CFC Cabinet Meeting
Minutes of April 19, 2006
Environmental Protection Agency
901 E 5th, Kansas City , KS

 Cabinet Members in attendance:      

Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA                                   Sharon Al-Uqdah, APWW
Michael Anthony, USMC                               Gary Beets, FMS
Rob Cowan, DHS-NBC                                 Patrick Bustos, EPA                                     
Lee Cason, IRS                                               Linda Day, USPS                                          
Melvin Hawkins, NTEU #264                         Andrea Henry, AFGE
Cindy Hillman, FEB                                        Larry Hisle, CFC
Fred Hodge, IRS                                            Mike Jaromin, DHI-CIS
Nadine Johnson, FDA                                     Ed Kolodiej, USACE                                    
Matt Mitchell, USDA                                     
Joe Parnacott, NATCA          
Samm Skare, GSA                                          Carol Starnes, VA Med                      
Leslie Tritten, DHS-NBC                              

                                                           

Alternates & Others:

Christina Bennett, NTEU #66, for Sandra Champion
Holly Ross, SSA for Ethel Johnson, 
Shawntelll Martin, EPA,  Mark Warnick, GSA

                      

Welcome & Introduction – Rob Cowan & Sharon Al-Uqdah:

Rob & Sharon thanked the cabinet members for being involved in the campaign this year and are looking forward to the commitment in making CFC successful. Each member in attendance introduced themselves. 

 

Cabinet Recruitment & Team Leader or LE Recruitment Status – Rob Cowan & Sharon Al-Uqdah:

·          Each Division Chair has been identified
           
·          Need Training Chair; basic role would be to look over training materials, assist with Loaned     Executive and Coordinator training sessions.
           
·          Still need 5 LEs.

 

Union Partnership Council – Sharon Al-Uqdah:

                        ·    The first meeting is coming up on April 27th. 
·         The purpose of the Union Partnership Council is to secure the support of representatives from more than 20 area federal employee unions
    The council has played a major role in increasing employee awareness and support of CFC.
    Council members meet twice a year-April and July.
·         Larry will send out an email reminder.

 

OPM Workshop – Rob Cowan, Fred Hodge, Leslie Tritten & Sharon Al-Uqdah

·         Those attending the OPM/CFC Conferences were asked to give their views and findings on the conference
·        
Overview:  To learn more about CFC and ideas that could be used to enhance communications and recognition for our campaign.
·         Rob, Sharon, Fred & Leslie shared their thoughts on the conferences, here are some of their combined thoughts.  One thought it was an enlightening experience, mostly from the passion surrounding the focus and purpose of the CFC and what we do.
·         Regulations

o       Learned much about the inner workings of CFC and the regulatory responsibilities
o       Relationship between PCFO & LFCC
o       Quite a bit discussion of regulatory changes, which were announced at the first workshop, but not the second.  Most discussion was spent on release of donor names and the elimination of the 25% AFR criteria.  Larry was to send the known regulation changes out to all cabinet  members immediately.  When the full 38 changes are issued they will also be distributed and a meeting will be called to discuss.

 ·         Marketing & Fundraising

o       Urged the Year Round presence of CFC
o       As we run the campaign, looking at customer base, how do we reach out to the younger employees.  The younger employees want more of the following:  Actual knowledge of the charities, volunteer options, environmental and animal welfare needs.  Focus on these items when inviting speakers in the fall
o       Modernization of Campaign:  recoding of agencies and use of the taxonomy codes for searches
o       Even though we are striving for more online services, continue to stress the human ask

 ·         Merging and Consolidation

o       OPM encouragement to consolidate campaigns
o       Surprised to see how much area is not covered
o       Issue of Expanding –
§         Admin Costs, Lack of LFCC Involvement, Lack of meeting the needs of local employees
o       It was suggested to approach Leavenworth and/or St. Joseph to propose a merger of campaigns
o       Fred Hodge, IRS would lead this effort

A motion to pursue merger opportunities with 1.  Leavenworth , 2. St. Joseph , was made by Patrick Bustos and seconded by Melvin Hawkins.  All members were in favor of motion.

