ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး1997-06b OF) T. / Newsletter f for 1 . .,:li.:1:! . .1!.:1:10 l _ Empl oyees and Retirees Tompkins County 1--,.� .�, 1-- „tom \ 7 " ( - r \ \_, .f 5 ....... v , . LI , Lrr �. - JUNE 1997 Volume 10 Number 6 THANK YOU SHIRLEY . , S ?/uLj B &G, has i" 1 s decided its time to retire. She is the lady who has i '� !. > e 0 , r been faithfully sending County Corridors to retirees. , i ...;; She does it on her own time and claims to enjoy 5" x ^ 1 ' doing it. The Corridors Board was concerned about F .; ' 0e ' ', how to find someone who would be willing to give as a: 'l ��� much as Shirley has. Shirley herself solved the problem by finding someone for us. Edward " ` *, 4 Jr • Teeter, B &G, will take over. Shirley has agreed to ` help him until he feels comfortable on his own. How , does one adequately say thank you to Shirley and `" also to Edward. Maybe the retirees who benefit Liz Croop, far left - Pam Morehouse, 3rd from left, and friends. from this service could send Shirley a thank you for behind the camera Vicky Wagner, Assessment her many years of donated service. TCAT FU N by Liz Croop, Mental Health TCAT - Fun exists for commuters on the Dryden run, who 111111 . are from Cortland, Virgil, Harford, Marathon, McLean, Dryden, Etna... We are an ethnically diverse group: students at Cornell, w + workers for the County, City, Cornell, local businesses, some Mental Health clients, Challenge employees, a school crossing guard in Ithaca, and others. Our "bus boss" is Pam Morehouse. She's a single mother who lives in Dryden and runs a copy shop at Cornell. She is the party planner, champion of little people (almost single • handedly got a bus shelter for special adults who wait by the side of the road south of Dryden), is our liason with TCAT (that's the bus company) management. Pam is the main character on our Iliii hii bus - things liven up when she gets on. Our run is unique for its comaraderie ( I looked up this word in the dictionary, it's spelled comraderie - then in capital letters CAMARADERIE. Can't find it with the ca's, though). Shirley Fritts, Tompkins County B &G Twice in my memory we've had bus parties - Christmas '95 and 301 Harris B. Dates Drive, Biggs A our Just Because It's Tuesday Party 3/18/97. Both times Pam Ithaca, NY 14850 announced the event a few days before, told us to bring goodies and we all brought cookies, cupcakes, candy, caramel corn etc., Shirley's friends and co- workers at Buildings which were passed from seat to seat and everybody was welcome and Grounds wanted to say to her: to take some and pass along. "Very best wishes to you Shirley on your The most fun is when there are strangers riding - we love retirement May 30. We'll really miss your words of to watch their reactions. At the Christmas party there were some wisdom and your warm smile." new students from other countries who didn't speak English. The Corridors Board would like to say thank They loved the food and fellowship, and we wondered if maybe you and wish you good health and happiness in they thought this was going to be a daily occurrence. your retirement. It's been a pleasure to get to know I think that we are a very unique, lucky bunch of you and work with you. You are indeed a joy! commuters - one who looks forward to our daily bus rides. Ai J A Couple of Firsts by Scott Heyman, County Administrator County Corridors, your friendly, informative LIZ Loiselle Retires? by David Squires, Finance Director "Say bulletin of news that employees and retirees can use, is now being published every Say it ain't so" was the universal response when it was revealed that Liz had opted for early retirement. How payday. i� could that be, she's too young for retirement. Well that is Thanks to the cooperation certainly true, however we have to cut her some slack for of the volunteer Board of Corridors putting up with all those numbers for 34 years. this publication is going to be able Liz Loiselle's tenure exemplifies the quality and to publish with a much shorter . ----� values of work which we should all strive to maintain. deadline (the Friday before -K . Everyone who has worked with Liz has benefited from distribution) and be much more ` timely. ;,,•;` her integrity, dedication and good humor. Training notices need all of f‘. the circulation they can get and . -- Corridors can now be a primary source of information for 1 employees about training offerings —'" A i they can take advantage of. "`% E - Another first in this issue owes its existence to h 44 a County Board Clerk Cathy Covert. Cathy was cleaning - 4 .4 out the vault in her office and uncovered a treasure trove i�r ; ; of interesting items of County history. ' Mr The next several issues will include features about information Cathy discovered. This issue features a gentleman to whom we owe our name, Daniel D. rte Tompkins. `2 4} 1 r sa { U x . Picture by Autumn Bieberich, Finance Li career with the County began in 1960 as a typist with Welfare (back in olden times before DSS). She worked her way up the organization serving as payroll Picture by Judy Tynyk, Wgts. & Measures clerk, sr. account clerk, data control coordinator, Tompkins was not Jefferson or Madison, but he accounting