Month: December 2020

I can’t imagine there is a person who isn’t relieved that 2020 is almost over. While there have been many wonderful events - babies were born, partners were wed, birthdays were celebrated, and puppies were adopted - the losses were much more difficult. Families lost loved ones, left to mourn without communal memorials or funerals. Many in our community lost their jobs and favorite restaurants closed. Too many of our neighbors are barely hanging on to their homes. The mental health impacts of the pandemic are just starting to emerge. While we can’t know fully what lies ahead, 2021 holds promise.   As the COVID vaccine rolls out – even though it may take several months to get to everyone – we can see a brighter future on the horizon. So,…

Hopeful holidays So many of our traditional holiday activities have been cancelled. Whether it is a large family dinner, a neighborhood gathering, baking cookies with a grandparent or a large church service, these and many other things that mean the holidays to you won’t be happening in this strangest of years.  (However, Fantasy Lights is setting records for attendance!) I get it. We won’t be enjoying our “Cousins’ Christmas” or Candle-lit Christmas Eve Service either.  But that doesn’t mean that we can’t adapt or switch up how we celebrate. I asked a couple of employees to share how they are changing up their holiday traditions this year. Dawn Thomas of Finance is Jewish and just finished celebrating the seven nights of Hanukkah: Typically, Hanukkah would be spent getting together with friends and…

I learned a lot last Wednesday afternoon at the Human Services’ “Years of Service Celebration.”  For instance, Sarah Lacombe is a big fan of the musical Hamilton, as am I.  And, if I had to pick a song from Hamilton that best described my reaction to listening to the recognition of these dedicated employees, it would be “Blow Us All Away,” because I was blown away by their service - and as examples of all that you have done in 2020 for our community. Heather Moss and her leadership team highlighted and thanked the teammates who were celebrating 5-year increments of service.  I have attached a copy of their PowerPoint presentation so you can see what I saw. Combined, these 24 employees had more than 250 years at Pierce County,…

It has never been more important for Pierce County to have strong, effective public health services. Our community’s health and wellbeing have been taken to the brink by the pandemic. There is not one aspect of our lives that hasn’t been touched and diminished, if not destroyed, by COVID. Even with vaccinations starting in our county, the impacts of the pandemic are far from over - especially those that stem not from the disease directly, but from the consequences of battling it.  As we enter the holiday season, the mental health impacts for our community are only now starting to become fully apparent. Earlier this week, the County Council voted on a proposal designed to ensure our community has robust health services in Pierce County for the long-term, after the…

I love to learn.  I want to grow intellectually, to keep my brain healthy, to challenge my preconceptions, and to be better prepared to do my job.  Learning helps me be ready for the challenges that lie ahead and makes me a better person.  Beyond work, I am currently reading How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves to get ready for our new puppy who arrives at the end of month! So, to increase awareness about the strategic value of learning in organizations, I happily declared December 7-11, 2020 as Employee Learning Week in conjunction with the Association of Talent Development (ATD). Employee Learning Week is an opportunity for us to demonstrate a commitment to talent development and showcase the important link between developing your skills and achieving organizational results. Developing…

  Imagine yourself in a hostile “alien” environment, where gravity is different, and your survival depends on the limited air supply you carry on your back.  Now, further imagine you can’t see anything and have to navigate through pipes filled with obstacles, that require you to remove your air supply, just to get through! It sounds like a scene from a horror movie or the latest new video game, but it actually was part of the “confidence course” for our Pierce County Metro Dive Team.  Acting Dive team Commander Detective Brent Van Dyke explained that those are realistic situations his team may face in the Puget Sound, lakes and rivers of Pierce County.  He wanted his divers to have experienced those challenges in training, so they are prepared for what…