Thank goodness for a Thank Goodness for Staff celebration this year that isn’t completely virtual.

With an easing of COVID-19 restrictions in our region, TGFS organizers saw an opportunity to treat staff to a drive-in movie, Friday (May 21). Not exactly an in-person event with people from outside your household, but close enough!

HERE COMES THE SUN

Your 2021 TGFS Logo Contest winner is Mark Deamer of Information and Educational Technology, where his responsibilities include web/graphic design and communications. About the logo, which appears at the top of this page, Deamer explained: “The sun peeking out of the cloud represents new days and new hope ahead.” Thank you for your optimism, Mark, and congratulations.

You may have already read or heard about the movie night, as announced by Staff Assembly last week. Since then, there have been some updates:

• Your choices are now The Lego Movie on one screen and The Goonies on another at the West Wind Drive-In in Sacramento. Both are rated PG.
• There is no longer a requirement for a Daily Symptom Survey.

See complete details, including health and safety guidelines and the registration link below.

The movie event will close out a week of virtual TGFS activities, May 17-21, including the Kickoff Event with Chancellor Gary S. May, Talent Show, Scavenger Hunt, professional development opportunities, pilates class and Petting Zoo(m)! TGFS is organized annually by Staff Assembly and normally includes a picnic, which has now been canceled two years in a row because of the pandemic.

Still, the organizers are making the best of the situation, providing a variety of free activities during which staff can “connect with each other, learn something new and have fun.” Staff members have been granted two hours of release time during their workweek to participate in TGFS events.

On top of all that, Staff Assembly is presenting gifts to all Davis campus staff “as a token of our appreciation for everything you do to make UC Davis great.” You can choose one of three UC Davis-branded gifts: bamboo cutting board, ball cap, or a reusable food storage bag and straw. Supplies of each gift are limited. See the TGFS Giveaways webpage for information on how to order and how to pick up your gift or have it sent by mail.

In addition, UC Davis Stores has these deals for staff: free shipping on orders exceeding $25, and special discounts on campus-produced goods (olive oil, coffee and honey), UC Davis-imprinted apparel and more. See all the specials and complete details here. Sales of UC Davis Staff T-shirts will support Staff Assembly’s annual Staff and Staff Dependent Scholarship programs. Shop in person or online.

Campus crossover

 

The Davis and Sacramento campuses are celebrating Thank Goodness for Staff at the same time, and each campus has prepared its own schedule: Davis and Sacramento.

You will see a lot of crossover — with all virtual events open to staff from both campuses. The drive-in movie is for Davis campus staff only; see the sign up link in the box below. Unless otherwise noted, register for other TGFS activities here.

The TGFS Kickoff Event is scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday (May 17), featuring remarks by Chancellor May and a keynote by Shola Richards, speaking on “Unstoppable Resilience: The Keys to Staying Strong During Any Crisis.”

Richards worked in training at UCLA Health for more than 11 years, the last five as the director of training and organizational development, before founding The Positivity Solution website and, more recently, Go Together Global, a consulting company with a mission to “change the world simply based on how we treat each other at work.”

Another special guest

The Latinx Staff and Faculty Association invites all to their general meeting, noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, featuring Yosimar Reyes, poet and public speaker. Born in Guerrero, Mexico, and raised in Eastside San Jose, Reyes explores the themes of migration and sexuality in his work. The Advocate named Reyes one of “13 LGBT Latinos Changing the World” and Remezcla included Reyes on its list of “10 Up-and-Coming Latinx Poets You Need to Know.”.

Talent Show

Staff members are invited to demonstrate their talents by way of photos or original videos in one or more of four categories: art (photography, painting, drawing, writing, etc.), culinary (recipes, cooking demonstration), movement (dance, sports tutorial) and music (sing, play an instrument, write music). Entries will be posted for staff voting May 15-21, with prizes to the top vote-getter in each category.

If you have already entered, great! If not, you better hurry: The deadline is Wednesday (May 12). See the TGFS Talent Show webpage for complete information. And look to the same page next week to see the entries and vote for your favorites.

Scavenger Hunt

There is no preregistration for this event. Tasks will be released daily via the Staff Voice e-newsletter and added to the TGFS website. Each item you find and report will serve as an entry into a raffle for a pair of AirPods.

Professional development

• 5 Clues to Your Talents — Interactive workshop, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, May 18.
• Coaching Skills for Leaders: Creating Inclusive Spaces — Presented by UC Davis Organizational Excellence. 10–11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 19. Register here.
• Mentorship and Networking Panel — Featuring staff from around campus who are involved in various networking/mentoring programs. 10-11 a.m. Thursday, May 20.

Other activities

• Full Body Pilates With Campus Recreation — Part of the Aggies-at-Home series of free classes on Facebook Live. 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 18.
• Rainbow’s Reign: Queer and Trans Mixer — All are welcome for trivia, conversation and community focused on LGBTQ staff experiences. Hosted by the Chancellor’s Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual Issues. 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 19.
• Thank Goodness for Teamsters — Games, prizes and Teamster bling for all CX and K3 unit members. Noon-1 p.m. Friday, May 21. Register in advance.
• Drawing Class With the Student Art Club — For artists and nonartists, this family-friendly beginners class will focus on plants and flowers. 3-4 p.m. Friday, May 21.
• La Pandemia y la Salud Mental — Last part of a three-part series 4:15-5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. Register here.
• Racial Healing Circle — A safe space for self-reflection to promote racial equity and healing. 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. Register here.

Registration

Sign up for the drive-in movie at the link in the box below. Unless otherwise noted, register for other TGFS activities here. More information is available on Staff Assembly’s TGFS webpages.

The drive-in movie and gifts are for Davis campus staff only; all other TGFS activities are open to all UC Davis staff.

AT A GLANCE: DRIVE-IN MOVIE

• WHEN: 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 21
• WHERE: West Wind, 9616 Oates Drive in Sacramento (just off Highway 50 at the Bradshaw Road exit).
• CHOOSE FROM 2 SCREENS: The Lego Movie (1 hour, 40 minutes), PG; and The Goonies (1 hour, 54 minutes), PG. The latter film is new to the program, substituting for a film that was not available.
• ADMISSION: Free. Capacity is limited.
• REGISTER HERE.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Only members of the same household in each car.
• Wear face coverings at all times when outside your vehicle.
• No games or other activities outside your car.
• No alcohol.

A previously announced requirement for an approved Daily Symptom Survey has been dropped. Still, if you are not feeling well, please stay home.