2005employee insert may 2005 v7, n5

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Gwinnett County Employee Wellness Fair: May 18, 2005

“Grow into a healthier you” at the 2005 Gwinnett County Employee Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in the GJAC Confer-ence Center. Load up on tons of free information and giveaways and be sure to take advantage of the free health screenings.

Available Health Screenings • Back/posture• Blood sugar• Body fat analysis• Bone density*

• Mammogram*• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)*• Vision

* Screenings must be scheduled in advance through the Benefits Of-f ice at 770.822.7927.

Other activities include door prizes, snacks, and health and wellness in-formation from local vendors and health agencies. The Wellness Fair is sponsored by the Gwinnett Coun-ty Department of Financial Servi-

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ces, Benefits Section of Risk Ma-nagement.

Wellness Fair

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

7:00am – 5:00pm

Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center

Conference Center

Project BEST: Tips for making the transition

Now that the go-live phase of Proj-ect BEST Financials has launched, some transition items and tips to remember have come to the fore-front. Many deal with access issues and some are process-oriented, so take a look a the tips listed below for a quick answer to some com-mon questions:

• User IDs – The SAP User ID is usually the same as your LAN or network ID

• Password Rules and Tips – The SAP password must be exactly eight characters with at least one number and one letter. It is recommended the passwords for the LAN and SAP IDs be the

same. Your initial password will be “hello001”

• Intranet – The path to logon to My SAP Purchasing and Budgets is through the employee portal of the County Web site; the por-tal user ID and password is the same as for the LAN

• Roles – Roles are access permis-sions to SAP functions needed to perform your job and are displayed as menu items when you logon; if your role needs to be changed based on the menu, contact your ERP liaison

• Time Out – The SAP system is configured to “time out” or auto-

matically log you off if the enter key has not been pressed for 60 minutes

• Help Desk – The IT Help Desk (x8915) is the primary means of requesting assistance or report-ing problems. One key piece of information to communicate is the system you are accessing: the reference can always be found in the lower right corner of your screen, i.e. RP1 (1) (100) jacrp1dca

• Help Text – On-line documen-tation on any business process and related SAP screens, as well as SAP Navigation, can be found

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Human Resources

Benefits Express

Gwinnett Safety

Awards and Honors

Employee ServiceAnniversaries

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Class Registration To register for a course, complete a regis-tration form and send it through interoffice mail to the Career Development and Learning Center, Gwinnett County Government Annex, or fax it to 678.377.4336. You may download the form online at http://employee.co.gwinnett.ga.us/classes_h-r.htm. Re-member to get your supervisor’s approval before registering for the program (required).

Cancellation Policy To cancel a registration, call 678.377.4337.

Unless otherwise noted, all classes take place in the Career Devel-opment and Learning Center.

May 3 12:30pm – 4:30pmJust My Type: The Personality GameParticipants will learn about four personality dimensions. By trading and discussing playing cards, the game gives participants the opportu-nity to discuss how behavior preferences impact relationships.

May 10, 17 8:30am – 4:30pmNEW! Managing Performance of Others – Parts I and II This two-day program for managers, supervisors, and work group leaders focuses on performance management and teaches skills that help participants conduct performance-related discussions.

May 20, 27 10:30am – 3:30pm (with one hour for lunch)Do What You Are – Parts I and II: Discover the Career That’s Right for You This course will give you the knowledge to choose the type of work that’s most appropriate to your skill set, talents, and natural abilities.

May 24 8:30am – 12:30pmResolving Customer Dissatisfaction Understand the benefits of resolving customer dissatisfaction; use the five key actions to improve the quality of work processes.

May 26 9:00am – noonBAFA BAFA This interactive course creates a situation for participants to explore and experience the impact that culture has on our perceptions and the way we treat others.

June 2 8:30am – 4:30pm Developing High Performance TeamsThis course helps organizational leaders supercharge the process of helping employees move from existing as a work group to a high performing team that demonstrates superior performance.

