GBC Leader - July/August 2001

July/August 2001

Headlines:

Greater Baltimore Committee, Presidents' Roundtable Recommend Major Changes in Way City Manages Its Employees

Baltimore City's government is hindered by an "expensive, outdated and inefficient" system of personnel management, according to a report presented to Mayor O'Malley on July 6 by the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Presidents' Roundtable.

The city must shed its old-fashioned personnel system and make the adoption of modern human resources management practices a high priority, the report concludes. Compiled by the two business organizations at O'Malley's request, the report contains 95 recommendations that include suggestions to outsource the city's health clinic and other employee assistance services for city employees, to renegotiate key labor contract provisions and to streamline the city's hiring process. The report also recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the personnel system's outdated technology.

Adopting the recommendations could result in net savings to the city of $29 million annually.

GBC Web Link: News section of www.gbc.org. Click here to view the GBC - Presidents' Roundtable report, "Managing for Success: Baltimore City Personnel Operations and Management."

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Funders of the GBC-Presidents' Roundtable Personnel Study

The GBC-Presidents' Roundtable Personnel study was funded through contributions from the following sources:

The Abell Foundation
The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund
The Baltimore Community Foundation
The Morris Goldseker Foundation of Maryland, Inc.
The Greater Baltimore Committee

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GBC’s Sondheim Featured on NewsNight Maryland

Walter Sondheim, Jr., senior adviser to the Greater Baltimore Committee, was the subject of a June 8 interview on the MPT news show, NewsNight Maryland. Sondheim, 92, began his work career before the start of the Great Depression in 1929, and has been instrumental in creating the Baltimore City that exists today.

Interviewed by Mindy Mintz, Sondheim recounted his experiences as president of the Board of School Commissioners in 1954 as Baltimore was among the first cities to desegregate its public schools.

GBC Web Link: News section of www.gbc.org.

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The Inaugural Baltimore Marathon Seeks Runners, Volunteers

Baltimore will hold its first-ever marathon on Saturday, October 20, 2001. The 26-mile race will begin at 8:30 a.m. at PSINet Stadium, continue throughout Baltimore City, and return to the finish line at PSINet Stadium for a post-race celebration.

An alternative to the marathon is the FILA 5K Run, a shorter race featuring a 3.1-mile course. A team relay will also take place in conjunction with the marathon, consisting of four-person teams with the winner posting the best overall time.

All proceeds from the Baltimore Marathon and related activities will go to charities including the Leukemia Foundation, Hopkins Heroes, Grant a Wish Foundation, Tissue Banks International, the National Aids Marathon Training Program, and the Special Olympics of Maryland.

GBC Web Link: www.thebaltimoremarathon.com

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New Program Promotes "Proactive Community Supervision" of Parolees

Buoyed by the influx of more than $8 million in new state funding, the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation is strengthening its resources and charting a new organizational strategy based on the concept of "Proactive Community Supervision."

Judy Sachwald, director of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, outlined the agency's new directions at the June 21 meeting of the GBC Public Safety Committee. The Proactive Community Supervision (PCS) plan's objectives are to protect public safety, to hold offenders accountable to victims and the community, and to help offenders become responsible and productive members of society.

GBC Web Link: Maryland Division of Parole and Probation website, http://ns1.dpscs.state.md.us/pnp/

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July "Issues & Answers" to Focus on Regional Day Trips

"Issues & Answers," the GBC's show on Comcast cable television, will focus on day trips to government owned and operated regional parks & recreation facilities throughout the month of July. Guests will include Helen Tenner from the Department of Natural Resources State Forest and Park Service; Arden McClune, Harford County Parks & Recreation Department; Linda Sampson, Howard County Recreation and Parks Department; John Weber, Baltimore County Parks and Recreation Department; John Hein, Baltimore Revenue Authority - Golf Courses; and Marvin Billups from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.

GBC Web Link: "Issues & Answers" link in the News section for times, channels, and schedule.

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Improve Your Listening Skills on August 1

Improve your listening skills and enhance everyday communications with coworkers at the August 1 GBC/WQSR Business Breakfast Seminar, "Listening for Negotiators: Getting What You Want by Listening to What They Want." In a follow-up to the GBC's December seminar with Ron Shapiro, seasoned sales pro and certified corporate trainer Jeff Cochran of Shapiro Negotiations Institute will show you a basic, systematic approach to honing listening skills, improving your negotiation skills and making certain the other side feels understood. The seminar begins at 7:45 a.m. on August 1 in the GBC Board room.

GBC Web Link: See the GBC Calendar, August 1 listing.

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Please Take a Minute for a GBC Poll

The Greater Baltimore Committee is conducting a poll to determine topics for its GBC/WQSR Business Breakfast Seminar Series in the upcoming year. Your opinions and interests are valuable to this program. Please take a few minutes to visit the GBC website and take this brief poll.

