ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး1994-11 \, . v A Newsletter for i ("" r / 1 ' Em pees aas and Retirees \ 444441, \\_// �,� P Y ....1 , ` of Tompkins County ,, i \\40:imi u � 1 r' 1 ..1 .„...„,,,,_ ....„.._...• rrr,' NOVEMBER 1994 Volume 7 Number 11 HAPPY THANKSGIVING READ - READ - READ BUS TRIP NEWS The October bus trip to the Buffalo Bills/Kansas City football URGENT NOTICE game was a tremendous success. It was a beautiful fall day: sunny and warm, and the Bills won the game 44 -10. TO ALL EMPLOYEES x r ■ a , , 3 f ��- L { , , The turnout for flexible spending plan meetings 4 ,7_ - .s r , ` . '''' , 4* t F ' was disappointing. Some employees have indicated t� �, r ` , E `; + ' a they did not see the notice sent to all departments. ww , r All employees wishing to enroll in the medical i ' and/or dependent care accounts to set aside pre- , tax dollars for 1995 must complete an enrollment -- ' -- form and have the form back to Personnel not later than 12/15/94. ' Ig,. All employees wishin to sign off and not wishing gn "r ■ participate in the automatic payment of health insurance premiums with pre -tax dollars must complete a declination form and have the form 1 : : back to Personnel not later than 12/1/94. tv. The above dates will be strictly adhered to ... Joe Montana's pre -game warmup. photo by Pat Nowakowski no exceptions will be made as this information must be in the computer in time to permit correct calculation of taxes. , ____.,,",.. 41 7 ' 4 ,, . ,,,,t: r....,, : READ - READ - READ '",''� , , 4 , • 'ki , , .., Y 'may Your FLOEiTING NOLIDRY ; ` ,, , for 1994 must be asked for by 12/1/94 Bills working toward their first touchdown. photo by Pat Nowakowski COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.....b Heyman Partners for Quality At its most recent meeting, the Leadership Council (TLC) adopted the name "Partners for Quality" for Tompkins County government's quality initiative. There was general lack of enthusiasm for the widely -used "total quality management ", but there was a consensus that our initiative needed a name. PFQ it is. The public clamor for more responsive government, for a sense that governmental organizations are "feeling the heat" to examine themselves, acknowledge problems, and make changes in the way that many private companies have been forced to do, dovetails well with our initiative. There are other ways to do this -- many counties and cities undertake wholesale layoffs, cut back on services, insist on givebacks from their employees, and announce to the public that they have instituted "e ". Partners for Quality is a better way. Department and major program heads attended an orientation session on Thursday, November 10 on the Partners for Quality initiative. Several Leadership Council members talked about what to expect, asked those present for some ideas, and answered questions. Marcia Callichia from the Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations School in Albany has worked with many organizations on similar initiatives and is working with us. She described her experiences and shared a wealth of information and insights. She feels that our initiative's key elements are: - Shared Leadership/Employee Involvement - Identification of "Customers" and Suppliers, and an Emphasis on Service Quality - Use of Problem Solving Techniques Based on Workplace Data to Improve All Operations. As noted below, orientation sessions for all County employees are being held on December 1 and December 13 and these key elements will be discussed at length. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL NEWS .... by Nancy zahler Q: When and how is the County going to get into TQM? A: We've started. Here are the steps: STEP #1 Create Leadership Council to plan and oversee the PARTNERS FOR QUALITY initiative; STEP #2 Develop an action plan to transform the whole County organization; SIEP #3 Orient department heads and top managers and get their support; STEP #4 Make sure ALL employees know what's being planned and how it will affect them. (Steps 1, 2, and 3 have been accomplished) Q: When and how will employees find out about Partners for Quality? A: There will be 4 orientation sessions. Every employee will be expected to attend one session on work time. Department heads and supervisors will work out scheduling to be sure all employees will be able to attend. SAVE THESE DATES!! More details will follow soon. Partners for Quality Employee/Supervisor Orientation 8esslons Session I Thursday, December 1 9:00 - 11:30 AM Women's Community Building Session D Thursday, December 1 1:30 - 4:00 PM Women's Community Building Session III Tuesday, December 13 8:00 - 10:30 AM Downtown Holiday Inn Session IV Tuesday, December 13 12:30 - 3:00 PM Downtown