By Focus Group Executive Secretariat

The command will host more than 100 hundred events across its competencies and sites during the second annual NAVAIR Teammate Appreciation Month in June.

After the first month-long appreciation celebration last year, Ed Greer, NAVAIR People Focus Group co-leader said “We plan to improve these programs and offer more for everyone across NAVAIR next year.” This year’s events include nearly 140 events compared to the couple dozen recognition events that took place last year.

The NAVAIR Teammate Appreciation Month concept originated with the Weapons Division (WD) Corporate Operations Competency in 2000. Dr. Ronald E. Smiley, the competency manager, wanted to host an event to show appreciation to WD 7.0 employees at China Lake and Point Mugu. Organizers set up the events to take place one day after the other at the sites. The event kicked off with teammates viewing the “One Team” video. Managers handed out door prizes, such as books, games, t-shirts and hats, and served refreshments. The competency leaders personally bought the door prizes and refreshments.

The NAVAIR Executive Leadership Council (ELC) adopted the event and June as a commandwide celebration based on a recommendation from the People Focus Group in response to employee feedback from the Quality of Work Life (QWL) survey.

“I was working on the QWL team at the time we were looking for ways to recognize people for their hard work and effort across the command. This was in response to what we had learn about the employees desire for formal and informal recognition,” said Grace Gabaldon, who was Smiley’s deputy during the original event. She shared how the event had worked for them in the Weapons Division, and the People Focus Group presented the idea as a teamwide initiative to the ELC for approval. The rest is history.

Numerous activities and ceremonies will highlight Teammate Appreciation Month across all of the NAVAIR sites during June. At Lakehurst, several presentations will be given that focus on the importance of each teammate’s contribution, and on June 20 there will be a picnic featuring an award distribution. At Cherry Point on June 21, there will be a 59-minute early release for employees and an after hours golf tournament will take place on June 28.

Jacksonville will see the release of the Network Magazine in June and will host a visit by Vice Adm. Joe Dyer on June 5. There will be an open house and picnic on June 13 in Orlando, while June 14 will be family night at the Orlando Rays game. Those at North Island NATEC can look forward to a Padres game on June 5, while those at the North Island Depot can attend a Padres game on June 22. A 5.4 Christmas fund-raiser will take place at China Lake and an awards luncheon will be held on June 27.

Point Mugu features Patriotic Dress Day on June 14 and an awards luncheon featuring a chance to build your own ice cream sundae. While at Patuxent River, 4.0C will hold a picnic at the Solomon’s Recreation Center on June 5, 7.5 will host a golf tournament on June 10, and there will be several opportunities for free movies and car washes throughout the month.

See the matrix of commandwide Teammate Appreciation Month events at http://pao.navair.navy.mil/private/teammate.html to help plan attendance as you work and travel around the team.