Presented by Alex Presented by Alex HernandezHernandez

What is it?What is it?

The annual staff retreat is The annual staff retreat is an interactive, fun packed an interactive, fun packed

educational experience educational experience provided to provided to

approximately 50 EPCC approximately 50 EPCC employees at an offsite employees at an offsite

locationlocation

Which locations have Which locations have we visited in the last we visited in the last

few years?few years?

2012 – San Francisco, CA2011 – Seattle, WA2010 – Orlando, FL2009 - San Antonio, TX2008 - San Diego, CA2007 - Las Vegas, NV2006 - Austin, TX

How is the location How is the location selected?selected?

By a consensus of By a consensus of the Facilitation Teamthe Facilitation Team

What are some of the What are some of the educational programs educational programs

that have been that have been presented?presented?

Mixing Four Generations in Mixing Four Generations in the Workplacethe Workplace

Our Iceberg is MeltingOur Iceberg is Melting

“Emotional Intelligence”

“Team Player Styles”

Challenger

Contributor Communicator

Collaborator

““The Fish Philosophy”The Fish Philosophy”

“Insight Personality Assessment”

““Work-Teams and the Work-Teams and the Wizard of Oz”Wizard of Oz”

Who is eligible to attend?Who is eligible to attend?

Any EPCC full time Any EPCC full time classified or professional classified or professional

staff employeestaff employee

How are employees How are employees selected?selected?

By a lotteryBy a lottery

An employee who has never been An employee who has never been to a retreat, has first priority.to a retreat, has first priority.

Attended one retreat, second Attended one retreat, second prioritypriority

Attended two retreats, third Attended two retreats, third priority.priority.

Four, etc., etc………Four, etc., etc………

Who plans, organizes, Who plans, organizes, and facilitates the event?and facilitates the event?

Eight EPCC employees, Eight EPCC employees, selected as Facilitators, selected as Facilitators,

guided and trained by the guided and trained by the Human Resources Human Resources

Development DepartmentDevelopment Department

What is the duration of What is the duration of the retreat?the retreat?

Three days, normally Three days, normally Thursday, Friday, and Thursday, Friday, and

SaturdaySaturday

Can you give us an Can you give us an overview of what overview of what

normally happens in normally happens in those three days?those three days?

WednesdayWednesday: Participant orientation: Participant orientationThursdayThursday: Fly to destination, hotel : Fly to destination, hotel check-in, free time until about 6 p.m., check-in, free time until about 6 p.m., dinner, guest speaker, an ice breaker dinner, guest speaker, an ice breaker game.game.FridayFriday: Breakfast, training and break out : Breakfast, training and break out sessions until about 12 p.m., lunch, sessions until about 12 p.m., lunch, training and breakout sessions until about training and breakout sessions until about 2 p.m. Free time and on your own to visit 2 p.m. Free time and on your own to visit the city.the city.SaturdaySaturday: Breakfast, break out sessions, : Breakfast, break out sessions, auction, program closure, and fly back to auction, program closure, and fly back to El Paso.El Paso.

When do we leave?When do we leave?

Sometime in March or Sometime in March or AprilApril

Is there a cost for the Is there a cost for the employee?employee?

The college pays for the The college pays for the training and materials, training and materials, hotel, meals, and one half of hotel, meals, and one half of the airfare. Employees pay the airfare. Employees pay for one half of the airfare for one half of the airfare and transportation to and and transportation to and from the airport (approx from the airport (approx $150.00 per person) $150.00 per person) depending on location.depending on location.

What is the “auction” all What is the “auction” all about?about?

Facilitators give out “play Facilitators give out “play money” to participants for money” to participants for answering questions and answering questions and participating. Participants participating. Participants

can use this “play money” to can use this “play money” to bid on some very nice gifts bid on some very nice gifts

that are donated by different that are donated by different companies. Some of these companies. Some of these gifts have a value of over gifts have a value of over

$200 dollars$200 dollars

How do we get such nice How do we get such nice gifts?gifts?

By hard work. The By hard work. The Facilitation Team members Facilitation Team members go out and knock on doors go out and knock on doors

asking for donations. asking for donations.

How many gifts are How many gifts are auctioned?auctioned?

Over 200 items are Over 200 items are given outgiven out

Is it true that we have an Is it true that we have an unbelievable amount of fun?unbelievable amount of fun?

Absolutely!Absolutely!Yes!Yes!Si! Si!

Why?Why?

I can’t tell you because I can’t tell you because what happens in (Where what happens in (Where

ever) stays in (Where ever). ever) stays in (Where ever). You need to go in order to You need to go in order to find out. Or ask any former find out. Or ask any former participant, they might tell participant, they might tell

you. you.