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Time grows short to earn incentive days
Want an extra day off next year? Your co-workers do, too. Remember that 80
percent of TPU employees must submit at least eight hours of volunteer
activity by December 31 for all eligible employees to meet their community
involvement goal. Hours can be submitted by completing the Employee
Incentive Program worksheet available in Human Resources or on CityWeb under
Departments/TPU/TPU Incentive Program, and select “Submit your 2007 community
involvement goal online.” Employees can earn credit by volunteering their
time for local non-profit organizations or by donating goods. For
specific information and eligibility,
see the
Employee Incentive Program guidelines in Human Resources or online. Volunteer service must be unpaid and
on your personal time. If you still need to earn time, participate in
upcoming Community Connection events, such as the blanket drive,
Adopt-a-Family and the Giving Tree.
Contact
Erika Tucci, 502-8225, with questions.
Click! video-on-demand
features eight Tacoma Film Festival offerings
The Tacoma Film Festival ended last week, but it continues in an abbreviated
form on Click! Cable TV. Eight films from the festival will be shown on
Click! video-on-demand through the end of the year: “South 5 – True Grit,”
“The Old Son,” “My Eating Team Has a Paddling Problem,” “Ray Hill’s Prison
Show,” “River Ways,” “The Phone Call,” “Vitruvirus Toybox” and “Washington,
My School.” For information, call 502-8900 or visit
www.clickcabletv.com.
SharePoint software is here
In collaboration with cross-departmental teams,
the Infrastructure Support division of Information Technology has begun a
long-term project to implement Microsoft SharePoint software. This effort is
two-pronged: using SharePoint to redesign the intranet, and implementing
a Microsoft Office SharePoint server internally so small projects and work
groups can collaborate and share information. Read more about this effort in
a memo from Rey Arellano, chief
information officer, or contact his office at 591-5375.
New online newsletter updates employees on IT activities
The Information Technology Advisory Team (ITAT) has a new quarterly
newsletter to let City staff know what the group is doing to address
information technology needs. City computer users can check the
ITAT home page and click on "ITAT News" on
the right. For more information, or if you do not have CityWeb access,
contact Michelle Lewis-Hodges,
502-2210.
Cafeteria football contest
in full swing —
why not give it a try?
In
week six of the Cafeteria football contest, Debbie Bertram, Water
Distribution, correctly chose 11 of 13 winning teams. The winner for week
seven will be
posted Tuesday morning. Ballots for week eight are in the Cafeteria and must
be turned in by Friday, October 26, 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
SAP sales
order billing questions — back by popular demand October 31!
Do you become anxious when creating, correcting or reversing
sales orders and billing documents in SAP? You can find relief and answers
to common sales and distribution (SD) questions during this two-hour SAP
session. Experts will be on hand to demonstrate the correct method of
reversing and correcting SD documents, show how to use the document flow to
assist in these processes, provide an overview of the SD Revenue Report
(ZSD103) and answer your individual questions relating to these topics. Join
us from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, October 31, in the TPU Computer
Training Room. For more information, contact
Dayna Barkley, 382-2602.
Green Scene
Safely dispose of dead work batteries
The landfill is no place for old batteries. To recycle your dead,
non-rechargeable work batteries safely, take them to the battery
recycling bucket in your work area. Work areas can obtain recycling buckets
from the Power Warehouse. There also is a recycling bucket in Russ Post’s
cubicle, located in Generation in the southeast corner of the third floor.
Rechargeable batteries need to be collected separately, though, and the
Power Warehouse has boxes for recycling these: NiCd, NiMH, lithium and small
lead-acid. Contact Russ,
502-8300, or the Power Warehouse, 502-8478, with questions.
Tacoma Recycles
@ Work is now a go at TPU
The Tacoma Recycles @ Work program is now in effect at all buildings within
the TPU complex. Employees can recycle everything they might at home —
plastic bags and bottles, cans, paper, boxes and cardboard — in bins under
their desks and in larger containers in conference and break rooms.
See the bin stickers and posters for more information. Make sure that all
recycled items are dry and clean of food waste before placing them in
recycling
containers.
Contact Terry Coggins,
502-8310, or Rick Herrmann,
502-8226, with questions.
Tacoma's Day of Conversation about Climate Change is October 25
— read report, attend lecture
The
International Panel on Climate Change represents the best, latest and most
complete science on climate change. According to the IPCC, by the year 2050,
carbon dioxide emissions will have to be 80 percent less than current levels
in order to stabilize the temperature of the earth, which by then will be at
historically high levels. Nearly 700 cities have signed onto the U.S.
Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, and Tacoma is proud to be one of them.
You’re invited to participate in Tacoma’s Day of Conversation about Climate
Change on Thursday,
October 25, to discuss, network and reflect on this
issue. Read the IPCC’s latest scientific report at
www.ipcc.ch. Attend the lecture, “An Inconvenient Talk,” at 7 p.m. in
the City Council Chambers in the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market
Street. Two
scientists from the Earth Space Research Institute will speak, followed by
Mayor Bill Baarsma, who
will tell how Tacoma is participating under the
U.S. Mayors’
Climate Protection Agreement.
Giving Back
Operation TPU will help those serving in the Middle East and Afghanistan
Community Connection is gearing up to help TPU employees and family members
who are deployed in the Middle East and Afghanistan
feel more comfortable
as they serve our country. Through Operation TPU, Community Connection is
collecting food, toiletries, clothing and other items, with a goal to send
out a box a week. Bosses, co-workers, friends and family can forward names
and addresses of eligible service people to
MaryLynn Eltrich, 396-3049.
