SOUNDINGCHI

MES

June 2007, Volume 16, Number 6Virginia Edition

Message from Terry Allen Perl, President & CEO

Welcome summer, the time to kick back and relax as well as catch up on some reading and enjoy the longer days. You may enjoy checking out About.com’s Management Tips section at http://management.about.com. The site is chock full of tips and tricks for the new and experienced manager and

has information about using quality tools and metrics.

I found this section, written by F. John Rey, very interesting. Research has shown that people leave managers, not companies. Therefore we all should strive to be better managers. You may fi nd these tips helpful in achieving this goal.

Helpful Tips for Managers

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1. Tell people what you want,

not how to do it. You will find people more responsive and less defensive if you can give them guidance not instructions. You will also

see more initiative, more innovation, and more of an ownership attitude from them develop over time.

2. Delegate the easy stuff. The things you do well are the things to

delegate. Hold on to those that are challenging and difficult. That is how you will grow.

3. ‘Quality’ is just conformance to requirements.

You get the behavior you communicate and reinforce, so set your standards, and then require conformance to them. Quality will come from that effort, not from slogans, posters, or threats.

4. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all

yourself.

5. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Goals you set for yourself, or others, should be

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-based.

6. Fix the problem, not the blame. It is far more productive, and less expensive,

to figure out what to do to fix a problem that has come up than it is to waste time trying to decide whose fault it was.

7. Set an example. “One of the most significant parts of a

manger’s job is to become a positive role model who can pull a team together and deliver the level of service expected from their customers.”

8. Know Your GPM. In engineering, gpm is gallons per minute, a

design criterion. In Management GPM is an acronym for Goals, Plans, and Metrics. To achieve your goals,

you must first determine what your Goals are. Then you have to develop a Plan that gets you to your goal. Finally you need Metrics (measurements) to know if you are moving toward your goal according to your plan.

9. Train Your Supervisors. The key to your business success is the

productivity of your employees. The key to employee productivity is their perception of their immediate supervisor. Invest in training your supervisors and managers. It will pay off.

10.You have to make a difference. The group you manage has to be more

effective, more productive with you there than they would be if you were not. If they are as productive without you, there is no business sense in keeping you on the payroll.

I will leave you with this final management tip. Sometimes we are so pressed for time, to solve problems and get on with the other crises of the day, we neglect to engage in active listening and miss real opportunities.

You Can’t Listen With Your Mouth Open. Your associates, your employees, your suppliers, your customers all have something of value to say. Listen to the people around you. You will never learn what it is if you drown them out by talking all the time. Remember, the only thing that can come out of your mouth is something you already know. Listen and learn.

Have a safe and productive summer!

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Res

our

ce D

irec

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y Plan Member Services

Web Address/Policy Number

RSM McGladrey Employer Services 877-716-6618 chimes@rsmes.com

Kaiser Permanente 800-777-7902 www.kaiseronline.org

CIGNA 800-244-6224 www.mycigna.com

United Concordia 866-357-3304 www.ucci.com

The Dental Network 888-339-4558 www.thedentalnet.org

Spectera 800-638-3120 www.spectera.com

Benefit NewsAs the plan year for the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is about to end, it is important to PLAN to use all of the available funds in your Health Care or Dependent Care FSA. Any funds not used for eligible expenses within the timeframes listed below are forfeited by you. All FSA claims for the plan year ending June 30, 2007 must be submitted to the FSA Administrator by October 31, 2007 in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

For the Health Care FSA, Chimes allows a claims expense “grace period” of 2½ months

after the end of the plan year. This means that if you have money left over in your Health Care FSA after June 30, 2007, you can use these funds for expenses incurred between July 1, 2007 and September 15, 2007. In other words, as long as you have eligible expenses, you can get reimbursed for

any remaining balance that would have otherwise been forfeited.

For the Dependent Care FSA, as implemented by the IRS, there is no claims expense “grace period.” Therefore, only expenses incurred between July 1, 2006

Flexible Spending Accounts(does not apply to Chimes DC employees)

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and June 30, 2007 are eligible for reimbursement from this year’s account.

If you are currently enrolled in the Flexible Spending Account Program, here are some important deadlines to remember:

June 30, 2007 - the last day to incur Dependent Care Expenses for the current plan year.

September 15, 2007 – the last day to incur Health Care Expenses for the current plan year.

October 31, 2007 – the last day to submit Dependent Care or Health Care FSA claims for the current plan year.

Below is a list of common health care expenses that are eligible for reimbursement from a Health Care FSA. While over-the-counter medicines used to

treat a medical condition are reimbursable from a Health Care FSA, those used to maintain general health are not.

Medical Expenses That May Be Reimbursed by a Health Care FSA •Acupuncture•Alcoholism treatment•Ambulance•Artificial Limb•Artificial Teeth•Automobile modifications

for physically handicapped person

•Birth control pills•Blood pressure monitoring

device•Braille books and

magazines (above the cost or regular printed material)

•Chiropractic Care•Christian science

practitioner•Contact lenses and related

materials

•Crutches•Dental treatment•Diagnostic Services•Drug addiction treatment•Eye examination•Eyeglasses and related

materials•Fertility treatment•Flu shot•Guide dog or other animal

aide•Hearing aids•Hospital services•Immunization•Insulin•Laboratory fees•Laser eye surgery•Medical testing device•Nursing Services

•Obstetrical expenses•Organ transplant•Orthodontia (not for

cosmetic reasons)•Over the counter

medications (to treat a medical condition)

•Oxygen•Physical exam•Physical therapy•Prescription drugs•Psychiatric care•Smoking cessation program•Surgery•Transportation for medical

care•Wheelchair

Benefit News

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CHARLES HARRIGAN CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH A BIG BASH

Charles Harrigan celebrated his birthday by throwing a big bash at Chimes Delaware. Music was provided by his friend Luis Hernandez who did a great job as DJ for the big event. Janine Green, April Davidson, Lori Danjou, Rachel Knight, and Sheryl Reinstrom helped with the food. Many of his friends from Chimes attended the party . Everyone ate delicious food and danced to the Electric Slide, rap, and rock music. The party ended with everyone singing “Happy Birthday” and eating two large birthday cakes.

