ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး1997-06a \\f 1 r' A Newsletter for Employees and Retirees ...... k of Tompkins County � JUNE 1997 r \( - ',_ i _ i -,\ - -\ / • • 7 Jr-7-, 4-7- \, em, \ tA-----im i' us= ,- ,ei fi ) i , - - - - 1 1 1 . 1 ' \r; ■ , , ' %CAA. i s \ \\44: _it ," \v..; 1 ...4 \\,,,,,,,..i 10 Number 7 (-Are ,=.1.,: f rom the uountv .-"trchcveJ.. . 1 f ` E \ •_) / ' s 1 ,a tea'_., 1 �fJ 3 / , , — -� '� I j -.,� ;r 1 f � f.a.,.. i" \ r ll� r / j l - l l 1 ; ,- '+ 11 , �'� ` � � �' 11 ii' ' •,:-- \\7 _-...------ ' ----=---------------- "--•-,.. ,,, - 1 \ \\ \ = ,o-_ /I ' // // cc Q / ,f �) n m �o�e ernberi of the 101 Year CCub r. rk' 0 j .71. awr goad in 1896. 10 r - lop roof: WL4.. add,, 94/JC. d�i., P.M. JJa .7..,9. & malt � 7 /. / . i2. Pile ,� Mil. .. V.C)sr,YVnl, / C. .qed JJr re..,,.L / S' Jnom h ,orrom 1 I / . : Rruhney, 1/V,/-Ltlewrin /drrhar g 7l'larion, Clerh; coo. ?V 7ro _ 00 ogohn THE BUCK STARTS HERE TRIPS by Scott Heyman, County Administrator The early steps of the 1998 County budget NASCAR WINSTON CUP RACE process are already upon us. POCONO RACEWAY - JULY 20 SUNDAY On Tuesday, May 20, Budget committee chair Tim Joseph released to the Board and the public year -end 1996 results. The overall General Fund surplus grew to ''' _ $8.3 million, $2.3 million in excess of the Board's target. — °" Coupled with declining $80 - Includes a $65 Grandstand ticket. costs for public Need to make paid reservations now before assistance and f JUNE 13. Medicaid this should make for an WOO , "easy" budget process. * But even in favorable �' � I �' 1 I 1 3 circumstances I. things are never �� that simple for � ,'., 1 ''' NYC OVERNIGHT municipal budgets. 1, I1 , I , ; SEPTEMBER 27TH, SATURDAY Nearly $3 , ; . million in 1997 I 1 ,' I Need Reservations and $25 deposit by JUNE 13. spending is i!! l supported by spending from last (� year's fund balance � ...;,. ` VICKIE WAGNER y .a – in whatever year 1. r, welfare expenses stop declining (or, worse, increase), LET'S GO TO THE OLD relatively easy budgetmaking will take a drastic turn for = TIMERS DAY the worse. s NY Yankees /Detroit Tigers ' The fund balance for the Solid Waste Division , JULY 12 SATURDAY also grew appreciably, meaning that another reduction $60 (this would be three in a row) in the Solid Waste Annual Fee could be in the works. — Need to make paid reservations now before Congratulations to new and old 25 year club members (see Please contact by phone or p - mail: article and pictures next issue). Their Peter Coats: 274 - 6688 guests and friends joined them May Lynda Rose: 274 - 5553 22 for a warm and funny evening of Lrose@einstein.co.tompkins.ny.us appreciation directed toward long- time servants of the community we ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE LET US KNOW love. Congratulations also to first - JUNE 13. time event organizers Jackie Yoder BCBS Reminder and Brooke Kominos – Great Job! by Jackie Yoder, Benefits Manager Just a reminder to employees and retirees insured with BlueCross BlueShield who have procedures done at Cayuga Medical Center. You will receive a bill The only place where from CMC which itemizes the hospital charge AND an money comes before 8.18% NYS Healthcare Surcharge. BCBS will send you a check which you must pay over to the hospital for success is in the the medical charges. However, you are not responsible (and SHOULD NOT PAY) the surcharge. The surcharge dictionary is paid directly to New York State by BCBS. Tompkins County Training & Development "T &D" is now a regular insert in County Corridors. We will provide you with updates and information about in- service education and workshops, Partners for Quality, and helpful hints for your professional development. Feel free to contact Jerry Feist or Diane Bradac at 274 -5590 if you have any ideas, questions, or suggestions. In larger departments, the leadership teams or steering P FQ Recognitionpeop: committees select which efforts will receive PFQ recognition. In C succ e Co PFQ works some its way th rough are small departments the Department Head should make the K selection. � � ",, I ,� t un ty, wondering how they can learn l` a r t n e r s • more about their colleagues' Recognition will include the following: { a , esses. Recently the PFQ • A narrative success report indicating why the award is being C 4 u a I i t Recognition Team, composed given, to be posted on a public "Recognition Board" and filed of Leighann Fowler, Dwight in each team member's personnel file. �' , `' • A team photograph, given to each team member and posted. (� Mengel, and