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Career Information




Continuing Education for Natural Resource Professionals

Workshop Agenda for:

Leadership and Communications/Advanced Workshop (LAC/A)

Date:

February 26 - March 1, 2013

Host:

McMullin Training and Consulting

Place:

Davis, CA

Objectives:

    • demonstrate techniques for challenging the process, inspiring a vision, enabling other people, modeling and encouraging good leadership;
    • demonstrate leading and managing in conflict;
    • and demonstrate working with ‘difficult people’.

Payment:

Paying Tuition: McMullin Training and Consulting (affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) accept payment in several forms. Please pay at least 2 weeks prior to the workshop. Send payment to Steve McMullin, McMullin Training and Consulting, 6828 Sahalee Circle, Radford, VA 24141.

  • Credit/Purchase card - PayPal or contact the vendor
  • Check (personal, company or government)
    Write the check to "McMullin Training and Consulting". Put on the memo line "LAC/A tuition for (participant's name)".
  • Invoice (request an invoice)
  • SF182 + Invoice

Dropping from the Workshop: Pretty simple -- find a sub or pay fixed cost. Tuition is extremely low cost for this workshop so we do not have a lot of leeway on letting people drop. The budget has been set and spent based on your current confirmation. Check with us first, just in case we have a waiting list. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Travel:

Airport:

Sacramento International Airport (13 miles to Davis, CA)

Oakland International Airport (63 miles to Davis, CA)

San Francisco International Airport (73 miles to Davis, CA)



Hotel:

Hallmark Inn, Davis
110 F Street Davis CA 95616
Phone: 530.753.3600
Toll Free: 1.800.753.0035

Rooms reserved - participants not required to stay at Hallmark Inn

Vendor will provide details.

Facility: USDA Building, Davis, CA


Blacksburg, VA
Information for when hosted in Blacksburg. Not hosted in Blacksburg in FY2012

Airports: Roanoke, Virginia, is the nearest commercial airport; a 45-minute drive from Blacksburg. Roanoke Airport is served by Delta, United, Northwest and US Airways and Allegiant Air (from Florida only). Plan to arrive no later than Monday, January 29th, as the workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Alternate Airports -- Dulles International near Washington, D.C., Greensboro, NC, Charlotte, NC, or Raleigh, NC and renting a car. If 2 or 3 people can save 3-5 hundred dollars on airfare, it would pay to rent a car. Travel time to Blacksburg is approximately 4-1/2 hours from Dulles, 2½ hours from Greensboro, 3 hours from Charlotte and 3 1/2 hours from Raleigh.

The workshop is in session until noon on Thursday, February 8th. Schedule your flights after 2:00 p.m. giving yourself time to get to the Roanoke airport.

Ground/Airport Transportation: Transportation from Roanoke airport is available through the Roanoke Airport Transportation Services. Their regularly scheduled service from the airport to the Inn at Virginia Tech (the hotel where you will be staying) includes vans leaving at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. They have limited service on weekends if you will be coming in earlier. The fare is $30 each way. A cheaper alternative is the Smart Way Bus www.smartwaybus.com (only $3 each way). It picks you up at the airport and drops you at the Squires Student Center on the Virginia Tech campus (a few blocks from the Inn at Virginia Tech).

If you call the Inn, they will pick you up at the bus stop and shuttle you to the hotel. Please make your reservation with them by calling 1-800-288-1958. Please let Dr. McMullin know what arrangements you make for getting to Blacksburg (including flight number and arrival time). He can arrange special shuttles if two or more people arrive at times that do not match their schedules. All of the major car rental companies are also represented at the Roanoke airport. If you have any questions, call Dr. McMullin at the office (540) 231-8847.

Car Rental: Blacksburg is a small town, so you can get by quite nicely without a car while you are here. We will have two vehicles available for class participants over the weekend. If you want to rent a car for the weekend, there is an Enterprise office just a few miles away in Christiansburg (540-382-7970 or 1-800-736-8222).

Facility & Hotel: The workshop is being held in the Skelton Conference Center in the Inn at Virginia Tech on the Virginia Tech Campus (lodging switchboard: 540-231-8000).

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Inn at $77 per night (the federal per diem rate + 25%) for a single room, $97 for a double. Block ID: "Leadership & Communications II group". You need to contact the Inn no later than mid January to reserve one of those rooms in your name (lodging switchboard: 540-231-8000). You might be able to get a room at the federal per diem rate at the Holiday Inn (540-552-7001), which is just across the street from the Inn at Virginia Tech.