Everyone is looking forward to his next birthday.

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Your workspace represents you and simply put, a sloppy desk or work area implies sloppy work. If piles of paper and empty coffee cups are part of your workspace decor, it could be time for a little spring-cleaning. Make an appointment with yourself and clear the clutter from your workspace.

A clean and organized workspace reflects your personality, so keep things in order and show that you take pride in being efficient and getting things done. Remember that everyone profits from a clean work environment, including your colleagues and most importantly, the individuals we serve. The effects are felt over time as productivity and morale increase. And don’t think that neatness stops at your own personal space; the photocopying area, lunch area, and restrooms

are part of the shared spaces that must also be maintained, so don’t neglect those.

If you want to know how to get the process started, just follow these tips...

Eliminate HazardsPapers and materials that are stored on the floor or piled precariously on desks and tables can create hazards. The paper menace is a safety hazard in that it is highly flammable (particularly if stored next to an electrical outlet) and also has the potential of falling off shelves or file cabinets and injuring passersby.

• Go through stacks of paper – file what you want to keep and toss what’s obsolete.

• Create files and label them for everyday work and/or projects.

• Retire old files to records storage.

• Dump the dead plants and recycle industry publications, newspapers, etc.

Clean Your Desk and Work SpaceIn the course of day-to-day business our workspaces have a tendency to accumulate paper, books, bags, dust, dirt, and debris.

Don’t just wipe off your dusty monitor and keyboard--actually clean everything you touch, including mouse, phone, drawer handles and desk surface. Think of all the things you touch in a day and think of how many others have done the same — bathrooms,

Invest in a Clean and Organized Work Space

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refrigerator doors, elevator buttons, etc. If you touch those, chances are their germs will end up on your desk. Scientists have found that desktops typically contain more bacteria than a toilet seat. Buy some wipes with the words “disinfecting” or “sanitizing” on the label and use them to wipe off surfaces.

Pay special attention to your keyboard and tray – all kinds of things can get caught under those keys. Turn the keyboard upside down and give it a

good shake over the trashcan. Wipe down the keyboard tray with a damp cloth.

Kitchen and Food Dirt, grime and garbage if left to accumulate can create health hazards and spread disease. Make sure that you put trash in the receptacles located in kitchens, break rooms and other locations where food is consumed.

Kitchens and break rooms need to be clean and floors maintained. Spills on the counters or floors need to be mopped up promptly. Injuries can be sustained from slips and falls on wet floors.

Kitchen counters need to be clean and free from spills and grime. If you spill it, clean it up!

Refrigerators should be cleaned out at least once a week, and microwaves need to be wiped down at least daily. If you use the microwave

to heat food, clean up after each use. If you store food in the refrigerator, take responsibility to use it or remove it. Rotting food, even in a refrigerator, is a health hazard.

Staff and volunteers are discouraged from consuming food at their desks, or in places that are not specifically designated for food consumption.

RestroomsWhile we do have maintenance staff who clean the restrooms daily, we all are expected to play a part in helping to keep our restrooms clean and sanitary. Treat our maintenance staff with respect and appreciation by doing the following:

• Throw paper towels in the trash can. • Flush the toilet and flush again, if

necessary. • If you make a mess on the toilet seat, clean

it up! • Avoid clogging the toilet with paper

towels and personal hygiene supplies that aren’t meant to be discarded in toilets.

• Use paper towels to wipe up water and soap that has spilled around the sink area.

• If you note something that is beyond your control to clean up, report it and help to get the situation taken care of promptly.

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Have You Completed the Employee Survey?

Sounding Chimes is a monthly publication of

Chimes InternationalDevelopment & Corporate Communications

4815 Seton DriveBaltimore, MD 21215

410.649.1048

Please submit articles for Sounding Chimes to Nicole San Miguel at nsanmiguel@chimes.org by the 15th of each month.

The information will be used in the following month’s edition.

Chimes International • Chimes District of Columbia • Chimes Maryland & Intervals • Chimes Delaware • Chimes Virginia & Potomac Region • Chimes

Developmental Services of New Jersey • Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems • Family Services Association • Open Door

If not, please take a few minutes to let us know what you think.

This year we are offering you two options for the annual employee survey. You may take the survey via link below or complete a paper survey when you pick up your pay check. Once you complete this survey, you may view the current results. After you click on submit, a message will be displayed. In the upper right hand corner, you will see, “View results.” Clicking on the message will take you to a website that displays the results for the employee survey.

All surveys should be completed by June 25th.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Terry Collard, TCollard@Chimes.org or 410.358.8908. Thank you for completing the survey, we want to know what is important to you and how your work life and environment can be improved.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=U26UG32G6PQ3