See the list of suggested donation items
here.
United Way campaign still needs your donation!
As of October 18, TPU employees came close to reaching the goal for the 2007
United Way campaign. Forty-two percent of employees (592 to be exact) have
pledged to United Way of Pierce County for a total of $155,869, which
includes the basket raffle and other fundraisers. Last year, 621 employees
donated a total of $174,173, so we have a way to go to reach last year’s
numbers. Remember to return pledge forms to Erika Tucci this week
(regardless of how or whether you pledge), or make your donation online
through eWay. Contact Erika,
502-8225, with questions.
One employee eligible
for donated PTO or sick leave
Dennis
Johnson, Building Maintenance, is
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.
For Your Benefit
Five weeks remain to take Mayo Clinic health risk assessment
There are five
more weeks for you, your spouse or adult dependent to get online with the
Mayo Clinic and take 15 minutes to complete a confidential health risk
assessment. It identifies your health risk factors, gives you a personal
health report and provides an in-depth look at your health strengths and
weaknesses. When you take the assessment by November 30, you’ll receive a
$25 gift card good at more than 300 merchants. Register online with your
employee number at
www.CityofTacomaWellness.org. Your spouse and adult dependents use your
employee number, but they will need to register under their own e-mail
address; you may not both use the same e-mail address. If you don’t know
your employee number, contact
Sandra Frasier, Human Resources, 591-5419. After you register, choose the Health Risk Assessment link and complete the process. Then follow the
directions provided on the Web site to receive your gift card. For more
information, check the list of
frequently asked questions or contact
Sandra or
Becky Lee, Human Resources benefits manager, 591-5116.
October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month — Tell A Friend program encourages regular mammograms
The American
Cancer Society’s
Tell A Friend program is designed to help increase breast cancer
screening and early detection through regular mammograms. Trained volunteer
callers contact five friends or acquaintances to encourage them to get
mammograms. This strategy is called "peer counseling" because the volunteers
are contacting other women much like themselves. It’s a tested strategy that
works. Mammograms can find cancer several years before a woman or her health
care provider might discover it through other screening methods. Many women
age 40 or older have never had a mammogram, and many more do not follow the
American Cancer Society recommendation of having a mammogram every year. For
more information about breast cancer or the Tell A Friend program, call the
American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345.
What's Happening & When
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Since October 15:
SAP users will notice a new SAP GUI (graphical user interface) icon on
their desktops. The new GUI shortcut icon appears as a blue and orange
arrow, with the words “SAP Logon Pad” below it. For additional information, talk to your area’s computer
support representative or call Network Support, 591-2057.
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October 22:
New,
two-day Basic Supervisory Training kicks off. Courses run through February 15, 2008. If you
have questions, contact
Sheryl Brown, Human Resources, 502-8511.
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October 24 or
25: One-day field staff conference at King Oscar Motel; attend either
day. For more information, contact the conference coordinator,
Patricia Cunningham, at 460-3902.
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October 28 to November 3:
Some
people could experience a glitch in Outlook calendaring for appointments
scheduled this week. Contact your area’s computer support
representative with questions.
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Through October 29: Donate clean blankets — new store-bought, gently
used or new homemade — for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Lakewood Area
Shelter Association. Donation boxes are in the Cafeteria and at the Click!
Southwest Annex, or bring them to
Holly Irvin, 502-8247, Water Permit
Counter on the second floor.
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October 31: Utilities People Halloween Costume
Contest in the Cafeteria. Contestants should be in
the Cafeteria by 9:45 a.m. to register. Judging will begin at 10 a.m. Prizes
for scariest, funniest, best disguise, people's choice and best group. Free coffee and
cookies.
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Throughout
October: TV Tacoma’s October CityScape program looks at Tacoma
Water’s automated meter reading trials in the Wapato Park area. Check local listings for replay times
inside and outside of Tacoma.
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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 3:
Energy Services workshop,
“Appliance
style, function and efficiency,” 10 to 11:30 a.m., Auditorium.
Sign up by calling
502-8377.
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November
13:
Employees located at TPU can receive free flu shots during the health fair on Tuesday,
November 13.
(Shots also available at the Tacoma Municipal Building on November 6.)
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November 15:
Energy Services workshop,
“Don’t get
left in the dark — generator safety,” 7 to 8:30 p.m., Ron Jones Power
Equipment, 14423 Pacific Avenue S.
Sign up by calling
502-8377.
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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 8: Utilities People bus trip to Leavenworth for
the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Watch Newsline for more information.
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December 12 and 13:
Mammogram vans from Swedish
Medical Center will be at TPU giving free mammograms to
any female City
employee age 40 or older who is symptom-free and not pregnant, or who is
35 or older with her primary care provider's referral.
Make appointments with
Swedish at 206-320-2500 or
breastcareexpress@swedish.org. Contact
Shannon Hoffman,
591-5823, with questions. (Vans also will be
in the Market Street
parking lot across from the Tacoma Municipal Building December 3, 4 and
5.)
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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: 1998 Elkhorn Camper (9T).
Excellent condition w/generator.
$7,500. Mark, 566-8541, 206-375-2044.
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For sale: 3
yearling Angus heifers, non-registered. Denyse, 253-686-6700.
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