DP&R Newsletter November 2021
Anticipating Holidays
For the past twenty months, we have endured much hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and restrictions that impacted nearly all aspects of our lives. We are also dealing with inflation, rising cases of mental health issues, and increasing crime rates in many neighborhoods and cities. While we can all appreciate how each one of us had dealt with daily challenges in our own unique ways within our families, workplace and other activities, one thing that has been clear to me is that you have been very resilient.
What has enabled us to stay resilient and persevering? I believe that three key elements have helped us: one, our family and friends; two, our commitment to key values – trust in each other and hard work; and three, a hope for the better future. I have seen time and time again the importance of families and friends where mutual support in hard times saved the day for some of us – discrete financial help; listening ears; invaluable time just to be there. I have seen many of you demonstrating commitment to key values through action by simply showing up each day at work and doing your best and believing that your teammates will do the same. And that you endure current circumstances because you know that our lives will not remain the same but will be full of hope because good people will step forward to fix problems, help one another, and not be satisfied with current circumstances.
As we approach the Holiday Season, I want to encourage you to count your blessings and let your family and friends know how much you value them. Finally, you have my commitment to do what I can to keep you informed of key issues that will affect us – COVID vaccine mandate, future work, and holiday bonus. Keep an eye out for other initiatives to make our workplace more creative and healthier. I also want to share the good news of DP&R being the recipient of the 2021 Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the US Department of Labor. A great Mahalo to Desiree Marts, our Director of Human Capital, for doing great work to make this award possible, as well as to honor our veteran DP&R team members. As always, I am deeply grateful for all your professionalism, commitment to your family and friends, and doing what you can do improve our lives today.
An attitude of gratitude
November to me is like New Years for many. I reflect and make resolutions during my birthday month since it reminds me that I am not getting any younger. Pre-pandemic I would host a birthday party with my girlfriends from middle school. To show my age we have been friends for over two decades. Our group was inseparable. We would spend every weekday together at school and every weekend at sleepovers causing mischief. I did not know then how much I would cherish our laughs and camaraderie, but when I look back it always puts a smile on my face. Unfortunately, we do not see each other as often as we like, but when gather in the same room we pick up right where we left off and recall all our inside jokes that never get dull. To this day they will play the Britney Spears song “Sometimes” and force me to do the dance I made-up in middle school. Before we depart, I would share words of gratitude for our friendship how they impacted my growth in the best way, and their sentiments are reciprocated. Their positive association is contagious, and it fuels my soul.
As the days go by, I get caught up with obligations and “adulting”. Whether I check all the boxes and feel a sense of accomplishment or make a mistake and feel guilty, I often forget to take a timeout to be thankful regardless of the circumstance. So, I decided my November 2021 resolution is to intentionally convey gratitude every day instead of every so often. It could be as small as saying “thank you” for holding a door open or a “shaka” when a driver lets you change lanes. Not only is gratitude scientifically defined as a positive emotional response, but it innately shifts your mindset to be happier.
To each one of you, I deeply appreciate all that you contribute and am truly grateful to be part of a team that motivates me to be better. Happy Thanksgiving.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Aesop
Thanksgiving
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
- Helen Keller
It was within a dimly lit hospital room, in between the holidays about 3 years ago that gratitude and thanksgiving came to hold a new kind of meaning for me.
I looked over to the side of the firm hospital guest couch that I was sitting on, to the large hospital bed that seemed to swallow my back-then 4-year-old son, who looked so tiny, hooked up to a few IV bags, seemingly entangled in IV lines and vitals cables. He was finishing his first 9 months of intensive chemotherapy to eradicate every single leukemia cell from his body.
He looked pale and a bit weak, yet there was a smile on his face and his eyes shimmered… A sparkle in the eyes that children get when they are really excited about something.
A volunteer had brought in “Cookie”, a beautiful cream-colored dog with brown spots, a service dog, gentle as can be, to brighten my son’s day. Cookie was invited onto my son’s bed and snuggled right into his side. I think they both needed that connection that day.
It was in that moment that I felt so thankful for such a simple act of kindness by this volunteer, who brought her dog to the children’s hospital. She understood that animals had a special ability to improve a child’s situation and that she could make a difference in this way. My son’s entire day had turned around from that moment and I realized that throughout this tough journey to fight his cancer, I was able to account for several of these small moments of gratitude when I really focused on it. At the end of his 3 1/2 year long, yet victorious battle, I am so thankful to say that these moments of bright days, lined with gratitude, are more plentiful than the dark days.
This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for our Team, who gives so much of themselves in their roles, day in and day out. At DP&R we realize that no one is exempt from struggles and hard times, yet we see you fighting and persisting every day. I am thankful for you.
I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving, may you see those small moments of gratitude sprinkled throughout this past year.
Perfect pork chops Every Time
I am going to start with a disclaimer in that I am no pit master or BBQ aficionado.
I can however guarantee a perfect pork chop every time.
Most people’s complaints around pork chops are that they are too dry and or too tough. Well, I have a tried and true method that’s both simple and quick.
First thing to consider is the thickness of the pork chop. I prefer to buy the loin and cut my own because I find that the precut chops are usually thinner than I like. My preference is in the 1-1.25” range, which is mainly to give me a nice buffer to avoid over cooking.
Cooking the pork chops is nothing fancy or complicated. I get my grill as hot as I can which is in the 650 degree range. Once it is heated, I sear both sides. Maybe 2-3 minutes each side. Totally dependent on your grill, but the objective is just to get a nice sear. Once both sides are seared I take them off and toss them in a Tupper ware container. I use the heavier glass ones to hold in more heat. You can also use the small lunch box coolers which work great if you’re cooking quite a few. 15-20 minutes and they’re done.
You can play with the grill and cooler times to find your preferred balance. My dad likes to cook a little longer on the grill, 4-5 minutes, and less in the cooler, as to where I prefer the opposite. I have a tendency to overcook most things, so less on the grill and more in the cooler helps me avoid that.
You can season however you like. I usually just use one of the nice rubs but you can marinade as well. I don’t see any pink with my times but know that the USDA lowered their recommended safe cooking temperature for pork from 160 degrees to 145 degrees last year. So a little bit of pink is no cause for concern. Hope you all enjoyed and feel free to let me know how yours turn out.
Happy Holidays and safe travels.
Dynamic Planning & Response Receives 2021 HIRE VETS Medallion award from the U.S. Department of Labor
10 November 2021 – U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh recognized DP&R as one of the 849 recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by U.S. Department of Labor.
DP&R earned the platinum award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.
DP&R joins 848 other companies from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, who have shown a commitment to hiring veterans, but also ensuring that they have a long-term career and growth plan that uses the diverse skills they acquired through their military service.
Recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans. More than 1,400 employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion Award since 2018.