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GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE



		July/August 2001
	Headlines: Greater Baltimore Committee, Presidents' Roundtable Recommend Major changes in Way City Manages its Employees Funders of the GBC - Presidents' Roundtable Personnel Study GBC's Sondheim Featured on NewsNight Maryland GBC MEMBER NEWS (Click on headlines for the full story): Seven GBC Members Win "Best in Maryland" Awards 40 Maryland Volunteers Join Red Cross Aid Effort in Allison's Wake Advance Business Systems, Telecommunications Systems Win Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award Grotech's Frank Adams Featured on SunSpot Constellation Energy Wins Edison Award O'Malley Names Two GBC Members to BACVA Board KCI Technologies Honored with Communications Excellence Award Downtown Partnership Seeks OPerator for City Shuttle System Sun Feature Spotlights Alan Elkin, Advance Business Systems KCI Technologies' Neimeyer Honored as 2001 Civil Engineer of the Year The Inaugural Baltimore Marathon Seeks Runners, Volunteers New Program Promotes "Proactive Community Supervision" of Parolees July "Issues & Answers" to Focus on Regional Day Trips Improve Your Listening Skills on August 1 Please Take a Minute for a GBC Poll
Greater Baltimore Committee, Presidents' Roundtable Recommend Major Changes in Way City Manages Its Employees Baltimore City's government is hindered by an "expensive, outdated and inefficient" system of personnel management, according to a report presented to Mayor O'Malley on July 6 by the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Presidents' Roundtable. The city must shed its old-fashioned personnel system and make the adoption of modern human resources management practices a high priority, the report concludes. Compiled by the two business organizations at O'Malley's request, the report contains 95 recommendations that include suggestions to outsource the city's health clinic and other employee assistance services for city employees, to renegotiate key labor contract provisions and to streamline the city's hiring process. The report also recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the personnel system's outdated technology. Adopting the recommendations could result in net savings to the city of $29 million annually. GBC Web Link: News section of www.gbc.org. Click here to view the GBC - Presidents' Roundtable report, "Managing for Success: Baltimore City Personnel Operations and Management." top Funders of the GBC-Presidents' Roundtable Personnel Study The GBC-Presidents' Roundtable Personnel study was funded through contributions from the following sources: The Abell Foundation The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund The Baltimore Community Foundation The Morris Goldseker Foundation of Maryland, Inc. The Greater Baltimore Committee top GBC’s Sondheim Featured on NewsNight Maryland Walter Sondheim, Jr., senior adviser to the Greater Baltimore Committee, was the subject of a June 8 interview on the MPT news show, NewsNight Maryland. Sondheim, 92, began his work career before the start of the Great Depression in 1929, and has been instrumental in creating the Baltimore City that exists today. Interviewed by Mindy Mintz, Sondheim recounted his experiences as president of the Board of School Commissioners in 1954 as Baltimore was among the first cities to desegregate its public schools. GBC Web Link: News section of www.gbc.org. top The Inaugural Baltimore Marathon Seeks Runners, Volunteers Baltimore will hold its first-ever marathon on Saturday, October 20, 2001. The 26-mile race will begin at 8:30 a.m. at PSINet Stadium, continue throughout Baltimore City, and return to the finish line at PSINet Stadium for a post-race celebration. An alternative to the marathon is the FILA 5K Run, a shorter race featuring a 3.1-mile course. A team relay will also take place in conjunction with the marathon, consisting of four-person teams with the winner posting the best overall time. All proceeds from the Baltimore Marathon and related activities will go to charities including the Leukemia Foundation, Hopkins Heroes, Grant a Wish Foundation, Tissue Banks International, the National Aids Marathon Training Program, and the Special Olympics of Maryland. GBC Web Link: www.thebaltimoremarathon.com top New Program Promotes "Proactive Community Supervision" of Parolees Buoyed by the influx of more than $8 million in new state funding, the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation is strengthening its resources and charting a new organizational strategy based on the concept of "Proactive Community Supervision." Judy Sachwald, director of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, outlined the agency's new directions at the June 21 meeting of the GBC Public Safety Committee. The Proactive Community Supervision (PCS) plan's objectives are to protect public safety, to hold offenders accountable to victims and the community, and to help offenders become responsible and productive members of society. GBC Web Link: Maryland Division of Parole and Probation website, http://ns1.dpscs.state.md.us/pnp/ top July "Issues & Answers" to Focus on Regional Day Trips "Issues & Answers," the GBC's show on Comcast cable television, will focus on day trips to government owned and operated regional parks & recreation facilities throughout the month of July. Guests will include Helen Tenner from the Department of Natural Resources State Forest and Park Service; Arden McClune, Harford County Parks & Recreation Department; Linda Sampson, Howard County Recreation and Parks Department; John Weber, Baltimore County Parks and Recreation Department; John Hein, Baltimore Revenue Authority - Golf Courses; and Marvin Billups from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. GBC Web Link: "Issues & Answers" link in the News section for times, channels, and schedule. top Improve Your Listening Skills on August 1 Improve your listening skills and enhance everyday communications with coworkers at the August 1 GBC/WQSR Business Breakfast Seminar, "Listening for Negotiators: Getting What You Want by Listening to What They Want." In a follow-up to the GBC's December seminar with Ron Shapiro, seasoned sales pro and certified corporate trainer Jeff Cochran of Shapiro Negotiations Institute will show you a basic, systematic approach to honing listening skills, improving your negotiation skills and making certain the other side feels understood. The seminar begins at 7:45 a.m. on August 1 in the GBC Board room. GBC Web Link: See the GBC Calendar, August 1 listing. top Please Take a Minute for a GBC Poll The Greater Baltimore Committee is conducting a poll to determine topics for its GBC/WQSR Business Breakfast Seminar Series in the upcoming year. Your opinions and interests are valuable to this program. Please take a few minutes to visit the GBC website and take this brief poll. top
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