   

Agency Head Calls Training – Larry Hisle :

·          Training is to take place for Division Chairs & Loaned Executives on May 3rd at CCVI and on May 9th at Sherwood Center . A tour of each facility will be available after the training session.  
·          Emails will be sent out requesting that Division Chairs select one date to attend training events.
·
          Agency Head Call Sheets will be available at each training event. Information on the Agency Head, Campaign Coordinators and account history will be on each sheet.
·
          Division Chairs will pick the top ten (8) agencies in their division and make the Agency Head visit.
·
          Loaned Executives (LE’s) will cover the remaining Agency Head visits.
·                    
Agency Head Calls are to start in May and will take place during May and June.
·                    
Plans are underway to have an agency head breakfast on May 25th and invite all the teams 20s (i.e. 75-500 employees) to make their calls all at once.

 

Committee Reports:

                      Awards & Recognition – Nadine Johnson:

            Here are the items which the Awards Committee are suggesting for choices for this year.

EVERY DONOR GIFT         - Chosen item: Discount Card Discount Card, Nadine will make calls on this accounts

idea                                                     cost                  vendor                       

Discount Card                                     $0.14               to be determined (tbd)
Laminated Bookmark/ruler                 $0.08               CAM
Calendar Wallet Card                          $0.065             Artcraft

 

KICK-OFF RALLY GIFT - Chosen item: Spirit Rag/Towel

idea                                                     cost                  vendor                       

Pennant                                               $0.60 - .75       CPI
4 – in- 1 tool                                        $0.65               CFC Store
Spirit Rag/Towel                                 $0.60 - .75       CPI

 

Pre-GIFT- Chosen item: 5’ tape measure

idea                                                     cost                  vendor                       

Fuzzy Hair Guy Pen                           $1.08               Jack Nadel
5’ tape measure                                   $0.90               Jack Nadel
Slinky toy, flag design                        $1.00               United Way

 

Post-GIFT- Chosen item: Lunchbox

idea                                                     cost                  vendor                       

Lunchbox                                            $3                    tbd
Mousepad                                           $2.90               CFC Store

 

 It was also suggested to narrow the Pillar Club Awards as follows:  

Pillar Club pin:          $390 to $649 or 1% of a donor’s pay

                                           Heartland CFC pin 2000 pieces @ $1.10 to $1.30

            Commanders Coin:   $650 to $999  or 2%

                                                            Coin – modify existing:  color, shape, text etc…..

1000 pieces @ 1.25 to $1.45

 

Eagle Club:                $1000 or greater

                                                      800 pieces @ $12.00 to $15.00

Bids will be sent out to secure best pricing.

   

                      Communications – Patrick Bustos

            CFC Film

Showed the National CFC video.  Cabinet agreed to stay with the national video but add a few minutes of additional footage from video taping during the Day of Caring and other activities within the Kansas City Metro area.  Since government employees participate during the Day of Caring, Larry will be responsible for videotaping these activities.  He will also provide tape to communications committee to add to the National CFC video.

              Campaign Theme

·         Three (3) themes were presented to the committee:

                                    1.  Giving Makes Great Things Happen
                                   
2.  Hope Lives … When You Give
                                    3.  Neighbors Caring and Sharing

·       This committee chose this year’s theme to be "Hope Lives … When You Give"

 

Committee members are working on the following:                  

·         Graphic Design:  Create graphics to brand and market the Heartland CFC Theme used in catalog, newsletters, posters and on the website. Primary Designs:  Header/Footer, Catalog/Posters

·         Writing:  Complete Research; write stories for newsletters and speeches help with proofreading used in all CFC Communications Primary Writing Assignments:  Newsletters, Speeches, Scripts, Proof Catalog, Tidbits

                                    Newsletters Key areas
            
                        1.  Standard Dates
            
                        2.  Reactive Story
            
                        3.  What's new in CFC
            
                        4.  Success Story
            
                        5.  Why CFC - CFC Facts
            
                        6.  Coming Soon Section

·         Communications Liaison:  Establish contacts with local media, used to get information out about the campaign and sit on kick-off committee

·         Photography:  Take photographs and videos at CFC events and at local charities used in newsletters, on the website, produces the local film (coordinate volunteers)

·         Local Film:  Script the intro or the whole thing (will explore this option)

·         Special Events Planner:  Plan employee appreciation outings, build team spirit, celebrate accomplishments. 

