2012 I S S U E MAR/APR 41 this issue Director’s Letter/Recipes P.2 Get Moving for Better Health/SpotlightP.3 March Training Calendar, Activities, Baby Announcement P.4 Oct/Nov Employees of the Month P.5 April Training Calendar, Activities, Employee Coupon P.6 Oct/Nov Retail Employees of the MonthP.7 Income Tax Tips P.8 CIVILIAN FITNESS PROGRAM By Mary Ellen Barrena WHO am I? I work in the 92278 zip code. I’m wearing sweat pants, a comfy t-shirt and tennis shoes. I have a water bottle in hand and I’m checking in for duty. Gotcha stumped? I’m an MCCS employee participating in the Combat Center’s Civilian Fitness Program (CFP), offered to MCAGCC employees in January 2010. Once certain criteria are met, employees may don work out attire and head to one of several fitness facilities, the PFT course or a customized route that works for their chosen exercise routine. The Office of Personnel Management, the United States Marine Corps and 30% of American businesses acknowledge the value of promoting a healthy workforce via work-based fitness programs. Per Combat Center Order (CCO) 12000.8, the mission at MCAGCC is “to promote improvement of physical health of participating individuals and to benefit this command through improved readiness and productivity from a healthy workforce.” Studies consistently show employee fitness programs increase productivity, performance, morale and attitude, as well as reduce stress, sick leave and absenteeism of participating employees. Locally, we are on board! Should YOU accept this mission, obtain a copy of CCO 12000.8 (there’s a link at the end of this article)along with your supervisor’s permission, complete the required forms which include a medical release good for one year, submit through the proper channels and once approved, you are on your way to fitness at work! The specifics, you ask? For up to one hour on three different days per week, you may exercise while on work time. Imagine yourself…. toning, reducing your blood pressure, releasing beneficial endorphins to reduce stress, building stronger muscles and bones….all in a days work? Most of us find time constraints or insufficient facilities prohibit us from working out regularly. Here at MCAGCC, lack of facilities hasn’t been a problem, but finding the time to fit into our already packed day has been difficult. With the signing of this order in 2010, employees have up to three hours where you can get paid to exercise. Now, that’s a benefit! The biggest hurdle, besides taking that first step to beginning any exercise regimen, is to get the boss’ approval. In many MCCS jobs participation in the fitness program may be accomplished without interrupting the day to day operations; however, there are some positions where participation can impede the work at hand. In those cases, the supervisor’s or Division’s tough call may be to disallow participation. We are first and foremost a customer driven organization so although the program is supported by the command, approval is contingent upon mission requirements, per CCO 12000.8. May is National Employee Health and Fitness Month, why not see if you can participate and kick off during the national celebration of fitness at work! Asked to describe their participation in CFP, MCCS employees say Appreciate it’s offered! … Kay Emerson, Library Manager, Marine & Family Services Division Compelling , motivating , amazing! … Stephanie Andrews, Editor, Desert Magazine, Marketing Division A great perk! … Laura Putnam, Human Resources Assistant, Personnel Find the form at http://www.marines.mil/ unit/29palms/hro/documents/CivFit%20Form.pdf It’s going to be a lively spring aboard the Combat Center this year. With special events, sports and employee programs designed to keep you active - it’s the perfect time to get out there, get moving and enjoy the benefits that accompany your employment with MCCS. One of our most exciting events is the return of actor Gary Sinise and the Lieutenant Dan Band. Join us on April 13 at Sunset Cinema for the band’s eighth annual show at MCAGCC. All employees are invited to attend what is always a lively concert! Because we recognize the importance of staying healthy, I encourage our full-time regular status employees to take advantage of the Civilian Employee Fitness Program. The Combat Center-initiated program allows you, with your supervisor’s approval and doctor’s permission, the opportunity to spend three work hours per week engaged in fitness activity. We highlight the benefits of