Formal Memo and Instructions on How to Subscribe to OED-NTC Listservs to get Course Announcements

MEMORANDUM

March 23, 2006

In August 2004, I announced a new method for communicating scheduled training courses known as the Listserv subscription process. This system addresses the proliferation of e-mail training announcements by putting you in the "driver's seat" to get only those course announcements of interest. To receive USGS course announcements for the topical areas listed below, you must first subscribe to the appropriate Listserv. If you haven't already subscribed for course announcements through the Listservs, I urge you to take a few minutes to consider the types of training announcements you want e-mail information on, and then to subscribe to the appropriate Listserv(s).

The Listserv subscription process is designed to simplify the communication of information on courses in your area of interest, and reduce time spent searching multiple websites for course information. Listservs announce technical courses sponsored by the Office of Organizational and Employee Development, Regions, and Water Science Centers in addition to other training and employee development opportunities. Instructions for announcing Regional or Water Science Center courses through the Listserv subscription process are also provided. Course announcements will continue to be posted on the USGS Electronic Bulletin Board and the OED course website.

Awareness of training and development opportunities is important for all WRD personnel, including supervisors. Training and development is essential for career growth; moreover, supporting these activities substantiates our recognition that USGS employees are our most important asset. Furthermore, developing new and improving current skills is critical in achieving our mission. The option to subscribe to receive course announcements is up to each WRD employee. The 14 Listservs below are sorted by general topic area. Subscribe to as many Listservs as you wish (instructions are provided below). "Unsubscribing" is as simple as subscribing.

USGS Course Announcement Listservs include:

• GWHydrologyCourses (Ground-Water Hydrology Courses)
• SWHydrologyCourses (Surface-Water Hydrology Courses)
• WQHydrologyCourses (Water-Quality Hydrology Courses)
• InterDiscHydrologyCourses (Interdisciplinary Hydrology Courses)
• AdministrativeCourses (Administrative Courses)
• GISCourses (Geographic Information System Courses)
• ITCourses (Computer/Information Technology Courses)
• SafetyCourses (Safety Courses)
• Pubs-GraphicsCourses (Publications, Editing, Grammar, Graphics Design, etc. Courses)
• Mngmt-LeadershipCourses (Management, Supervisory, and Leadership Courses)
• BiologyCourses (Biology Courses)
• GeographyCourses (Geography Courses)
• GeologyCourses (Geology Courses)
• HumanResourcesCourses (Pre-Retirement Planning, Time Management, Employee Benefits, Interpersonal Communication Courses, etc.)

To Subscribe to Any Listserv send an e-mail to:

listproc@listserver.usgs.gov

In the body of the e-mail document type:

"Subscribe" "Listserv Name" "Requestor First Name" "Requestor Last Name"
(e.g., subscribe ITCourses Theresa Lane). Note that this is your formal first name, not your nickname or short Lotus Notes id name.

If, for example, you wanted to get all hydrology course announcements, you could list all the hydrology Listservs in the body of the memo, on separate lines as such:

subscribe InterDiscHydrologyCourses Gloria Armstrong
subscribe WQHydrologyCourses Gloria Armstrong
subscribe SWHydrologyCourses Gloria Armstrong
subscribe GWHydrologyCourses Gloria Armstrong

IMPORTANT: You will need to delete any other graphics or text you may have in the e-mail (such as "signatures", logos, etc.) or the Listserv will not be able to process your request.

Once you have subscribed, you will receive e-mail from "ListProc Version" welcoming you to the discussion (subscription) list. This e-mail will also give details on how to unsubscribe from the listserv(s).

To Announce A Scheduled Course Via Listservs:

Contact Gloria Armstrong gjarmstr@usgs.gov or (303) 445-4660 Ext. 229) or your Regional Employee Development Liaison:

Headquarters - Sandra Bruner (sbruner@usgs.gov)

Eastern Region - Pam Marsters (pmarster@usgs.gov)

Central Region - Betsy Daniel (medaniel@usgs.gov)

Western Region - Alan Ward (amward@usgs.gov)

In addition to the Listserv system, the OED web site (http://training.usgs.gov/) has links to the OED-NTC course catalog and schedule, as well as links to other training and development opportunities.

If you have questions regarding the Listserv process, or need information on our courses, please contact Gloria Armstrong at gjarmstr@usgs.gov or (303) 445-4660 Ext. 229. If you are a manager or supervisor of employees without access to e-mail, please subscribe and share course announcements with your employees.