LODGING NOTE: The lodging rate, for Inn at Virginia Tech, is 25% above perdiem. In the past, we would do an AD202 if our lodging was over area perdiem rates. Not any more.
Participants should do the following when submitting their Travel Voucher (AD616). We know this rate issue prior to the workshops so the "25% above perdiem pardon" does not apply -- it only applies when traveling and a lodging rate catches you unprepared.

www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/doc/AD616.PDF

AD616: Section A: Box 14: "Post Approval Indicator"

(It says "Post" but you really have "Pre" Approval because we are doing this now not later - be sure to go over all this with your supervisor before attending training/travel).

  • Put a "Y" (for Yes) in the box.
  • Under "Remarks" (last box of 2nd page) put in the following justification (or craft it to meet your needs):

Workshop vendor negotiated lodging price of $75 (perdiem rate plus 25%) at Inn at Virginia Tech. The workshop is 2-weeks. Over the 2-week period the $75 daily price is cheaper than other area hotels. Other area hotels only honor the goverment perdiem Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday night the rates increase to at least double ($149/night). Averaged out over the 2-weeks it is cheaper to stay at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Staying at the Inn at Virginia Tech also saves transportation costs. The workshop is being held at the Skelton Conference Center located in the Inn at Virginia Tech.

Meals and lodging are not included in this workshop - although the food the Inn puts out for the continuous break is enough for breakfast and lunch if you are a light eater.


SF182 Information:

Register in AgLearn for 2013.

COMPLETING THE SF182 DOES NOT REGISTER YOU AUTOMATICALLY. NO LINK IN AGLEARN BETWEEN THE 2 AGLEARN FUNCTIONS.

The following information will help FS Employees complete their SF182 (do it in AgLearn) and Travel Voucher (see AD616 info above for Travel Voucher).

Step 1. Log into AgLearn

Step 2. Be sure your supervisor is listed in your profile
("Click" on your name at the top of the page to access your Personal profile.)

Step 3. go to “Easy Links” on the right hand block, black table inside the box; Right hand column of the black table; 2nd row – underneath “Reports”. Cursor over and click/select.
New page comes up: Requests, Authorizations, Agreement & Certification of Training. Click/Select bottom right “New Request” button. [Read directions at top of table]

NOTE: don't confuse the use of the word "request" here with "request" used in other parts of AgLearn.
Filling out an SF182 all by itself will NOT automatically register you for training or request unscheduled training. This part of AgLearn is not connected to the registration side of AgLearn.


NOTE: You can "save" the SF182 and finish it later. Have your data pulled together (travel costs, vendor info, etc) as well as filling in email and supervisor before doing the SF182 - otherwise you will waste your time searching around for the information. Be aware that if you are "inactive" while filling out your SF182 in AgLearn for 10 minutes or more you may get "logged out". Save often. A few people have reported difficulty with getting the "save" feature to work - best to be paranoid and save copies (screen capture, copy/paste, listing of info) until you are comfortable with the "save" feature.


Ok - back to the SF182.

Filling in the SF182 in AgLearn

County: Yolo

Section A: Trainee Information
Step 4. You should see the SF182 populated with some of your personal information. You do NOT have to provide your social security number (shouldn't be on the form anymore) or home address. The form lists the address where your time sheet is routed to NFC...not necessarily your real home or work address. You can delete it out.

Step 5. Fill in the other info per usual habit.

A. Agency Code, agency sub element and submitting office number. (Optional Field)
If don’t know it, skip and move on. If you happen to know your "number" go ahead and fill it in. It might automatically fill in.

B. Request Status / Record Action (Optional Field) – choice of ‘Add’ or ‘Delete’; Choose ‘Add’ if doesn't auto fill.

A.1 Applicant’s Name Pre-populated

A. 2 & 3? Missing from the form. Must be the unnumbered fields for your name.

A.4 Home Address (Optional Field): – Pre-populated; delete if you want – private & not needed

A.5 Home Phone (Optional Field): – Pre-populated; delete if you want – private & not needed

A.6 Position Level (Mandatory Field): Select one of the following:

6a. Non supervisory - Anyone who does not have supervisory/team leader responsibilities.
6b. Supervisory - First line supervisors who do not supervise other supervisors; typically those who are responsible for an employee's performance appraisal or approval of their leave.
6c. Manager - Those in management positions who typically supervise one or more supervisors.
6d. Executive - Members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent.

