A Human Resources Newsletter
March 2022
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The Human Resources Newsletter will be highlighting
the staff and accomplishments within the divisions of the
eight departments at the City of Roswell
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. . . Recreation & Parks Divisions . . .
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The Recreation & Parks Department is an industry leader, and the City is served through the following divisions:
- Recreation, Cultural and Historic Services
- Operations, Athletics and Special Services
As we launch into our season of spectacular events, camps and warmer weather, we are grateful to everyone who joined us in 2021. Our team is more excited than ever to continue into 2022 and work hard to improve the lives of the people in our community. I am proud to lead this team, and together we strive to achieve excellence in our work lives.
Jeff Leatherman, Director
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Steven Malone, Deputy Director Recreation, Cultural and Historic Services
Steven started with the City of Roswell, part-time, in December of 1999 and has worked full-time within the Department for over 20 years. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially at the beach or the lake. Steven has two daughters, who have both grown up participating in our Department’s programs and events. Steven may be reached at smalone@roswellgov.com.
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Rusty Pruitt, Deputy Director
Operations, Athletics and Special Events
Rusty was born and raised in Roswell and has worked for the City almost 32 years. He participated in sports through the Recreation division and worked part-time for the City growing up scorekeeping, umpiring baseball, and refereeing basketball. Rusty, his mom, wife and 4 kids all graduated from Roswell High School. He then went on to play basketball at University of West Georgia.
Rusty’s been married for 31 years with four great kids, 3 girls and a boy. Two of his girls were and are college athletes in soccer and basketball. Rusty says, “ I live, work, and play in Roswell.” Rusty may be reached at rpruitt@roswellgov.com.
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Dena Bush
Historic Manager
Dena Bush is a public history and museum professional with experience in preservation, interpretation, and operations. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public History and previously worked for organizations such as the University of West Florida and the West Florida Historic Preservation Trust as well as the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. She is currently the Historic Assets Manager for the City of Roswell, overseeing supervision of Roswell’s historic house museums – Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, Smith Plantation, and Mimosa Hall. The Historic Assets Division includes a team of full-time operations, maintenance, and education staff as well as part-time docent tour guides and a robust volunteer program. Future planning and development will include Mimosa Hall & Gardens as well as collaboration and partnership with other landmarks, organizations, and City assets, such as our historic cemeteries and Old Mill Machine Shop at Vickery Creek Park. Throughout her career, what has fascinated Dena is observing how people interact with historic structures, landscapes, or gardens and subsequently why they may assign value to their experiences. She is always open for conversation and would love to hear about your thoughts on museums, history, and how or why you connect with our sites. Dena may be reached at dbush@roswellgov.com.
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Savannah Douthat
Marketing and Communications Manager
Savannah started with the Recreation Parks Historic and Cultural Affairs Department in November 2020. A Georgia State Policy School grad, she has worked within marketing, communications and public-private partnerships, programming and ecosystem projects both in the Atlanta and internationally. In her free time, Savannah enjoys spending time with her husband and new little one, Colin. She is passionate about advocacy work, her family, reading and anything caffeinated. Savannah may be reached at sdouthat@roswellgov.com.
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Merrie Greenfield
Recreation Services Manager
Merrie joined the City of Roswell part-time and then transitioned to full-time and has held various roles. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she majored in Finance at the Terry College of Business.
Merrie oversees the Health & Wellness, Aquatics division that focuses on community health & wellness, as well as operating the indoor therapeutic pool, outdoor pool and the two spray grounds. She also manages traditional and specialty camps, all things culinary and family fun events such as Breakfast with Santa, Halloween Fun House, Father/Daughter Valentine Dance and so much more. Lastly, she has the pleasure of supervising the Active Adult and Adaptive programs. We offer an array of programs at the Adult Recreation Center for the 50 + population. There is truly something for everyone. My division is also always looking for volunteers to assist with our adaptive recreation programs and special events. Please feel free to reach out to me for further information on how to become a RAVE (Roswell Adaptive Volunteer Experience) member. Merrie may be reached at mgreenfield@roswellgov.com.