June 7, 14 1:00pm – 4:30pm Managing Stress for Mental Fitness – Parts I and IIParticipants will learn how to develop a sense of self-awareness, iden-tify individual tolerable levels of stress, and manage both external

and internal stress. Part II will “road test” the methods and tips using hands-on techniques.

June 9 12:30pm – 4:30 pm Dazzling your Customer on a Shoe String BudgetLearn to make customers feel special and valuable, creating exper-iences so surprisingly positive and memorable that customers will tell others about them. June 10, 17, 24, July 1 8:30am – 12:30 pm 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

June 16, 23 8:30am – 4:30pmCoaching for Stellar Customer Service: Parts I and IIManagers, supervisors, and work group or team leaders will explore the value of stellar customer service and the role of leaders in help-ing employees achieve it.

June 21 8:30am – 12:30pmFish – The Power of Positive Thinking Who would think the workings of a fish market could serve as a lesson for organizational success? At Seattle’s world-famous Pike Place Fish, employees fill orders with exceptional service and enthu-siasm. Learn how to bring that energy, passion, and positive attitude to work every day with you.

June 28 10:30am – 3:30pmWhale Done!Learn how to improve work relationships in order to become more productive and to achieve better results. Clear, easy-to-use approach-es will teach participants the power of positive relationships.

June 30 8:30am – 12:30pmWho Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change Change can be difficult for some people. This class is useful because it provides a new way of looking at change.

MAY

Staff Contact Information

Department of Human ResourcesOrganizational Development Section

Tina Woodard, PHR • Section Manager678.377.4333

Beverly McLee678.377.4331

Career Development and Learning Center Gwinnett Government Annex 750 S. Perry Street, Suite 250

Lawrenceville, GA 30045Fax: 678.377.4336

Jerry Kelly678.377.4332

Julia Ferguson678.377.4337

JUNE

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$ave Discounts

Subway (Pike St/Hwy 120 location only) Fridays $3.99 (6" Sub Combo Meal)Wings Landing (Flier available in HR) Monday – Friday 10 – 15% off

Fitness International: 770.682.8111, no contract, $62.50 registration fee, $37.85/month

Flippers Peachtree Cinema 8: Buy 1 ticket, get 1 ticket free (same show and time only)

Georgia Force – six games to choose from (Flier available in HR)

Gold’s Gym of Norcross: 770.209.9955, no contract, $25 per month

Lady of America: 770.339.4393, 12-month contract, $50 registration fee, $29.95/month

Oasis Bowling: 770.271.2552, discount flier available in Human Resources lobby

Johnanna Weathers at 770.822.7914 for information. Don’t forget, discount infor-mation is located in the Human Resources lobby for your use.

April: Alcohol Awareness MonthEmployee Relations section offers training

opportunities

The Department of Human Resources’ Employee Relations Section wants to keep you informed about policies and procedures through training that may affect or enhance your supervisory ability.

Training is offered in the following formats:

• Small group, supervisor, or mandatory training– This will include special topic training

• Department policy training– Tailoring policy training with the indi-

vidual department in mind, enhanc-ing the departments’ awareness of County and department policies and procedures

• Regular monthly training sessions

May 58:30am – noon

GJAC Conference Room CEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)

1:00pm – 4:00pmGJAC Conference Room C

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

May 121:00pm – 4:00pm

GJAC Conference Room CFamily Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

June 91:00pm – 4:00pm

GJAC Conference Room CUnlawful Harassment

June 308:30am – noon

GJAC Conference Room AEmployee Relations within SAP

June 301:00pm – 4:00pm

GJAC Conference Room AEmployee Relations within SAP

Contact Johnanna Weathers, Employee Relations Manager, at 770.822.7914 for details about the training program. To register, call the Organizational Devel-opment section at 678.377.4337.