Holiday Inn AGENDA • Why are the County Board and Administrator committed? • What do we mean by quality and employee involvement? • What is the role of labor? • How will the County be getting started? • What can employees expect In the next 6 -12 months? • Time for employees and supervisors to ask questions. The Leadership Council is trying to arrange bus transportation Expect to hear more details soon. The Leadership Council and department heads are excited. We are looking forward to sharing the plans and responding to your questions. P.S. Tlie Leadership Council now has a mailbox in the Old Jail you wort to contact the group iaatead of an individual number. BUS TRIPS FOR 1995 The Vending Committee's Recreation Sub - Committee 4.$ Leighann Baldwin and Peter Coats J SONG MOU NTFi IN SKI TRIP JINUARY28 We will receive a special group rate for the following: 9 Hour Lift Ticket Regularly $27 Our Cost S16 _S T ` `" Rentals $15 S 8 Group Lesson $14 S 7 c =-`- a- TURNING STONE CASINO/BINGO MORCH 25 Attendees will have the choice of going to either the Bingo Hall or the Casino. Please be prepared with your choice when you make reservations. The cost for this trip will be S5 per person. PlifitiTOM Of THE OPERF fIPRIL 22 -23 This Is an overnight trip to Toronto Canada with center floor tickets to the show. This trip Is filled at this time, but if you are Interested, please call and we will put your name on the waiting list. We will also look Into providing a second bus, If there Is enough interest. YHNKEES BFSE3HLL MAY OR JUNE (pending strike settlement, of course) We are hoping to get tickets to see the Yankees play In Toronto. If we aren't able to, we will be going to New York City for a Saturday afternoon game. The cost for this trip will be approximately $25 per person. BOSTON / WHOLE WFTCH JULY 7 -9 A three day /2 night excursion. This trip will Include 2 nights hotel accommodations, continental breakfast provided by the hotel, a whale watch, and lobsterbake. There will also be "free time" for shopping, walking the Freedom Trail, going to the Science Center... the cost will be approximately S 165 per person, based on double occupancy. There is a family rate - call for further details. STERLING RENFISSFNCE FESTIVFiL JULY 22 A day long trip back to medieval times. The cost for this trip will be approximately S 15 per adult, and $10 per child. MORINELOND /NIHGHRO FELLS ouGOST 1 2-1 3 A two day excursion to Niagara Falls with accomodations at the Comfort Inn "The Pointe" - near the falls. The trip includes bus, room, continental breakfast, and admission to Marineland. We will also be visiting the Floral Clock for pictures and have free time on the Canadian side. The cost for this trip is $80 per person based on double occupancy. ETLENTIC CITY SEPTEMBER 1 7-1 8 This trip includes overnight accomodations at the TaJ Mahal, S 10 coin bonus, buffet dinner, and tickets to a show. We will be leaving Subday morning and returning Monday night. The cost for this trip will be S95 per person, based on double occupancy.' BUFFELO BILLS FOOTBEILL GEME OCTOBER ? This trip will not be finalized until the tickets go on sale In July. We are hoping to see either Miami (small chance as tickets usually sell out before they go on sale to the general public) or the Giants. The cost of this trip will be approximately $35. SHOPPING MOLL TRIP NOVEMBER 11 The destination for this trip has not yet been finalized. This year we will be going to Franklin Mills Outlet Mall. We may be returning or we may find another large mall to travel to. Watch Corridors for further details. The price of this trip will be S5 per person. RADIO CITY MUSIC MOLL CHRISTMAS SHOW DECEMBER ? The date of this trip will depend on the availability of tickets, although we know it will be a weekend day trip. We will be spending part of the day In New York City, and then see the show. The price of this trip will be approximately S40 per person. To make reservations for any of the listed trips, please call Lelghann at 274 -6674. Payment for the trips will be due, in full, 60 days before the trip. Please remember that these trips are for employees, Immediate family and/or one guest. Employees are not authorized to resell seating and/or tickets for monetary gain. Once payment has been received, any changes In reservations must be done through either Leighann Baldwin or Peter Coats at the Health Department. We keep a waiting list of employees that are Interested in the trips that have sold out, and will be glad to assist anyone who has a change In plans. O Payments must be made by either check or money order. • Dates for these trips are tentative (with the exception of the Phantom trip), pending ticket and bus availability. O There is a minimum attendance requirement