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Telecommuting Center, reported by Channel 8 local news. |
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Copyright © 2006 Bowie State University Telecommuting Center. All rights reserved.
Partnerships, Teamwork, and
Advocacy Are Key to Telework
Center’s Success
Advocacy Are Key to Telework
Center’s Success
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and illustrates Bowie State
University’s role as a leader in
workplace innovation, and a
community partner in addressing
the professional needs of its
community." A long-time resident of
Bowie, Maryland, Larrick knows her
way around the community and its
various organizations. She is
passionate about teleworking and
is an active advocate in the Greater
Bowie and Baltimore/Washington
Chambers of Commerce, and she
is a founding member of the Bowie
Chamber’s
University’s role as a leader in
workplace innovation, and a
community partner in addressing
the professional needs of its
community." A long-time resident of
Bowie, Maryland, Larrick knows her
way around the community and its
various organizations. She is
passionate about teleworking and
is an active advocate in the Greater
Bowie and Baltimore/Washington
Chambers of Commerce, and she
is a founding member of the Bowie
Chamber’s
Ask Joyce Twohig Larrick why her
Federal Telework Center is so
successful, and she answers with
an emphatic, "Teamwork and
community partnerships." Larrick is
Director of the Bowie State
University Telecommuting Center,
which currently is operating at 92
percent capacity.
For that "nearly full" status, she
credits not just her staff, but also the
teleworkers themselves. "They are
our biggest advertisers," she says.
"They truly understand and
appreciate the benefits of
teleworking, and they are flexible,
motivated, and productive." It is not
difficult to see why these
teleworkers are appreciative. This
particular Center comes with all the
perks of a full university campus.
The MARC train runs right through
the campus, making it easy for
Baltimore residents to telework
rather than commute to their
Federal jobs in and around
Washington, D.C. Teleworkers can
get their exercise with a run on the
University’s track or a swim in the
pool. There are plenty of options for
lunch at the cafeterias, and
teleworkers can borrow a great
book from the shelves - the
Telework Center is located inside
the campus library. "There is no
doubt that the collegial atmosphere
is a selling point," says Larrick. "You
can network with your peers and eat
lunch with co-workers, yet avoid all
the normal office politics." Dr.
Marion Harris, BSU’s Acting Vice
President for Administration and
Finance, said "The Center is an
invaluable productivity resource to
its users,
Federal Telework Center is so
successful, and she answers with
an emphatic, "Teamwork and
community partnerships." Larrick is
Director of the Bowie State
University Telecommuting Center,
which currently is operating at 92
percent capacity.
For that "nearly full" status, she
credits not just her staff, but also the
teleworkers themselves. "They are
our biggest advertisers," she says.
"They truly understand and
appreciate the benefits of
teleworking, and they are flexible,
motivated, and productive." It is not
difficult to see why these
teleworkers are appreciative. This
particular Center comes with all the
perks of a full university campus.
The MARC train runs right through
the campus, making it easy for
Baltimore residents to telework
rather than commute to their
Federal jobs in and around
Washington, D.C. Teleworkers can
get their exercise with a run on the
University’s track or a swim in the
pool. There are plenty of options for
lunch at the cafeterias, and
teleworkers can borrow a great
book from the shelves - the
Telework Center is located inside
the campus library. "There is no
doubt that the collegial atmosphere
is a selling point," says Larrick. "You
can network with your peers and eat
lunch with co-workers, yet avoid all
the normal office politics." Dr.
Marion Harris, BSU’s Acting Vice
President for Administration and
Finance, said "The Center is an
invaluable productivity resource to
its users,
The Bowie Center is an "office away
from the office" for a variety of
workers. Larrick estimates just over
60 percent of the Center’s
teleworkers are Federal
government employees, while the
remaining 40 percent come from
industry. Larrick works with
managers to optimize their full use
of the Center. For example, nine
people from the same agency
share one seat in the Center.
Teleworkers are able to have
flexible schedules and accomplish
special projects.
from the office" for a variety of
workers. Larrick estimates just over
60 percent of the Center’s
teleworkers are Federal
government employees, while the
remaining 40 percent come from
industry. Larrick works with
managers to optimize their full use
of the Center. For example, nine
people from the same agency
share one seat in the Center.
Teleworkers are able to have
flexible schedules and accomplish
special projects.
Published in The Telework
Exchange Newsletter
Exchange Newsletter
Home-Based Business Committee.
She also frequently meets with
agency telework coordinators and
directors of other Washington, D.C.
area Telework Centers, and stays
active in the International Telework
Association and Council and the
Washington Metropolitan Telework
Centers. "I assume it is my role to
be a proponent for all the General
Services Administration-(GSA)
supported Telework Centers," she
says. It is not uncommon to see
Larrick wearing a button that reads,
"Ask me about GSA’s Telework
Centers."
She also frequently meets with
agency telework coordinators and
directors of other Washington, D.C.
area Telework Centers, and stays
active in the International Telework
Association and Council and the
Washington Metropolitan Telework
Centers. "I assume it is my role to
be a proponent for all the General
Services Administration-(GSA)
supported Telework Centers," she
says. It is not uncommon to see
Larrick wearing a button that reads,
"Ask me about GSA’s Telework
Centers."
Larrick noted that she is speaking
with other Federal agencies as
well.
The Center’s success has not
gone unnoticed. Representative
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has used the
Center to telework, as well as
have other Congressional
members and a former
administrator of the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM).
Hoyer, a proponent of telework for
nearly 15 years, recently held a
roundtable discussion at the
Center with 20 teleworkers. He
reiterated the wide ranging
benefits of telework
....continued below
with other Federal agencies as
well.
The Center’s success has not
gone unnoticed. Representative
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has used the
Center to telework, as well as
have other Congressional
members and a former
administrator of the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM).
Hoyer, a proponent of telework for
nearly 15 years, recently held a
roundtable discussion at the
Center with 20 teleworkers. He
reiterated the wide ranging
benefits of telework
....continued below
Larrick also understands
the important role that a
Telework Center can play
in Continuity of Operations
(COOP) planning. The
Government Accountability
Office (GAO) recently
audited the Bowie Center
for COOP services. The
Center received strong
marks and is now a COOP
site for one Federal
agency.
the important role that a
Telework Center can play
in Continuity of Operations
(COOP) planning. The
Government Accountability
Office (GAO) recently
audited the Bowie Center
for COOP services. The
Center received strong
marks and is now a COOP
site for one Federal
agency.
from improving the environment
and reducing America’s
dependence on foreign oil, to
reducing stress, and
strengthening families. Larrick
has a grand vision of entire
buildings outside of the
Washington, D.C. area dedicated
and reducing America’s
dependence on foreign oil, to
reducing stress, and
strengthening families. Larrick
has a grand vision of entire
buildings outside of the
Washington, D.C. area dedicated
solely to teleworkers.
-To promote this future vision, she
remains a tireless telework talker.
"If you are a believer in telework,
get into your community and talk
about it," she says. "Volunteer,
meet people, and join
organizations and associations.
-To promote this future vision, she
remains a tireless telework talker.
"If you are a believer in telework,
get into your community and talk
about it," she says. "Volunteer,
meet people, and join
organizations and associations.
Do what you can to let people
know that telework is more than
just a concept - it is the here and
now, and it is the future."
know that telework is more than
just a concept - it is the here and
now, and it is the future."
