CFO-ADMIN NEWS YOU CAN USE

A Monthly Newsletter from ITA Administration
Office of the Chief Financial Officer

January 27, 2009

Transit Benefit Is Here To Stay - The “Metrochek” Is Going Away

 

Many of you are aware that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has been in the process of phasing out the “Metrochek” in favor of the electronic Smart Card program known as “SmartBenefits”.  This does not mean the transit benefit program is going away.  It does however mean that there are some adjustments in the way that the program is administered.

 

What You Need to Know About the Transit Benefit Transition:  If you ride Metro Rail, Metro Bus, Van Pools, Arlington Transit, CUE Fairfax, DASH, DC Circulator, Fairfax Connector, Loudon Commuter Bus, Montgomery Country Ride On, PRTC or The Bus, you must join the Smart Benefits Program by March 6, 2009. 

·         You can visit any Metro Sales Office, or their website, www.wmata.com to purchase and register your Smartrip card. 

·         After you purchase and register the Smartrip card, you will need to complete the Smart Benefits application. You can access the application at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/oas/trans2.htm. 

·         Upon completion of the Smart Benefits application, fax the application along with a copy of the back of your card to Sharon Russell, ITA’s Transit Benefit Manager, at 202-482-1584.  Sharon will provide the application to the Department of Transportation (DOT).

·         Participants who ride public transportation that is not equipped to use the Smartrip card will begin to use Smart Benefits vouchers.  The Smart Benefits vouchers will be available in April 2009 in three separate denominations of $1, $10, and $30.  Currently, Virginia Railway Express (VRE), MARC Train, Metro Access and MTA commuter buses (i.e., Eyre, Dillon, Keller, National Coach Works, Howard County, Connector Ride and Martz) accept the Smart Benefits vouchers.  The vouchers will be distributed at the next Department of Transportation (DOT) distribution here at HCHB.

Stay tuned for additional information about the transition to Smart Benefits.  If you have questions, please call Sharon Russell, ITA’s Transit Benefit Manager, at      202-482-3267.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Purchase Card Provider

 

As most of you know, GSA recently awarded a new master contract to J.P. Morgan Chase/Master Card (JPMC/MC) to serve as the purchase/travel and fleet card service provider for DOC. 

With the transition to a new service provider, we now have new MasterCard Purchase Card Account Forms to apply and make changes to an existing Cardholder or Approving Official accounts. The ITA-2061, GSA SmartPay 2 – MasterCard Purchase Account Form (Cardholder Setup), ITA-2058, GSA SmartPay2 – MasterCard Purchase Cardholder Maintenance Form, and the ITA-2063, GSA SmartPay2 – MasterCard Purchase Account Form (Approving Official Setup/Maintenance Form) are available on the ITA Intranet "Ourplace" at http://ourplace.ita.doc.gov using Adobe Acrobat software. "How To" instructions are available on "Through the Maze" for each form. The instructions provide guidance on how to complete the forms section by section. Also, included is a completed form to show users how the form should look when it is submitted to the Agency Program Coordinator (A/OPC), Robin Carpenter.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Robin Carpenter at 202-482-4989 or via email at Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov.

 

If You Know What A Funding Cable Is Then You Need To Know Our Newest Intern

Ms. Sakiyna Salaam joined the Office of Financial Management on January 5^th and she will be managing the ITA overseas fund cable process with assistance from Ms. Vanessa Barksdale.  She has quickly  learned the organizational alignment of ITA in general and OFM in particular.  Sakiyna is highly motivated to serve ITA well.

Sakiyna is an enthusiastic intern with the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP) on rotation with ITA.  She brings a wealth of knowledge having worked in the Office of the Secretary (O/S) on various types of funding, financial reporting, metrics and a myriad of other duties.

Sakiyna graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and is beginning her MBA in March of 2009 at Saint Leo University with a concentration in Accounting.

 

Please welcome Sakiyna as she gets to know all of you, especially those that use the cable processing system.  She is in Room 4113 and can be reached by phone at 482-4408 or by e-mail at Sakiyna.Salaam@mail.doc.gov.

 

Healthy Lifestyle

 

It’s January! Have you made your New Year’s resolution? Adopting a healthy lifestyle is a resolution that each of us can make. Every year most of us resolve to eat better, exercise, and make healthy choices.  Since 2009 is a year for change, it is the perfect time to make that commitment.

 

There are five elements for choosing a healthy lifestyle:

·         Be physically active every day.  Make regular physical activity a routine part of your life.

·         Eat a nutritious diet.  Avoid excessive portions and increase fruit and vegetable consumption.  Good overall nutrition lowers the risk of getting heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

·         Get preventive screenings.  Screening can protect you and your family from illnesses you can prevent.  A simple test like a cholesterol screen or a blood pressure check can reveal your current health status and identify a need to adjust diet or behavior.

·         Avoid risky behavior.  Avoid tobacco and drugs as well as the abuse of alcohol and make smart and safe choices in your everyday life.

·         Make healthy choices.  In addition to avoiding risky behaviors, make smart choices like wearing a seat belt when in a car.  Wash your hands regularly to prevent the spread of many common illnesses and infections.  To read more about adopting a healthy lifestyle, go to http://www.healthierfeds.opm.gov.  There is no time like the present to begin.

 

  Are You a Potential Victim of Identity Theft?

Anyone, who has a Social Security number or a credit card number, is a potential victim of identity theft.  You need to know what identity theft is and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as your name, Social Security number or credit card number without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.  You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges that you didn’t make—or until you are contacted by a debt collector.

Identity theft is serious.  While some victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing the damage to their good name and credit reports.

If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you should file an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC.  You should bring a copy of the complaint with you when you file a police report.  This entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information.  An Identity Theft Report can be used to block fraudulent information that results from the identity theft. 

To help fight identity theft, be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect your data.  Monitor your information to spot any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.  Go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html to learn more.

 

 

 

Send your suggestions or comments about this newsletter to Nina.Harris@mail.doc.gov