·         Web Design:  Help with design work on the CFC Web site and help develop an online pledge process Primary Task:  Review Web Sites and attempt an online pledge system.

·         Campaign Materials:  Pledge Card, Coordinator Notebook, Retiree Pamphlet

                                    Committee Recruitment

·          The committee stands 20 strong. 
·        
We are in need of members to help with writing & web design
·
          First meeting was April 5th and the next is April 26th
·
          More information will be available at the next meeting,
A plea was made for individual with Web Design experience, please contact Larry or Patrick if you someone in mind.

                                   

                             Eligibility Status -- Samm Skare  

·         The eligibility period began Monday, March 13th, and ended Friday, April 14th .
·        
Applications were sent to 7 federations and 280 local unaffiliated agencies.
·        
We received a record 180+ applications for review, including 24 new agencies for consideration.  First meeting was Tuesday, April 18th.
·        
We currently have 20+ volunteers from various agencies to help with this process, but could use more.
·        
Our next review meeting is Wednesday, April 26, again at GSA.  We hope to finish that morning, but may have to schedule a third meeting to finish this task. 

 

             ·          Events – Larry Hisle :

                        ·          Kick-off

·          Still try to recruit a kick-off chair
·
          Preparing for Sponsorship after the theme has been selected and voted on by the committee members.
·
          Will report more on the Kick-off at the next meeting.

 

                        ·          Golf Tournament

·          Golf Tournament Committee met at the end of March to discuss this year’s tournament.
·
          Tournament has been scheduled for October 9th (Columbus Day).
·
          Requests have been sent out to every golf course for the best deal.
·
          Currently looking for ideas on incentive items, etc.
·
          Tournament will be open to all federal employees.
·
          Championship aspect (which was used for last year’s tournament) will be done again this year.
·
          Encouraged agencies who host their own golf tournaments to incorporate theirs into CFC’s tournament.

 

 

·          Training Committee - Recruitment & Workshops  – Open

            ·          This committee was formed to look for ways of improving training and workshops and to determine how to raise awareness of the importance of CFC to federal agencies with low participation and donations.
           
·      We have a group of three individuals from IRS working on this committee.
·
          Two Campaign Coordinator trainings are coming up on August 2nd at Alphapointe and on August 10th at The Gem Theater.

                        ·          Here are the items that still need to be completed

o       Complete and confirm training locations for the Coordinator training, and the Loaned Executive training.
o      
Obtain additional trainers.
o      
Finalize all training outlines and plans. (Team Leaders, Coordinators, Loan Executives)
o       Finalize all training materials

·          More information will be made available at the next meeting.

 Melvin Hawkins & Nadine Johnson agreed to co-chair this committee.

 

                                2005  Annual Report

·          Annual Report was available to members at the meeting.

·          CFC’s report can be downloaded from our web site at: www.heartlandcfc.org

 

Agency Head Breakfast

A special agency head breakfast has been scheduled for May 25th at the Phillips Hotel in downtown Kansas City .  We have identified 35 accounts to invite to this event.  We will present to the accounts in attendance a Vision of CFC and secure their support for the 2006 campaign. 

 

Day of Caring Update

·          Currently have 54 federal agencies and labor groups at 67 locations volunteering for Day of Caring.

·          Day of Caring is Saturday, June 24th.

 

Special Regulations Meeting

When the complete regulation changes are released, it was suggested to have a special meeting regarding these proposed changes.

   

Upcoming Events

Team Leaders/LE’s Recruited            by May 1
Team Orientation                                by May 12
May Cabinet Meeting                         May 17th
Agency Head Breakfast                     May 25th
Agency Head Calls completed           by June 30

Day of Caring                                     June 24