Sylvia Slaight, I J outlined some specific steps to • A Quality Recognition certificate, signed by the Department help spread the word. Head, the County Administrator, and the Chairman or Chairwoman of the Board of Representatives. The certificate First, a recognized quality effort should be based on the key will be given to each team member and filed in each team elements of PFQ, including member's personnel file. • Employee involvement with team structures; • A choice of a token (desk clock, beverage mug, or lapel pin) • Leadership and active involvement by top management and marked with the PFQ logo. • Public recognition of the award to publicize success stories. labor; This may be in County publications (paper and electronic, • Identification of internal and external "customers" and such as County Corridors and the County Web page), local suppliers, and an emphasis on service and product quality; papers, and at Board of Representative meetings. • The use of appropriate problem - solving techniques for continual improvement, including collecting and analyzing relevant information; and Contact Jerry Feist at 274 -5590 if you have questions about this • Focus on learning and the continual improvement of all process, or if you would like help in recognizing a quality effort. operations. Are you registered for any of these Summer Workshops? Supervision 101- Thursday, June 19, 26 and July 10th 9:00 -12:00 noon, Assessment Conference Room Building Self - Esteem - Tuesday, June 24th 9:00 -12:00 noon, Rice Conference Room, Biggs B All About Pegasus - Tuesday, June 24th 1:30 -2:30 pm, Mental Health Board Room *----- Supervisor's Problem Solving Seminar - July 8, 15, 29, August 5th 8:30 -10:30 am, Old Jail Conference Room Controlling Clutter - Conquerinn the Paper Mountain - July 17th 9:00 -12:00 noon, Transit Center Conference Room N s\ NN. All About Pegasus - Thursday, July 1 7 t h 1:30 -2:30 pm, Rice Conference Room, Biggs B Tompkins County Training & Development continued... In April, Fred Antil facilitated a workshop on Public Speaking. The following are a few points to remember when preparing or giving a speech or presentation. Be yourself. Be prepared. Be specific. Be enthusiastic. Be correct. 7 7 You get better at public speaking by doing three things: qv- 1. Speaking as often as you can. 2. Getting feedback on each speech. +okinir 3. Acting on that feedback for your next speech. O. ".. f Helpful Hints: Speaking is learned. Less is more. Preparation. Preparation. Preparation. Use a powerful opener and closing statement. Know your stuff. Preview, review and summarize. Use energy, enthusiasm and proper timing. Ask questions of the audience. Rehearse. Smile. Know your audience. Use appropriate humor. A speech must balance the speaker, audience and message. Demonstrate joy and ease, sincerity and credibility, personal involvement and authority. Make eye contact, for at least 5 seconds, with all individuals in all sections of the audience. Never make excuses. Before talking, exhale deeply several times to get rid of tension. The "seven deadly sins" of public speaking - dullness, losing focus, losing sight of why the audience came, trying to tell too much, neglecting practice and timing, failure to check out props and charts, last- minute distractions. Are you interested in Self -Paced Computer Learning? Would you like to know more about Windows 95? Microsoft Office? Access? Word? Excel? We recently purchased a series of self -study CD ROMs and Videos on these topics. (The price was right!) If you have access to a computer with a sound card and a CD ROM drive or a TV and VCR, you can check them out of our library / by calling 274-5590. Learn at your pace and help us evaluate these programs. Please keep us informed about your ongoing = -_ computer /technology training needs. . --:/ Summer Computer Classes are now confirmed. Please call 274 -5590 to register. Introduction to Excel - Bob Yavits (15 Hours) Tuesdays, June 17, 24, July 1, 8, 15 8:30 - 11:30am Spreadsheets offer much needed flexibility and time savings in today's offices. This course will teach you the basics needed to take advantage of spreadsheets. Introduction to Access - Lana Pfann (12 Hours) Tuesdays, June 17, 24, July 1, 8 8:30 - 11:30am Do you find yourself performing repetitive entry tasks, or having to keep track of large amounts of information? Learn the basic concepts of database design, queries, forms and reports. Prerequisite: Completion of Windows 3.1 or equivalent experience. Intermediate Word - Cathleen McCartney (12 Hours) Tuesdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 