U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Speech by Director James B. King

Awards Ceremony

August 25, 1997

Honoring OPM Organizations

Good morning, and thank you all for being here.

Id like to ask everyone to face the flag while we play our National Anthem. Thank you.

Its my privilege today to present awards to seven employee organizations that have contributed so much during my four and a half years as OPM's director.

We've accomplished a lot since 1993. We've reshaped and refocused this agency.

We've survived some hard times and gone on to new levels of achievement. And we couldn't have done it without the support, advice, and partnership of our employees and of the organizations were honoring today.

We live in a time of change.

Sometimes it is our instinct to resist it, because we like things the way they are.

But change is like a locomotive speeding down the track. We can stand in front of it and wave our arms and try to manage it -- but that strategy doesn't often succeed.

That's what we've done at OPM. We've embraced the reality of change and worked to make the best of it, for our employees and our customers.

Now Id like to present our employee organizations The Directors Citation for Partnership and Public Service Cooperation.

Let me read the inscription on these awards:

In recognition and appreciation for your continual support for making the U.S. Office of Personnel Management the model agency. Your candid advice, wise counsel and professional assistance have had a profound and positive effect on improving the way this agency serves its customers. Your efforts have demonstrated that, working together, we can make a difference in making a better OPM and a better America.

Our first recipient is the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 32, represented by Tom Moore and Sherman Benton.

Next, the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2450, Alex Weichey.

AFGE officers have represented their membership and worked with other agency leaders to solve the tough issues we've faced since 1993. AFGE leaders and membership helped us make the hard decisions on downsizing, and worked as peer counselors to help make the agency's career transition programs a great success, with more than 94 percent of our departing workers placed in new jobs or making another career move.

At this agency, thanks to our unions, we've shown that partnership can work.

Our next award goes to Blacks In Government, represented by James Sparrow.

BIG has done an outstanding job of creating unity and opportunity among our African-American employees, and I congratulate you on all your successful programs on behalf of your members. You've helped make diversity a reality at OPM.

The Civil Service Recreation Association, Gertrude Landis.

CSRA has contributed to the OPM community in a great many ways, from the annual volleyball tournament to helping with the OPM Combined Federal Campaign, and I thank you for all your enthusiasm and support.

Next, we honor the Federal Managers Association, OPM Chapter, represented by Gary Smith.

OPM's FMA chapter received its charter in 1994 and has been a strong voice on behalf of middle management and supervisors. FMA has served on the National Partnership Council and on many agency task forces, and has provided valuable advice on OPM's reinvention and on better management and increased productivity.

The Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employees, OPM chapter, represented by Ron Patterson.

GLOBE has promoted diversity and inclusion within the OPM family, and understanding among all employees, and we thank you and salute you for all your contributions.

Next, we recognize OPM-DEAF, which represents our hearing-impaired employees and has done so much to advance their interests and increase their opportunities.

Representing them, we have Dorothy Staffanic.

And finally, the OPM chapter of my favorite orators, the Toastmasters, represented by Pat Brown

Toastmasters has helped many OPM employees improve their public speaking and thereby increase their self-confidence and leadership abilities. And I know they have a lot of fun, too. Thank you for everything you've done.

Lets have a hand for all of these groups.

I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have contributed to the reinvention of this agency. If I've ever looked good in these past four and a half years, its been because of you.

Now we have a fine lunch awaiting us -- thank you for being here and God bless you.

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Web page created 23 October 1997