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Nomination deadline for DAAB, diversity working groups extended to Feb. 4

Laboratory personnel have until Feb. 4 to submit nominations to serve on the Diversity/Affirmative Action Board and its seven diversity working groups.

The Diversity/Affirmative Action Board is a joint venture of the Diversity Office (DVO) and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) and is designed to help the Laboratory more effectively address multicultural institutional decisions, reduce or eliminate duplication of effort and help the Laboratory "walk the talk" when it comes to diversity, according to Lisa Gutierrez, DVO leader. The board, created in 2002, replaced the former Diversity Council.

The nomination form can be found at www.lanl.gov/source/orgs/dvo/Groups/index.html online, or by contacting Danny Valdez in DVO at 5-7215 or writing to dlvaldez@lanl.gov by electronic mail. Completed nominations with required signatures and approvals can be sent to Valdez at Mail Stop M894 or by fax to 7-6404. Only UC Lab employees can serve on the DAAB. However all Lab workers, including students, can serve on the diversity working groups.

"I strongly believe in the importance of diversity at the Laboratory," Director Pete Nanos said in an all-employee memo. "If you want to make a difference in your workplace, now is your opportunity. I encourage all employees to participate in the DAAB and the diversity working groups."

"We still have openings on each group or board. We need enough applicants so that each group has enough members to share the work," said Gutierrez. "Members must be willing role models and are held accountable for behaviors that reflect the Code of Ethics and Los Alamos' core values. We need the Laboratory's most talented team members to join us in this important work."

"Now that the Code of Ethics has been adopted, it is time for DAAB members to focus on the Affirmative Development Plan," said OEO Leader Amy Sahota. "We need DAAB members who are determined to work on recruiting, employee retention, diversity education and awareness and career development issues."

The seven diversity working groups at Los Alamos are

• African American Diversity Working Group (AADWG)
• American Indian Diversity Working Group (AIDWG)
• Asian American Diversity Working Group (AsADWG)
• Deaf and Disabilities Awareness Group (DDAG)
• Hispanic Diversity Working Group (HDWG)
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Diversity Working Group (LGBTI DWG)
• Women's Diversity Working Group (WDWG)

Employees selected for the Diversity /Affirmative Action Board or the diversity working groups will serve one-year terms with an option for a second year. Most of the groups meet monthly for about two hours. Gutierrez said selections for the DAAB and the diversity working groups should be completed by mid-February.

A list of frequently asked questions about the DAAB and the working groups can be found at http://www.lanl.gov/source/orgs/dvo/Groups/FAQs_041130.pdf online (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

More information about DAAB and the diversity working groups also is available at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/ online.

To read an all-employee memo, click here (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

--Steve Sandoval

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