A word from the CEO
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had an opportunity to meet with all SAHA employees to discuss our three new priorities:
1) Improving the quality of life for our clients;
2) Preserving and expanding our affordable
housing;and
3) Strengthening our basic services and systems.
It was very important to me to personally share this information with each of you, because it will take all of us, working together, to make progress on these goals. These priorities are very challenging; yet, I believe they are definitely within our reach. In fact, many activities are already underway.
Improving the quality of life for our clients
SAHA’s commitment to improving the quality of life for our clients is essential to ensuring our clients have a safe and secure home, and that they have access to the educational and employment resources necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. We will initiate efforts internally and engage local partner agencies in these efforts. Much of this activity will be incorporated into our new Moving To Work program, which is presently in the planning process for May 2010 implementation.
Preserving and expanding our affordable housing
SAHA is a nationally recognized leader in the field of affordable housing development. Within the past 3 years, SAHA has added more than 3,000 housing units valued at nearly $285 million, and the work continues at four new construction sites: Victoria Commons, San Juan Homes, Sutton Homes and Artisan at Creekside, and at two modernization sites: Blanco Apartments and Lewis Chatham Apartments. SAHA is also focusing on expanding our voucher programs, and has recently added 70 more vouchers to our Veterans Assistance and Supportive Housing program and 100 more vouchers to our Disaster Housing Assistance Program. We will continue to pursue additional funding as opportunities become available.
Strengthening our basic services and systems
Training is underway on SAHA’s many new policies and procedures, and college classes have begun at SAHA. SAHA also has a very generous tuition reimbursement program, which employees can choose to use at any accredited college or university of their choosing. We have established challenging, yet achievable, goals within each of the housing programs, and we are beginning to develop plans for those efforts, as well.
As I also mentioned in our recent meetings, a key component to success of these three priorities is our organizational culture. Every employee, at every level, from the executive office to the field line, without exception, is expected to reflect and exemplify SAHA’s core values:
1. Always do the right thing.
2. Demonstrate compassion and respect in every interaction
3. Strive for excellence in all operations
4. Be responsible stewards of the public trust.
Additionally, we are expected to:
a) Consider a wide range of alternatives when making decisions, solving problems and developing plans;
b) Take responsibility for communications and performance; and
c) Perform work responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity, professionalism and honesty.
Our organizational culture defines who we are, and it starts with each of us. I commit to each of you that I will adopt, practice and exemplify these core values. I invite each of you to do the same. Together we can make an extraordinary impact improving the lives of individuals and families in San Antonio.
Lourdes Castro Ramirez
President and CEO
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Strive for Excellence
Be a Team Player!
Have you ever watched your favorite sports team lose a must-win game and immediately thought, they’re out … they’re history … the season is over? Did you find yourself thinking, “With all the talent this team has, how in the world can this happen?” Then, the coach answers your question in a post-game interview: “We’re loaded with superstars, but today, we just didn’t work together … as a team.” What a lesson.
SAHA is like many sports teams, where you have a collection of individuals who must work together to accomplish a common goal. While the players contribute in varying degrees, no one person can produce a victory on his or her own.
Each member of the team has a role with a variety of responsibilities. Sometimes you shoot, sometimes you assist, sometimes you block, sometimes you’re in the spotlight and sometimes you’re in the trenches.
Are you a team player at work? Do you give your best effort regardless of the role you play? Are you willing to do the things that are needed to help the team succeed? Do you work at being cooperative and communicate well with your co-workers? Are you considerate of others? Do you accept and value others’ ideas even when they are different than yours? Can you be counted on to carry your share of the load?
There is one thing for sure, and that is, in the end, everyone on the team ends up being an equal winner or an equal loser.
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Alamo Colleges Comes to SAHA
September is the month that offers the first of many new and familiar things --- like the first significant rain in months, the first football games and the first day of classes.
Alamo Colleges has come to SAHA to deliver college credit courses at times and locations convenient to SAHA employee/students. Additionally, the classes are offered at a significant discount. Employees have the option of taking these classes for college credit, or a professional development certificate.