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Beckie Hawkins
Cultural Manager
Beckie has been with the City for over 5 years, managing the Cultural Arts Division of 7 full-time members, which oversees the City’s creative, performing and cultural art initiatives, including artistic programs for youth and adults and cultural events such as Roswell Roots and productions at the Cultural Arts Center. Beckie has a strong background in the arts and community activism and has served on the boards of several nonprofits – currently for Paint Love. Beckie has been supervising program and events, along with community engagement strategies, for nonprofits and public entities for over 10 years.
Beckie earned her BFA in Theatre Studies at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. She lives in Woodstock with her partner, an elementary school science teacher, and their 2 dogs and 8 chickens, and especially enjoys the time she spends being Aunt B to her adorable nephew. Beckie may be reached at bhawkins@roswellgov.com.
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Taylor Smith
Parks Manager
Taylor has been with the City of Roswell for 16 years. He started working in Athletics for the City where he was involved in football, baseball, rugby, softball, lacrosse, basketball, and multiple other sports. In 2016, he moved over to the Parks division and served as the Project Coordinator where he was involved in Project Management for the Department’s Capital Projects for multiple years. In 2020 Taylor was promoted to the Park Services Manager where he manages all things related to Parks, Facilities, and Capital Projects. Outside of work, he spends most of his free time with his wife and his 8-year old twins. Taylor may be reached at tsmith@roswellgov.com.
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Aly Wade
Athletics Manager
Aly has worked in the Athletics division of the Recreation Parks Historic and Cultural Affairs Department for 25 years. In her free time, she likes to play soccer and spend time with family and friends. Aly visits her husband’s family in Wales as often as possible and loves spending time at the beach. She has a daughter in middle school who has grown up participating in and helping out with various activities and camps, a true “Rec Kid”. Aly may be reached at awade@roswellgov.com.
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Chris Ward
Special Events Manager
Chris has been with the City for 14 years, beginning her career in Community Relations, then working as the City Hall receptionist before becoming the Deputy City Administrator’s executive assistant. In 2014, Chris became the Special Events Manager when the division was first formed, and most recently has moved with the division under Recreation and Parks. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with her two children, husband and dog Charlie! Chris may be reached at cward@roswellgov.com.
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Jimmy Yanulavich
Administrative Services Manager
Jimmy grew up in Roswell and has worked full time for the City for 22 years; he currently supervises registration, budgeting and the administrative tasks for the Department. Prior to his employment with the City, he played sports, worked part time, umpired, refereed and did scorekeeping within the Department. Through his career, Jimmy has had many responsibilities, including softball, teen basketball and adult athletics.
Jimmy’s parents were both active in volunteering for the Recreation Department and each of them served on the Recreation Commission, and he also has 2 sisters who grew up playing softball as well. Jimmy is an avid runner and you will likely see him out running the sidewalks and trails in the City. Jimmy may be reached at jyanulavich@roswellgov.com.
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. . . Employee Recognition . . .
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Recreation & Parks Annual Luncheon
An employee luncheon for all full time staff was held on Friday, February 25th. The following employees were recognized and received awards from Jeff Leatherman, Department Director.
- Employee of the Year: Antonio Wilkes
- Director’s Award: Jessica Leonard & Mary Rummell
- Jeff Pruitt Creating Community Award: Merrie Greenfield
- Program and Event All-Star: Youth Day & Fall Farm Day
- Program & Event Innovation: Creation Station
- Outstanding Park & Facility Staff: Andra Pickens
- Administrative Staff Award: Mark Holder
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New Director, Environmental/Public Works
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Sharon Izzo was recently promoted as the
Director of Environmental/Public Works (EPW)
at the City of Roswell.
Sharon joined the City in 2016 as EPW’s first Support Services Manager, and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2018. While at the City, she has been involved in several key projects including the East Alley Improvement Project, Myrtle Street/Zion Circle Paver Project, and most recently the construction of the new Solid Waste Transfer Station.