supervisor. In 1986 she was appointed deputy was a noteworthy figure in the early history of our nation comptroller and has had the substantial responsibility for and our state (no, he never visited our County). maintaining the financial records of the County. After serving as a member of the State's Even though Liz hasn't really gone yet(we begged her Constitutional Convention and of the Assembly, Tompkins to stay to close out 96 and pentamate) we realize that all became a State Supreme Court Justice in 1804. He was good things must eventually end. We will miss her and elected Governor in 1807, a post he held until 1817; value the opportunity to have worked with her. during his tenure slavery was abolished in New York State. On March 4, 1817, six weeks before the The two party political system that emerged during founding of the County that was to bear his name, Daniel Washington's administration and re- emerged when D. Tompkins was sworn in as Vice President of the Andrew Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams in 1828 United States in the administration of James Monroe. He was invisible during this time. served through both of Monroe's terms, an eight-year - A final trivia note on Tompkins — he is mentioned period so harmonious and free of political rancor that by Santa Claus in the original movie version of "Miracle historians labelled it "the era of good feeling." on 34 "' Street." 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. Upcoming Summer Workshops Building Self Esteem: June 24 9:00 -12:00 Rice Room, Biggs B Computer Classes: We are again working with TC3 to offer Identify personal attitudes and thought patterns that lower your self more computer classes this Summer, including Introduction and esteem and learn new skills to feel better and succeed. Back by Intermediate Access, Intermediate Word, Introduction to Excel, employee request, this workshop will be facilitated by Susan and Managing Electronic Files. Schedule will be out soon. Lerner. Supervisors' Problem - Solving Seminar: Supervision 101: June 19, June 26 and July 10`", 9:00 - 12:00, July 8, 15, 29, August 5" 8:30- 10:30am, Old Jail Conf Room Assessment Conference Room, Annex Bldg. C A three - part A series of four weekly two -hour seminars for current supervisors program to develop and improve your basic skills in working with who want to improve their skills. Have constructive dialogues with others to get things done. This introductory series is intended for your colleagues about issues and challenges you face as a supervisor. current and "wanna -be" supervisors. It will look at two -way The emphasis will be on helping each other fmd "win -win" solutions communications, team building, planning and goal setting, assessing to real -life opportunities. Facilitated by Jerry Feist. progress, mutual problem - solving, coaching, and completing tasks. Facilitated by Jerry Feist. All About Pegasus: June 24 ,1:30- 2:30pm Mental Health Board Room - sixth floor and again on July 17 from 1:30- 2:30pm Biggs B, Rice Conference Room Are you working with Pegasus - E -Mail system? Do you have The following quotes from previous E -mail but are unsure how to use it? Are there features you samples workshops les taken from evaluations. would like to use? A staff member from Information Technology p p Services, will demonstrate the system and answer questions. Assertiveness - This workshop was very informative, gave practical, useful advice and was objective. "air I'm going to practice being assertive, standing up for myself and now I'm more comfortable saying, NO. r� _ Civil Rights and Responsibilities - The presenters both 01 �ja listened carefully and took our thoughts and .�� o , questions seriously. I learned a great deal. �t' Customer Service - 1 am more confident now in knowing how to handle an upset customer. • ""qur There was good group interaction, everyone participated and it was fun too. Controlling Clutter - Conquering the Paper Mountain: Dealing with Conflicts - I learned how to approach July 17`", 9:00- 12:00noon, Transit Center people and deal with personal and workplace Do you have too much stuff and not enough room? This invariably conflict in a positive and constructive way. leads to an inability to fmd anything, a loss of efficiency, and all- The small size permitted sharing in a close personal around stress. This three -hour workshop will examine the reasons way. It was helpful to share and listen. why we collect clutter, a room -by -room debunking process, storage Managing Your Career - I learned how critical self - options, and creative solutions and tips for a clutter -free environment. Facilitated by Robin Schwartz. evaluation is in exploring career options. I learned that I'm not alone - that at every age and Performance Reviews: (Dates to be announced) Ranking close to circumstance, we have stumbling blocks and set root - canals in popularity, performance assessments and dialogues are backs and reachable goals. There is hope and help. essential to all employees. Learn how you can make them less painful Stress Management - I appreciate the County offering and more productive in two three -hour programs. The first, facilitated the quality, professional training and the