Charity Spotlight

Foster Children’s Foundation, Inc. – On February 9, 2005, the charitable contribu-tions committee members approved the Foster Children’s Foundation, Inc. to be in-cluded in the County’s charitable contribu-tions program. The mission of the Foster Children’s Foun-dation, Inc. is to bridge the gap between available resources in the community and the needs of Gwinnett’s foster children. The Foundation hosts events, projects, and pro-grams that help to raise the self-esteem of foster children and allow them to realize that people do care and are willing to help. The “Clothing and Needs” center in Duluth, provides clothing, hygiene products, and other necessities for foster children. The children are able to go to the center and get what they need.

To find out how you can make a difference in the life of a child, please visit the Foster Children’s Foundation’s Web site at www.fosterchildrensfoundation.org.

If you would like to contribute to this charity or another participating charity through the County’s charitable contribution program, pick up a charity authorization form in the Human Resources Department, or request

the form through interoffice mail. For addi-tional information, or to receive a charity payroll deduction authorization form, con-tact Dee Roberts at 770.822.7923.

Giving is people helping people

Human Resources requests exit interviews

Departments are strongly encouraged to schedule departing employees for an exit interview with Human Resources. Exit in-terviews last approximately 45 minutes. To schedule an appointment, call:

• 770.822.7923• 770.822.7925• 770.822.7907

Exit interviews offer the Department of Human Resources the opportunity to ob-tain information that is helpful with hiring, retention, and turnover.

Human Resources holds any information received in confidence.

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Keep colleagues on military duty in your thoughts

As we have been reporting since May 2003, several County employees who are also military reservists have been called upon to support our nation’s efforts overseas. As of press time, five Gwinnett County em-ployees were serving on active duty. If you have a postal or e-mail address for those listed without contact information, please

call Johnanna Weathers in the Department of Human Resources at 770.822.7914.

CorrectionsJohnny R. Brewster, Sr. Corrections OfficerRashed Dukes, Corrections Officer

Planning and DevelopmentLuis Polanco, Bldg./Dev. Inspection, Assoc. I

Police DepartmentHeather Van Kampen, Sr. Police Officer

Sheriff’s DepartmentWilliam Watson, Deputy Sheriff

Welcome Home!Keith M. Fennell, Sr. Police Officer

HR conducting pre-employment credit checks for selected positions

Veterans recently hired (up to 36 months ago) as a public or private employee in an entry-level job may be eligible to receive GI Bill benefits in the workplace. To be eligible, the veteran must have left the service with an honorable discharge no more than 10 years ago. Members of the Reserve Com-ponents may also be eligible.

For additional information about on-the-job training opportunities through the GI Bill, call the Georgia Department of Veterans Services at 404.656.2306 or 404.656.2322 or e-mail saahds@mindspring.com.

A detailed description of the training pro-gram is available at the following Web site:www.military.com/Resources/Resources Content/0,13964,42195--,00.html.

Effective January 1, 2005, the Employment Division of the Human Resources Depart-ment began conducting credit checks for selected positions during the Conditional Job Offer (CJO) phase of the employment process. This includes applicants for posted internal, Countywide, and external positions. Consumer reports may be obtained for em-ployment purposes, as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Gwinnett County Human Resources Department requires consumer reports for positions requiring incumbents to maintain and/or distribute money and/or complete or oversee other financial transactions. Specifically, the report may be requested for purposes of employ-ment, promotion, reassignment, or reten-tion as an employee.

Human Resources will conduct the credit checks, evaluate the reports, and make

recommendations to the hiring authority based on the applicant’s overall credit worth-iness. The department’s hiring authority will then determine whether or not the ap-plicant will continue through the job offer phase. Those individuals will be notified by telephone, and then will receive a letter and copy of their credit report by Laborchex, the organization that provides the credit history information.

Additionally, Human Resources is in the process of developing a policy and proce-dure necessary to conduct credit checks for current employees in those identified positions. Human Resources will notify the department representatives with details of this phase of the process at a later date.

Contact the County Employment Office at 770.822.7915 with any questions or con-cerns.

Veterans: You may be eligible for on-the-job training benefits

humanresources

Happy Memorial Day

“I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me, and I’ ll proudly stand up next to him to defend her still today, because there ain’t no doubt

I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.”

