ALCOAST 197/08
COMDTNOTE 12990
SUBJ: NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2008 - 27 APRIL - 3 MAY
A. DHS MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE 254-01, VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE
1.  TO RECOGNIZE AMERICAS PROUD TRADITION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND
THE MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES,
27 APRIL THROUGH 3 MAY 2008 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL
VOLUNTEER WEEK.  THIS WEEK IS ABOUT INSPIRING, RECOGNIZING AND
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SEEK WAYS TO ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK IS ABOUT SHOWING THE NATION THAT WE MEET
OUR CHALLENGES, NOT AS ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS, BUT AS MEMBERS OF A
TRUE COMMUNITY WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.  PRESIDENT GEORGE
W. BUSH ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER 13401 ON 27 APRIL 2006, TO PROMOTE
AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AMONG FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES AND FACILITATE PUBLIC RECOGNITION FOR VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY
SERVICE.
2.  THE COAST GUARD HAS LONG SUPPORTED VOLUNTARISM AS AN EXTENSION
OF ITS MISSION-RELATED SERVICE PROVIDED TO AMERICA.  AS WE APPROACH
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, SUPERVISORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THIS
EFFORT BY PERMITTING EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN VOLUNTEER
ACTIVITIES TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE.  THROUGH DIRECT INVOLVEMENT
IN LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BECOME AN
INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO OUR CITIZENS.
3.  YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS OF YOUR
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES BY ENSURING ALL ARE MADE AWARE OF THE VARIOUS
WORK SCHEDULING AND LEAVE FLEXIBILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.  OPTIONS
INCLUDE GRANTING EMPLOYEES ANNUAL LEAVE, LEAVE WITHOUT PAY, CREDIT
HOURS UNDER FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES, AND COMPENSATORY TIME OFF,
WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE. IN SOME INSTANCES,
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED IF (1) THE ABSENCE IS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) OR COAST GUARD
MISSIONS;(2) THE ABSENCE IS OFFICIALLY SPONSORED OR SANCTIONED BY
THE SECRETARY OR THE COMMANDANT; (3) THE ABSENCE WILL CLEARLY
ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR SKILLS OF THE EMPLOYEE IN
HIS OR HER CURRENT POSITION; OR (4) THE ABSENCE IS BRIEF AND IS
DETERMINED TO BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE COAST GUARD.  CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATE IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, DIRECTLY RELATED
TO THE MISSION OF DHS, MAY BE APPROVED FOR UP TO 40 HOURS OF
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, IAW REF(A).  FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE USE OF LEAVE OR ALTERNATIVE WORK
SCHEDULES, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SERVICING COMMAND STAFF ADVISOR OR
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST.
4.  MILITARY MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE THEIR REQUESTS THROUGH THE
APPROPRIATE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
5.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND TO SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, GO TO HTTP//WWW.1-
800-VOLUNTEER.ORG.
6.  EMPLOYEES AND MILITARY MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CREATE A RECORD OF THEIR
VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS BY REGISTERING WITH THE PRESIDENTS SERVICE
AWARD WEBSITE HTTP//PRESIDENTIALSERVICEAWARDS.GOV. THE GROUP CODE
FOR THE COAST GUARD IS RNP-224X.
7.  RDML DANIEL A. NEPTUN, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.
8.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED