October 1,
2007
News You Can Use
Board names Bill Gaines as new
director of
utilities
All agenda items passed during the September 26 Public Utility Board
meeting, including the appointment of Bill Gaines as director of utilities.
The Tacoma Power
superintendent will take the director's reins on Thursday, November 1.
Watch Newsline for details about
an employee farewell party for Mark Crisson that will
take place on Tuesday, October 16. Mark's last day in
the office will be Friday, October 19.
Be
ready to head for the door:
evacuation exercise next week
“In the event of an actual emergency,” you’ll want to know how to exit your
building safely. So be on your toes sometime next week, October 8 to 12, for
the annual building evacuation exercise, coordinated by the Administrative
Safety Committee and the Tacoma Fire Department.
When the alarm sounds,
all employees are expected to evacuate the Public Utilities Complex (without
using elevators) in a prompt and orderly manner, and assemble in their work
group’s designated areas. Employees are not to re-enter the building until
the all-clear signal is given. Those with mobility problems can contact
Rick
Herrmann, Generation, 502-8226; or
Anne-Marie VanWart, Administrative Safety
Committee chair,
502-8471, for the specific time of the drill so they can make arrangements
to be out of the office if they choose.
Year-end support packs applied to SAP starting October 5
Each fall the
IT/SAP division applies “patches,” or support packs, to SAP to
ensure critical processes remain current. Beginning
October 5, IT/SAP will
test the support packs in the QAS system in preparation for going into
production on November 5. During this testing period there will be no new
developments or changes to the system, unless a problem occurs that is
critical to the business. For more information on the support pack project,
contact Kent Keel, 382-2709.
If
you
route contracts, Finance is looking for you
Finance
needs volunteers to help test an automated contract signature
routing/tracking system. When completed, this new system will be available
citywide. If you route contracts and would like to participate, contact
Connie Mackland, 594-7868, or
Michelle Roose, 591-5803.
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What's Cookin'
the Week of Oct. 1
Cup of Soup & Sandwich — $2.63
Cup of Chili or Chowder & Sandwich —
$2.81
Salad — $2.76
Hot Special — $3.03
Share the news
The deadline to submit items for Newsline is
10
a.m. Fridays. E-mail Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby,
502-8754, if you don't have e-mail access.
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GovME
expands its coverage area
For the
last 10 years, govME’s mapping application has provided GIS information
within the city limits of Tacoma. These boundaries have now been extended to
include the Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water service areas outside the city. This
means TPU staff and customers can view such things as the new 2006
orthographic photos, parcels, addresses, streets and many more layers of
information both inside and outside of the city. Check it out today at
www.govme.org/map. Www.govme.org/govME/AddApps/inter/Training/scheduleClass.aspx
is the address to sign up for training.
If you have questions about govME, contact
Gary Cantu, 591-5464.
Communications contest
wins for Tacoma Power
Tacoma Power took three awards in the recent Northwest Public Power
Association Excellence in Communications contest. It competed with other
large utilities (50,000 or more customers) and won:
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First
place in the newsletter category for Power Line
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First
place in the annual report category for TPU’s annual report
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Second
place in media campaign/advertising category for UtiliGift gift
certificate marketing
Ponder the pigskin and pick pinnacle teams in Cafeteria football contest
In week
three of the Cafeteria football contest, Travis Metcalfe, Power Management, correctly
chose 14 of 16 winning teams, the most of any participant. The winner
for week four will be posted Tuesday morning.
Ballots
for week five are in the Cafeteria and must be turned in by Friday,
October 5, at 4 p.m.
One entry per person per week. The person who picks the most winners each
week earns a $10 Cafeteria food card and an entry in the Super Bowl contest
at the end of the year. The winner of the Super Bowl contest takes home a
$50 gift card to the Outback Steakhouse.
