December 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine
My View
Kurt Steinhaus: Listening to community leaders
Photo by Sandra Valdez
In the spirit of active listening and the adage “seek first to understand," the Community Programs Office conducts an annual survey to determine how local leaders perceive the Laboratory. We hire a polling firm to conduct telephone interviews. They ask about communication, employee giving, procurement, and even what is thought of Los Alamos National Security, LLC.
This year's survey results are encouraging. Many of those polled recognize the positive influence the Lab has on the surrounding community. In response to a question about people's overall impression of the Lab, the positive response rate increased to 61 percent this year from 52 percent last year.
In answer to an open-ended question regarding the biggest challenges facing Northern New Mexico, the top two issues were the education system and economic development, with the latter climbing from fourth last year to second most important to address this year.
It is, therefore, appropriate that the LANS Community Commitment Plan addresses education and economic development, along with community giving.
Since the Lab needs partners to make progress, we work with organizations like the Regional Development Corporation for economic development; education organizations, such as the LANL Foundation; and the United Way of Northern New Mexico and United Way of Santa Fe County for community giving.
Through community giving, Laboratory employees have achieved unprecedented success by documenting more than 100,000 volunteer hours and contributing more than $1 million, which LANS will match, to eligible nonprofit organizations. Employees also continue to show their generosity through participation in the holiday drive.
We are making progress, but there always is room for improvement. I'm happy to say that the people who can help reach our goals are found throughout the Laboratory. We send sincere thanks and appreciation to all the Lab employees making a positive difference in Northern New Mexico.
And just in case you wanted to know how people view LANS, the positive response rate went from 17 percent in the first few months of the June 2006 contract to 30 percent this year. You can view the complete survey at http://community.lanl.gov/source/orgs/cpo/survey_archives.shtml.
Please feel free to contact us at 5-4400 or write us at community@lanl.gov.
—Kurt Steinhaus, Community Programs Office director
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