Before coming to the City of Roswell, Sharon worked in the private industry for several years as a Senior Project Engineer before working for the City of Sandy Springs as a Senior Water Resources Engineer. While working for Sandy Springs, she managed numerous stormwater and capital improvement projects, taking them from concept through construction.
Sharon graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Georgia and Maryland. She graduated from Leadership North Fulton in 2019, and is an active member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) as the Southeast Stormwater Associations (SESWA).
EPW is responsible for a range of environmental services for the City and its citizens, including production and distribution of drinking water for a portion of the City, solid waste management, stormwater management and watershed protection, and environmental education and enforcement. EPW is also responsible for the City Fleet Services that provides vehicle and equipment repairs, the fueling system, and together with Finance, manages the vehicle leasing program.
Sharon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience after working in the industry for over 30 years managing a wide variety of projects. She may be reached at sizzo@roswellgov.com.
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. . . Performance Evaluations . . .
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Performance Evaluation season is upon us. This is a formal opportunity for each employee to meet with their supervisor and discuss past performance and future goals.
The City of Roswell’s Annual Evaluation Cycle is from May 1 – April 30. All Full Time employees, who are receiving an Annual Evaluation, are asked to complete a Self-Evaluation and turn this into your immediate supervisor. Supervisors may request part-time employees to complete a self-evaluation, but this left up to the discretion of the supervisor. Supervisors will advise employees when the self-evaluations are due based on departmental deadlines. Supervisors begin the evaluation process for each employee, who will simultaneously receive a self-evaluation; once both are complete, the supervisor and employee will meet to discuss the evaluation.
Not sure if you need to complete a self-evaluation or will receive an evaluation? The following guidelines will assist in making that determination:
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Full Time Employees (Not in Introductory Period as of February 1)
- Complete the 2021 Employee Self-Evaluation
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Full Time Employees In Introductory Period (or it ends February 1 or after)
- Continue meeting with your immediate supervisor on the Introductory Period cycle (3, 6, 9, and 12 months)
- No need to complete the self-evaluation unless instructed by your immediate supervisor for the 12 month evaluation
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Part Time Employees Hired before February 1, 2021
- Self-evaluations not required but your supervisor may request it.
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Part Time Employees Hired after February 1, 2021
- Evaluations and self-evaluations are not required due to the recent date of hire
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. . . Roswell University . . .
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Online Training Opportunities
through SmarterU
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Professional Development
We all have things we want to improve, right?
You can utilize SmarterU to focus on improving your Behavior Competencies skills to be more successful at work!
The Professional Development Series has a number of topics, and each one has multiple videos that can help you address those issues in a timely manner.
The topics are listed below:
- Customer Service
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- Results Orientation
- Accountability
- Communication
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Creativity and Innovation
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Team Leadership
- Performance Management
So, click on the link to get started, or log onto SmarterU at your earliest convenience! This course can be found under “RU Professional Development Series” in the SmarterU Learner Dashboard.
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Welcome February New Hires/Rehires!
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Kola Adelugba
Building Ops Tech II
Administration
Yul Anderson
Budget Analyst
Finance
Marcos Fernandez
Police Officer II
Police
Robert Heinemann
Police Officer I
Police
Robyn Kenner
Executive Assistant, Mayor
Administration
Kiley Norris
Police Officer I
Police
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Samantha Salathe
Police Officer I
Police
Scott Tkach
City Engineer
Community Development
Zeki Ziarah
Equipment Operator I
Environmental/Public Works
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Congratulations on Your Promotion!
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Nicole Brook
R&P Area Coordinator
Recreation & Parks
Corey King
PT Firefighter/Paramedic
Fire
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Sharon Izzo
Director
Environmental/Public Works
Phillip Koutnik
Police Officer II
Police
Adriel Rodriguez
Planner II
Community Development
Kristen Sparrow
HR & Benefits Coordinator
Administration
Eddie Williams
Crew Worker I
Recreation & Parks
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. . . Benefits/Payroll . . .