this amazing program in this issue. Why not get the whole family engaged in some physical activity? The MCCS Youth Sports program is open to the children of all MCCS employees and is a great outlet to introduce your child to some healthy habits. This spring there’s baseball, tennis, golf, track and field, even cheerleading camp - plenty of opportunities to get involved! Stop by the Community Center or call 830.8421 to find out how your family members can participate. Making these activities available to our employees is just one of the ways we thank you for all that you do. But whether you participate in these activities or not, please know that we deeply appreciate all that you do. Your dedicated service to our military families makes me proud of MCCS on a daily basis. Keep up the good work! 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Refriger serving. eam; top ate 3 hours with (or up to ov ernight) be fore Get Moving for Better Health Information & Referral 2012 2 2 by Amalia Schocken, MCCS Personal Trainer Spotlight Recognition By Stephanie Andrews WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY HELP In each issue we’ll be highlighting a different department of MCCS; explaining what they specifically do and how their efforts positively impact the lives of Marines, Sailors and their families. WHO: Information and Referral, Bldg. 1551 WHAT: Information and Referral (I&R) is a part of Personal Readiness and Community Support (which also includes Personal Financial Management, Relocation Assistance and the Retired Activities Office). It is a branch of Marine and Family Services. I&R has only one, very capable specialist in its section; Tamara Harrison. Tamara’s motto for I&R is “The Right Resource ,The Right Way, The First Time.” Anyone who starts a question with “how do I...” or “who do I...” can turn to I&R for guidance. HOW: The military lifestyle can be a tricky one to navigate. Information and Referral aims to make it less so. The office has a plethora of information that aid military personnel, DoD civilians, sponsored family members and retirees. Marines, Sailors and family members turn to I&R for these helpful packets; Welcome Aboard (both for our station or for any station someone may be transferring to) and Pre and New Marriage (everything needed to process a new family member into the military community). As well as providing details on the Marine for Life program, available to anyone who may be getting out. They also offer information about MCCS services, can suggest ideas about things to do aboard the Combat Center and surrounding areas, as well as offering six CAC card free computers with printing. But perhaps the most simple but most powerful gesture of all is that Tamara says she welcomes each and every new face who walks in her door and thanks them for their service. WE WANT YOUR PARTICIPATION RECIPE Do you have a tasty recipe to share? Please submit your favorite dish today. MCCS DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT Send us your nomination for the next issue. Tell us why your department rocks. NEW BABY Email us a photo of your new bundle of joy to share with your co-workers. Please send submissions to andrewssa@usmc-mccs.org It’s common knowledge that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. We all know that getting exercise daily is one great way to lead a long and healthy life. But did you know that exercise alone may not be enough? Recent research published on the American Council on Exercise website suggests that people who engage in long periods of sitting or lying down, like watching hours of television, are at risk of health problems. Perhaps the most surprising part of the new research, done by the Heart and Diabetes Institute at the University of Queensland, is that the risk is still there even for people who exercise. Long story short, simply putting in a session at the gym several times a week may not do the trick. Healthy habits include not only a sweat session but also making movement a regular part of your day. Take frequent computer breaks, walk around while doing simple tasks, play with your kids in the beautiful desert weather and always, always, always take the stairs. Fitness is a lifestyle and in order to reap the most benefit, we must live an active life. For more information on this or any other fitness topic, visit acefitness. org, take a FREE group exercise class aboard the base, or talk to one of the friendly and knowledgeable trainers at any of