ALCOAST 393/08
COMDTNOTE 5050
SUBJ: FALL 2008 DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (DAC) CONFERENCE-
SOLICITATION FOR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
1. THE COMMANDANTS FALL 2008 DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (DAC)
CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED TO CONVENE THE WEEK OF 20 OCTOBER 2008 AT
COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS.  TO ENSURE AN INFORMATIVE, ENGAGING, AND
PRODUCTIVE CONFERENCE, COAST GUARD MEMBERS, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND
AUXILIARISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL INPUT ON
DIVERSITY RELATED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.  TOPICS SHOULD BE RELEVANT
TO THE ROLE OF THE DAC AND ADDRESS EITHER ETHNIC, GENDER,
WORKFORCE, OR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY ISSUES.  EXAMPLES OF
PREVIOUS TOPICS BROUGHT FORWARD INCLUDE THE PERCEIVED NEED FOR
INCREASED WOMEN AND MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
(ORGANIZATIONALLY
AND AT THE UNIT LEVEL), ISSUES REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY OF CHILDCARE, POST-EXIT INTERVIEWS FOR DEPARTING
MEMBERS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REVIEW
PROGRAM, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
2. THIS SOLICITATION IS YOUR INVITATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
SHAPE AND INFLUENCE THE FALL CONFERENCE ON MATTERS REGARDING
WORKPLACE CLIMATE AND DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT ISSUES.  TOPICS OF
INTEREST MUST BE SUBMITTED TO LTJG ERIN CALDWELL (ERIN.CALDWELL(AT)
USCG.MIL) NO LATER THAN 15 SEPTEMBER 2008.  DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED
VOLUME OF CORRESPONDENCE, SUBMISSIONS ARE REQUESTED TO BE LIMITED
TO TWO RECOMMENDED TOPICS, AND EACH TOPIC LIMITED TO A CONCISE
PARAGRAPH FRAMING THE ISSUE.  MEMBERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO
DISCUSS THEIR PROPOSED TOPICS WITH THEIR LOCAL COMMAND AND COMMMAND
CHIEF PRIOR TO SUBMITTING.
3. THE DAC WAS ESTABLISHED TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS
OF DIVERSITY ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD RANKS AND
COMMUNITIES.  THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE PURSUIT OF DIVERSITY
OBJECTIVES BY EVALUATING AND RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENTS TO HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES IN THE WORKPLACE TO THE
COMMANDANT.
4. THE COUNCIL MEETS SEMI-ANNUALLY (FALL/SPRING), AND IS COMPOSED
OF 20 MEMBERS REPRESENTING TEAM COAST GUARD (ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE,
CIVILIAN AND AUXILIARY), AND REFLECTS THE COAST GUARDS
GEOGRAPHICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND GENDER DIVERSITY.
THE CHIEF OF THE DIVERSITY STAFF, COMDT (CG-12B), SERVES AS THE
COUNCILS CHAIR.  THE ETHNIC, GENDER, AND WORKFORCE POLICY ADVISORS,
AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS ALSO SERVE AS
COUNCIL MEMBERS.  THE COUNCILS DELIBERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ARE BRIEFED TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
CONFERENCE.
5. THE INTENT OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR MEMBERS
TO COMMUNICATE DIVERSITY CONCERNS TO THE COMMANDANT VIA THE DAC.
THIS MESSAGE IS NOT INTENDED TO SUPERSEDE THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
PROCESS AND A MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT GRIEVANCES OR
COMPLAINTS RELATED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICIES.
6. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE DAC, INCLUDING A LISTING
OF CURRENT DAC MEMBERS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.USCG.MIL/DIVERSITY. PAST CONFERENCE CHARTERS, REPORTS AND OTHER
INFORMATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED FROM THE DAC HOMEPAGE.
7. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS YEARS FALL DAC CONFERENCE IS
ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.  QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MESSAGE OR THE
DAC SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LTJG ERIN M. CALDWELL (ERIN.CALDWELL(AT)
USCG.MIL) OR (202) 475-5248.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
9. RDML DANIEL A. NEPTUN, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.