A.7 Organizational Mailing Address Field - office mailing address. This should pre-populate in AgLearn. Sometimes it puts the administrative address where your paperwork is handled which is not always where you actually work. Enter the office address where you pick up mail. If the workshop has pre-work, it will be mailed to this address.

A.8 Office Phone (Optional Field): Enter the trainee’s telephone number. Include area code, office number and extension.

A.9 Work Email Address (Optional Field)

A.10 Position Title (Optional Field): – Enter the trainee’s current position.

A.11 Applicant Handicapped or Disabled (Optional Field): If the trainee is in need of special arrangements (brailing, taping, interpreters, facility accessibility, etc); describe the requirements in the space provided or on a separate sheet. This is new –and really important for the vendor to know ASAP to ensure a quality product.

A.12 Type of Appointment (Optional Field): Pre-populated

A.13 Education Level (Optional Field): Pre-populated

A.14 Pay Plan (Mandatory Field):– If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s pay plan. (e.g., GS, WG, ES…Pay Band)

A.15 Series (Mandatory Field): If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s position classification four digit series. (e.g., 0201)

A.16 Grade (Mandatory Field): If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s grade level. (1-15)

A.17 Step (Optional Field): Enter the appropriate step. (1-10)

Section B: Training Course Information

B.1a Training Vendor Name
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced: Dr. Steve McMullin, McMulling Training & Consulting (Mandatory Field)
Tab over to second cell and type in 'McMullin Training and Consulting' (vendor name) in field labeled “If other, please specify”. You only have 30 spaces.

For the WFW/CE program, the vendor contact information is also available at our website: www.fs.fed.us/biology/education

Street Address: 6828 Sahalee Circle

City: Radford

State/Province: VA

Postal Code: 24141

Country: USA

B.1b Location of Training Site (Optional Field) - Provide town/state of the training site if different from B1a. If same, mark box labeled “If same, mark box”.
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced course: Davis, CA

B.1c Vendor Email Address: (Optional Field): – smcmulli@vt.edu

B.1d Vendor Telephone Number: (Optional Field): 540-231-8847

B.2a Course Title (Mandatory Field): – Leadership and Communications/Advanced

B.2b Course Number Code (Optional Field): – We use the AgLearn Schedule ID: 29095 (for FY13)

B.3 Training Start Date (Mandatory Field): – Enter the start date of the training to be completed by the trainee.

Note: The label for the field incorrectly defines the format. Use the calendar icon to select the date or enter the date manually in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced: 02/26/2013

B.4 Training Complete Date (Mandatory Field): – Enter the end date of the training to be completed by the trainee.

Note: The label for the field incorrectly defines the format. Use the calendar icon to select the date or enter the date manually in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced: 03/01/2013

B.5 Training Duty Hours (Mandatory Field): Enter the number of duty hours for training.
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced: 32 hours

B.6 Training Non-Duty Hours (Mandatory Field): Enter the number of non-duty hours for training.
For Leadership and Communications/Advanced: 0 (zero)

B.7 Training Purpose Type (Mandatory Field): – From the drop-down list, select the purpose for taking this course or program using the appropriate training purpose type code. We recommend 03: Improve/Maintain Present Performance - Training to provide the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to improve or maintain proficiency in present job. Though for B.9 it seems you should pick 01: Program Mission.

B.8 Training Type Code Hidden Field – Determined by selection of Field #9 (Training Sub-Type Code)

B.9 Training Sub-Type Code (Mandatory Field): – From the drop-down list, select the Training Sub-Type code that applies to the requested training. We recommend either: 01_16: Training_Leadership - or 03_30: Employee Orientation.

B.10 Training Delivery Type Code (Mandatory Field): – Enter the Training Delivery Type code. 01 – Traditional Classroom

B.11 Training Designation Type Code (Mandatory Field): – Enter the Training Designation Type Code: 05 – N/A

B.12 Training Credit (Mandatory Field): Enter 0; no credits earned.

B.13 Training Credit Type Code (Mandatory Field): – Enter 04 – Not Applicable

B.14 Training Accreditation Indicator (Mandatory Field): – Enter No (N)

B.15 Continued Service Agreement Required Indicator (Mandatory Field): Enter No (N)

B.16 Continued Service Agreement Required Expiration Date (Optional Field): – Enter NA or leave blank

B.17 Training Source Type Code: (Mandatory Field): –02: Government - External

B.18 Training Objectives (Optional Field): Improve performance of interdisciplinary resource management by being excellent leaders and communicators.

Objectives: (you don't need to be this detailed - it is asked for in the SF182 but doubt folks actually read it...)

      • demonstrate techniques for challenging the process, inspiring a vision, enabling other people, modeling and encouraging good leadership;
      • demonstrate leading and managing in conflict;
      • and demonstrate working with ‘difficult people’.

      Description: This workshop prepares participants to step up to ‘the leadership challenge’ using a 360-degree leadership assessment tool and Step II of the Myers-Briggs Psychological Type Instrument. Participants should be familiar with their Myers-Briggs type.

B.19 Agency Use Only (Optional Field): For use by an agency as needed. Skip it.

Section C: Cost and Billing Information

C.1 Direct Cost and appropriation/fund chargeable (Mandatory Field): – Enter the following data:

1a. Tuition: $1,095.00
Insert the actual/final cost of training tuition and fees for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government.
Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field. Something like “0100 NFVW00”. INCLUDE your Override code too!
1b. Books or Materials - $0.00
1c. Total Cost - $1,095.00

C.2 Indirect Cost and appropriation/fund chargeable (Mandatory Field): – Enter the following data:

2a. Travel - Insert the actual/final travel cost excluding per diem for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government. You need to calculate this based on if you are traveling by walking, metro, driving, flying, shuttle, taxi or any combination.
Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field. Something like “0100 NFVW00”. INCLUDE your Override code too!
2b. Per Diem - Insert the actual/final per diem cost (e.g., meals, lodging, miscellaneous expenses) for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government. You can get Per Diem from the GSA website.
Per diem for Davis, CA: $100 lodging and $51 M&IE - vendor has reserved blocks of rooms at Hallmark Inn. Go ahead and use the set Federal per diem rate to get your SF182 finished.

Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field.
2c. Total - The total cost is system generated after the Travel and Per Diem costs are entered.

C.3 Total Training Non-Government Contribution Cost: (Optional Field) - Enter the cost contributed by the trainee or other non-Government organizations for the training completed by the trainee.

C.4 Document/Purchase Order/Requisition Number: (Optional Field) - Not applicable for WFW-Continuing Education workshops. VPI accepts credit cards, checks, cash. Forest Service - you can pay by credit card; NOT your travel card, but a "Purchasing Card". You may not have purchasing card, but your Purchasing Agent does.

C.5 8-Digit Station Symbol (Optional Field) – Enter the 8-digit station symbol of the nominating Agency Finance Office. This is the same number discussed at the top of this document for field “A”. Skip it if you don’t know it off the top of your head. [Are you familiar with Data General computer days? The 8-digit code is similar to the email addresses in the 'DG' days.]

C.6 Billing Instructions (Optional Field) – Normally asking for ASC address. For Leadership and Communications/Advanced, this is not applicable because the SF182 is not used as a billing document. It is used for assuring supervisor approval and other agency tracking.

Questions? Problems? Contact Shelly Witt, USFS, WFW-Continuing Education Program Leader. Happy to help.

The Government Travel Card may never be used to pay for training, training fees, or conference fees. The use of your personal credit card is also inappropriate, and may lead to personal financial responsibility for any training costs.

Submit Your SF182

Signature blocks will show up after you submit the form in AgLearn.


Step 6. Go to the bottom of your screen and hit submit. This will send a message to your Supervisor's email box (hence why we need your supervisor info in your profile before you start - and your supervisor needs to have his/her email info entered in AgLearn). You should see the status show up immediately in your AgLearn profile - the page where you first clicked "New Request".


NOTE: some supervisors don't notice the AgLearn email because it can come from "Plateau" (AgLearn's real software name). On rare occasions the FS Spam filter can filter out the email. Always good to ask your supervisor to go into AgLearn and approve the SF182.


AgLearn will NOT automatically pay the vendor. Once you get supervisor approval you should print your SF182 and run it through the usual Purchasing/payment route. The vendor will send you payment information.


That should be "it"! 6 fun steps. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out! Hope it doesn't take all day.


After the workshop: When you return from the course you need to go back into your AgLearn profile and "verify" you attended. Your supervisor will need to do this too. Otherwise you will get naggy emails later on. HRM has information docs setting out all this:
http://fsweb.hcm.fs.fed.us/training/support.php





Disclaimers | Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) | Privacy Notice

Forest Service Continuing Education for Natural Resource Professionals
Author: Shelly Witt, National Continuing Education Coordinator,
WFW staff
Email: switt01@fs.fed.us
Phone: 435-881-4203
Publish_date:2/24/98
Expires: none

Photo Credits

USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
(202) 205-8333

 Last Modified: May 2012