the MCCS gyms! 3 MARCH Training Calendar MCCS Fitness and Nutrition Facilitated by Danielle Kyle Mar. 1, 8 -11:30 a.m. East Gym After All… You’re the Supervisor! Facilitated by Heather Martin Mar. 6, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Personnel Training Room Speaking Effectively… to 1 or 1,000 MARCH ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Facilitated by Heather Martin Mar. 7, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room Give Em’ the Pickle Facilitated by DeWitte Mandley Mar. 9, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room New Employee Orientation & Indoctrination: (All New Employees) Mar. 12-14, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Personnel Training Room TA Brief Facilitated by the MCCS Training Dept. Mar. 15, 9 - 10 a.m. or 1 - 2 p.m. Personnel Training Room The Difficult Guest Facilitated by Heather Martin Mar. 20, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room Marine Corps Acculturation Facilitated by DeWitte Mandley Mar. 21, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Personnel Training Room Program Activity Date & Time Age MCCS Special Events 830.5086 Bldg. 1024 Operation Magic March 14, 7 p.m. Sunset Cinema MCCS authorized patrons (18 and over) New Parent Support Program 830.7622 Bldg. 1438 Baby Basics Workshop March 7, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (must call to register) MCCS authorized patrons Leapin’ Lucky Leprechauns March 15, 6 - 7 p.m. MCCS authorized children T-ball April 6 - June 16 (register through March 16) MCCS authorized children ages 4 - 6 Youth Tennis April - June (register through March 16) MCCS authorized children ages 7 - 18 Ultimate Warrior Challenge March 7, time TBD, West Gym MCCS authorized patrons Marine Corps Family Team Building 830.3110 Bldg. 1551 L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses March 13 & 14, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. MCCS authorized patrons 5 Love Languages March 29, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. MCCS authorized patrons Auto Skills Center 830.7527 Bldg. 1083 How to Change a Tire Workshop March. 10, 11 a.m. MCCS authorized patrons Family Advocacy Program 830.6245 Bldg. 1438 Couples Communication Workshop 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. - noon MCCS authorized patrons Lifelong Learning Library 830.6875 Bldg. 1528 Youth Sports 830.8421 Bldg. 1004 Semper Fit 830.6451 Bldg. 1407 A New MCCS Baby Employees of the Month Runners Up New Employee Orientation & Indoctrination: (All New Employees) Facilitated by Heather Martin Mar. 26-28, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Personnel Training Room RUNNERS UP Facilitated by Heather Martin Mar. 23, 9 - 11:30 a.m. Personnel Training Room Mid-Level RUNNERS UP Creating Goals and Objectives Mid-Level - Alice Elmer Marine & Family Services - Jeannie Fuga Finance Frontline - Jessie Pickett Business Operations, F&H - Dawn Sherman Business Operations, F&H October - CONGRATULATIONS! CDSO BRIEF (no need to register) Mar. 30, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Caroline Visit mccs29palms.com or call 830.6163 ext. 222 for more details. born to Heather Martin, Employee Development Specialist Aug 27, 2011 at 12:34pm 7 lbs, 7 oz., 21” long 4 CONGRATULATIONS! - Megan Walker Finance - Stacye Calvert Marine & Family Services Frontline - Derek McMillan Semper Fit - Anthony Parker Business Operations, F&H November - CONGRATULATIONS! Please see the form section of the Employee page at mccs29palms.com to nominate a fellow employee. By Stephanie Andrews Jolene Patton, October Mid Level Marine & Family Services, Administrative Assistant New Parent Support Jolene loves working in the New Parent Support Program. In addition to providing support to the team, she aims to spread the word about just how helpful the program is at teaching parenting skills and helping through the trials and tribulations of parenthood. In fact, Jolene finds the info they provide so useful that she uses it on her own children ages eight and fourteen, despite that it’s aimed at ages five and younger. But her job is not the only thing this Reno native embraces, she LOVES the desert. The heat, the dirt, the fact that she doesn’t have a lawn to mow; all reasons that Jolene is happy exactly where she is. Give her a bottle of nail polish and she’s even happier. She does her nails up to three times a week and looks at it as a way to relax and be creative. Finally, I asked her what