MEA MANAGEMENT TRAINING
The MEA memorandum of understanding that covers most managers in the City and County of San Francisco contains a Management Training Fund provision which provides for funding of $200,000 annually that can be applied towards a wide range of training opportunities and other tools for the professional development of MEA represented managers. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency memorandum of understanding contains a similar provision with an annual funding level of $20,000.
MEA represented managers at the Courts and Housing Authority should look to those agreements for management training guidelines.
There are two components to the MEA Management Training Fund and each MEA represented manager in the City has a choice to use each or a combination thereof subject to the guidelines noted herein. The contractual individual maximum of $2000 per person per fiscal year will be applied to all of the MEA Management Training Fund components.
1.MEA Management Training Fund Individual Training, Coaching and IMS Seminars
City managers represented by MEA may select training offered by schools or associations that is relevant to their professional development or seek out specialized training or executive coaching to enhance their management skills. Courses, seminars and multi-meeting series are usually found through membership in various professional societies or the catalogues of local universities. When you want to attend a course or seminar to enhance your skills or obtain or maintain a professional license it is always recommended that you request advance approval to be guaranteed reimbursement of your fees and expenses. That is especially important for requests pertaining to specialized services such as executive coaching. Simply fill out the MEA Training Application Form and submit to:
Municipal Executives’ Assn.
870 Market St., Rm. 840
San Francisco, CA 94102-3011
Phone: (415) 989-7244
Fax: (415) 989-7077
Or by email to: staff@sfmea.com
Include with your application a copy of the course announcement showing the dates and cost. Please do not submit multiple pages of a large brochure or course description. In cases of executive coaching, you should include materials on the particular service provider as well as the cost information. Upon a positive review, you will receive an approval letter, a reimbursement form and instructions.
After you have paid for and concluded your training, you should follow the instructions sent with your approval letter to receive reimbursement. This training is open to all represented managers and may be used multiple times within a year up to a cap of $2000 per person per fiscal year. Full payment up to the cap is made for registration or tuition costs. 50% of costs incurred for reasonable and necessary travel and lodging for approved training may be reimbursed up to a cap of $1000 which is applied towards the $2000 fiscal year allotment. There is no reimbursement provided for meals or parking.
In addition, MEA is a member of the Institute for Management Studies (IMS) and, therefore, the monthly seminars sponsored by this organization are open to MEA managers and funded out of the MEA Training Fund. Major employers in the San Francisco area make IMS a part of their staff development programs and City employees join their counterparts from well-known private firms at these courses. The program guide for the year is posted on the MEA webpage. Topics are management oriented and the presenters are notable professionals in their fields known for their expertise, skill, and ability to provide information that is relevant to the daily work needs of managers. A new feature called Leveraged Learning will provide IMS participants 30 days access to an entry page designed around the particular IMS session they attended. In addition, participants will have access to the full leadership library of over 1,300 lessons on subjects ranging from personal creativity to strategic planning.
IMS is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Participants are eligible for 6.5 CPE credits when they attend an IMS seminar.
Those who wish to reserve a spot for an IMS lecture need to be pre-approved. Please call or email our office, note the date and title of the presentation you wish to attend and provide your name, telephone number and personal email. MEA will notify IMS if you are pre-approved and IMS will then provide you with confirmation of the reservation. $385.00 will be applied towards the $2,000 individual yearly maximum for each IMS seminar attended. All programs in 2011 will be offered at Carnelian by the Bay (One Ferry Plaza on the Embarcadero behind the San Ferry Building). It is easily accessible by BART, Ferry, and Cable Car. It is only two blocks from the Embarcadero BART Station. Valet parking is only $10 a day.
Business Travel Reimbursement Guidelines IMS Schedule
2.MEA Management Training Fund Equipment Program
City managers represented by MEA are also allowed access to the training fund to purchase laptops or PDA’s that, while owned by the individual employee, will also be used for City business. This benefit requires that you submit an Equipment Application Form before you purchase and receive pre- approval from MEA to ensure reimbursement. First priority will be given to employees who do not already have a laptop computer or PDA provided by the City or through the MEA program. You will be reimbursed up to a cap of $1000 which will be applied towards the $2000 individual yearly maximum.
Equipment Program Protocol:
• Beginning July 1 of each fiscal year, MEA will accept completed applications for an equipment purchase. Equipment applications are available online or by contacting the MEA office.
MEA will issue an “ok to buy” letter to you upon review of the application. Written pre-approval by MEA is required prior to purchase of equipment in order to be reimbursed;
• You must make your purchase and submit proof of purchase to the MEA office within sixty (60) days of the date on the “ok to buy” letter to ensure reimbursement. This cut-off date is shorter for April and May letters because reimbursement requests by MEA need to be processed by the end of the fiscal year.
• The last business day in May, or the point at which MEA processes the number of applications supported by that fiscal year’s allocation, will be the cut-off date for MEA to issue an “ok to buy” letter.
• A single device and $1,000 reimbursement limit will be applied to all requests.
• Unlike the previous year, MEA will also accept second requests and requests for replacement equipment that had previously been purchased under the program during its first two years – FY 07-08 and 08-09 — starting in July 2011;
• For the first time iPads and other tablet devices will be reimbursable under the MEA Equipment Program and will be categorized as laptop computers for purposes of administering program guidelines.
• The close of business on the last business day in June will be the cut-off date for equipment reimbursement requests to be submitted to and processed by MEA for that fiscal year.
• The equipment belongs to you; therefore all expenses and issues associated with the equipment (e.g. extended warranties, accessories, repairs, maintenance, installation, upgrades and monthly charges) are your sole responsibility.
MEA EQUIPMENT FUND APPLICATION
Should you have any questions about the approval and reimbursement process, please email MEA staff at: staff@sfmea.com .