time to by Scott Heyman and Jerry Feist, will establish the groundwork for take it. I enjoyed the group discussions. I gained mutually beneficial performance reviews including meaningful goals many ideas on how to deal with my personal and and objectives. The second, facilitated by Anita Fitzpatrick and work stress. Jerry Feist, will examine options when performance is problematic. What's up in Training and Development? We want to know ...which skill training topics are priorities for — Facilitation Skills Giving & Receiving Feedback _ you and other Tompkins County employees. So far, departments have _ Hiring made special requests, and registration has been good for computer _ Humor in the Workplace classes and other programs, including giving and receiving feedback, _ Improving Customer Service managing stress & time, improving customer service, problem solving _ Individual and Group Problem- Solving & Decision - Making & decision - making, assertiveness, resolving conflicts, civil rights, _ Keeping Records and other topics. _ Leadership Skills ( "Situational Leadership ") 1 _ Making Reports / _ Managing Your Own Career 9 Motivating Others ______ — — Negotiating _ New Staff Orientation & Training _Organizing Your Workspace _ Planning & Resource Management (setting and achieving goals) _ Performance Dialogues . — Recognition & Rewards — Resolving Complaints & Grievances _ Sexual Harassment Rather than our guessing at your interests, we hope you will tell us. _ Situational Ethics We recently sent a training survey to employees by electronic mail, _ Stress Management but not everyone has an e -mail address. If you've already seen and Supervising: Getting the Job Done _ completed this survey, thank you for sharing your opinions. If you Supervisor's Problem - Solving Seminar — have not, please read on. — Team Building Which of the following topics are most interesting to you? — Time Management Indicate all you think we should offer in the next 6 -12 months. Feel — Using Quality Tools free to suggest additional topics if you believe there might be — Training the Trainer sufficient interest among your colleagues. If you are interested in — Verbal Communication Skills customized training for your unit, please contact Jerry or Diane at — Violence in the Workplace 274 -5590. — Working Cooperatively with Others Thank you. — Written Communication Skills E l31v"" p.s.: Jerry &Diane, you can reach me by mail or e-mail at: Potential Training Topics: Name: Address: — Benefiting from Diversity — Budgeting -- — Building & Maintaining Morale ��; — Building Self - Esteem ` �' — Career Counseling ' — Change Management — Civil Rights & Responsibilities — Civil Service Rules & Regulations — Coaching & Counseling _I — Computer Skills — Conflict Management — Covey's Seven Habits Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please fold it in — Crisis Management half so this side is out, tape or staple it together, and mail it via — Dealing with Difficult People — Delegating Tompkins County Mail. — Determining & /or Aligning Mission, Vision, & Values Developing Employees' Skills To Jerry Feist or Diane Bradac — Discipline &Termination Training & Development — Doer to Supervisor - Making the Transition _ Effective Meetings Personnel, 125 East Court Street — Effective Presentations — Ensuring Workplace Safety Sunday Hours for Library MAY IS The Tompkins County Public Library's search for STROKE AWARENESS MONTH sponsors for Sunday hours has resulted in two pledges of from Sue Kilgore, Hea /thy Heart support. Stroke deaths have been climbing since 1992 The Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library and are at an all -time high, according to the American and the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation have Heart Association, which annually designates May as both committed funds to support Sunday hours, which Stroke Awareness Month. could start as early as September, 1997. The library hopes Preliminary figures indicate that 158,061 to obtain additional sponsors for the remaining fourteen Americans died in 1995 from a stroke, or "brain attack ", Sundays which would cover September to December. compared to 143,769 deaths in 1992. This is a three - Saying that it was particularly fitting that the year increase of about 10 percent. The recent upswing library's primary support group make this early commitment in stroke rates follows a 25 -year decline. to the success of the Sunday operation, the Executive Because brain attack ranks behind other Board of the Friends was the first to vote to provide the prominent killers - heart disease and cancer - it is not estimated $1500 cost of the additional hours. Not only are viewed as a major public health threat. But in terms of we doing this on behalf of our 800 members," said David long -term disability, stroke far outranks all the other McFarren, "but also for the entire community which supports Friends activities such as the annual book sale, diseases, says Jan Breslow, M.D., president of the AHA. and by doing so ultimately supports library service in "Millions of people are challenged by the Tompkins County." devastating aftermath of stroke," he says. "Studies show The library will continue to seek sponsors for the that