CONSERVANCY COMMONS

Taking care of our emotional and total wellbeing is a fundamental part of the safety and sense of belonging we create together. Thanks to the care every person has taken to follow COVID-19 protocols, we have done an excellent job at limiting COVID-19 transmission at the Parks Conservancy and in GGNRA so far. Thank you! This will take extra diligence during the winter. Here are some reminders we can all use

Opens (December 1 – December 15, 2020) In an effort to provide valuable benefits programs and ongoing support to our employees, we are pleased to announce the 2021 Open Enrollment for Parks Conservancy Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plans. Enrollment is December 1– December 15, 2020 and requires all participants, current and new, to re-enroll in ADP by December 15, 2020. If you haven’t participated before, or don’t know what a flexible spending account (FSA) is, click here to learn more about WageWorks.

In the absence of in-person gatherings, here are some creative ways to connect with family and help kids during this challenging holiday season. View resources from Claremont EAP. 

Creative Ways to Connect with Family During the Holidays

Helping Kids Through the Holidays

November is Native American Heritage Month. This week, let's honor the original stewards of these special lands. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area spans across the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok, some of whom identify today as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, in the north and the land of the Ramaytush Ohlone in the south.

Celebrate indigenous communities with an online panel of Native speakers and experts discussing land acknowledgments.

Sharon Farrell hosted last Thursday's All Staff. The agenda focused on an update about DEI, the Bridge to the Future fund, a report on the outcome of the Strategic Sprint, and a presentation on strategic planning for the Conservancy. 

In order to effectively assess and manage risk, whether that is risk of physical harm or emotional harm (also considered social exclusion), we need to make sure our cup is adequately filled in order to make decisions that have the best outcome for our own wellbeing and those around us. Read more on the SharePoint Safety Page.

This summer, the Restoration Team in the Conservation Management & Field Operations Dept. partnered with the NPS to tackle a Mission Blue Butterfly habitat mapping project in the Marin Headlands. After 5 weeks of intensive hiking, NPS Project Manager Jeremiah Jolly, and Parks Conservancy seasonal and technical liaison staff Catherine LaPerche, Grace Shaw, and Aidan Sullivan, pieced together a reflection of the changing populations of silver lupine found in the Headlands and included a more complete inventory of lupine populations.

Expect delays on Conzelman Road and Bobcat Trail in the Marin Headlands as culvert cleaning/repair takes place. Traffic control will be in place and the project is expected to take place for month of November. Temporary partial lane closure began on a section of Bunker Road. Work will be performed Mon.-Fri. from 8am to 4pm and is expected to last two more weeks. Tree work is in preparation for the CalTrans Storm Drain Improvement Project in 2021. 

Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield members are eligible for a no-cost flu shot. Many locations have drive-thru and walk-in flu shot clinics. Additional information and locations can be found below, with Kaiser San Francisco location listed here.

Note: Staff on furlough have been sent vouchers for free flu shots.

On behalf of the Safety Committee, we invite you to join us in a lunch-time gathering on Tuesday, November 24th, at noon to hold space for supporting each other navigating the stressors of COVID-19, gatherings, and holidays.

All are welcome to join in this informal sharing space.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88389741807?pwd=b3IveHIwMGJJZHVaUlNLNXdKaHI2UT09
Join by phone: +1 669 900 6833 (Meeting ID: 883 8974 1807,
Passcode: 295822)
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,88389741807#,,,,,,0#,,295822#

The next Community Circles--the BIPOC Circle and White Allies Circle--will be on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1-2:30 PM. If you want to subscribe to calendar invites for the Circles, fill out this form or email dei@parksconservancy.org with any questions. Click here for opt-in form.

Tues., 11/24 from 11-11:30 AM: Join us for a short presentation to learn about the many ways that spiders use this amazing fiber to feed themselves, reproduce, and even fly!

Have a submission for the Conservancy Commons? Send content and images to commons@parksconservancy.org by Friday at 10am to be included in next week's newsletter.

Share your favorite Park Pics on Yammer by logging in with your work email and password.