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Human Resources Welcomes Kristen Sparrow
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The HR team is excited to welcome Kristen Sparrow as the new HR & Benefits Coordinator! Kristen joined the City in December of 2019 as an Administrative Specialist II in the Recreation & Parks Department.
In her new role, she will be assisting new hires with their benefits as well as assisting all employees with any benefits or ICMA related issues. She will also be supporting the HR team in a variety of ways including assisting payroll when needed. You may reach Kristen at 770-594-6444 or ksparrow@roswellgov.com.
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COVID-19
For the most recent updates for international travel, contact Heidi Weis at Human Resources.
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Calendar of Wellness Classes
Here is a listing of all the wonderful opportunities at the City of Roswell
to stay healthy!
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Existing Classes
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Walking: Join Hydee Weis, the employee Wellness Coordinator, for a walk at the Employee Entrance City Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This is a great way to get to know your coworkers! Classes are 50 minutes to 1 hour long and are low impact.
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Boot Camp/Circuit Training: Work with a personal trainer in a group setting at different exercise stations. The class will consist of activities to increase your heart rate and endurance while strengthening and building your major muscle groups. No class will ever be the same! Each class will constantly switch from Hi-Lo cardio to weight training to plyometric to ab work. Classes are Monday and Wednesday, 12:00 to 1:00, at the Bill Johnson Community Building. (Note: This class is cancelled March 7 and 9)
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Yoga: Enjoy the benefits of this powerful exercise for the mind and body. Classes take place at City Hall, Room 220, on Thursday at 12:00; these 1-hour classes can accommodate all levels and limitations. Do you want to sign up or be added to a mailing list for updates? Hydee may be reached at hweis@roswellgov.com
Future Classes
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Cardio Fusion: This combo class includes high-impact aerobic activity—such as Latin beats, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Line Dancing. On Tuesdays, we add Body Sculpting, which includes 30 minutes of weights, focusing on arms, legs, and core. Classes are 1 hour long total. To enroll, contact hweis@roswellgov.com (Minimum number of participants: 6)
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We will be walking on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
each week!
Meet us at the “Employee Entrance” at
12:00 for a 50-minute walk.
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To All Wellness Program Participants
Your wellness program portal is open!
To register:
Once you are registered, you will have access to the City of Roswell Wellness Program. Contact portalsupport@healthstatinc.com with any program-related questions.
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The City sponsored a blood drive with LifeSouth on February 1st, and a total of 75 lives will be saved ☺.
Each blood donation can save up to 3 lives.
We appreciate the employees’ commitment!
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Communication Skills in a Virtual World
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ZOOM meetings, email communication, texts, etc.
It’s easy for details to get lost in the translation without intentional communication!
Join us to discuss tools and strategies for effective virtual communication.
March 9, 2022
1:30 – 2:30
Register by clicking this link
Your EAP Provider Name: City of Roswell
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SmartDollar: Financial Wellness
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If you feel like the price of groceries has gotten out of control, you’re not going crazy. Our State of Personal Finance study found that 82% of people have noticed higher prices at the grocery store in the last three months. And they’re right. Since January 2020, the price of groceries has jumped 7%! While some of those price hikes were because of food shortages from panic buying and factory shutdowns, the price surges are still happening (gee, thanks inflation). In January 2021, food prices increased 0.9% from December. That’s nuts! And it can make figuring out how to save money on groceries feel almost impossible.
The average cost of monthly groceries for one person ranges from $223 to $410. And when it comes to a family of four, the average cost for their monthly grocery bill shoots up to $863. Yikes!
Sure, grocery prices are hitting ridiculous prices that make you want to cry. But you don’t have to give up and toss your budget out the window. And you definitely don’t have to spend an arm and a leg (or starve!). Here are 30 easy ways to go grocery shopping on a budget!
1. Redefine dinner.
If the word dinner makes you picture a big homemade meal with a nice cut of meat, two steaming sides of fresh veggies from the farmers market, a warm loaf of French bread, and a chocolate dessert—chill out and give yourself a break. This isn’t 1952, and supper doesn’t have to be a big feast. Your family will survive on BLTs, beans, omelets or a big salad a few times a week.