Get Smart
Procurement card software
training is required for approvers and their back-ups in
early October
The City of Tacoma is implementing XiBuy, a procurement software, to help
capture transaction data, improve reporting abilities and allow for future
expansion of procurement card use. Procurement card approvers and back-up
approvers must attend training in early October. The training comes in two
parts and must be completed before access to XiBuy will be granted:
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A two-hour
auditorium session covering changes to the City’s procurement card
program, approver responsibilities, department managerial oversight and
a general overview of XiBuy: Tuesday, October 2,
10 a.m., TPU Auditorium; or Wednesday, October 3, 1 p.m., City Council
Chambers.
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Hands-on computer
training detailing the steps involved in reviewing and approving
procurement card
transactions in XiBuy. Classes last 1½ hours and are limited to 12
participants: October 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11; multiple times; Tacoma
Municipal Building North Computer Room. October 9, multiple times, TPU
Computer Room.
Pre-registration is necessary for both the auditorium and hands-on training
sessions; contact Theresa Niemi, Purchasing, 502-8468. Seats are limited
and priority will be given to approvers first, then to back-up approvers as
space is available. Approving managers or others involved in procurement
card oversight are encouraged to attend the auditorium training. Procurement
cardholders are not required to take this training, but ongoing classes will be held later on procurement card policy and usage. If you have
questions, contact Kim Kerner, 502-8889;
Mike Tipton, 502-8426;
Jeff
Christensen, 502-8625; Patsy Best, 502-8252; or
Richelle Krienke, 502-8877.
Giving Back
Smooth or chunky?
Grape, strawberry or marmalade? Doesn't matter
—
PB&J drive
starts this week
Every month, more than 140,000 children, seniors and adults ask Pierce
County food banks to help them get enough to eat. Community Connection's
annual peanut butter and jelly drive will put some jars on their shelves.
Donation boxes are in the Cafeteria, Generation (third floor) and Customer
Services (main floor) from October 1 through October 15. Your contributions
are greatly appreciated.
Two employees eligible
for donated PTO or sick leave
Simon Torres,
Click! Network; and
Cinda
Johnson, Cushman Project,
are
eligible to receive donated PTO or sick leave. To donate, contact your
timekeeper or Public Utilities Human Resources, 502‑8158, for a PTO/sick
leave donation form. You also can download the form from the Human Resources
section of CityWeb.
Zucchini 500 coming Thursday, October 11, to benefit United Way
Ladies and gentlemen, start your zukes! At least, start planning to
put your veggie on the track for the fifth annual United Way benefit
race on October 11. Time trials start at 3 p.m. in the Auditorium, and the
cost to enter is $5. To get a kit or for more information, contact
Debbie Bertram or
Debbie Scott, 502-8918.
No, not Endust
— it's time for Pledge(s)! United Way campaign has begun
The official
pledge period for the 2007 TPU employee United Way campaign is now open. The
goal this year is to have at least 50 percent of employees give some
contribution to United Way, and even a dollar a pay period makes a
significant impact. By now, employees should have received paper pledge
forms from their timekeepers or section campaign coordinators. Employees
with City e-mail addresses also have received an e-mail from Mark Crisson
containing a unique log-in and password information for making secure
on-line donations with eWay. Whether you use the paper form, use eWay or
choose not to pledge, please return the form to your section’s coordinator
as soon as you’ve made your giving decision. The last day to pledge is
Thursday, October 11. If you have any questions about the campaign, contact
your section’s coordinator (list available on CityWeb at Employee
Resources/TPU United Way) or Erika
Tucci, Community & Media Services, 502-8225.
Did you know this about United Way? 2-1-1 call center gives health and human
services information
United Way
has developed call centers across the nation to get help to those who need
it most. 2-1-1, like 9-1-1, is a simple number anyone can call to get help
with health and human service needs. The 2-1-1 call center at the United Way
of Pierce County is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with
knowledgeable representatives ready to connect those in need with the help
they seek. 2-1-1 representatives are updated daily regarding issues such as
bed space availability at domestic violence shelters or the amount of rent
or utility assistance available in the community. Representatives also can
refer people to resources even when they aren’t sure what they need.
And the
Transmission & Distribution
iPod goes to . . .
Ken
Shelley, Fleet Services, was the lucky guy. All T&D employees who turned in
their United Way pledge information by September 21 were eligible for the iPod drawing.