8:30 - 11:30 am Increase your word - processing productivity with this course covering mail merge, table creation, templates, headers and footers, columns, graphs and drawing. Prerequisite: Introduction to Word or equivalent experience. Managing Electronic Files - Bob Yavits (3 Hours) Tuesday, July 8 8:30 - 11:30 am Your electronic files can quickly get out of control. Learn how to impose and keep order so you can find what you need when you need it. EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! "Eagles spotted in Tompkins County" by Sandi Chambers, Past Chairperson Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce 1996 This headline could be true. All we need is for you • �► +/' to spot them. They are everywhere. Maybe one or two in your if 4 local grocery store, public library, or where you buy your gas. You can find them in Groton, Dryden, Trumansburg, all over L Tompkins County. You can find one anywhere you go as a Customer Service Excellence customer. Anywhere you dine out, take your laundry or buy - TOM['KINS COUNTY a car. "Eagles" work in every area business, government 9 CHAMBER office, and not for profit organizations. They plow our streets, OF COMMERCE bring our mail, and keep us safe. 't. The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce is proud to Once you help us spot these "Eagles ", by picking introduce a new customer service program. "Soaring Eagle up and filling out an "I spotted an Eagle" card at Customer Service Excellence ". You as employees of any participating Chamber of Commerce Member Tompkins County serve customers everyday. Everyone who Business or calling our voice mail number 280 - lives, works or plays in Tompkins County is your customer. SOAR, the Chamber of Commerce will send a This program could be a great partner with Tompkins certificate to the "Eagle" and a letter of County's "Partners For Quality". recommendation to their employer. The participating Tompkins County's excellent customer service representatives businesses will be easy to find. A poster will be are being called "Eagles ", because eagles soar heads above prominately displayed. Just pick up a postcard. Keep the rest of the birds. We are looking for people who soar one in you car or in your handbag. Have it handy heads above the average. Last summer, the noted author, any time and any where you spot a "Eagle ". It is not Dr. Kenneth Blanchard gave a seminar on "How To Create necessary for the " Eagle" to be spotted at the area Raving Fans ". Customers are our most important fans. Dr. business where you pick up the postcard and the Blanchard compared eagles to ducks. An eagle is an place where your "Eagle" is employed does not employee who does all he or she can to assist the customer have to be a Chamber of Commerce member. All we or to find someone who can. A duck is an employee that only need is the "Eagles" name , place of employment, quacks it's not my job or it's just company policy. Let's ask your name, your address, and a brief description of ourselves, do we want to be an Eagle or a Duck? the customer service experience. All of us are due good customer service as a consumer right. You will be a Tompkins County "Eagle Spotter ". On occasion we run across a person who is extremely helpful, The "Eagles" of Tompkins County will get the one who goes out of their way to provide a service and their recognition they so richly deserve. only reward is their own feeling of having done a good deed. Our goal is to make Tompkins County the most I'm sure most of you have had a few really wonderful Customer Friendly community in New York State. I'm experiences and maybe some of you have taken the time to sure once we start finding our "Eagles ", they will write or thank the person responsible. We now have an easy start to multiply. Before we know it, excellent way for all of us to recognize these people and to publicly customer service will be the norm not the exception. thank them Think Lead: provide the lead test if your child is uninsured. The fee is based on family size and income. There is no from Carol Mohler, Health Department charge for those eligible for WIC, Headstart, or If you have a child under the age of 6... think lead! Medicaid. Lead testing is available at most WIC clinics on a walk -in basis. Ask about it when you *At age 1 and again at age 2, your child should be are there or call 274 -6616 for an appointment. tested for lead at the well child physical. Ask about *If you are about to embark on a renovation having the fingerstick lead test done when you take your or remodeling