As we witnessed, on September 30th, President Biden signed a 45-day Continuing Resolution (CR) [HR 5860] to help avoid a government shutdown. This CR only runs until November 17th, so there is a possibility that we may soon be right back where we started. To be clear, a furlough has nothing to do with the value of one’s job to an agency or the quality of work that everyone brings to their position; rather, it comes down to funding rules and legal requirements. There are so many people who rely on us to keep the flying public safe – and that’s what we’ll do. We’ll continue to support our government and the U.S. Constitution.
As a testament to the professionalism and innovation that occurs at the Center, it was exciting to see so many nominees and award winners at the recent Pathfinder Awards employee ceremony. We are so glad to have so many valuable members on our MMAC Team.
The 2023 Combined Federal Campaign is underway. We are only in week number four of the campaign, and we have already raised $65,000 in donations. There are many ways to get involved, so watch your inbox and be sure to visit www.GiveCFC.org. We’re currently in Animal Welfare Cause Week, where we emphasize the role of animals and how they enrich our lives. Please consider giving to whatever touches your heart, whether it's wildlife preservation, endangered species, fisheries, zoos, aquariums, or animal shelters. These creatures help to improve our physical, emotional, and mental health.
We’ve recently had several volunteer opportunities at the Regional Foodbank of Oklahoma in addition to closing out our Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign. Congratulations to everyone who brought in non-perishable donations and placed them in collection boxes located around the Center. Our FFF efforts totaled 837 pounds of food, which equates to providing 2,998 meals! Thanks for making a difference in the lives of many Oklahomans who are food insecure! For those of you who volunteered at the Food Bank on October 21st, you packaged 30,000 pounds of food, which equates to 19,000 meals. Thanks to all of you for making a fantastic impact in our community.
Also, as a reminder, November 13th - December 11th is Open Season for all Federal Benefits. This is a great time to review your plans and make any necessary adjustments.
Be sure to watch your emails, as many activities are planned in November and December. Also, we learned that we are in contention again for being a Top Workplace in Oklahoma! We won’t know how we ranked until early December, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Thanks again for all you do; For staying true to the mission, making a difference in our community, and being innovative and dedicated employees. We thank you for being ambassadors of meaningful work. We appreciate you!
Kindly,
Michelle Coppedge
Director, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
