September 17,
2007
News You Can Use
Coming soon: A new director
The Public Utility Board is making progress on its effort to appoint a
successor for Utilities Director Mark Crisson. The application period for
the position closed on August 24. Mark and a representative from Mycoff and
Associates, an executive recruiting firm, worked with the board to review
the 27 applications. The board selected five candidates, two internal and
three external, for interviews. After interviews with the five finalists on
September 4 and 5, the board narrowed the list to one internal and two
external candidates. The board is in the process of conducting reference
checks on the three finalists and met again in an executive session on
Wednesday, September 12. The board hopes to announce its decision and
appoint the new director at its September 26 meeting. Mark will retire
October 19.
Free Energy
Services workshops September 20 and 29
“Home Energy Check” will be held in the Auditorium this coming Thursday,
September 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to prioritize
energy improvements to make the most of the investment. Then on Saturday,
September 29, “Small Mobile Home — Big Electric Bills” will be held in Spanaway
at Sprinker Recreation Center in the Cascade room from 10 to 11
a.m. The goal is to get mobile home owners and renters the information
they need to live comfortably and economically, and to educate them about
the assistance TPU and Pierce County Community Action can offer, both in
up-keep and in payment matters. To pre-register for workshops, call
502-8377. If you missed the first workshop, “Winter Preparedness,” on
September 15 and want materials from that session, contact
Veronica Kulman, 502-8175.
Oyster Fest is October 6 and 7 — visit or volunteer!
The 26th
Annual
West Coast Oyster
Shucking Championship and
Washington State
Seafood Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday,
October
6 and 7, at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton. Enjoy not only a
variety of seafood but also music, arts and crafts. Tacoma Power’s Cushman
Project hosts a booth there, and volunteers are welcome to help
—
have fun and earn credit toward your community involvement goal for the
Employee Incentive Plan. Shifts are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
both days. Contact Kathy Ward, 779-7209, to sign up. For more information on
the event, contact Randy Stearnes, Community & Media Services, 502-8224, or
visit
www.oysterfest.com. |
What's Cookin'
the Week of Sept. 17
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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The NFL is calling . . . try the
Cafeteria football contest
The best guesser in week one of the Cafeteria football contest was Sean
Veley, Transmission & Distribution, who correctly picked 14 of 16 winning
teams. The best guesser for week two will be posted Tuesday morning.
Ballots
for week three are in the Cafeteria and must be turned
in by Friday, September 21, 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.
Giving Back
Thank
you for sick leave donations
Chris Moss, Finance, has returned to TPU from General Government and would
like to thank everyone for their generous sick leave donations and good
wishes. “I am very grateful to all of you and feel very blessed to be back
at work amongst you,” Chris said.
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.
Sign up for the October 7 Hunger Walk
The 27th annual Pierce County Hunger Walk/Run through Tacoma’s North End and
Proctor District will take place on Sunday, October 7, at Tacoma’s Jefferson
Park. Registration is at 1 p.m., and the walk starts at 2 p.m. This is a fun
day of coming together with the community to raise more than $220,000 to
feed hungry children and families in Pierce County. The event is a
partnership between Associated Ministries and the Emergency Food Network.
All
routes are complete with sidewalks, rest stops and snacks. There are four
easy steps to the Hunger Walk: 1) raise pledges, 2) turn in the pledges at
the walk, 3) strut your stuff on October 7, and 4) party at the finish. For a
brochure or more information, call Associated Ministries, 383-3056.
T&D Planning and
Operations’ “Mystery Basket” clue #3
A greedy little mouse will be jealous of this prize.
Did you know this about United Way? Watch-dog group gives United Way of
Pierce County its highest mark
Charity Navigator is a national watch-dog organization focused on
holding non-profit agencies accountable. It reviews charities annually based
on fiscal responsibility, giving up to four stars for excellent performance.
You will be thrilled to learn that the United Way of Pierce County received
a four-star rating, one of just 14 United Way chapters in the nation to do
so (and there were thousands to choose from!). To view the report on United
Way of Pierce County, visit
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/9749.htm.
Thanks for trying on street clean-up!
Apologies to those who showed up for the 35th Street clean-up on Monday,
September 10. Organizer Tony Rector was called for jury duty and was unable
to participate. Watch Newsline next spring for 35th Street clean-up
dates in 2008.
For Your Benefit
Are you new here? Don't miss the orientation on Monday, September
24
This orientation is required for all new employees who are permanent
(code 01), appointive (code 06), project
(code 08) or temporary pending exam (code 15 ). The orientation will be from
8:30 a.m. to noon in Tacoma Municipal Building Room 1444 at 747 Market
Street. The session will provide an overview of the City's organizational
structure, employee programs and services, City policies and the safety
program. Contact JoAnn O'Neill,
Human Resources, 591-5438, for more information about the orientation.
If you have not yet signed up for benefits, you will need to bring
dependent and beneficiary information with birth dates, social security
numbers and addresses. If you have medical, dental or vision coverage
elsewhere, bring the name, address and phone number of the group, the policy
number and names of the people who are eligible under the plan. Contact
Regene Halfmoon, Human
Resources, 591-5411, or
Shannon Hoffman, Human Resources, 591-5823, for more information on
benefits.
Invest 15
minutes (and earn $25) for a lifetime of healthier living
If
you take 15 minutes to go online with the Mayo Clinic and fill out a
confidential health risk assessment (HRA), you’ll get a personalized report
detailing your health strengths and weaknesses. And when you complete the
assessment, you’ll receive a $25 gift card good at more than
300 merchants.
