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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAprilMafters CAT CITY OF SEBASTIAN NEWSLETTER QUOTABLE QUOTES The income tax is too difficult for a mathematician to do. It takes a philosopher.» —Albert Einstein INSIDE CITY LIMITS Birth s 04/01 Gloria Brown - P/D Communications Tech. 04/02 Linda Kinchen - E/D Administrative Assist. 04/05 Jenna Veidt - F/D Account Artist 04/10 Debra Curry - P/D Clerical Assistant II 04/12 Richard Schofield - C/D Building Inspector 04/12 Edward Wessendorf - P/W Maint. Worker III 04/14 Roland Walsh - G/C Cart Attendant 04/15 Joseph Dillon - P/D Police Investigator 04/16 George Schum - P/D Crossing Guard 04/19 Ann Rousseau - P/D Admin. Secretary 04/20 Eleanor Horvath - P/W Garage Clerical II 04/23 Kathleen Brauer - P/D Communications Tech. 04/25 Margaret Fix - P/D Crossing Guard 04/26 Paul Phillips - P/D Police Officer 04/27 Robert Graham - G/C Starter/Ranger 04/29 Jacquelyn Morris - P/D Police Officer Lonpeyity Emplovees with 10 or more vears of service: None Employees with 5-9 years of service: 04/01/88 Jerome Thomas - Asst. Public Works Dir. 04/10/89 Paul St. Pierre - P/W Maintenance Wrk 11 04/13/89 William Grimmich - P/D Investigator 04/13/89 Barbara Quinn - P/D Clerical Asst. I 04/21/89 Timothy Zelinski - P/D Comm. Tech. 04/19/90 Terry Hill - P/W Engineering Tech. 04/19/90 Kenneth Schmitt - C/D Code Enf. Officer I APRIL, 1997 Important Dates e 04/01/97 April Fool's Day (be nice) $ 04/04/97 Pay Day * 04/06/97 Daylight Savings Time Begins $ 04/15/97 Income Tax Due G) $ 04/18/97 Pay Day NEW FMS: Oops! Sorry, I left off Dorothy Hindelang as the new Police Department School Crossing Guard. She was hired on 01/19/97. Paul Phillips has accepted the position of Police Officer on 03/10/97. George Crawford is a temporary part-time cart attendent employee at the Golf Course. Ruth Sullivan is a new councihnember. Larry Paul is a new councilmember. MISCELLANEOUS EMPLOYEE NEWS! Condolences to Mark Sanders on the death of his Grandfather. Condolences to Bill Grimmich on the death of his Father. John Jenkins will be out on a leave of absence for awhile. The Golf Course will miss him. JoAnne Sandberg, of the City Clerk's office, learned the hard way on Friday, March 21 to keep her windows closed during a rainstorm. It seems she was turning into the parking lot off of Main Street and a car passing in the opposite direction splashed a mountain of water into her car. Needless to say, she was drenched and dripping water when she appeared for work. She supplied everyone here with a little sunshine on a rainy day. " We are all here for a spell, get all the good laughs you can.» — Will Rogers City of Sebastian Employee Newsletter Bits & Pieces Back in the 1920s an executive of the New York Telephone Company stopped in amazement one evening to observe a man in a tuxedo emerging from a manhole at the comer of Forty-second Street and Broadway. The man turned out to be Burch Foraker, head of the Bell telephone system in New York City. On that cold January night Foraker had come out of a theater and descended into the manhole. Was there a crisis? Was he worried about some serious difficulty in the system? Nothing of the sort. " I knew there were a couple of my cable splicers working down there, so I just dropped in on `em to have a little chat" said Foraker. In time, Foraker became known as the "man of ten thousand friends" due in part to the fact that he made a habit of visiting his men at their work. It was his way of showing that he considered their jobs important. Good managers and executives show their associates that they respect their ability. They display a genuine interest in what they are doing. They drop in, chat a bit, ask a few questions and perhaps make a useful suggestion. Try it. It never does any harm and it can do a lot of good. STRESS: Criticism? How to be nice and effective. ❑ Examine your own feelings; don't criticize when you're feeling angry, insulted, or "wronged" ("When a person points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.' ❑ Try not to use the word "you." Talk about the behavior rather than the "behavee." ("When this thing happens, I feel very frustrated" rather than "When you foul up like this, you make me angry.') ❑ Ask for an explanation. Maybe there's a good reason for the behavior. ❑ Ask the person if he or she has a solution (i.e., "What do you think it will take to keep this from happening again?'