for some of these trips. Partial funding for these trips is provided by the Vending Committee - your nickels, dimes, and quarters at work for you! SPECIAL SENIOR SERVICES The 10 Commandments of Safety For Tompkins County Residents Reprinted from PARLAY INTERNATIONAL submitted by Frank Croteau *GET A HOME- DELIVERED MEAL Foodnet will 1 Look at the Big Picture - Accidents hurt everyone. Injured be happy to serve you - Call 273 -1731. Foodnet workers, their families and even co- workers suffer hardships offers a hot meal every weekday with both after an accident. Workdays, wages, opportunities for delivered and congregate meals available. You can promotion and the confidence of co- workers can be lost. ask for low salt or low calorie if necessary. Companies that experience frequent accidents are damaged by Voluntary contributions are welcome. lost productivity: morale is low, costs are high and "OBTAIN SOME IN -HOME HELP The Registry, competitiveness in the marketplace may suffer. a free listing and referral service, can supply you with the names of job seekers looking for work as 2 Follow the Golden Rule - Work as safely around others as you housecleaners, companions, home helpers, live -ins, would want them to work around you. Recognize and report LPN's and RN's. Job seekers are available for safety hazards. And before you take an unsafe "short cut," temporary and permanent positions. Payment and remember that this could be the one time an accident or injury arrangements for services are made directly occurs. between the family and worker. Call 277 -7686. 3 Know the Culprits - Be aware of the four major culprits in on- *BECOME A VOLUNTEER VISITOR The Office the -job accidents: • Physical overload is the most common for the Aging has several homebound seniors who cause of on- the -job injuries - lifting too much (or lifting would like to have someone visit on a regular improperly), straining, overreaching, bending, twisting and basis. Call 274 -5482 either to visit or have a visit. otherwise making your body move in other ways that it was not *INSTALL A PERSONAL EMERGENCY designed to move. • Impact accidents - being hit by or hitting RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR SAFETY IN YOUR an object - are the second most common culprit. • Falls - HOME This system provides around -the clock either falling from a height or slipping and falling - are the third protection for people who are ill, frail, alone or major culprit. • Machine accidents - getting caught in medically at risk. Call 274 -5482 moving machine parts - are the fourth major cause of on- the -job injuries. UNITED WAY 1995 by Leighann Baldwin 4 Put your Mind to Safety - Accidents don't just happen: they The United Way Campaign for 1995 is are the result of unsafe attitudes, behaviors and conditions. underway, and the Building Coordinators have • unsafe attitudes, such as coming to work angry, not taking distributed the pledge cards. If you have not yet safety rules and meetings seriously or not paying attention to returned yours, and are interested in pledging, your work, open the way for accidents and injuries. • Unsafe please take a moment now and fill out your card behaviors, such as failing to use safe work practices, protective and return it to your Building Coordinator, or you clothing and equipment or horsing around on the job, increase can mail it inter - office to me at the Health the risk. • A work area cluttered with debris, where spills go Department. uncleaned, faulty tools are used or emergency equipment is I would like to thank everyone who has helped missing or broken, is filled with unsafe conditions that can lead me with this year's campaign. I jumped into the to accidents or injuries. middle of things this year, and we got a late start, but everyone that I have worked with has been 5 Protect Your Back - Stretch and strengthen your back and extremely helpful and patient with me. I also stomach muscles. Plan each lift before you begin - test the load really appreciate those who called me and offered and think about where you're going. Use proper lifting their services for the campaign. techniques or get help from a co- worker or mechanical aid. I would especially like to thank this year's • Bend Your Knees...not your waist. This helps maintain your Building Coordinators, who have worked diligently center of balance and readies the strong muscles in your legs in distributing and collecting cards, and answering for lifting. questions as they came up. Without these people, this campaign would not be possible. • "Hug" the load - try to hold the load as close \ '� - < Retirees Louise McEwen to your body as possible. This reduces the �. `' Biggs A Peggy Arcangeli pressure on your back as you lift. ' Biggs B Patty