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TO:
FROM:
SENT:
SUBJECT:
LCRA Employees’ United Charities members
General Manager Phil Wilson
Oct. 22, 2014
LCRA and United Charities
In today’s Town Hall meeting, I announced a new approach for LCRA’s volunteer and giving
efforts. It involves new initiatives that demonstrate LCRA’s long-standing commitment to the
customers and communities we serve. It also involves transitioning the administration of LCRA
Employees’ United Charities to the United Charities Board of Directors and its members.
New initiatives
LCRA is planning our first-ever basinwide day of service. The event is called LCRA Steps Forward
Day. On Friday, April 24, we will have as many employees as possible working together to
complete service projects in communities throughout LCRA’s service territory. Of course, we’ll
have to make sure enough employees hang back at work to cover our mission-critical
operations, such as the GenDesk or our power plants. If you are among the employees with this
type of job, please discuss options with your supervisor. Clint Harp is leading this effort as the
executive sponsor, and Senior Project Manager Brian Good is serving as the program owner.
This is a huge and important initiative, and Clint and Brian will need help. Look for an email
from Inside LCRA Headlines with details about the event and volunteer opportunities. LCRA was
built to enhance the lives of Texans, and this is an incredible way to celebrate that tradition
during LCRA’s 80th year of operation.
We also are introducing a new volunteer and giving forum on the employee bulletin board on
Inside LCRA. The new forum is a dedicated space for employees to highlight charitable causes
and organizations with volunteer and giving needs. You can use the online tool Charity
Navigator to research the financial health, accountability and transparency of charitable
organizations posted in the forum. Charity Navigator is a nonprofit organization. It was
established more than 10 years ago as an unbiased source of information for the public. LCRA
will use this internal bulletin board space to advertise companywide or cross-departmental
volunteer opportunities that foster teamwork and camaraderie among employees, such as the
annual Feast of Sharing event in Austin. But by and large, this is an employee-led forum where
you can champion volunteer and giving opportunities you are passionate about.
LCRA Employees’ United Charities
As we roll out these new initiatives, LCRA also will be transitioning the administration of LCRA
Employees’ United Charities to the United Charities Board of Directors and its members. This
means LCRA is removing itself as a business agent for United Charities, which is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit corporation separate and apart from LCRA. United Charities could decide to continue
as a self-supporting entity and assume responsibility for the accounting, legal and other
administrative support that LCRA has historically provided. Payroll deduction will end in
October.
Chief Administrative Officer John Miri and his staff will be working very closely with the United
Charities Board to ensure a smooth transition. Transition activities are expected to be complete
by Dec. 31, 2014.
Community service is an important part of our culture
Community service remains important to LCRA, as I know it is to you, too. United Charities has
done some phenomenally good things throughout our service territory. Since 1990, employee
participation has resulted in more than $6 million to help hundreds of community groups. That
speaks volumes about LCRA’s role in the community, and I look forward to building on that
foundation of community service as we take a new approach to LCRA’s volunteer and giving
efforts. I commend your commitment and dedication to serving others.
Your expertise will be particularly valuable as we plan and execute the LCRA Steps Forward Day
event. We will need employee volunteers for leadership positions, and I hope you will consider
volunteering for one of those roles. Please complete the form on Inside LCRA if you would like
to volunteer for a leadership role.
Thank you again for your dedication to LCRA and the people we serve every day.
Thank you,
General Manager Phil Wilson