– Lee Greenwood

5th Annual Open House attracts record crowd

Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make the open house on April 9 a huge success! An estimated 2,500 citizens enjoyed the festivities, which included pony rides, a petting zoo, a rock climbing slide, sand art, face painting, temporary tattoos, and a moonwalk. The band Wichita also entertained the crowd.

Nearly every County office and program was represented at the open house, including Community Services, Corrections, Courts, District Attorney’s Office, Elections, Human Resources, License And Revenue, Public Util-ities, Tax Commissioner’s Office, Planning and Development, Sheriff, Solicitor’s Office, Tax Assessor, and Transportation. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore a fire engine, a police car and other emergency ve-hicles, and talk to real-life public safety heroes. Thanks again for the tremendous support!

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Effective April 18, 2005, the Department of Financial Services reorganized the Treas-ury and Risk Management Divisions to form the Employee Service Center.

The Center was designed to maximize the capabilities of the SAP Human Resources and CRM (Customer Relationship Manage-ment) modules and will combine the Bene-fits Section in Risk Management with the payroll function previously housed in the Treasury Division. This will provide a “one-

Employee Service Center to provide “one-stop shop” for payroll and benefit issues

stop shop” call center for employees to address problems and concerns related to both payroll and benefits issues.

Under the management of Risk Management Division Director Joe Allen, the Employee Service Center will be co-managed by Ros-lyn Forstot and JoAnne Stokes. Accounts payable, contract, cash management, and check disbursement matters will continue to be handled by the Treasury Division, di-rected by Rhonda Etheridge.

The Benefits Office is serving. . .

Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Feet Are Neat: Keeping Your Feet Healthy

Presented by Gwinnett Hospital System

Facilitator: Dr. Anthony M. Cutsuries, D.P.M.

Topic: Our feet are one of our most important, yet most overlooked body parts. Join Podiatrist Dr. Cutsuries for a discussion of common foot problems, symptoms, and treatments. People with certain conditions, including diabetes, should take extra care in keeping their feet healthy. Learn how to take care of your feet so they will last you a lifetime.

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2005Time: Noon – 1:00pm Place: Gwinnett Justice and

Administration Center, 2nd Floor, Conference Rm. B

Fruit will be served so bring your lunch and join us!

Call Marsha Fox-Davis at 770.822.7905 to reserve your seat!Wellness Activities

Lunch and LearnMay 12

MammogramsMay 18, 19

Tai ChiWednesdays from 12:30pm – 1:30pm

Walk a WeighMondays at noon

YogaWednesdays from 6:45am – 7:45 am

and 5:00pm – 6:30 pm

Weight Watchers at Work Fridays at noon

For more information, please call the Benefits Office at 770.822.7927.

benefitsexpress

by Lily Copeland, Communications Intern

Smog season is officially here! What will you do to help this season?

Gwinnett County has long been a supporter of the Clean Air Campaign and its goal to keep metro Atlanta’s air clean. This year, the County will partner with the Clean Air Cam-paign for a slightly different approach to the season than in the past.

In May, the Clean Air Campaign will send representatives to host transportation fairs at the seven main Gwinnett County loca-tions: GJAC, DPU Central Facility, F. Wayne Hill Plant, One Justice Square, Annex build-ing, Police Headquarters, and Fire and Emer-gency Services Headquarters. Representa-tives from the Clean Air Campaign will visit each location for an hour or two during lunch armed with information on the Clean Air Campaign and clean commute alternatives.

Look for Clean Air Campaign representa-tives again in June and July when they will host “try it days” at the same locations. Rep-

Clean Air Campaign kicks off in May

resentatives will have treats for employees who use a commute alternative to get to work. Alternatives to single-occupancy ve-hicle trips include but are not limited to bicycling, walking, carpooling, and taking public transit.

The Clean Air Campaign will provide a Web site, customized for Gwinnett County, so that “clean commuters” can keep up with their contributions to clean air. Employees will be able to record commute alternatives used to get to and from work.

