The Meningitis Trust is the UK’s longest established meningitis charity. It helps approximately 20,000 people each year through its range of specialist services, giving vital support to those who have been affected by this disease. CSC’s Jonathan Davies, who survived a life-altering case of meningitis, is competing in six (yes, six!) triathlons this year to raise money for the charity.

“2008 is the sixth anniversary of my surviving a near fatal attack of viral meningitis, which has had a lasting impression on my life. To celebrate another year of having survived this illness, I am running triathlons to raise money for the Meningitis Trust. They do so much to help people affected by meningitis, both those that suffer the disease and those that are bereaved as a result of an attack. Supported entirely by donations, the Trust runs round-the-clock services and, without support, wouldn’t be able to do this.

This year, I am doing six triathlons in six months to celebrate six years since I contracted this disease and, in doing so, supporting the Meningitis Trust in their invaluable work. The six triathlons this year include the biggest in the world in London, as well as Wattisham, Walden, Norwich, Culford, Clacton (sea swim and off-road bike course) and Bedford in October. Bedford in particular is tough, since getting out of a swimming pool in October and straight onto a bike at 7.30 a.m. is not for the faint hearted or those prone to hypothermia!

To learn more and donate to my charity, please visit www.justgiving.com/meningitis-tri-2008. Many thanks for your support!”

Peter Rubie, Global Head of IT Compliance, has seen a lot of change in his 34 years in IT – 21 of them at CSC. Initially as a consultant supporting UK defense clients, Peter made the leap to internal auditing of CSC systems 11 years ago. He recently received Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status from the British Computer Society, the UK’s leading IT professional organization. The CITP is considered the gold standard for IT recognition, demonstrating that you maintain the highest professional IT standards.

“I’ve been in the IT industry a long time, and I’ve worked on so many interesting projects, including working on defence projects for all 3 services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) in the UK. I gained a lot of experience, learned a lot of new skills, and learned what works and what doesn’t.

I got to a stage where I thought I could use these skills internally to help CSC improve its business. That was 11 years ago, and the rest is history.

I received my Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential in 2001. Last year, I contacted the British Computer Society, and because I’d been in the industry quite some years, I was granted membership (MBCS). Taking a closer look at their requirements, I spotted another possibility – the CITP level. I thought it was a good fit, so I applied. I had to supply two referees and a detailed summary of the work I had been involved in over the last 5 years.  It was then submitted to the BCS board, where they review each application, and basically they either say yes or no.  And they said yes !

Most recently they have offered me the opportunity of applying for a fellowship, and I am actively pursuing this.

Currently, I’m working on a project based on auditing and managing SAP. It will help CSC answer key questions about how people use SAP. It’s going to keep me busy for a number of years. But I’ll take up any other challenge that comes along. Who knows? Five years ago, we’d never heard of Sarbanes Oxley. But since then, Mr. Sarbanes and Mr. Oxley have somewhat ruled our lives in Internal Audit.

Is Internal Audit boring? Heavens, no!  It’s the best place to be. My team and I see more of what goes on within CSC because we have a global view of things. Because of the way CSC has grown across the world, we have different ways of doing the same thing. I’m helping CSC standardize our processes, and helping the business improve itself. There’s a real sense of making a difference.”

The CSC Atlanta community assisted local National Public Radio (NPR) station WABE 90.1 FM with their Spring Membership Campaign on April 29. Membership campaigns are periods during the calendar year that WABE breaks away from regular programming to ask listeners for their financial support to keep public broadcasting operating and available to the public.

The Atlanta office, coordinated by Chase Crowson of CSC’s Global Outsourcing Services (GOS), provided 10 volunteers. Chase notes, “It was somewhat serendipitous that this event followed just days after Team CSC’s great finish in the Tour de Georgia and coincided with the airing of Carrier on PBS stations, presented by CSC.”

This volunteer opportunity was of vital importance to public radio in the metro Atlanta area, and it provided CSC Atlanta community members from several different divisions with an opportunity to network with one another and to become more involved in community affairs. In one shift, CSC volunteers were able to raise $13,809 in pledges.

Participating CSC volunteers included:

• Mark Baade, NPS, Information Technology Infrastructure Services
  
• Chase Crowson, GOS, Global Solutions & Technology - Collaborative Market Solutions
  
• Michael Donnelly, NPS, Government Health Services – CDC
  
• Philip Dreger, GBS, Telecommunications Industries
  
• Nyda Faith, GBS, SAP National Service Lines
  
• Scott Mackay, GBS, National Service Lines – Software Services
  
• Sumesh Sundareswaran, NPS, Government Health Services – CDC
  
• Michael Trettel, NPS, Government Health Services – CDC
  
• Barbara Williams, GBS, National Operations Management - Recruiting
  
• Cathea Woodley, GBS, National Operations Management – Development & Learning

Quick. You’ve been outsourced to CSC. Now what?

Imagine the uncertainty that outsourced employees feel when joining CSC for the first time. Angela P’Pool does, every time she acts as an ambassador for CSC. As part of the Ambassador Program, Angela welcomes newly outsourced employees to CSC, walks them through their new position, and calms any concerns they may have.

“What I like most about being an ambassador is providing comfort to people who feel uncertain. When they’re outsourced to CSC, there are so many things up in the air. Benefits, paychecks – their first thought is, ‘How am I going to provide for my family?’ You’re talking about their livelihood, and change is going to throw up a red flag.

As ambassadors, we travel to the client site, and are assigned a list of employees joining CSC. We walk through the building, identify the employees, introduce ourselves, and tell them about CSC. Then we address any concerns or issues they might have. After we have touched each person, we continually go back and make sure they’re comfortable.

I’ve had a lot of people change their minds about the transition. Instead of feeling threatened and unhappy because they’ve been outsourced, they feel wanted again. You can almost see the worry lifted off their shoulders. It improves morale, which improves productivity and carries over to the client’s employees as well.

I really enjoy meeting these new people and letting them know that CSC will be there for them.”

Because the emotional and physical stress of a combat injury can be devastating for warfighters and their families, CSC has partnered with CharityWorks, a Washington, D.C.-based philanthropic organization, to help raise money for the Fisher House program. The “CSC Gives Back to Military Families” campaign will run through August 31.

Mike Laphen, CSC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer: “I am pleased to announce that CSC has partnered with a CharityWorks to support their fundraising efforts to provide that ‘home away from home,’ and give back to our military and their families in a personal way for the sacrifices they have made for the freedoms we all share. This year, CSC will host the CharityWorks Dream Ball on September 27, 2008, to honor the work of the Fisher House and encourage other companies and organizations to also join us in supporting this important fundraising event.”

The goal of the campaign is to help CharityWorks raise $2 million to build a Fisher House on the grounds of the Veterans Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The Fisher House program offers “comfort homes” across the nation where America’s military families can stay free of charge during extended treatment for a serious illness or lengthy physical and/or occupational therapy. Employees who give $100 or more will be eligible for a special raffle where the winner and guest will be invited to attend the CharityWorks Dream Ball.

For more information on Fisher House, visit the CharityWorks Web site.