After months of planning, this new initiative kicked off on September 15, 2009, by offering two classes open to employees at all levels within the organization. They included a course in Supervision and another in Customer Relations. Each class started with 18 students.
The expectation is that more classes will be offered at SAHA locations and more employees will take advantage of this program. Ultimately, the objective is to increase the education and skill levels of employees in order to more effectively meet the goals of SAHA.
Classes are open to all full-time SAHA employees. Don’t forget about SAHA’s tuition reimbursement program, which can be used at any accredited college or university of your choosing.
For more information contact: Gerald Avila at 477-6867 or at Gerald_Avila@saha.org.
SAHA Toastmasters Club
The SAHA Toastmasters Club would like to invite all employees interested in developing their speaking skills and learning new leadership techniques to visit during any club meeting. The club meets on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of the month in the Central Office boardroom from 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM (bring your lunch).
Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization established in 1924 in Santa Ana, California, by Ralph C. Smedley, who conceived and developed the idea of helping others to speak more effectively. Today, Toastmasters International has 211,000 members in 10,500 clubs in 90 countries. Another benefit of this program, in addition to learning to speak more effectively, is the development of leadership skills such as listening, planning, motivation and team building.
The SAHA Toastmasters Club is the perfect place to develop the critical skills of communication and leadership. As a member of the club, you will enjoy an environment that is supportive, encouraging and fun. Come and visit…you are more than welcome!
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What Your Teeth Say About Your Health
 What do your pearly whites say about you? Maybe they say you do a great job brushing and flossing regularly. Then again, maybe they say it’s been ages since they last saw that dentist.
Your teeth could also be warning you of potential health problems. Some research suggests that there may be a link between advanced gum disease and heart disease, while other studies have found that pregnant women with advanced gum disease are more likely to deliver pre-term and low-birth babies. There’s also evidence that people with diabetes may be more likely to develop gum disease. Researchers are still investigating these links. Mouth sores, pain, or loose teeth could also be signs of oral cancer, or other, less serious, conditions.
Taking good care of your teeth is undoubtedly an important part of your overall health. If you can’t eat properly, you can’t get the nutrition you need.
The American Dental Association recommends good daily oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and regular professional care. Further, the ADA recommends staying away from smoking and illicit drugs, which can wreck a healthy smile.
Source: American Cancer Society
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Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for the week of October 19-23. There will be more information in the weeks to come, so keep on eye on the desktop for updates.
Contact Millie at 477-6083 or millie_clap@saha.org for questions.
Health Fair
SAHA’s Health Fair will be held Wednesday, November 18th at the Brazos Warehouse from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Flu shots will be available and free of charge to everyone with Humana insurance. For those of you who do not carry Humana insurance, the fee is $25. Family members are welcome. Children under the age of 14 must have their doctor’s permission before the flu shot can be given.
Contact Millie at 477-6083 or millie_clap@saha.org for questions.
Swine (H1N1) Influenza Tips
Symptoms – Just like any flu:
Fever
Cough
Sore Throat
Runny/stuffy nose
Body aches
Chills
Fatigue
Headache
Sometimes – diarrhea and vomiting
Prevention – Lots of common sense:
8 Wash your hands OFTEN with soap and water – antibacterial gel is BETTER.
8 Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
8 Throw away any tissue you use.
8 Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth with dirty hands – the virus can spread faster.
8 If you feel any or a combination of symptoms or just don’t feel well – GO SEE A DOCTOR AND STAY HOME. You can resume normal activity 24 hours AFTER the fever is gone.
8 If you see a co-worker who displays any flu-like symptoms, please notify management immediately so that the employee may be sent home.
8 Avoid crowds as much as possible.
FACTS:
8 Oseltamivir or zanamivir (antiviral drugs) are used to treat the swine flu.
8 The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be ready by October 15, 2009 and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and The World Health Organization (WHO) will administer the shot on a priority basis to “high risk” groups who are pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.
