Agenda Item #4.B

	Date:	August 16, 2002
	Committee Meeting Date:
	Board Meeting Date:	September 5, 2002
	ACTION    ___      DISCUSSION   ___	INFO   X

BOARD MEMORANDUM

TO:	Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
	Board of Directors
THROUGH:	Peter M. Cipolla
	General Manager
FROM:	Scott D. Buhrer
	Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT:	"My Boss Is A Patriot" Certificate of Appreciation

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FOR INFORMATION ONLY 

BACKGROUND: 

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is an agency within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.  It was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.  Today ESGR operates through a network of more than 4,500 volunteers throughout 54 committees located in each state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The nation’s Ready Reserve components comprise approximately 50% of our total available military manpower, excluding retirees.  The current National Defense Strategy indicates that the National Guard and Reserve, while decreasing in size, will be full partners in the fully integrated Total Force.  Our Reserve forces will spend more time away from the workplace defending the nation, supporting a demanding operations tempo and training to maintain their mission readiness.

The Department of Defense tasks ESGR to “…promote both public and private understanding of the National Guard and Reserve in order to gain U.S. employer and community support through programs and personnel policies and practices that shall encourage employee and citizen participation in National Guard and Reserve programs.” (DOD Directive 1250.1) To focus this task and insure the success of our nation’s defense, which is dependent on the availability of highly trained members of the “Total Force”, the following mission statement was developed.

“Employer Support of the guard and Reserve’s mission is to obtain employer and community support to ensure the availability and readiness of Reserve forces.”

DISCUSSION: 

The National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) sponsors an awards program designed to recognize employers for employment policies and practices that are supportive of their employees’ participation in the National Guard and Reserve.  All employer recognition and awards originate from individual Reserve component members.  Depending on the degree of support, the level of recognition rises to the “Employer Support Freedom Award,” given by the Secretary of Defense.

Employer awards include:

"My Boss is a Patriot” Certificate of Appreciation
ESGR awards this certificate and a Patriot lapel pin on behalf of the Department of Defense.  This employer recognition is the most frequently presented.  A certificate is given to all employers that are nominated.  This nomination is subsequently used by the local ESGR Committee as the basis for consideration to receive higher-level awards.

Local ESGR Committee Chair’s Award
This award is given in limited numbers and presented annually by each ESGR Committee.  It is designed to recognize those employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave for military duty. 
PRO PATRIA Award
This award is presented to those employers who demonstrate exceptional support for our national defense by adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve.  Each committee may give only one PRO PATRIA annually.

Employer Support Freedom Award
The Secretary of Defense presents these awards, ESGR’s most prestigious, annually to an employer.  It recognizes unique support to National Guard and Reserve employees.  The nation’s most supportive employers receive the awards at a ceremony held annually in November.

During the time of national crisis, VTA employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve are required to face risks and hardships in defending the principles of freedom around the world and at home.  In recognition of this service to their county, the Board of Directors approved in November 1, 2001, supplemental salary and health benefits for up to six months (after exhaustion of a thirty-calendar day benefit granted by law) for eligible employees called to military service as a result of the Attack on America.  This additional benefit was approved for a time period through December 31, 2002.  The specific salary and health benefits adopted include:  1) difference of pay between military pay and VTA salary for up to 6 months beyond the legally mandated period and 2) health benefits during this same time period.

The members of the Board of Directors for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority are being recognized with the presentation of “My Boss Is A Patriot” Certificates of Appreciation, in recognition that the Board of Directors has adopted a personnel policy that supports members of the National Guard and Reserve and that clearly goes beyond what is legally required by law.  

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