her fellow employees would be surprised to know. She replied “if I have on boots, it’s a 50% chance that my socks may not match!” Maria Starr, October Frontline Food & Hospitality, Cook Maria Starr has spent three years at MCCS doing exactly what she enjoys doing most, cooking. She begins her shift at Charlie’s Coffee House at 4:30 a.m. making whatever the hungry crowd orders. But in her personal life, the omelets and burritos are put aside, as Filipino cuisine is what Maria enjoys making most of all. She is, in fact, so skilled that many co-workers will ask her to make dishes for their own special occasions. She especially enjoys preparing Rice Puto, a sweet steamed rice cake, which can take three to four days to prepare, and Chicken Adobo, a traditional dish with garlic, vinegar and soy sauce. Which is just fine with the biggest fans of her cooking, her four children, ages six to 20, and her husband, a former member of the United States Air Force. So stop by Charlie’s and say hello to Maria while she does what she does best, we bet you’ll become a fan too! Michelle Shotwell, November Mid Level Marine & Family Services, Lead Victim Advocate When I ask Michelle Shotwell what advice she’d give fellow MCCS employees hoping to succeed, she tells me “Give it your best. Every job here is important, you do make a difference”. No one knows this more than Michelle. It’s precisely what she’s been doing since 2008 in the very important role of Victim Advocate. She’s on call 24 hours most days, providing support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to non-offending parents in child abuse cases. With such serious subject matter, I asked Michelle how she avoids letting it affect her? She wisely chooses to focus on the positive side of her job, helping people. If she’s able to put a person’s mind at ease and steer them in the right direction, she walks away feeling good. Reading, relaxing and spending time with her three dogs helps as well. Though Michelle, who grew up in South Africa, is certified for both domestic violence and sexual assault in the state of California, she plans to be fully credentialed as a Victim Advocate in the National Advocate Credentialing Program within the next five years. Erin Detty-Greschaw, November Frontline Business Operations, Design & Display Erin received the Employee of the Month award for doing what she has aimed to do every day in her five months in Design and Display, assisting wherever she’s needed. This time it was stepping in to help MIS with the video projection screen displayed at this year’s holiday party. She recognized a problem and quickly grabbed the supplies needed to fix it. But as happy as we are to have gotten to know Erin’s “can do” attitude, we’ll be just as sad to see it go. She’ll be leaving in mid April when her husband is transferred to Camp Lejeune. Someone else who will be sad to see her go, her softball team. Erin played Short Stop and Outfield on a base team ever since she arrived (and in her Greenwood, Indiana high school as well). Erin, her husband Todd, and their dogs Roxi and Drako look forward to whatever the move holds for them, including expanding their family. We wish you nothing but the best and thank you for your hard work while you were here! 5 APRIL Training Calendar IMCP Training Apr. 3, 1 - 3 p.m. Personnel Training Room Leadership Pickles Facilitated by DeWitte Mandley Apr. 4, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room IMCP Training Apr. 5, 9 - 11 a.m. Personnel Training Room MCCS Fitness and Nutrition Facilitated by Danielle Kyle APRIL ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Apr. 6, 8 - 11:30 a.m., East Gym WCCS Refresher Program Personnel Training Room MCCS Special Events 830.5086 Bldg. 1024 Gary Sinise and Lt. Dan Band April 13, 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30, Sunset Cinema MCCS authorized patrons All Hands Restaurant (at Officers’ Club) 830.6610 Bldg. 1573 Steak Night Every Monday, 5 - 7:30 p.m. All hands Sandy Hill Lanes 830.6422 Bldg. 1584 April Fools Tournament April 1, call for time MCCS authorized patrons Semper Fit 830.8410 Bldg. 1588 Family Field Day April 28, time TBD, Felix Field MCCS authorized patrons Youth Sports 830.8421 Bldg. 1004 Challenger British Soccer Camp June (register now) MCCS authorized children ages 3 - 18 L.I.N.K.S. for Kids CAX April 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. MCCS authorized patrons Family Readiness Volunteer Training April 3 & 4, 5 - 8 p.m. MCCS