CONSERVANCY COMMONS

Today is the LAST DAY of the 2021 Open Enrollment for Parks Conservancy Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plans. All participants, current and new, must re-enroll in ADP by today, Dec. 15.

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 alignment with state and local public health orders, and our partners at NPS, the Parks Conservancy adjusted San Francisco operations effective Sun., Dec. 6, at 10 PM. On Alcatraz Island, all visitor services are closed and Alcatraz Cruises will not be operating. Fort Point National Historic Site is closed.

The Bridge to the Future Fund (BFF) provides short-term emergency financial assistance to Parks Conservancy employees. Assistance is need-based and open to applications from both active and furloughed staff. BFF is managed by a third-party vendor, Philanthropi. Get more information about eligibility or fill out an application on their website. 

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.

The freshly flooded Quartermaster Reach in the Presidio will eventually look more like a natural marsh and will connect a historic creek and watershed to Crissy Field and the Bay.

Tess is an AI Chatbot from Claremont EAP, providing emotional support and check-ins to boost wellness. Tess is available 24/7 whenever and wherever you need assistance. To get started, text “Hi” to Tess at 650-825-9634 and enter “Claremont” as your company name. 

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

Our next All Staff Meeting will be Thurs., Dec. 17, 10-11:30 am via Zoom. If you haven’t recently registered, please register ahead of time. Contact Nessa at nramos@parksconservancy.org for questions or if you need further assistance.

In an effort to re-imagine community gathering spaces in 2021, the Community Circles team wants to hear your thoughts and perspectives on this year's successes and what we can improve upon next year. We have heard from you that these circles have been hard to attend due to work schedules, or don't always meet your needs, and that they have also given you a sense of community when you needed it the most. Stay tuned for a survey where you can give your input. Until then, feel free to email your feedback and/or questions to dei@parksconservancy.org

The Training Portal offers on-demand trainings that can be taken any time! Click the "On Demand" tab to view choices in: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Safety, Health, and Wellness; Technology and Systems; and Park Resources. You can also check out the Training Portal calendar tab for new time-specific trainings.

Tues., Jan. 12, 10-11:30 AM.
During these unprecedented times, resilience training workshops provide a much needed community building experience for teams. Employees will learn to successfully manage stress, effectively deal with fear and bias associated with the current health crisis, and facilitate better communication, conflict management, and rapport across your entire team. This session provied by nonprofit Hollaback is specifically scheduled for Conservancy staff.

The One Tam Youth Programs Coordinator is responsible for supporting the Youth & Education Program Manager in the development and delivery of programs that introduce and engage local youth and community groups to Mount Tamalpais and surrounding open space.

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.