up to one -third of survivors need help caring for remaining Sundays and, if successful, will seek state themselves, 20 percent need help walking, and about 70 county and city support to continue Sunday hours in 1998. percent are not able to perform the same job tasks they Library Director, Janet Steiner said that Sunday hours are did before the stroke." a way to make library service more convenient for more The AHA message is clear - Americans can take people, particularly children and families. She expects the charge of their own health by not smoking, controlling library to be heavily used on Sundays and hopes to offer high blood pressure, eating well and being physically special family programming in addition to regular services. active. Also physicians should be aggressively treating This would be the first time in the library's history that the patients who have already had a stroke to prevent a library offered Sunday hours. Interested businesses and recurrence. individuals are invited to call the library if interested in sponsoring a Sunday. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT : The library is currently open Monday through Theresa Lyczko at 274 -6710 Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays during the summer. `Update: as of this day of print, 7 of the 12 necessary Sundays are covered - three of them through Community Support. Anyone interested should call Elayne Nicholas, Director of Development, at 272 -4557. 40 ,..„ , A„,,,, • . _ ...... . / �.- ir r1 du; .te ' _: -«• r A Sign of Spr Tompkins County's Weights & Measures Inspector, Don Ellis, Jr. and NYS w Weights & Measures Specialist III, Steve Martin, are ` shown here checking the volume of Bark Mulch. At the 7 businesses inspected this spring, over 900 bags of mulch were checked, and all were found to contain the amount declared on the label so, mulch to your heart's Picture by Judy Tynyk, Wgts. & Measures content! Unclassifieds Personnel Personals: For Rent: Mobil Home, on Route 13 in Newfield: Many of you guessed the retiree who turned 59 on May new 14x80', 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Non - smoking 1 to be Don Franklin. You were right! couple welcomed, no pets. Security deposit required, $450 plus utilities. Available June 1st. Call anytime - 564 -7569. Looking Ahead to July Employment: Lead Poison Control Week Child care available May 26 by Eye Exam Month college student who has own transportation, is Healthy Picnic Planning Month experienced and has references. Call Krissy at Non - Dependence Day 277-9872. Outdoor Fun and Safety Month Tutoring & Child Care: Accommodating those with milk, wheat allergies; Lactose intolerance, environmental sensitivities. Day and evening hours; HEPA air purifier. 277 -7351. For Sale: 1982 Winnebago Motor Home: 27' Class A, 45,000 miles, roof air, sleeps six, rear bath. $11,000 or best offer. 607 - 533 -7651. Water Bed: California King, Freeflow Mattress, 3 sets of sheets. $150. G.E. The Corridors Board would like to have Microwave $75. Call 564 -0674. articles, stories, jokes, pictures - contributions of most any kind for Corridors. We'll be glad to edit for you. Send to Ruth Pond, Finance or 125 E. Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Thanks! `89 Chev Celebrity Eurosport. $2,700. CaII 564 -7028. UNCLASSIFIEDS `90 Ford F -150, 5 S ., 6 cly., 64,000 Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees P Y and their immediate families only. Ads may be for any purpose except no personal miles. $6,000. Call 844 -3194 leave message. ads will be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in these ads, however we do need the full name of the person submitting the ad. Use Are you a SEW and SEW? Could OU this coupon to send your ad via interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, County Y Y Corridors c/o Budget & Finance, or 125 East Court St., 2nd floor, Ithaca, NY use some fabric? If sew, I have approx. 300 14850. Please type or print legibly! Thanks! yds. Of various types (cotton, knits, blends) available for $2 /yd. Most are in 2 -3 yd. lengths (must take entire length). Call Judy, 564 -9244. Registered Breedingstock Paint Gelding, 4 yrs., Bay, High Potential English or Western $1500. Call Debbie, 387 -5961. Leave message. 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. Wanted: They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board. Material is Music Stand needed. Free or very solicited from current employees, retirees and others. Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the right reasonable! Call Kathleen, 273 -5263. 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; Ride back and forth, Monday - Friday, Lisa Eaton, (Proofreader), Finance- Purchasing; Iretta Ellis, Information Services; Scott Heyman, County Administrator; Louise McEwen, Personnel; Ruth Pond, from Pleasant Valley Rd, Groton, to Courthouse. (Editor), Finance- Purchasing; Judy Tynyk, (Chair), Weights and Measures; and I work 9 -5, but could be early. Call Liz, 898- Vickie Wagner, (Artist), Drafting Technician. 9861. Correspondence may be sent through County inter - department mail to: County Corridors, c/o Finance- Purchasing, 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.