Be sure to visit the Clean Air Campaign Web site, www.cleanaircampaign.com, for commute alternatives, live traffic reports, and information on smog and air pollutant prevention.

Clean Air Facts The word smog is a combination of the

words smoke and fog. It is a mixture of air pollutants, some that can be seen or smelled, and others that cannot. In met-ro Atlanta, the two most important pollutants that threaten human health are ozone and particle pollution.

Lily Copeland is a student at Parkview High School.

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by Bill Swiger, Safety Manager

With the warm weather comes new plant growth. Most plants provide color and won-derful fragrances, but some plants can be problematic to those who work outdoors.

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are the most likely to cause problems. The poisonous plants have sprouted and are full of urushiol, which is the chemical that causes the irritation. The urushiol is found on the roots, stems, leaves, and berries of all three plants. The urushiol oil can stay on clothes, tools, and pet fur for up to a year,

and burning the plants can cause eye, skin, throat, and lung problems because the oil can be contained in smoke.

Statistics show that 50 to 70 percent of peo-ple are very sensitive to urushiol. Approxi-mately three out of four people will develop an annoying rash. It is possible to not have any reaction to the oil on one exposure and be very sensitive the next time you are exposed. Most symptoms occur between eight and 48 hours after direct contact with the oil and can last anywhere from two to five weeks. There is no way to shorten the duration of the rash.

Poisonous plants can cause eye, skin irritation

To avoid poisonous plants, you need to know what they look like and how it spreads. There are some pre-exposure lotions and special cleaning products on the market for preventing reactions to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Take advantage of the upcoming classes on poisonous plants. Steve Pettis, the Gwinnett County Agri-cultural and Natural Resources Extension Agent and the author of the Gwinnett Daily Post’s “Gardening in Gwinnett” column, teach-es the classes. Check out the safety train-ing schedule on page 7 of the Chat Room for dates and times.

Purchasing Director Debbie Green in line to lead national organization

BOC recognizes Police Department, Sheriff’s Deputy for capture of Brian Nichols

Purchasing Director Debbie Green was elected as Treasurer of the National Insti-tute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) for the 2005 – 2006 term.

The NIGP is a non-prof-it organization dedicat-

ed to education, the advancement of the purchasing profession, and helping govern-ments manage tax dollars wisely. For the next few years, Debbie will move through the ranks of the organization, serving as second vice-president, first vice-president, and then president in 2008 – 2009.

“This is a great accomplishment for Debbie,” said Financial Services Director Lisa Johnsa. “It is a credit to Gwinnett County that the Pur-chasing Director is recognized by her peers for her professional achievements locally, state-wide, and at a national level.”

Debbie has served the NIGP at both the state and national levels before. She served as president of the Georgia chapter in 1997 and 1998. She also served as the vice-pres-ident and education chairman at the state

level. She was named co-chair for the prod-ucts and exposition committee in 1999 and 2000.

Debbie has been a member of the Board of Directors for the national organization since 2002. In addition to her involvement in governance of the organization, she has been an instructor for NIGP since 1994, and she attained the Certified Master Trainer designation in 1999.

“I am looking forward to serving the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing,” said Debbie. “I have been active in the ograniza-tion for many years, and I am excited about the opportunity to look at the NIGP from a dif-ferent perspective. It is an honor to have been selected by my peers for this position.”

Debbie came to work for Gwinnett County 1984, and has advanced through various po-sitions within the Purchasing Division. She received certification as a Certified Profes-sional Public Buyer in 1989 and a Certified Public Purchasing Officer in 1992 from the Na-tional Institute of Governmental Purchasing.

Congratulations Debbie!

The Gwinnett County Police Department was recognized at the April 12 Board of Commission meeting for the successful cap-ture of fugitive Brain Nichols. Sheriff ’s Dep-uty Nakia Brooks will be recognized at the May 3 meeting for his role in the capture. Deputy Brooks, along with Officer D. Cruz of the Gwinnett County Police Department guarded the entrance and exit to the building where Nichols was believed to be hiding.