project in an older home, think lead! child to the pediatrician or family doctor at these ages. Lead dust generated by these projects is dangerous. Children who are exposed to lead in the environment have Children and pregnant women should stay away peak lead levels between the ages of 1 and 2 due to the from renovation or remodeling work sites until the frequent hand to mouth activity of children at this age. work is completed and thoroughly cleaned. Work Children mouth everything when teething is occurring which needs to be done in very specific ways to prevent puts them at high risk for lead exposure. lead exposure. Renovations should proceed only *At ages 3, 4, and 5, your child should be assessed when those performing the work are well aware of by a questionnaire used by the pediatrician or family doctor the hazards and very knowledgeable about during the well child physical to determine whether your child procedures to reduce the risk. For more information is at risk for lead exposure. If found to be at risk, a fingerstick about this, call the Health Department at 274 -6604. lead test should be done during the physical. Next issue: "Steps to Reduce Your Child's *The Tompkins County Health Department can Risk of Lead Poisoning." , i Unclassifieds For Sale: �� / Y 1982 Winnebago Motor Home: 27' �'!! " Class A, 45,000 miles, roof air, sleeps six, rear ��.l� :� � , ! ! n i bath. $11.000 or best offer. 607 - 533 -7651 � �� � ;;. ,ll.,li. i / '90 Ford F -150, 5 sp., 6 cyl., 64000 miles. '' = • . . .., 1 X " "^ 56.000. Call 844 - 3194 leave message. Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services' is offering two 4 hour Homebuyer Education courses this Are you a SEW and SEW? Could you summer: use some fabric? If sew, I have approx. 300 yds. Of various types (cotton, knits, blends) First -time Homebuyers Seminar at BOCES available for $2/yd. Most are in 2 -3 yd. lengths Wednesday evenings. June 11 and June 18 - 7 -9 p.m. (must take entire length). Call Judy 564 -9244. Call 257 -1561 to register. Homebuyers Education for Women at the Women's Registered Breedingstock Paint Community Building. 1 Gelding, 4 yrs., Bay, High Potential English or Wednesday evenings, July 9 and July 16 - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Western $1500. Call Debbie, 387 -5961. Leave Call 272 -1247 to register. message. Attend a Homebuyer Education Class and start seriously planning Employment: for homeownership in your future! Tutoring & Child Care: accommodating those with milk, wheat allergies; lactose Call Sue Perlgut or Ann DiPetta at 277 -4500 with any questions. intolerance, environmental sensitivities. Day and evening hours; HEPA air purifier. 277 -7351. Some people find fault like there's a reward for it. Articles to be considered for the June 19 issue must be _,� received by June 9, 1997. Lengthy articles should be ... mmmil> O on disk. Send by interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, '4.. Finance, or 125 East Court St., 2nd floor, Ithaca, NY 14850. UNCLASSIFIEDS Baseball superstar Hank Aaron: Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose except no personal ads will be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in "It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits in these ads, however we do need the full name of the person submitting the ad. Use baseball. In golf, it took one this coupon to send your ad via interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond. County 1 Corridors Go Finance, or 125 East Court St., 2nd floor, Ithaca, NY 14850. . afternoon." Please type or print legibly! Thanks! 41L COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the volunteer editorial board based on their interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board Material is TECHNOLOGY is another solicited from current employees, retirees and others. Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the right to edit any submissions except in the instance of copyright articles. The Editorial Board is made up of: Bill Chapp, Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Assessment: word for "tool." Lisa Eaton, (Proofreader), Finance- Purchasing; Iretta Ellis, Information Services: Scott Heyman, County Administrator; Louise McEwen, Personnel; Ruth Pond, (Editor). Finance; Judy Tynyk, (Chair), Weights and Measures; and Vickie Wagner. There was a time when (Artist), Drafting Technician, Assessment Correspondence may be sent through County inter - department mail to: County Corridors. c/o Finance, 125 East Court St., 2nd floor, Ithaca, NY 14850. nails were hightech.