The assessment and the gift card are part of the partnership the City of
Tacoma developed with the Mayo Clinic to help City employees and their
family members live healthy, happy lives. You, your spouse and adult
dependents can take the HRA. Two eligible people per household can receive
gift cards; for example, you and your spouse can each receive a card, or you
and one adult dependent. You’ll receive the $25 gift card if you take the
HRA between Monday, September 17, and Friday, November 30. Here’s what to do:
-
Register online at
www.cityoftacomawellness.org, or if you’ve already registered, go to
the site and log on
-
Click the Health Risk
Assessment link and complete the assessment
-
Follow the directions
provided on the Web site to receive your gift card
For more information, read the list of
frequently asked questions. You can also contact
Becky Lee, Human Resources
benefits manager, 591-5116.
September is
Mental Health Awareness Month —
signs and symptoms of depression
Depression is a medical illness that affects
your mood, behavior, thinking and health. The Partnership for Workplace
Mental Health notes that depression is a common illness experienced by
nearly one in 10 Americans each year. Signs and symptoms include:
-
Persistent
feelings of sadness or anxiety
-
Loss of interest
or pleasure in usual activities that lasts for more than two weeks
-
Changes in
appetite that result in weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
-
Insomnia or
oversleeping
-
Loss of energy or
increased fatigue
-
Restlessness or
irritability
-
Feelings of
worthlessness or persistent guilt
-
Difficulty
thinking, concentrating, remembering or making decisions
-
Ongoing body aches
and pains, or problems with digestion that are not caused by physical
disease
-
Increased
drinking, cigarette smoking or using prescription or illicit drugs
-
Thoughts of death
or suicide, or attempted suicide
If this
sounds like you, see your physician or a mental health professional.
The First Choice Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides expert
services around the clock to help with emotional, relationship, mental
health, parenting, family or personal concerns. Employees are allowed three free
counseling sessions per issue. To find more information about the EAP, go to
CityWeb/Departments/Human
Resources and scroll down to the EAP section. Contact the EAP any time of
the day or night at 800-777-4114, 800-777-4969 (hearing impaired) or
info@firstchoiceeap.com.
What's Happening & When
September 20
The blood drive is 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the
Auditorium Conference Room. Contact "Countess Vampira"
Vivian Leach, Finance,
591-5539, for an appointment.
September 20
Bob Peters, Real Property Services, retirement lunch. If you'd like to
attend, contact Mary
Williams, 502-8873, or Marsha Johnson, 502-8573, so they can get a head
count. Also, cake-and-coffee
reception for Bob will be held
on
Thursday, September 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Conference Room.
September 21
For the
United Way Day of Caring, TPU employees will assist veteran nursing care residents
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during a
picnic at the Washington Soldiers Home in Orting. If
you are interested in volunteering and would like additional information,
contact Debbie Bertram,
377-1915, or Liz Larson,
502-8769.
Through
September 23
Tacoma Water needs people to portray Wayne Drop at the Puyallup
Fair. Participants
receive a free ticket to the fair and can park free in a lot with a
direct shuttle to the fair. Contact Megan
Millimaki, Water Quality, 502-8665.
Through September 24
2007 United Way Basket
Raffle are on sale for $1. Baskets are on display in the Cafeteria, or go to CityWeb/Employee
Resources/TPU United Way to see online photos and a list of each basket’s
treasures. Contact
Patty Gillingham,
502-8651, or Erika Tucci,
502-8225.
Throughout September
TV Tacoma’s September CityScape program features a profile of
Utilities Director Mark Crisson. CityScape airs all
month on TV Tacoma several times each day of the week. Check local listings
for replay times both within Tacoma on Channel 12 and outside the city.
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 appointments. Make an appointment by
calling 253-874-9742 or 800-478-7770.
October 4
Last day to sign up for Friday,
October 19, class "Customer Service Skills for TPU
Professionals" held in the
Main Floor Conference Room from 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.
October 12
Deadline for
business units to complete and 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.
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, Generation, 502-8226;
Liz Larson, Director's Office,
502-8769; or Jan Pieper, Customer Service, 502-8452.
November 1 and 2
Crafters, begin preparing for the Community Connection Holiday Craft Sale. There is a $5 per day business license charge for each
vendor, and 10 percent of each vendor’s sales will help Community Connection
purchase grocery cards for low-income seniors. If you have questions,
contact Julie Arnestad,
Energy Services, 502-8538.
November 13
Free flu shots will be offered
to TPU employees at the health fair on Tuesday, November 13.
Watch Newsline this fall for more information.
December 12 and 13
Now upgraded with digital technology, the mammogram vans from Swedish
Medical Center will be at TPU. Watch Newsline this fall for
appointment information. Contact
Shannon Hoffman, 591-5823, with questions.
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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Free boat, 25-ft.
offshore fiberform. Needs everything, just a hull w/intermediate
housing. Will deliver within 40 miles. Call Kathleen, 377-2454.
-
Have 12-foot boat,
need trailer. Rollie, 380-3503.
-
Downtown condo for
sale. Top floor of the historic Perkins Building, view of Commencement
Bay, steps away from large rooftop deck. Spacious rooms, 16’ ceilings,
custom window treatments, cherry cabinets, gas cookstove and fireplace,
underground parking, additional storage unit. Walk to restaurants,
museum, theaters, light rail. $248,950. Steve, 206-380-3779. Check
listing at
www.iggyshouse.com, property #181188.
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