2. Crunch some numbers while you shop.
If you keep a running tally of how much money is in your cart, you’ll save yourself from any surprises when you get up to the checkout counter. Pull up the calculator on your phone and keep track of all those veggies, fruits and other staple items you’re putting in your cart. This might make you stop and ask yourself, Wait, do I really need that fancy $5 sparkling water that isn’t on sale?
3. Round up your grocery cost estimates.
This is a fun little trick to play on yourself when you’re stumped for how to save money on groceries. While you’re walking around with your calculator, round up each item’s price. The $1.49 product becomes $2, that $7.75 item becomes $8—you get the idea. If you do this for everything in your cart, you’ll still know roughly what you’re spending, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you’re at the checkout counter and come in under budget every time.
4. Raid your pantry.
Challenge yourself to look through your pantry (or fridge) and see what kinds of meals you can throw together with the ingredients you already have. Who says you have to stock up on more groceries when there are perfectly good chicken thighs shoved in the back of your freezer and a couple unopened cans of black beans and salsa on your shelves? You might still need to buy a few items, but you’ll save a lot by using food you already have.
5. Think before you buy in bulk.
Buying in bulk is amazing . . . when it actually saves you money. Don’t assume that the big bulk buys at the discount stores are automatically the cheaper option. When you’re grocery shopping on a budget, be sure to stop and compare the price per unit or ounce for the item you’re buying. As tempting as it is to stock up, don’t buy more than you really need—especially when it comes to items that go bad. Buying bulk cereal might be a great investment for a family of four, but you should probably skip that 40-count of Greek yogurt if it’s just you.
Do you want to learn about the other 25 ways to save on groceries? Click here!
Grocery Shopping on a Budget Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
A few new habits can help you lower your monthly grocery bill, stick to your budget, and meet your money goals faster. That means you’ll have more cash to pay down debt, invest for the future, or save for something fun—like a babysitter and a nice meal out where someone else cooks and cleans up!
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SmarterU can help you with your own personal development. Explore the different courses to find one that works for you.
10 Benefits of Daily Routines
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This video course explains how to add structure to your day to improve your organization and productivity. From this lesson, learners will see how routines can help you develop good habits, attain greater efficiency, and reduce your stress levels. If you follow your routine, you will see dramatic improvements in your lifestyle, mental health, and work performance.
You can find this in “Courses by Category” under the “Personal Development” heading in the SmarterU Learner Dashboard.
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. . . City of Roswell Special Events . . .
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Here are just a few of the events coming in March:
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Eleanor Roosevelt Visits Roswell: A Theatrical Performance at Mimosa Hall & Gardens, March 5, 19 and 26
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Roswell Recreation Summer Registration Begins, March 7 at 9:00 AM
- “Clarinda Speaks, The Life, Labor, and Destiny of a 19th Century Black Woman” at Smith Plantation, March 12 and 26 at 11:30 AM
- “Where the Wild Things Are“, Roswell Dance Starz at Cultural Arts Center, March 12 at 3:00 and 7:00 PM
- Roswell Sunday Pops Series Presents An Irish Heart: Chloe Agnew and The Atlanta Pops, March 13 at 7:00 PM
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- Protecting Georgia’s Pollinators, March 8 at 7:00 PM
- All About Plant Toxins, March 13 at 2:00 PM
- Lawn Alternatives for a Healthier Environment, March 20 at 2:00 PM
- Introduction to Hydroponics, March 27 at 2:00 PM
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Want to Receive Roswell Employee e-Notifications?
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You can sign-up for Roswell e-notifications or change your e-notification preferences at any time! Navigate to the intranet and click “I Want To…” at the top of the page. Click “Receive Notifications by E-mail,” or click here. Simply check or un-check the boxes to start receiving calendar updates, like “City Council Meetings,” or news updates, like “Employee Classifieds.” You can also click here to change your current preferences.
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Reach Out
If you have employee news, events, etc. that you’d like to see in the next newsletter, email mmenkus@roswellgov.com
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