SLAC Today is available online at:
http://today.slac.stanford.edu

In this issue:
Moving Forward on the Management & Operations Improvement Agenda: Next Steps
New Stanford Benefits Website and Logo
Word of the Week: Gamma-ray
WIS Seminar: "Be My Advocate"

SLAC Today

Tuesday - September 25, 2007

Moving Forward on the Management & Operations

(Photo - Persis Drell)
Persis Drell

Improvement Agenda: Next Steps

For the past two weeks, the McCallum Turner team has been onsite interviewing hundreds of employees and users. By meeting with approximately 20% of the lab staff, the eighteen team members learned how SLAC's management and operations (M&O) systems work.

Before the McCallum-Turner team left SLAC, they participated in wrap-up sessions. In every one of the 11 areas, the wrap-up session started with a situation assessment. These were summaries of what they heard. We then heard general conclusions and recommendations from the situation assessment. These preliminary thoughts now need to be assessed, integrated, prioritized and resourced. Over the next few weeks, these early thoughts will be developed into a consistent and coherent set of recommendations with the assistance of the McCallum Turner team.

However, while these situation assessments and early conclusions are still being reviewed and validated, it is not too soon to share some of the things repeatedly heard in the wrap-up sessions as being critical to our success with the M&O improvement agenda:

• We have an incredibly dedicated and hardworking staff. Lab employees are motivated by their loyalty to
    SLAC as an institution and are eager and ready for change.
• The lab staff is aware of most of the issues and problems, and is looking forward to working with senior
    management to develop a coherent strategy.
• A unified management commitment, led by the Director, is essential to make the needed changes.
• Management needs to establish and communicate expectations and requirements. Communication
    throughout all levels of the lab will be critical to success.
• We need to measure and evaluate performance more systematically across all levels of our organization,
    measured against a lab-wide strategic plan.
• Roles, responsibilities, authorities, accountabilities and expectations need definition and clarity.
• Key institutional decision-making processes need to be clear.  Read more...

New Stanford Benefits Website and Logo


The new Stanford Benefits website.

The Stanford Benefits Department is changing its logo, totally redesigning its web site, and going green.

To contribute to the Sustainable Stanford program, Stanford Benefits is reducing the amount of printed materials they produce. All benefits information is now easily accessible on the department's newly redesigned website. The site offers easier navigation, a special section just for Open Enrollment (starting in late October), more information for retirees, a frequently asked questions section to help employees better understand how plans work, and a resource library for plan summaries, claim and other forms.

Because of its various enhancements and improved content, the new website will allow Stanford Benefits to reduce the amount of paper used by 2.5 tons of paper a year—and that's just for Open Enrollment.

Visit the new website—and check out the new logo—at http://benefits.stanford.edu (note the new URL, which no longer has a "u" after "benefits").

Register Now for Fall Quarter HIP Classes

The Health Improvement Program (HIP) has added some exciting new classes, and has changed some aspects of other classes. The new classes include:

Carnival Cardio Fiesta
Tues 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Core Plus
Wed 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

H.A.A.B.I.T. (Hips, Abs, Arms, Buttocks and Incredible thighs)
Tues & Thur 5:15 - 6:05 p.m.

Yoga & Pilates Challenge
Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit the HIP website.

Word of the Week:
Gamma-ray

Gamma rays are a form of light at the highest end of the energy spectrum and are created in the hottest regions of the universe. Although they can be generated in laboratories, gamma rays are produced naturally during violent celestial events like supernovas, as well as during less energetic events such as the decay of radioactive material. NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), built in part at SLAC, will study these natural bursts of gamma radiation for clues to the fundamental processes of the universe.

WIS Seminar:
"Be My Advocate"

In tomorrow's Women's Interchange at SLAC (WIS) seminar, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley Communications Manager Jerry Fontanares and SLAC Administrative Associate Debbie Nicholson will present "Be My Advocate: Child Advocates of Silicon Valley."

For over 20 years, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley has connected foster children with friends, mentors and court-appointed special advocates. Last year, 456 volunteer advocates served 592 abused and neglected children.

"When children are taken away from their family because their parents are abusive, drug addicts or are spending time in jail, they suddenly don't have any single person to look after their best interests or to speak for their needs," said Nicholson. "The district attorney represents the children in court, but she doesn't get to know the children. As an advocate, I serve as a child's voice. After getting to know the child, I can explain to the judge about what he or she needs, hopefully getting what's best for the child."

At 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26 in Panofsky Auditorium, Fontanares will discuss the Child Advocates of Silicon Valley program and Nicholson will discuss her experiences as an advocate.

"This is such an important program—I look forward to sharing my experiences with the SLAC community," said Nicholson.




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