Residents of Bridgewater Apartments in Duluth watched in disbelief as Gwinnett County police officers and the SWAT team surrounded their apartment complex, leaving Nichols no way out. The Gwinnett County’s SWAT team arrested Nichols without inci-dent at the Duluth apartment complex.

Chairman Bannister, on behalf of the Gwin-nett County Board of Commissioners, con-gratulated Police Chief Charlie Walters, the Gwinnett County Police Department, in-cluding all uniform personnel, SWAT team members, and 911 supervisors and dispatch-ers, and Deputy Brooks on an outstanding job.

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MAY

5/03 8:15am – 2:15pm Confined Space Safety

5/03 2:30pm – 4:30pm Bloodborne

Pathogens

5/04 7:30am – noon Flagging Certification

5/04 2:00pm – 4:00pm Back Educa- tion/Injury Prevention

5/05 8:15am – 3:30pm CPR/Defibril- lator/First Aid

5/06 8:00am – 10:00am Poisonous

Plants

5/06 10:30am – 11:30am Sun/Heat Issues

5/06 1:00pm – 4:00pm Trench Safety

JUNE

6/01 8:30am – 4:30pm Defensive Driving

6/02 8:30am – 2:30pm Safety Aware- ness/Accident Investigation 6/02 3:00pm – 5:00pm Compressed Gasses 6/03 8:15am – 10:30am Poisonous Plants 6/03 11:30am – 12:30pm Eye Safety 6/03 2:00pm – 4:00pm Respirator Standard

Most classes are held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) in Room C of the Conference Center. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to attend so those on the waiting list have an opportunity. Call 770.822.7835 to sign up for a class.

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humanresources

by Bill Swiger, Safety Manager

Congratulations and thank you to all Gwin-nett County employees! You knew exactly what to do and where to go during the re-cent tornado drill. It is important to keep the procedure fresh in your mind because you never know when we will need it in a real situation.

You know what to do at work in case of a weather emergency, but what if you are at home? Take a look at the tips listed below, and put in to play the advice that applies to your living situation. • When bad weather is happening in your

area, keep a radio or television on for up-to-the-minute reports; weather ra-dios can be programmed to sound an alert when your county is affected, which can prove helpful late at night when you are asleep

• Have flashlights, a cellular phone, and a battery-operated radio on hand in your shelter area; be sure to have fresh bat-teries available

• The closer to the ground you can get, the better your chances of survival ; a basement is ideal, but if you don’t have access to a basement take shelter in an interior room on the first floor like a half bath or closet – stay away from windows

• Cover yourself and family members with padded protective objects (furniture cushions, comforters, pillows, etc); get under a table or other hard, stable object to help shield you from falling debris

• If you live in a mobile home and the chance of a tornado is great, get out; make plans in advance to go to a friend or relative’s home during the inclement weather

There is no guaranteed protection from a tornado. With thunderstorms common to this area, tornadoes often form quickly and without much warning. Be ready! Have a plan put together in advance so that you will be able to take the appropriate actions in order to increase your chances of sur-viving in the event of a tornado.

Be ready for weather emergencies at home

Night driving can be hazardous: take the proper precautions

Summer is on the way, and that means many people are planning a vacation. If you are driving to your destination, you may be thinking about driving a few hours at night so you can get there and get the fun started.

But did you know that traffic deaths are three times greater at night than during the day? Many people are not aware of the haz-ards of night driving or how to mitigate them.

The following recommendations come from the National Safety Council, and the advice could save your vacation – maybe even your life:

• Properly prepare the vehicle for night driving: clean the headlights, taillights, signal lights, and windows

• Make sure the headlights are properly aimed; misaimed headlights can blind other drivers and make it harder for you to see the road

• Turn your headlights on; driving with lights will not only help you see better, but they’ll make it easier for other driv-

. . . continued on Chat Room page 8

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Awards, honors, and other notes of interest

Congratulations to the Police Department’s Civilians of the Month for March 2005: Bree Chavis, Jessica Joanem, and Phil Raines. The following officers were named Officers of the Month for March 2005: Sergeant R. Long and Officer P. Gunter. Congratulations!

