| 
 Agency Forums    Again
              this year, Agency Forums will be held in conjunction with
              the NTP. Agencies may host a half-day or a whole-day event
              on Monday of the NTP week. Some agencies or bureaus will
              host a half-day meeting in the morning followed by a half-day
              Departmental Forum in the afternoon that combines multiple
              agencies. This is a great opportunity for agencies to host
              a meeting and/or agency-specific training in a centralized
            location for their employees from nationwide offices.   FEW
              invites you to host an agency forum in conjunction with its
              exciting National Training Program.   Don't miss this outstanding opportunity to highlight your
              Agency to thousands of individuals while at the same time
              supporting a high-quality, affordable educational opportunity
              through FEW's NTP. To host an agency forum, please contact
              Rhonda Smith at (502) 287-6898 or via e-mail at  [email protected]  Agency Forums for 2010  Departments and agencies have successfully hosted Agency Forums
			      in conjunction with FEW’s NTPs for many years.  In
			      this time of budget costs and reduced staffing, the Agency Forum
			      is a great way to significantly improve the delivery of Equal
			      Opportunity Program and Civil Rights program updates to assure
			      that all parts of the department or agency are working toward
			      the same goal and are sharing their expertise with their counterparts.  Don’t
			      miss the opportunity to attend your agency’s Forum and meet
			      key members of the headquarters staff.  The following federal
			      agencies conducted agency forums at the FEW 2009 NTP, and FEW
		        looks forward to again working with these agencies in 2010:  
                  Department of Agriculture
                      (USDA)  Department of Commerce (NOAA) Department of Defense (DOD) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Department of Housing and Human Services (DHHS)  Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)  Department of Interior  Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  Internal Revenue Service (IRS)  National Guard Bureau Office of Personnel Management  U.S. Air Force  U.S. Navy U.S. Marshals Service Purpose of an Agency Forum   Forums provide an opportunity for agencies to update their
              personnel on agency policies, procedures, and issues to include
              personnel changes and EEO programs; provide feedback on action
              items in their Annual EEO Reports identify problems and develop
              workable solutions in special emphasis programs; introduce
              new headquarters and field staff; provide a venue for the
              discussion of concerns; and network with their counterparts
            from throughout the U.S. and abroad.   Target Audience   An Agency Forum brings together civil rights/equal opportunity
              (CR/EO) headquarters and field staff, directors, full-time
              and collateral-duty Federal Women’s Program Managers
              (FWPMs), and other special emphasis program managers, coordinators
              of programs for individuals with disabilities, human resource
              staff, agency line managers and supervisors, and other attendees
              from respective agencies who have an interest in the subject
            areas being addressed at the forum.  Various Formats   Some agencies use the meeting time to update their staff
              on internal regulations, policies, and procedures. Others
              also contract with trainers to present specific topics related
              to equal opportunity, program management, and program-plan
              reporting. Many agencies invite their top level management
  staff to attend and present information in their support of their federal
  CR/EO programs.   Other Benefits   Combining forums with the NTP can result in a savings
              in travel expenses for an agency, since many of the individuals
              listed above will already be at the meeting site to attend
              the NTP. The meeting format offers an opportunity for participants
              to meet face-to-face, an invaluable benefit in today’s
              work climate of limited travel and heavy dependence on technology
              for communication. Many agencies combine participation in
              a forum with participation in the NTP Exhibit Hall. By opting
              to purchase exhibit space, an agency raises its visibility
              with all NTP attendees. This has proven to be an effective
              public relations and recruiting tool for many agencies that
            exhibit on a recurring basis.  
 
 |