Registrar of Voters Needs Your Help

From Michael Vu, Registrar of Voters:

The presidential primary election arrives in a few days! We’re ready here at the Registrar of Voters. But we could still use your help — or more to the point, your voices. All 17,000-plus County voices.

We need you to spread a simple message to your families, your friends, their friends, everyone you know. Act early!

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare and vote. Check to make sure you’re registered. Make sure you can vote for the presidential candidate you want. Be prepared. Give yourself time because we’re expecting lines. If you aren’t sure you’ll have enough time Election Day, vote early.

We’ve said all of this in the past. But it’s more important this year than ever. That’s because two particular issues will converge for the first time – the complexity of the presidential primary and the ability to register or re-register at any polling place through Election Day. Together, both could spell long lines for voters if they don’t act early.

Here are a few other tips you can pass on to make it easier for everyone:

Mail Ballots: There are still a million ballots in the hands of voters. If you know someone who still has their mail ballot, spread the word to vote and return it in two convenient ways. They can drop it in the mailbox, which happens to be postage paid. Or, if they think time is running short, drop it off at one of our 61 Mail Ballot Drop Off Locations, which all happen to be at libraries!

If a mail voter you know decides they would rather go to the polls and vote, make sure they bring their mail ballot with them to turn in. Not doing so means additional hassle.

Not Registered? No problem: Get to the Registrar of Voters office or to one of our four new satellite voting locations before Election Day. The satellite locations will be open starting this Saturday, February 29.

You can get all this info and more at SDVote.com.

Help us spread the message. Act early! Even a couple of days will help save time. So, tell your family. Tell your friends.

Thanks for your help!

New Option to Report “Phishy” Email

Your Outlook now has a new feature to report emails you suspect of “phishing,” a tactic scammers use to get you to reveal private information. With the new “Phish Alert Report” button, it takes one click.

This added feature provides a safe and efficient way to forward email threats to the County technology security team for analysis and deletes the email from your inbox to prevent future exposure.

If you believe that an email you receive is suspicious, click “Phish Alert Report” in the Outlook toolbar. Of course, you can still manually forward their suspicious emails to Spam.Protection@sdcounty.ca.gov.

The new button was deployed to help employees report possible phishing emails and make the County Technology Office’s response more efficient.

County Selects Contractor for Southeastern Live Well Center

The County has selected PCL Construction and Steinberg Hart/RJC Architects to begin negotiations and contract finalization for the design and construction of the new Southeastern Live Well Center. Learn more about the next steps for the 80,000-square-foot facility.

Schedule Your Screening, Get $100 Wellness Incentive

It’s that time again! Schedule your biometric screening, submit your completed forms, and collect $100 for this year’s Wellness Incentive Program.

No need to wait for the onsite screenings – you can schedule with your own health care provider now. If you’d prefer to wait to have your free biometric screening conducted at a County worksite, the March schedule is posted on the Employee Wellness page, and the April schedule will be posted when available. Kaiser Permanente and VEBA will conduct the onsite screenings for all employees regardless of your current health insurance provider.

Employees can submit completed WIP forms online. Employees in Sheriff, DA, and SDCERA should email completed forms to DHRWellness.FGG@sdcounty.cagov

For more information about the Wellness Incentive Program, view a list of frequently asked questions.

Employees requiring accommodation should email DHRWellness.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Friday Photo: Stunning Sunset

The most beautiful sunsets are the ones we share! Human Services Specialist Amer Hamdani shared this pastel sunset captured outside the El Cajon Family Resource Center.

Share your fabulous photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every Friday.

See the Friday Photo gallery.

PerkSpot: Save on Tax Preparation Services

April 15 is quickly approaching. The deadline can be emotionally taxing, but saving on tax preparation services is easy. Employee can save up to $20 off TurboTax, or use H&R Block and take 20% off online or $25 off on in-office services through PerkSpot.

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts through more than 400 service providers and retailers. Go to sdcounty.perkspot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to register.

Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.

Receive a Thank You Gift for Donating to CECO

It is now even more rewarding to donate to the County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO). The nonprofit is awarding gifts of appreciation to both new and existing donors.

“CECO would not be able to provide grants to local nonprofit programs and support employees in crisis without the generosity and loyalty of employees who contribute,” said CECO’s President Mavette Sadile. “This is CECO’s way of saying thank you.”

Through employee and retirees’ donations, CECO has distributed more than $6.9 million throughout the San Diego region to local nonprofit organizations and employees experiencing a one-time financial crisis since its founding in 1956.

In the new “Contributors Club,” supporters donating up to $9.99 per pay period will receive a heart badge clip, $10 to $19.99 will receive a CECO notebook, and $20 or more will receive a CECO blanket. Payroll deduction donations must be in place for at least three months. See CECO pledge instructions.

You can also earn appreciation gifts for one-time donations. Contact your CECO Department Representative to make a one-time donation.

Rewards are made possible by a grant. One hundred percent of donations made to CECO continue to go to the community.

For additional information on the Contributors Club, visit CECO online.

Friday Photo: Balloon Delivery

Employees of the Recorder/Clerk division of ARCC celebrate one of their busiest days of the year in a sweet way. While more than 100 couples were saying “I do” on Friday, employees showed appreciation to their coworkers with balloons and candy-grams. In its fifth year, this heartfelt event is now a Valentine’s Day tradition. More than 1,000 candy valentines and more than 700 balloons were delivered this year.

Share your fabulous photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every Friday.

See the Friday Photo gallery.

Do You Love Your Heart?

County employees have so much love this Valentine’s Day! Many of us are getting a free blood pressure screening at a Love Your Heart event. Find a County facility and take charge of your health! Then send in a photo of yourself getting your free screening or with your Love Your Heart sticker.

Fereon Meferia getting his blood pressure check

AIS Admin loves their hearts.

Rose Minakawa and Regina Tongson doing some free blood pressure screening at California Children Services San Diego

Take Charge of Your Heart Health on Valentine's Day

Gulliver, the San Diego Gulls mascot, and Hearty the Heart at the Love Your Heart campaign launch.

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? If it’s been a while, this month might be a good time to turn your attention to this matter of the heart.

As an incentive to get people to take charge of their health, the San Diego Gulls will be offering a 27% discount on tickets to people who get their blood pressure checked. The Gulls are a partner of Live Well San Diego, the County’s vision for healthy, safe and thriving residents and communities.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the second-leading cause of death in San Diego County. Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and a family history of heart disease can put someone at greater risk of heart disease.

Last year, more than 43,000 people got their blood pressure checked at Love Your Heart sites in the United States and Mexico.

Find Love Your Heart at a County facility or screening site near you and take charge of your health!