�. ❑ Once you've made your point, leave. If you hang around and get into a new topic of conversation, you'll weaken the impact of your message. —Source: Adapted from Yes You Can!: 1,200 Inspiringldeas for Work, Home, and Happiness by Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman 15 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS AT WORK Some ideas to help you cope with on-the-job stress: ❑ CONTROL O Ask for a project that you have complete responsibility for. O Exercise control in other areas of your life. For example, take on a volunteer project where you can be in charge. ❑ PEOPLE O Try to understand why other people act the way they do, and don't take it personally. O Take a course, read a book, or listen to a tape on relationships and communications. O Keep a sense of humor. ❑ JOB/FAMILY O During your breaks, talk to other employees; share problems and solutions. Seek counseling from your company's Employee Assistance Program. Human Resource Healthcare Group 725-476. O If you are putting in longer hours than normal, feeling especially stressed, explain the situation to your family so they understand why. ❑ THE JOB ITSELF O Ask to share projects with others who enjoy tasks that you don't, and vice -versa. O Talk to your supervisor about what changes might be made. O Make sure your job matches your personal goals. O Look for other ways to use your skills; try volunteering for company committees where you can do more of the things you like to do. ❑ TIME O Talk over flex -time options with your supervisor. O Take a time -management class to improve organizational skills. O Delegate, and learn to say "no" when appropriate. O Re-evaluate your deadlines if you are setting them. If someone else sets them, check to see if they can be extended on projects that you feel need more work. City of Sebastian Employee Newsletter Safety: DON'T GET FRIED... Lightning safety ❑ Learn how to recognize the signs of an oncoming thunderstorm—clouds, darkening skies, distant rumbles, and flashes of lightning. Don't wait for a nearby lightning strike before you take cover. ❑ Best places to take cover a large budding (not a tent or a shed), a car (not a convertible), or a truck. ❑ Unplug TVs and computers to protect them from damage. ❑ Don't touch large metal objects (e.g., refrigerators, stoves, sinks, bunks). These can have currents induced in them if lightning strikes nearby. ❑ Stay away from water (don't take a bath or shower, or use sinks). ❑ Don't use a regular (wired) telephone except for an emergency. Cellular phones are OK to use. OUTDOORS If there's not enough time to reach a safe building, car, or truck: ❑ Stay away from tall, isolated trees or objects (e.g., utility poles, towers). ❑ Stay away from water and metal objects (e.g., golf clubs, bikes, fishing poles, cameras, metal -framed backpacks, tractors, fences, railroad tracks, flagples). ❑ In the woods, find shelter in a low area—under a thick growth of small trees. ❑ If you're in a level field and you feel your hair standing on end, this means that lightning is about to strike. Kneel or squat–hands on your knees, not on the ground. This is safer than lying down because: 1) you keep low to the ground, 2) only a small area of your body (your feet and knees) is in contact with the ground. If you are with a group of people, spread out. ❑ In open areas, to to a low place, such as a revine, swale, or valley. ❑ If you are in a boat, try of make it to shore. If you can't, crouch down in the middle of the boat. Otherwise, get below. — Sources: New York State Department of Health; US West; The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook SMOKING "I'm glad I don't have to explain to a man from Mars why each day I set fire to dozens of little pieces of paper, and then put them in my mouth. —Mignon McLaughlin On -The -Job Important Stuff To Know About - BODYLANGUAGE Body language is the oldest and most trusted language in the world, say experts. Up to 95% of face -to face communications is nonverbal Some tips: ❑ Stand tall, with your knees slightly bent (i.e., not locked). Pull your rib cage up out of your waist, and breathe deeply so that your whole abdomen, not just your chest, is involved in breathing. This will give you a look and feel of confidence. ❑ Make eye contact with people. This may be the most remembered element in forming an impression. ❑ If you are a woman, be careful that your body language is not apologetic. Put your hands on the arm rests