United Way basket raffle raised at least $11,300
Thanks to everyone who bought tickets, and check out who won below.
Special thanks go to raffle coordinator Patty Gillingham, Fleet Services,
and her crew, including Rutha Mitchell and Renata Knutson, Transmission & Distribution;
Sherri Ingalls, Fleet Services; and Building Maintenance staff. Thanks also
to the rest of the United Way campaign team and coordinators, and those who
sold and sorted tickets.
Basket (Sponsor)
Winner
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Tool Time (Customer
Service) Teresa
Hargrove, Customer Service
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Basket of Clams
— $1,000 Cash (Power Warehouse) Sherry Bereth,
Energy Services
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It's That Time
Again
(CMS/Director's Office/Legal) Gwen Smith, Customer
Service
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Garden Basket
(Grounds Maintenance) Duane Harper,
Water Distribution
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Rolling in the
Dough
(T&D Admin. & Managers) Cindy Swanberg,
Natural Resources
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Sports, Sports &
More Sports
(Click! Network) Chris Moss, Finance
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A River Runs
Through It
(Generation) Frank Harris,
Transmission & Distribution
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Let's Go To The
Beach
(Finance) Karen Cassidy,
Field Operations
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One Track Basket
(Tacoma Rail) Tony Lindgren,
Water Distribution
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Water Works
Wonders
(Tacoma Water) Duane Harper, Water
Distribution
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iPod Fun (Fleet
Services) Troy
Wells, Building Maintenance
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Cowlitz Basket
(Cowlitz River Project) Teresa
Hargrove, Customer Service
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Mommy & Me
(Beth
Jones, Generation) Anita
Zetterstrom, Energy Services
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Baker's Delight
(Peggy
Dickson, Finance)
Toby Vice, Cowlitz River Project
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Mango Madness
(Dana Horst, Customer Service)
Mark Horst,
Power Warehouse
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T&D Mystery Basket
— Trip for
Two to Port
Marty Bertram,
Mechanical Maintenance
Townsend (T&D Planning & Operations)
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Mommy & Child (Grandma & Child) Rudy Antonowicz, Water Warehouse
Christmas Craft (Sherri
Ingalls, Fleet Services)
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Say WA — All
Washington-Themed Items Richard Friel,
Electrical Inspection
(Human Resources/Safety Office)
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Scrub Your Stress
Away
(Bob Mack, Liz Larson, Ken Severe, Transmission & Distribution
Charleen Jacobs and Erika Tucci)
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Monthly Parking
Stall (TPU)
Richelle Krienke, Purchasing (January, March,
April,
June,
July, September, October)
Kim Raap, Transmission & Distribution
(February,
December)
Kyrra Wilson, Generation (May)
Randi Kartes, Click! Network (August)
Beth Jones, Generation (November)
For Your Benefit
October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month — Disease strikes women and men
The
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation notes that
breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths
in American women. Experts predict 178,000 women will develop breast cancer
in the United States in 2007. Breast cancer also can occur in men, but it's
far less common, with 2,000 new cases expected this year. Other facts:
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Breast cancer is
the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women.
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Breast cancer is
second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths.
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One woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and one woman will die
of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States.
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A woman’s chance
of developing breast cancer increases with age. In the United States, a
woman has about a 13.2 percent, or one-in-eight, lifetime risk of
developing breast cancer.
-
Approximately five
to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to heredity. The majority of
women with breast cancer have no known significant family history or
other known risk factors.
The mammogram van from
Swedish Medical Center will be available December 3, 4 and 5 in the Market
Street parking lot across from the Tacoma Municipal Building, as well as on
December 12 and 13 in the TPU parking lot. Appointments can be made with
Swedish at 206-320-2500 or
breastcareexpress@swedish.org.
Mammograms are typically considered preventive and are covered at 100
percent by the City health plans. For more information, contact
Shannon Hoffman, Human Resources, 591-5823.
What's Happening & When
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October 4:
Deferred compensation
information session, noon to 1
p.m. in the Auditorium Conference Room. Rose Taylor, ING Financial Advisors,
also will be available from 1 to 3:30 p.m. for drop-in consultations and
from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for one-on-one meetings. Make an appointment at 253-874-9742 or 800-478-7770.
