The Newsletter of the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources Issue 4 2012 CHR Donates In This Issue Look for Articles About: PCs CHR Donates PCs My Job: Meet Chris Rottiers Using EMS Mayor Bing at the CHR New Neighbor Animal Husbandry On the Intranet Stepping up with a donation of about 250 computers, the CHR recently became supporters of the GM Network of Excellence High Schools. These computers, formerly used at the CHR before being replaced during 2011, include laptop and desktop models. The GM Network of Excellence High Schools began with a significant grant from the GM Foundation to United Way of Southeast Michigan, which set up the program. Schools within the Network have graduation rates of about 40 percent. The goal is to raise those rates to 80 percent. Students within the network are considered vulnerable for a lack of basic supplies, food and clothing. If you have questions or want to suggest an article, drop a quick note to the PR Department at PR@uaw-gm.org The computers will be put into use for the 2012-13 school year in high schools throughout the metropolitan area, but chiefly in Detroit Public Schools. 1
Issue 4 2012 My Job Chris Rottiers GM Senior Project Engineer, Quality Network Planned Maintenance. In my job I am the salaried Key Contact for Powertrain, Stamping, and 3 assembly plants. I also am part of the Spare Parts Comparative Team. My first job with GM was grinding rear end truck carriers at Saginaw Nodular Iron Foundry. I like being part of the auto show team because I enjoy helping the public gain a better understanding of GM and its products. As a kid I wanted to be a Naval aviator and astronaut. People would be surprised to know that I collect astronaut autographs, flown and un-flown space artifacts, and signed space art. The reason I am so interested in space is I ve always been fascinated with the unknown and the desire to learn and explore new things. I like to draw blueprints of old Great Lakes freighters and I ve been working on a series of ships built on the Great Lakes for WWI service. 2 One of the favorite ship models I ever built was a built-from-scratch 1890s Great Lakes Whaleback Freighter. I m a proud member of the US Naval Institute, the Great Lakes Historical Society and the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. I have been associated with Michigan s Own Military and Space Museum in Frankenmuth for over 30 years and have several models on permanent display. An acquisition I treasure is an original signed first edition 1829 book written by my 5th Great Grandfather, Colonel B.E.A. Rottiers, who wrote about his journey home with his family through Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. My aspirations and hopes include someday owning my own hobby shop and building some of the thousands of models I ve collected over the years. My education includes skilled trades training in crane & hoist repair and electrical. I also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Delta College, plus a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Michigan Flint.
Using EMS Planning a meeting, event or class at the CHR? It s important to use the Event Management System software, known widely as EMS. Here s why: Maybe you need the tables set up a certain way in U-shape, for example. Or perhaps you need particular computer applications to be available. What about microphones or projection systems? Catering? Security? Are there guests arriving? What about parking? These are all critical parts of your event and they need to be planned. After all, a well-executed meeting is an effective meeting. And the EMS system can become your one-stop shopping to get the job done. The electronic system is used to enter all your requirements. After these requirements are entered, the Building Services, MIS and A/V departments will see your requests in the system and take care of them. The Food Services and Security departments can make necessary arrangements, too. Advance Notice That s why it is important to have your requirements posted on EMS in advance at least 24 hours! Although departments and staffs always go the extra mile, last minute requests -- depending on what else is going on in the building -- sometimes cannot be accommodated. Avoiding Waste The system also improves CHR efficiencies. For example, sometimes meetings get cancelled. That s just the nature of business. In those cases, it is important to avoid waste by noting the meeting Issue 4 2012 cancellation on EMS. That way, the Building Services, MIS and A/V Services departments will avoid setting up the room for a meeting that will not occur. Additionally, it will freeup the meeting room for other purposes. If you have ordered food, it s critical to notify AVI when meetings are cancelled. The bottom line is that the system is a planning tool which helps avoid embarrassing, last minute surprises that could impact your meeting s effectiveness. Your OPEIU-represented secretary has access to the system and can make the necessary arrangements for you. Did you know? Requests for community groups to use CHR facilities must be submitted to Building Services, which is responsible for getting the required approvals. 3
Issue 4 2012 CHR Hosts Community Meeting The CHR recently hosted a meeting of the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. The high profile organization conducts public meetings to update the community on progress. The purpose of this meeting, however, was more than just an update. The forum was emceed by Detroit radio personality and Pistons P.A. announcer John Mason, who introduced Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, Jr. and Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts. About one hundred others were on hand in the audience. Bing, Godbee, Jr., Roberts and others honored outstanding youth and adults who work for a better future for kids in the community. 4 Stopping youth violence is about parent and guardians giving loving attention to young people. It is about our faith community providing the moral and spiritual sustenance we all need, Mayor Bing said. Patent Pending The CHR has a new neighbor. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has moved into RiverPlace. It is the organization s first facility outside of Washington, D.C. The goal of opening an office here is to foster an environment in which innovators can start new businesses with an efficient patent system that protects intellectual property. The facility is known as the Elijah J. McCoy United States Patent and Trademark Office. Elijah McCoy, a son of slaves, was a mechanical engineer and an inventor who grew up in Michigan. He held more than 50 U.S. patents and played a key role in designing new lubricating systems for steam engines that were used in trains in the late 1800s. Got an idea? Join the crowd! More people are filing patent applications than ever before. From 2009 to 2011, the number of patent applications has jumped by about 10%.
On the Intranet Planning a meeting? Is food part of the picture? You ll find catering information by: 1. Click on the Building Services tab. Animal Husbandry The CHR recently had a visitor who was discovered outside the building. While performing duties, Building Services found a baby opossum wandering back and forth in a concrete runway in front of publishing. Opossums are the only North American marsupial. They carry their young in a front pouch. The babies will hang on to their mother s pouch until they become too big and cannot hold on any longer. They then let go and are on their own from then on. 2. Click on the Food Services sub tab. 3. Check out the forms on the YOU Drive in the right hand column. You ll find a Catering Event Worksheet, Request for Guest Meal Voucher and more. While on the CHR s Intranet, browse around. Check out what you ll find on the YOU Drive featured on departmental pages. Issue 4 2012 How to sign on: 1. Sign onto JAS (Joint Activity System). Just click on the green and black musical note. Then use your everyday log in. 2. After getting into JAS, you will see a few buttons. Click on CHR Intranet. It will launch the home page. 3. Along the top of the home page are tabs for various departments including Building Services, PR, Personnel, Financial Department and more. Be sure to check out the daily News Round-up on the home page! Remember the YOU drive will be replacing the current U:\ drive soon. This particular opossum was promptly named Princess Penelope Opossum. After a bit of research, the CHR contacted Jenny, the local opossum queen. She was very happy to assist in relocating Princess Penelope to a state park near Plymouth to live happily ever after. 5