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Business Plan

Civil Rights Advisory Committee Quarterly Progress

October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2007

General Goal Outcomes
  1. Assure that services and programs are provided equally to all customers with emphasis to minorities, women, and those with disabilities.
  2. Promote and communicate the efforts of management to achieve and operate a realistic and ongoing Civil Rights Program.
  3. Recruit underrepresented groups in the technical and professional categories.
  4. Identify and eliminate barriers in regard to recruitment, hiring, promotions and retention in Montana.
1. General Goal Outcome. Assure that services and programs are provided equally to all customers with emphasis to minorities, women, and those with disabilities.
Action Item Lead Role
1. Annually review statewide Civil Rights program delivery and parity data at Area Meetings.
Progress:		 Civil Rights Area Representative Chairman
2. Conduct Area reviews and synopsis information on Civil Rights issues.
Progress:
February 5, 2006 - Paula Gunderson completed the Civil Rights Portion of the Area Office Appraisal for Columbia Basin.

February 5, 2007 - John Blain completed the Civil Rights Portion of the Area Office Appraisal for Headwaters.		 Civil Rights Chairman
3. Present an annual report of this analysis to the State Conservationist, with recommendations on how to address deficiencies if needed.
Progress:		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
4. Review civil rights review guides and update if needed.
Progress:		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee

2. General Goal Outcome. Promote and communicate the efforts of management to achieve and operate a realistic and ongoing Civil Rights Program.
Action Item Lead Role
1. Solicit nominations for civil rights awards, select individual, assist with write-up and recommend to the state conservationist.
Progress:
Fiscal (FY) Year 2007 - Montana Civil Right Award developed and presented to State conservationist, rejected due to funding availability for FY 2007.

FY 2007 - Paula worked with Dave Kascht on the nomination for the National Civil Rights award.		 Awards Sub-Committee Stacey,  Paula, and John
2. Promote awareness of several observances for each Special Emphasis Program.
Progress:
September 2006 - Carlos presented an article titled Hispanic Heritage Month distributed via MT News.

October 2006 - John presented information related to Disabilities month those articles were Disability Awareness Month and White Cane Safety Day. They were distributed via Montana NRCS Employee News.

December 2006 - Stacey Promoted Native American Heritage Month - 5 offices participated in the state wide observation luncheon. Information related to American Indian Sigh Language and native American Languages was presented via Montana NRCS Employee News.

February 2007 - Val presented information via Montana NRCS Employee News to support Black History Month with articles titled national Black history month.		 Special Emphasis Program Managers (SEPMs)
3. Provide Civil Rights topics and materials at Area and District meetings.
Progress:
October 2006 - John Blain Presented information on Title IV and Title VII at a Columbia Basin Area Meeting.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
4. Provide monthly/quarterly information to the Public Affairs staff for distribution in Montana News.
Progress:
January 2007 - John Bowe developed several article they were titled Environmental Justice, History of Martin Luther King Jr Day, Environmental Justice Revisited and The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. They were all distributed via Montana NRCS Employee News.

FY 2006 and FY 2007 - Andrea develops monthly tidbits that are distributed to all employees via Montana news. They are were originally directed toward female employees to strengthen the female employee network with the Federal Women's Program Manager (FWPM). They vary in content from informational to inspirational.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee and Public Affairs Staff

3. General Goal Outcome. Recruit underrepresented groups in the technical and professional categories.
Action Item Lead Role
1. NRCS will be represented at Special Emphasis conferences either by our SEPMs or other appointed individual.
Progress:
July 2006 - Andrea attended the Federal Employed Women National Training in Atlanta Georgia.

December 2006 - Val attended the National Organization of Professional Black NRCS Employees in Indianapolis.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
2. Assist human resources with recruitment activities.
Progress:
FY 2006 and FY 2007 - All Montana Job announcements were sent to the Black SEPM list nationwide.

FY 2006 and FY 2007 - All Montana Job announcements were sent to the FWPM list nationwide.

January 2007 - Val O. forwarded information to HR on Alison Espraza, a student from Texas who is interested in a job with the Montana NRCS.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
3. Create a recruitment brochure and other tools for target groups.
Progress:
January 2007 - Val has contacted the State Office and will be meeting with them after new Public Affairs Specialist is on board.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
4. Send representatives to Career Fairs.
Progress:
May 15, 2006 - Jody Chopic and Mark Johnson participated in the Black Feet Community College Job Fair.

January 31, 2007 - Dillon Field office Participated in the Beaverhead High School Job Fair.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee

4. Identify and eliminate barriers in regard to recruitment, hiring, promotions and retention in Montana.
Action Item Lead Role
1. Develop a human resource summary of exit data.
Progress:
October 10, 2007 - Exit report format and plan developed by MCRAC accepted by Dave white at October civil rights meeting.

FY 2007 - Exit reports going out to all NRCS exiting employees.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
2. Annually review the Professional Administrative, Technical, Clerical and Other (PATCO) report and hiring trends and share concerns with managements.
Progress:		 Human Resources Section and Civil Rights Advisory Committee
3. Assist in the development of Civil Rights annual plans and/or reports including the Affirmative Employment Plan (AEP), Business Plan and Budget.
Progress:
2006 - All MCRAC member submitted their annual activates to Human Resources to be documented in the AEP.

FY 2007 - Business plan updated with progress Quarterly by Vice Chairman and sent out prior to each meeting.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee
4. Develop a Montana State NRCS Mentoring Program.
Progress:
October 2006 - Mentor Program format and plan developed by MCRAC accepted by Dave white at October civil rights meeting.

February 15, 2007 - Mentor Nomination list developed by Montana Civil Rights Advisory Committee and submitted to Acting State Conservation for approval and implementation.		 Civil Rights Advisory Committee