Stamm Use your le - gradually straighten Old Courthouse Katie Knapp y legs g lly gh ' -�: Data Processing Pat Nowakowski your legs to a standing position.j� r . , . Mental Health Barbara Karaviotis � � ' Old Jail Kellie Henehan • Avoid twisting - twisting while • — Public Works Cheryl Nelson lifting can overload your spine and lead to u our Sheria s Dept. Daryl Avery s erious in l rY Make sure Y feet knees . . Social Services Marleta Anderson and torso are pointed in the same direction. B & G Doreen Schrader Solid Waste Linnett Warner (This article will be continued in the next issue of Corridors) PERSONNEL PERSONALS NEW ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC CONGRATULATIONS TO: TRANSPORTATION * Debbie (WIC) and Mike Cooper on the My name is Brenda Kuhn. I'm the ADA (Americans with birth of Zachary Michael 10 /11/94. Disabilities Act) Accessible Transportation Coordinator. That Grandmother is Alberta Barkdoll, SW. means I work with our local public transportation providers to supply accessible, comfortable transit to those of us with disabilities. UNCLASSIFIEDS• ADA calls for a parallel paratransit service. This means an FOR SALES accessible door -to -door van service running along or near the same routes and during the same hours as the regular buses. "Doesn't * Lowery electric organ with many extras Gadabout already cover this? "...you ask. Yes and no. Call Alice or Floyd at 387 -3342 eves. Gadabout is a demand - response service, but it doesn't run * evenings or Saturdays. ADA Paratransit looks to fill these gaps by 14 X 70, 3 Bedroom Trailer in small offering accessible evening service within the City, including McLean Trailer Park on Champlin Road. Pyramid Mall and Tompkins Community Hospital, from 5PM to S10,500, Lot Rent $160 /month. No pets. 7PM. Some areas are covered until 1OPM. It also provides a Call 844-8196 days and 753 -1528 eves. Saturday run, in the same area, between the hours of 9AM and after 6 p.m. 7PM. Again, some areas are covered until 10PM. * 1988 Chev. Beretta in excellent shape Even when all our fixed route buses are wheelchair lift equipped, S 988 Call Beretta 6 p.m. x4llent or otherwise accessible, and drivers have been trained to work with riders who live with a variety of disabilities, paratransit will still be * Stair Climber Plus $45; Sauder Desk S95 needed. Those who can't get to a bus stop, have difficulty and Sauder Computer Stand Desk C95 recognizing where they need to get off the bus because of vision impairment or cognitive disability, can't figure out transfers, etc., eves. 589 -6041. may be eligible for ADA's paratransit service. Until all fixed routes Pure breed KERRY BLUE TERRIER have accessible buses, people who use wheelchairs or have trouble climbing stairs may be eligible too. Someone may be using the puppies, good for people w /allergies (no public bus in good weather, but ice and snow make it impossible to shedding), excellentqualityguaranty, ready get to the bus stop. Conversely, there are many who usually drive to go at Thanksgiving. Call 546 -2610. themselves but may not wish to do so in inclement weather. * Whirlpool gas dryer - 5 temp. $100. Paratransit may be their answer. There are many ways to qualify for this service. Phone 347 -4007 after 4 p.m. If someone thinks they are qualified, they fill out an ADA WANTED: Paratransit Eligibility Application and send it to the Ithaca Transit * Someone who repairs TV,CD Players, etc. Center (ITTC) for certification. This certification may also be used at reasonable rates. Call after 5:30 p.m. to access paratransit services in other communities. 844-3793. I look forward to working with you. Please feel free to contact FOR RENT: me with questions and ideas or to receive an application. My * Nice Mobile Home on private lot. Call number is 277 -9388 ext. 450. Applications are also available at 564 -7569 for more information. Available Office for the Aging through Marilyn Strassberg, 274-5482. • after December 1, 1994. EVEN IF YOU'RE WORKING YOU MAY COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY Mail THIS FORM TO: Social Security Attn: DH No Mysteries, Gimmicks or Hassles Center Ithaca, Suite 216 Ithaca, NY 14850 Working people between the ages of 62 and 70 may be entitled to collect Social Security benefits. Name: We want you to know your options. The procedure is simple. Instead of trying to call the Address: office or going to the office, just fill out the coupon on the right and send it in and await your response. r GET PERSONALIZED INFORMATION ` Date: If you fill out and mail the coupon, you will get Social Security Number a letter back saying how much you might collect in benefits next year (1995), assuming your earnings 1995 Earnings Estimated match the estimate you provide.