Thursday, October 17, 2002

The Speakers' Series invites in-house speakers to discuss current issues and their impact on the rest of ITA. The Series is designed to meet monthly and informally for an hour. Mark your calendar and join us on the following dates:

Date and Time: Tuesday, October 22, 2002, at 10:00

Location: Room 1412

Speaker: Jean Coffman, Director of the ITA Teams Program

Topic: ITA Teams Program

Join Jean Coffman and team members from TD, MAC, and FCS, for a discussion of how the Teams can help us better service our clients. They will discuss the difference between the industry and geographic Teams, explain how the Teams set their goals and objectives, and give examples of how all units in ITA are contributing to successful teamwork and providing better service to our clients. Also learn how to join a team, what to expect in terms of workload, and what you can expect to receive in return from your participation on a team. Teams are becoming the way we work more collaboratively in ITA. For further information, contact Rosemary Pappas at (202)482-0482.

E-Forms Website

The Office of Chief Information Officer launched ITA's intranet - "Our Place" located at http://ourplace.ita.doc.gov.  This site is the official site for ITA electronic forms (or "e-forms).  This is the first ITA-wide e-forms web site available to all ITA employees, domestic and overseas.  The most frequently used CD, ITA, and SF forms are available on this site. Also, all FY 03 ITA applications (called "smart forms") are located on this site.  Forms can be filled-in, printed and saved from your workstation in .PDF file format.  Employees must have Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 installed on your computer to access forms on E-form site. If you have a lower version of adobe software, it must be uninstalled. Bookmark this url and log on to this site for all your forms processing. If you are having problems or questions using the forms on this site or comments on the e-forms web site, contact the Help Desk at (202)482-4641.

Voice-over-IP Phones

As most of you already know the DoC HQ, the HCHB building, is converting to a new Cisco phone system called “Voice-over-IP”(VOIP). A VoIP phone system is essentially a computer network that routes all phone calls digitally through a server – which changes how some common phone features work.

Call-waiting: Currently, if you are on the phone, you will hear a beep whenever someone calls to any phone number appearing on your phone.This is a system defect that Cisco is repairing. It is supposed to only beep if a call is coming in to any phone number that is set to “ring” on your phone.

Caller ID: Each phone has caller ID, which means you can see who is calling and everyone else can also see which number you are calling from. It also changes the Caller ID that people on the outside can see. When you call outside this building, the caller ID on the phone you are calling will show either “Commerce Dept.” or a number beginning with “7”. (Verizon sets the caller ID.)

Missed Calls: The “missed call feature” under the “Directories” function key can be confusing. First, this list shows the missed calls for all the phone numbers listed on your phone – not just the missed calls to your private number. Second, if you are in “missed calls” and you pick up the receiver the phone will automatically dial that number – please hit “exit” before picking up the phone if you want to dial another number.

The Department has a website about VOIP http://www.home.osec.doc.gov/wiring/hchb6.html. If you have any questions contact the Help Desk at (202)482-6900, or contact Hamilton Humes at (202)482-6123 or email Hamilton_Humes@ita.doc.gov. If you need Voice Mail contact (202)482-0711.

FY 2002 Budget

We are still involved in the closing of the FY 2002 Accounting Records. For more information, contact Alan Zegas at (202)482-5739.

FY 2003 Budget

We still await House action and are operating under a Continuing Resolution through October 18, 2002. There is also the possibility a long-term (an additional one to three months) Continuing Resolution could be passed, if the Congress does not intend to take action until after the elections. For more information, contact Alan Zegas at (202)482-5739.

FY 2004 Budget

We continue to answer questions regarding the 2004 budget submitted to OMB. The OMB "passback" is scheduled for late November. For more information, contact Alan Zegas at (202)482-5739.

Workers Compensation Outsourcing

Effective October 1, 2002, the Department transferred the workers' compensation processing function to a private industry vendor, Contact Claims Services, Incorporated (CCSI, L.P.). CCSI, L.P. has extensive experience processing Federal government workers' compensation claims, and has a reputation for providing excellent customer service. Effective immediately all claims-related information should be sent to CCSI as follows: Forms CA-1's, CA-2's and claims for disability compensation (CA-7's) by Federal Express to, CCSI, L.P., 6301 Campus Circle Drive, East, Irving, TX 75063-2712; all other claims related documents by regular mail to, CCSI. L.P., P. O. Box 542528, Dallas, TX 75354-2528. The contact numbers at CCSI, L. P. are (800)743-2231 by telephone and (800)743-3293 by Fax. If you have any questions, or need additional information, ITA employees should contact Nancy Ferris at (202)482-0813 or Katherine Mattingly at (202)482-0689.

Supervisory Training Workshop

The Workforce Development Division has scheduled a series of workshops designed for supervisors, managers, and employees. All workshops are held from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, in Room 4064. The workshop scheduled for October 2002 is:

Family Friendly and Family Medical Leave - October 23, 2002

For additional information on the above workshop, please call Julia Law at (202)482-8095. To register for the workshop, call the Workforce Development Division at (202)482-3947.

 

Traveler's Corner

Question: What requirements must a traveler meet to operate a Government automobile for official travel?

Answer: A traveler must possess a valid State, District of Columbia, or territorial motor vehicle operator's license and have a travel order which specifically authorizes the use of a Government-furnished automobile. If you have questions, call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Where Do I Find....

If you want to find information on the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance go to http://www.cfda.gov/. If you have questions, contact Alan Zegas at (202)482-5739.

ITA Comings and Goings 08/27/02 - 10/07/02

Arrivals - WELCOME!

ADMIN - Helena Chadwick, Deborah A. Martin; IA - Andriene N. Allen, Kristina Boughton, Monica Gallardo, Stephanie Langkamp; George McMahon; Peter R. Mueller, Jill E. Pollack, Paul J. Walker; Joseph Welton, Kevin G. Williams; MAC- Erin K. Crouch, Cara Michelle Morrow, Ilona Louise Shtrom; TD - Mary Lynn Landgraf, Stephen J. Madden, Rashida K. Petersen; US&FCS - Cynthia Ann Biggs, Jennifer L. Kirsch.

Departures

US - Jarrod L. Fergeson; ADMIN - Edmund Ezurike; IA - Jason M. Carver, Steven J. Truxal; USFCS - Samuel A. Anyan Jr., Ophir Caicedo-Marquez, Shooshan Danagoulian, Charles R. Kestenbaum, Elizabeth White.