8 The flu shot and the H1N1 shot are not the same.
8 Eating pork is completely unrelated to the Swine Flu – it cannot be transferred in this way.
You may contact Metro Health’s Hotline (210-207-5779) or your own personal doctor for any additional questions/concerns.
For current information, please visit:
1) CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
2) WHO: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
3) Metro Health District: http://www.sanantonio.gov/health/H1N1.html
4) Local news websites
Weight-Bearing Exercise For Strong Bones
Weight-bearing exercise is essential for a lifetime of strong bones – for growing children and adults who want to increase or maintain the bone mass they have. These workouts put stress on your bones and muscles more than everyday activities do – which is a very good thing!
First, find out what’s safe for you. If you’re taking medications that may affect your balance, or if you’re at risk for bone loss, get your doctor’s OK before trying more vigorous exercises where you could fall and break a bone, such as inline skating, ice skating, or downhill skiing.
Consult a fitness trainer at your gym to verify you’re doing the following exercises properly to avoid injury and to keep your bones and muscles strong.
Racquetball, squash, and tennis
When you run around a court hitting a ball, you put stress on your arms, shoulders, wrists, hips, legs and spine, which helps them grow stronger.
Strength training
When you do repetitive motions to work against your own body weight, machine weights, or “free” weights, you strengthen both bone and muscle. Consult a trainer at your gym who can design a workout specifically for you – and who can show you how to do it correctly to avoid injury.
Golf
Walking the course, carrying a golf bag, swinging clubs – these all work together to give your hips, arms, spine, and legs a good workout.
Dance
You don’t have to dance like the stars. Just get your legs and hips moving, and your bones will benefit.
Aerobic class
A step, kickboxing, or other kind of aerobics class at your gym will give you weight-bearing exercise and help you improve your balance – a side benefit.
Walking and hiking
Whether you’re slow walking, fast walking, running, or hiking, these weight-bearing exercises can increase your bone density, especially in your hips. Hip fractures went down by 41 percent in one study of women who walked four hours a week, compared to those who walked less than an hour a week. Moving downhill or uphill will give you even better results.
Source: webmd.com; Humana.com
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HR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Marcella A. Maldonado
 My name is Marcella (Marci) Maldonado and I am the HR Assistant within the Human Resources Department at the San Antonio Housing Authority.
I came to SAHA in December 2008 as the HR Intern. I am very grateful and proud to be part of the SAHA family. Why Human Resources? I have a true passion for HR and I am dedicated to making positive contributions that will enable the department to continue to strive for excellence. My dedication and genuine efforts to my work has given me a deep sense of compassion towards the Human Resources Department and its processes. Marci’s motto: Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
As the HR Assistant for San Antonio Housing Authority, I am responsible for:
- Documenting HR department meeting minutes for the HR staff.
- Responding to inquiries regarding employee policy and procedure.
- Serving as the Records Retention Liaison coordinator for HR.
- Maintaining filing system that retains applications in accordance with the records retention laws.
- Lending direct support to HR Recruiter to include all duties and responsibilities.
- Preparing and sending correspondence to applicants regarding job status.
- Attending job fairs and maintaining employee-related contacts in the community.
- Researching best practices regarding policy and procedure, programs, and other special projects assigned by Senior HR Manager.
- Reviewing and submitting articles for the HR bi-monthly employee Insight publication.
- Lending direct support to the Leadership Program.
- Lending direct support to SAHA’s Alamo Colleges Partnership Program.
- Assisting HR personnel with all facets of their duties, as needed.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resource Management from the University of the Incarnate Word in May 2008. While attending college, I volunteered as a mentor for the “Big Brothers Big Sisters” Program, where I developed long lasting friendships. I am also a member of the San Antonio Human Resource Management Association, Inc. (SAHRMA). I plan to continue to strengthen my HR knowledge, to assist me in career advancement and ultimately reaching my long-term managerial career goal. I look forward to challenging work while growing and learning here at SAHA.
If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me.
Office Extension: 6125
E-mail: marcella_maldonado@saha.org
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A Word from the CEO