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October 4:
Last day to sign up for Friday,
October 19, class "Customer Service Skills for TPU
Professionals" in the
Main Floor Conference
Room, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Get
your supervisor’s approval and ask your area’s training representative to
register you. For information, contact
Sheryl Brown, Human Resources,
502-8511.
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October 6 and 7:
The 26th
Annual
West Coast Oyster
Shucking Championship and
Washington State
Seafood Festival in Shelton. To volunteer
for the Cushman Project booth, contact
Kathy Ward, 779-7209. For more information
about
the event, contact Randy Stearnes, 502-8224, or
visit
www.oysterfest.com.
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October 7:
The 27th annual Pierce County Hunger Walk/Run through Tacoma’s North End and
Proctor District at Tacoma’s Jefferson
Park. Registration is at 1 p.m., and the walk starts at 2 p.m. Raise money to
feed hungry children and families in Pierce County. For more information, call Associated Ministries, 383-3056.
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October 12:
Deadline for
business units to submit the online form to be considered for
addition to the 2007/2008 SAP Work Plan. The new SAP
Work Request Process page is located on CityWeb under
Departments/Information Technology/SAP.
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Through the end of October: 2008 Entertainment Book sales benefit Utilities People.
The book costs $20 and is valid through November 1, 2008; the 2007 book is
still valid until November 1 this year. To purchase your Entertainment Book,
contact Rick Herrmann, 502-8226;
Liz Larson, 502-8769; or
Jan Pieper, 502-8452.
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November 1 and 2:
Community Connection Holiday Craft Sale. There is a $5 per day business license charge for vendors; 10 percent of sales will help purchase grocery cards for low-income seniors.
Contact Julie Arnestad,
Energy Services, 502-8538.
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November
13:
Employees located at TPU can receive free flu shots during the health fair on Tuesday,
November 13.
Watch Newsline for more information.
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November 30:
Last
day to complete a confidential Mayo
Clinic health risk assessment. Receive a personalized report
plus a $25 gift card good at more than
300 merchants.
Register or log on at
www.cityoftacomawellness.org. Click the Health Risk
Assessment link, complete the assessment and follow the directions
to receive your gift card.
(It will take about 48 hours before you receive the
e-mail link that allows you to redeem your gift card.)
For more information, contact
Becky Lee, 591-5116.
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December 12 and 13:
Now upgraded with digital technology, the mammogram vans from Swedish
Medical Center will be at TPU giving free mammograms to employees. Watch Newsline for
appointment information. Contact
Shannon Hoffman,
591-5823, with questions.
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January 30 to February 4:
Annual excursion to Big Mountain (now Whitefish
Mountain) in Montana. $525 or less per person includes train to and from
Whitefish, Montana; bus to the mountain; and hotel accommodations. Discounts
available for kids. Contact
Josh Newman, Click! Network,
502-8442.
Bargain Shopping
Submit
your ad to Newsline
Ads run in two issues of Newsline.
The deadline to submit ads is 10 a.m. Fridays. E-mail
Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby, 502-8754,
if you don't have e-mail access.
Please include at least your first name,
and phone number or e-mail in your ad. Ads
for business activities, online auction ads and calls for charity
sponsorship are not allowed. About once a month, ads
will be borrowed from the Cafeteria bulletin board and included in
Newsline.
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For sale: 2003
Ford Lariat pick-up with crew cab, four-door, excellent condition,
leather interior, power windows, power back window and sun roof. New
tires, Line-X in the bed. 40,000 miles. $19,900. Debbie,
732-2863 or 848-9397.
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For rent: very nice 3-bedroom, 1-bath house in Browns Point.
Two-car garage, large fenced backyard. $1,350/month, plus deposit. No
pets. Available October 31. Stephanie, 927-3355.
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For sale: combination futon/bunk bed, twin bed on top, queen size futon on bottom,
futon mattress included. Black metal tubular frame, five years old, like
new, $200. Twin size Therapedic mattress, two years old, like new, $400.
Sally, 927-4677.
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