now available.

Ready to sign up to join the OCFO Equity Team? Fill out this Google Form today.

If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to share your feedback on last week's town hall by completing this post-event questionnaire.

Datathon 3.0 is Coming!

Sign up to flex your brains! The third iteration of our beloved datathon (July 11–August 5) will be examining GSA fleet data. Don't worry if you don't have any experience with the GSA fleet program — that's the point! Meet new people and work in small teams toward a common goal using real GSA data! Sign up by July 8th and be sure to check out the Datathon page on the Analytics Hub for past datathon presentations.

New: Continuous Leadership Journey - Credibility

This month's CLJ provides resources for bolstering your credibility. Sign up to take part in the facilitated conversation on June 29 at 2 p.m. Eastern.

Videos
Inspiring with Integrity and Credibility (3 minutes):
People are inspired when they trust their leaders and are mobilized by common goals. When you strive for inspirational leadership, you demonstrate credibility and create a community with a shared vision.

How to Bolster Credibility (2 minutes):
When thinking about credibility, always assume you don’t have enough of it. You can bolster credibility by calling out the concerns and interests of your audience; leveraging “substitute experts” who stand in for you; and finding ambassadors who will do some of the persuasion on your behalf.

The Importance of Authenticity and Credibility (2 minutes):
Today's customers want to know that service providers have their back, represent their best interests, and can be trusted.

Course
Personal Power and Credibility (30 minutes):
People may comply, rebel, resist, or gripe about those in authority, but there is a reason and purpose for such positional power. This course focuses on the power that comes with being credible and trustworthy.

Reminder: Hurricane Season Preparation

This year's hurricane season began on June 1 and will continue through November 30 on the East Coast. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting an above-average hurricane season this year, and it's essential that you and your loved ones are prepared to respond in case of hazardous weather conditions. Please also be aware that hurricanes are not just a coastal threat and have the potential to cause significant damage to inland communities as well. 

Tips to prepare for hazardous weather

Know your zone. Evacuation may become necessary depending on the track and severity of a storm. Use this listing of evacuation routes to find your state's evacuation zones.

Complete a family communication plan. Prepare for how you will assemble and communicate with your family and loved ones. Identify meeting locations and anticipate where you will go. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's guidance on family communications planning can help you get started. 

Check your insurance coverage. There may be a waiting period (typically 30 days) for a flood insurance policy to become effective. Not all storm-related losses, such as flooding, are covered under traditional policies. Now is the time to review your coverage and contact your insurance agent for any changes. If you are not insured against floods, contact your insurance agent or visit floodsmart.gov. If you are a renter, now is the time to ensure you have adequate coverage to protect your belongings.

Make an emergency kit. Assemble an emergency kit containing nonperishable food, water, medication, sanitary supplies, radios, extra batteries, and important documents. Use this info from ready.gov to learn more about building an emergency supply kit. 

Stay informed. Identify where to go for trusted sources of information during emergencies. Check with your local emergency management office to sign up for alerts that go directly to your phone or email. Be sure to monitor local news for watches and warnings in your area and follow the directions of local officials. Power outages are always a concern during weather events – make sure you have a battery-operated radio available to receive life-saving alerts.

There are many resources available to assist with hurricane planning efforts. For more information on preparing against hurricanes and other natural disasters, visit ready.gov/hurricanes.

Reminder: Learn How to Use the New Online University

The new Online University (OLU) is live, but are you hip to all its latest features?

Whether you’re an employee or a supervisor, you can get the scoop on the new OLU in this live training:

Employees - Access courses, transcripts, and the new mentoring feature
Supervisors - View your team, assign training, run reports, and more

Limited seats are available. To save your spot, go to the 🔍 Find Learning icon on OLU's welcome page, and type in Introduction to OLU.