Congratulations to Laurie Bohon and the Department of Financial Services! The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended Decem-ber 31, 2003, qualified for a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recog-nition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment repre-sents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Service Anniversaries

The following employees will celebrate significant service anniversaries during the month of May.

5 YearsFinancial Services: Peggy A. Lebeau; Law Department: Theresa A. Cox; Planning and Development: Maria M. Serban; Police Ser-vices: David M. Sokol, Cornelius Long; Pub-lic Utilities: Jeffrey D. Callaway, Shane J. Roberts, Jodi L. Slade; Sheriff: Robert E. Johnson, Scott A. Voutas, Jody L. Jones; Support Services: Danny L. Looney; Tax Commissioner: Christina Harrison

10 YearsCommunity Services: Joel B. Golden; Fi-nancial Services: Wanda G. Herrington; Fire and Emergency Services: Randolph L. Warren; Police Services: Nita J. Brannen; Public Utilities: Jeremy D. Cagle, Randolph F. Rosbury; Sheriff: Sandra S. Jandt; Sup-port Services: Cynthia L. Klemm; Tax Com-missioner: Amy D. Rogers

15 YearsPolice Services: Jameson M. Fetner, John F. Jenkins, Robert E. Kenyon, Sandra D. Pryor,

Michael J. Saunders, Travis L. Wright; Sher-iff: Sean T. Culbreth, Stephen J. Craig; Sup-por t Services : Cathy L. Morris, Mary J. Baughcum-Lewis; Trial Courts: Pamela A. Baxter, Debra K. Turner

20 YearsCommunity Services: Charles A. Brownlee; Fire and Emergency Services: William C. Barrett, David D. Drew; Public Utilities: Harold Rutledge; Support Services: James B. Puckett

25 YearsCorrections: Lisa F. Llewallyn; Juvenile Court: Margaret S. Hogsed; Public Utilities: David H. Casper; Sheriff: Greg E. Thompson

30 YearsClerk of Court: Thomas C. Lawler

Awards, Honors, Other Notes of Interest, and Service Anniversaries

35 YearsTransportation: Anita Johnson

Congratulations to the following employees who celebrated a service anniversary in April 2005: District Attorney: Bradley P. Wiley, 5 years; Linda Medders, 25 years; Solicitor’s Office: Marcella Robinson, 5 years

Recently RetiredFire and Emergency Services: Richard Watson, 24 years

If you or someone in your department has an accomplishment to share, please contact Kinsey Snell in the Communications Division at kinsey.snell@gwinnettcounty.com or 770.822.7135.

Project BEST. . . continued from Chat Room page 1

Night driving. . . continued from Chat Room page 7

ers to see you and being seen is as important as seeing

• Reduce your speed and increase your following distance; judging other vehi-cles’ speed and distance can be tricky at night

• Don’t “overdrive” your headlights; you should be driving at a speed that allows you to stop inside the illuminated area

• When following another vehicle, keep headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you

• If an oncoming vehicle does not switch to its low beams, avoid the glare by using the right edge of the road as a steering guide

• Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise; if you are too tired to drive, stop and get some rest

• If you have vehicle trouble, pull off the road as far as possible and use reflecting triangles to warn approaching traffic (if you don’t have reflecting triangles as part of your vehicle emergency package, you need to get them); turn on flashers and

the dome light and stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area. If you are on an interstate, try to get to the next exit instead of pulling off the road

Source: National Safety Council, Safety Health, Vol. 171, No. 3

on your Intranet navigation tab labeled “Tools/SAP Tools/My SAP Help”

• Document Flow – Implementation of Financials has created process changes and resulting changes in document flow. An example is accounts payable invoices now being initially received by the Finan-cial Services Disbursements staff rather than the individual departments; the doc-ument transition from one group to the other will not be immediate

These tips should be a good starting point for answering your questions, but if you find that you are still struggling with a particular issue, contact the Help Desk at 770.822.8915.