Vol. 5 No. 3 July Aug Sept 1998 $3.75 (Newsletter Employees & Alumni Association of the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Intake Class 2000 Servicewide Hiring Freeze Excellence for the 21st Century irector Stanton, facing the challenges of budgets, actions of he best traditions of the Congress, downsizing and implementation of restructuring, NPS are being perpetu­ expressed his concern and commitment to employees' welfare ated in the Servicewide k D T in a July 8 message to regional directors. Highlights follow: Intake Trainee Program. In August, a new class of entry- a "We are currently faced with two situations involving the outplacement level trainees started a two-year "g of NPS staff; the transfer of lands and operation of the Presidio to the developmental program by first c Presidio Trust and the downsizing of the Denver Service Center (DSC). attending a four-week Funda­ In both cases, we are challenged with the placement of staff at these e mentals of the NPS course. The locations into positions throughout the Service. As a result, I am Ol training took place at the Horace "3 instituting a Servicewide hiring freeze effective immediately. M. Albright Training Center in The Presidio Trust is now finalizing plans to accept the functional Grand Canyon NP, AZ. The operation of the Presidio in July. The Trust is determining whether or g focus of the course is on both the not functions currently being performed by NPS staff will continue to be operational aspects of the NPS as a, performed by the NPS or whether these functions will be accomplished well as the profound value of in another manner. Due to provisions in the legislation establishing the public service. The 34 servicewide intakes and four southeast region interns who Presidio Trust, career employees of the NPS cannot be separated due to The National Leadership Council participated in the Servicewide Intake Trainee Program. Pictured the Trust's assumption of responsibility for the Presidio... However, it is (NLC) reinstituted the intake left to right—front row: Timothy Townsend, Scott Martin, Gary estimated that as many as 50 permanent employees will need to be program from its prior existence Busteed, Jason Ross, David Underwood, Randy Cleaver, Rachel placed elsewhere. Approximately 25-30 of these employees are in in the 1960s and 70s to ensure Mazur and David Szymanski. 2nd row: David Quirino, Cidney occupations similar to those employed at DSC. It is for this reason enhanced employee skills for the Webster, Anna-Catherine Super, Wendy Ross, Alan Nash, Katie that.. .these employees will be included in the outplacement activities new century and a continuing Bliss and Heather Yates. 3rd row: Cindy Nielsen (course facilitator), undertaken by the Service. high level of commitment to the Peggy Rover, Justin Pursley, Johanna Lombard, Elizabeth Kerwin, In response to the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) mission of NPS. The NLC has Ruth Rhodes, Andrea Messan, Epifania Suafo 'a, Rose Cortez, study of the NPS Construction program, the Denver Service Center will now directed that a new class of Jennifer Flynn, Chris Perry (program manager). 4th row: Lavell be implementing a reduction of staff with principal focus on the design approximately 35 intakes be Merritt, Thomas Parrack, Donald Burrell, Eric Sheetz, Roland Foss, and construction supervision programs. This effort will result in a hired and trained every year. Dave Brueland, Daniel Abbe, Juan Gomez. 5th row: Jose Santiago, reduction of approximately 50% of the current staff of DSC. A core Within three years we expect to Jennifer Spaulding, Gisella Burgos, Carlin Morris Timmons, Amanda Austin, Dawn Adams. Not pictured: Betty Browning staff of approximately 250 to 300 employees would remain to accom­ have intake trainees or graduates (training manager) and Gayle Hazelwood (course facilitator). plish the line-item construction program as well as other planning and continued on page 9 design work. It is our expectation that the transition to a new DSC will be completed by FY 2000.. .addressing the changes recommended by Christmas in Paradise NAPA. During my recent meeting with DSC employees, I indicated that we are By Jody H. Wood car up as close to the already- Now we started roaming the reviewing a variety of options to assist them. One of these options, Early Wife of the Superintendent, occupied garage as he could when house, replacing soaked towels Out authority, has recently been offered to employees in San Francisco War in the Pacific NHP he came home. and checking for damage. In and I am extending this opportunity to all NPS employees in Denver also. upertyphoon Paka hit the We were ready. between rounds, we reassured and island of Guam on Dec. 16 entertained the kids, listened to An Outplacement Services Team (OST) is