authorized patrons New Parent Support Program 830.7622 Bldg. 1438 Solutions to Parenting Challenges Workshop April 18, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (must call to register) MCCS authorized patrons TA Brief Auto Skills Center 830.7527 Bldg. 1083 Lubricating and Cooling Advanced Workshop April 21, 11 a.m. MCCS authorized patrons Personnel Training Room Counseling Services 830.6245 Bldg. 1438 Open Door Counseling Mondays, 5 - 7 p.m. MCCS authorized patrons Facilitated by Heather Martin Apr. 6, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. New Employee Orientation & Indoctrination: (All New Employees) Apr. 9-11, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Personnel Training Room How To Win The Battle and NOT Wage War Facilitated by Catherine DeBlieck Apr. 12, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room IMCP Training Apr. 12, 1 - 3 p.m. Personnel Training Room Mixing 4 Generations in the Workplace Facilitated by DeWitte Mandley Apr. 13, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room Facilitated by the MCCS Training Dept. Apr. 16, 9-10 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. Are You Listening? Facilitated by the MCCS Training Dept. Apr. 17 & 18, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Personnel Training Room PeopleSoft Time and Labor for Managers & Timekeepers Facilitated by Kim Ayala Apr. 19, 9 - 11 a.m. Personnel Training Room Speaking Effectively… to 1 or 1,000 Facilitated by Heather Martin Apr. 20, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room New Employee Orientation & Indoctrination: (All New Employees) Apr. 23-25, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Personnel Training Room Activity Marine Corps Family Team Building 830.3110 Bldg. 1551 EMPLOYEE COUPON MAR/APR 2012 10% RECEIVE OFF ALL SHEETS & TOWELS Keeping the Good Ones: Employee Retention Facilitated by Heather Martin Apr. 26, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Personnel Training Room CDSO Brief MAIN EXCHANGE • BLDG. 1502 760.830.6163 .830.6 .83 8330.6 0 61633 • MCCS29PALMS.COM MC MCC CCS29 S PAL PA ALMS. MS. MS MS. S CO CO Apr. 27, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. No need to register Visit mccs29palms.com or call 830.6163 ext. 222 for more details. 6 Valiid Ma Vali Valid March rch 1 - Apr rch Apri April il 30, 3 2 30 20 2012 12 One Coupon Per Employee. Valid MCCS ID required. Not to be combined with other specials, discounts & coupon offers. Date & Time Age October KAREN PASSOT STEPHANIE PENDEXTER VALERIE BRIDGES Supervisor, Ocotillo Exchange Sales Associate, Camp Wilson Sales Associate, Camp Wilson Karen (pictured with Store Manager Trisha McDowell and MSgt Ferguson) is the oil that keeps Ocotillo Exchange running. In the absence of a manager, Karen stepped up to the plate, worked without misstep and proceeded to exceed what was expected of her. We are impressed with the quality of her work and the amount of knowledge she has amassed in the five years she has been an employee. The success of the Ocotillo Exchange is largely dependent upon Karen’s outstanding performance. Her positive attitude, dedication, and willingness to learn are the qualities which make up the foundation expected of MCCS management. Stephanie (pictured with Store Manager GySgt Chisholm, Store Supervisor Robin Ashkenasy and MSgt Ferguson) is a sales associate who truly takes pride in her work. She is dedicated to ensuring that the facility is successful by continuously providing World Class Customer Service to all patrons. In the time that Stephanie has worked at Camp Wilson she has never called out of work and always adheres to the schedule that is made. She always takes initiative to complete tasks, continuously identifies areas in the store that need to be restocked and assists fellow co-workers to complete their tasks when needed. In the short time that she has been employed with MCCS, Valerie (pictured with Store Manager GySgt Chisholm, Store Supervisor Robin Ashkenasy and MSgt Ferguson) continues to make a huge contribution to the success of the facility. She is a dedicated employee who is very punctual and has never missed a day of work. While working on the register, she provides World Class Customer Service to all patrons and has received a perfect 100% score in two secret shopper reports. Valerie is very effective in communicating with all customers and always displays a cheerful, positive attitude when doing so. ROUAINE VAUGHN JEROME RODGERS MARCUS