USPTO’s Newest Affinity Group, Federally Employed Women

FEW logoAll employees and contractors are invited to the Installation Ceremony for the Bright Knights Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW) Tuesday, March 8, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. ET at the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum on the first floor of the Madison Building. Light refreshments will be served.

Come in person or attend via WebEx:

Event number: 647 042 439
Event password: 12345

To join the audio conference only, call 571-270-7000 and use access code: 647 042 439.

Click here
for captions.

FEW is an “advocacy group to improve the status of women employed by the Federal government.” The USPTO chapter has 22 founding members, including chapter President Kaya Lewis Baltimore, who serves as a Program Assistant in the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity (OEEOD) EEO and Vice President Ivana Miranda who serves as a Financial Analyst/Benefits Coordinator in the Office of Finance. The chapter plans to hold WebEx meetings, and the group is open to all.

For more information about FEW, visit www.few.org.

Community Day Diversity Awareness Showcase

Antique illustration of a couple dressed for a fashion catalogCommunity Day 2016 will be held May 12, 2016 on the outside of the USPTO campus.  Community Day is the USPTO’s primary diversity event bringing together affinity groups, labor organizations, and other employee associations to recommit to working as a team. The diversity element is an very important element of Community Day. This year’s theme for Community Day is “Diversity Coast to Coast”.

Back this year, by popular demand, will be the Diversity Awareness Showcase!  As you know, the Diversity Awareness Showcase is the highlight of Community Day and we want to make this year even more interesting. Please contact the Lambda inbox if you would like to participate in this one of a kind fashion show representing our group.

Get to Know the USPTO: Networking Event & Happy Hour

Event FlyerThe Leadership & Innovation Network in Commerce (LINC) will host “Get to Know the USPTO,” a Department of Commerce (DOC)-wide networking event, Wednesday, March 2 from 2 – 4 p.m. Participants will start their overview and tour in Madison West Room 207, and a happy hour will follow at Zikrayet at 2600 Eisenhower Avenue sponsored by the Supervisory Patent Examiners and Classifiers Organization (SPECO).

This is a great opportunity for USPTO employees to come and connect with our colleagues from across Commerce to share development opportunities, collaborative problem solving ideas, and best practices. It’s also a great opportunity for you to let others know about your affinity group here at the USPTO.

The LINC “Get to Know” series is designed to introduce DOC’s inner agencies to each other. LINC is a network of like-minded, action-oriented Commerce employees who engage across bureaus, innovate, and lead, to enhance the DOC workplace and contribute to operational excellence. For more information visit LINC contact Amber Ostrup, Laura Kahn, or Maryam Ipakchi.

Self Defense for Women

Self Defense FlyerThe Women’s History Month Committee presents, Self Defense for Women.

Wednesday, March 23rd from 11a.m. – 1p.m.
East Studio at Knox Building/Fitness Center*
Featuring The Basics Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Sharrieff Nashid. Health Expo Mixer starts at 12:30 on location.

This workshop is designed to increase self-confidence through awareness, empowerment and prevention. * Limited space available. Sign up at the Fitness Center or e-mail Stacie Gatling.

LGBT Health Policy & Practice Graduate Certificate Program

The George Washington University graduate certificate program in LGBT Health Policy & Practice is now accepting applications for the 2016-17 program year. The certificate is a 12-credit, combined online/on-campus interdisciplinary program that trains medical and mental health professionals to better care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. A large number of our certificate students are enrolled medical, nursing, or other graduate mental health, public health and policy programs around the world. Others work in care settings or in policy organizations.

Click here to go to website with information about applying.

 

Connect4Life: Donate Your Used Technology to Homeless LGBT Youth

Photo of a girl using a smart phoneAs the new year begins, we are looking to give more homeless LGBT youth an opportunity to be connected using technology. Early results in D.C. have proven a simple but important fact though – Technology in the hands of these LGBT youth is vital and clearly helps them to be successful as they navigate their day-to-day lives. Whether they use a phone to stay in touch with family and friends, call about employment, medical care or even to search for answers to unknown questions – it matters and is a simple piece of life changing technology for each of those young people. Full Article

What can you do to help? I’m glad you asked!
Donate your old technology! Desktops, Laptops, Cell Phones (Flip or Smart), Servers, Hard Drives — If it computes 1s and 0s, we can probably refurbish, reuse or recycle that device! The best part – YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE! 
Learn more about Connect4Life here.

The E-Communities Project

nsbeThe E-Communities Project, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is seeking STEM graduates with work experience to help Middle School Science teachers in the Prince George’s area build a realistic curriculum.

If you would like more information see the attached flyer, a more detailed Webinar presentation will be held TODAY @ 11AM! The link to RSVP is here: http://goo.gl/forms/4YJweu60ih

 

Engineering Week 2016: Volunteers Needed

E-week flyerVolunteers are need to help Middle & High School students conduct a hands-on oil-water
separation experiment and consider the environmental impacts of oil-spills and the role
engineering and innovation play in improving our world.

Just a FEW HOURS of YOUR TIME on FEB. 26th, 9:30-1:30pm can INSPIRE a LIFETIME of LOVE for SCIENCE in the Next Generation.

*No other time provided. *Lunch Provided for Volunteers. *Volunteers of ALL Disciplines are welcome.
E-Week is an Annual Event hosted by PTOS, The Affinity Groups, The Office of Education and Outreach and The Office of EEO & Diversity.
To sign-up or for more information, contact Maryam Ipakchi.

Happy New Year!

As you may have heard, this past year there were no new nominations for Lambda’s Board of Officers. We look forward to a new year and being here for each other, always.

yairaJahangirIvana

Steve

From left to right: Yaira Resto, Chair; Jahangir Kabir, Vice Chair; Ivana Miranda, Secretary; Steve Spar, Treasurer.

Nominations for 2016 Board

elections-usa-2008Time to nominate members for the 2016 Board of Directors for Lambda PTO!  Make sure you ask your nominee if they are able and willing to join the board for 2016 before you submit their name. We need a few dedicated members to volunteer their time and ideas for Lambda events, joint group events and meetings with management.

Nomination Form

Elections will be conducted on Tuesday December 15th 2015 during our Annual Holiday Lunch at Pasara Thai Restaurant by majority vote of all present members. For full list of duties, please see the Group Charter provided on our Facebook Group or can be sent over e-mail, contact us.