being established in both No problem. After all, we lived in Sand 17, 1997. Andersen reports on the radio and prepared DSC and Golden Gate/Presidio. It will be the responsibility of both Navy housing, a sturdy, concrete Air Force Base reported sus­ dinner. We finished cooking just teams to implement the outplacement procedures and for clearing house. And we had "typhoon tained winds at 180 mph, with as the power went out, ate by vacancies from the freeze. The attached documents (Note: Attached to glazing" on all the windows, meant gusts up to 236 mph. The storm lantern-light and listened to the the original memo, not here) outline the policies and procedures for to withstand winds up to 200 mph. was the strongest to hit Guam in storm. The wind was as loud as an submitting your vacancy request to both OSTs...Should there be no As added protection, we dug up 20 years and would have taken approaching freight train and we match available from either the DSC or Presidio, you will be authorized some of the old pre-glazing the world's record for recorded jumped every time an unidentified to fill your position through other means. Relocation expenses will be window shutters and applied them windspeed if the National flying object hit the boarded paid by the benefiting office. Weather Service had concurred to most of the largest windows. windows. with the Air Force. Some of the smaller windows were 1 know you share with me the deep concern for the welfare of our fellow left unboarded, but we weren't I guess it was inevitable that employees in the DSC and the Golden Gate/Presidio and I am confident My family has weathered several worried. We had been through something would eventually hit that you will work with me to assist these employees to find alternative typhoons (otherwise known as Supertyphoon Omar in 1992 with the unboarded ones, as well. placements whenever possible." deep Pacific hurricanes), so we no shutters at all. This storm Shortly after dinner, something assumed this one would be fairly couldn't be that bad and it is always (we never found out what) hit the routine. We bought extra nice to be able to see outside since unprotected row of windows near drinking water, batteries, canned the house gets very dark and a bit the entertainment center. A 15" x foods and gas for the generator. claustrophobic with all the win­ 22" pane shattered spectacularly. We stored more water in plastic dows boarded. (I guess the manufacturers of that hampers in the bathtubs. In typhoon-glaze were only expect­ anticipation of extended, island- Once the shutters were up, we had ing wind, not 200 mph coconuts!) g? wide power failure, we did all our done all we could and settled in to The glass scattered in sharp c wait. By mid-afternoon on the 16,h, laundry and anything else that shards, but the glazing peeled off g, would require electricity ahead of winds had kicked up enough to in one sheet. (Perhaps it was just time. We got out plenty of drive water under doors and the glazing they rated, not the c towels, flashlights, and the kids' around window frames—even the glass!) battery-operated radio. We closed, locked and shuttered ones. I With rain now blowing in through brought inside anything out in the But we expected this. We had g the broken window in torrents, Ed ft, yard that might blow away, and already stuffed towels under doors Singing MWR interpretation managers at workshop, Minnehaha and I scrambled to move the video we tied down whatever was left. and windows and pulled furniture Falls, MN, led by Charlie Maguire, MISS. Tim Blank, OZAR; cabinet, peel the carpet back My husband, Ed, made sure the away from outer walls and curled Tom Richter, MWSO; Jean Schaeppi, SACN; Lynda Lancaster, park was secured and tucked the backed the rugs. Continued on page 5 VOYA; Bob Petersen, DAAV and Kelly Collins, FOSC. Q/4€wsletter Focus on the Parks Shenandoah NP and Ranger Nick Giguere. "Groups states? That the first park also was Petroglyph NM is on the Wilder­ Travel itinerary highlights ARAMARK Sports & Entertain­ that participate will have the the largest south of Alaska used to ness Society's list of the most women's history: "Places Where ment, Inc. have agreed to satisfaction of seeing real im­ be true, but after the passage of the endangered public lands in the Women Made History" is a new manage nuisance pests using provements to trails and campsites California Desert Protection Act in country. The monument made the on-line National Register of integrated pest management in the upper Hoh." Projects will 1994, Death Valley NP (DEVA, list because of a bill signed by Historic Places travel itinerary. (IPM) methodologies at guest involve various aspects of trail and formerly a national monument) President Clinton that gives the This itinerary was launched to facilities in the park.