NOIL Sales Associate, Camp Wilson Laborer, Main Exchange Materials Handler, Retail Warehouse Rouaine goes above and beyond regular duties by filling the billet of audit clerk. Beginning in October 2011, she volunteered to learn how to reduce the “Negative on Hands” in the facility. Her work ethic and dedication of this duty helped reduce this amount by over $10,000. Jerome is a very hard working individual. He continuously does much more than what his duties call for. He has shown his dedication, work ethic and desire to perform exceedingly well in whatever he has been assigned to do. Jerome is an asset to this company and has always shown respect to his fellow employees and provided World Class Customer Service to our customers. Marcus always has a positive attitude and is a pleasure to work with. He will always do anything that is asked of him, whether it’s unloading big rig trucks, UPS, Federal Express or completing in house transfers. He is looking forward to learning all he can about warehouse operations as well as using the wonderful resources that MCCS offers to help further his career in MCCS. November 7 TEAM MCCS Issue 41 March/April 2012 PRST STD Commanding General MCAGCC Marine Corps Community Services Box 788150 Twentynine Palms, CA 92278 US POSTAGE PAID 29 PALMS, CA PERMIT # 101 We Want to Hear from YOU! Do you have a question for us? Please direct your feedback to the Marketing Department via your Division Head. TEAM MCCS is a Marine Corps Community Services Publication LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE COUPON on pg. 6 PAY YOURSELF OR PAY UNCLE SAM by Sandra Little, AFC, Personal Financial Management Program It’s a fact of life that everyone has to pay taxes on the income they earn. The primary objective of tax planning is to manage your finances to minimize the percentage of income the government collects as taxes. Legally minimizing your tax liability is called tax avoidance. Not to be confused with tax evasion (which is lying about income, expenses or other efforts to illegally defraud the government of money owed). To offset the amount owed, consider paying yourself instead of Uncle Sam. Tax sheltered investments are methods of deferring taxes until a later date when the tax rate will likely be lower. By deferring taxes, we can take advantage of the time value of money (compounding). The easiest and best way to defer taxes is through pre-tax contributions to retirement plans like the Thrift Savings Plan and traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), and civilian employer-provided 401(k) plans. This means that your retirement contributions are taken from your paycheck before taxes are deducted. Also, ensure that your withholdings and exemptions are correct. An income tax withholding is the money an employer deducts from an employee’s paycheck that is used to pay all or part of individual’s income taxes. An exemption is the portion of a person’s income on which no tax is imposed. It is important to understand that the allowances claimed on your W-4 can be adjusted as needed; there isn’t a requirement to claim the same number of allowances as dependents. By adjusting your allowances, you can strive to end the year with zero tax liability. This will put additional dollars in your pocket each month, money that can be used more productively (i.e., funding an emergency account, paying down debt, investing or other financial goals). Another option to keep in mind is to use pretax dollars to pay certain expenses. Health plan premiums, life and disability insurance premiums and flexible spending accounts are qualified expenses. Contact MCCS’ Employee Benefits representative for enrollment information. After exhausting the options available to eliminate and defer taxes, the final objective is to reduce taxes by taking advantage of tax deductions, such as education expenses, mortgage interest and property taxes paid. Lastly, for those that practice over withholding in effort to receive a refund or for those that may see this as a form of saving, know that Uncle Sam does not pay interest on your money! A free IRS withholding calculator is available at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/ article/0,,id=96196,00.html Let MCCS help you manage your money! To reserve a space in any of these classes, email tracy.earnest@usmc.mil. Developing a Budget March 6 & April 3 Thrift Savings Plan March 13 & April 10 Credit & Debt Management March 20 & April 17 Car Buying March 27 & April 24