of your chair, instead of in your lap. When standing, hold your arms loosely at your sides; don't hold them in front of you like a "fig leaf." Use firm arm and hand gestures for emphasis. When challenged, don't back away—maintain eye contract and hold your ground. ❑ Be careful of sexual body language such as flipping or brushing back your hair, "preening" or crossing and uncrossing your legs. ❑ When shaking hands, don't crush the other person's pahn and don't offer a limp limb. Extend your hand, grasp the other person's hand firmly, then release. A handshake that is prolonged, just like eye contact that is prolonged, can make another person feel uncomfortable. ❑ Watch your arms and legs. Crossing your hands across your chest signals resistance and reluctance. Not crossing your arms indicates an "open" attitude. ❑ In today's climate, hugs, pats, and shoulder massages — which may have been acceptable in the past —are not advised. ❑ Don't stand too close to people. Americans prefer three feet to six feet of space around them. ❑ During stressful times, be aware of any "comfort gestures" that you may have —rocking, shaking your leg, twirling your hair, tugging on your ear, clicking your tongue, etc. — Source: Dianne Hales and Robert Hales, PhD; co-authors of Caring for the Mind. The Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health. City of Sebastian Employee Newsletter Let's Talk Benefits EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Human Resource Healthcare Group 725-4767 1-8004240767 Human Resource Healthcare Group; Inc. is the plan supplied by the City. The Employee Assistance Program is a short-term counseling and referral service for employees and their dependants. A Referral to the EAP can be made as a "Self -Referral," or can be made by a supervisor based on declining job performance. We all need help at some time in our fives. Getting help is a positive step in problem resolution. In fact, most problems only get worse with lack of attention or without appropriate intervention. The Employee Assistance Program is here to help with all types of problems, even if all you need is a good listener. • Mantal/Family • Stress • Drug Abuse • Emotional • Alcohol Abuse • Financial • Co -Dependency • Legal • Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder • Food Addiction Using the EAP is of no cost to the employee. Your company has contracted with Human Resource Healthcare Group, Inc., for this service. Often times, problems can be resolved through use of the EAP, and referral is not necessary. If a referral is needed, EAP referrals will be to the most appropriate agency or professional, but the EAP has provided you with a good start in resolving your problem. Whenever it is necessary to make a referral, careful attention is made in selecting a referral source, and we advise you of treatment cost. Whether you are a self -referral or a supervisor referral, the nature of your problem remains confidential. Information can only be released with your signed, written consent, and no names will be given to the company. Your job security or promotability will not be affected by using EAP on a self -referral: It is the employee's responsibility to comply with EAP recommendations, and it is also the employee's responsibility to maintain satisfactory job performance, regardless of EAP involvement. EAP is always available. The EAP staff is available to you 24 hours a day at home or at work ICNIA 457 Retirement Plan Withdrawal Reminders 60 - Day Rule Enforced When a 457 deferred compensation plan participant prepares to leave, whether for retirement, resignation or release, that participant has 60 days to select and notify RC of the date on which payments will begin. If a selection and notification are not made within 60 days, the payments will begin on April 1 of the year following the year that person reaches 65. Once selected this date is irrevocable and cannot be changed. PEBSCO Securities offered through Nationwide Investment Services Corporation Deferred compensation is voluntary tax-deferred program that allows you, as a public employee, to defer a portion of your salary into a supplemental retirement account before current federal income taxes are deducted. Internal Revenue Code Section 457 provides this tax deferred program exclusively for public employees—designed to help you build additional financial security. Deferred compensation offers you retirement choices, not just retirement savings. You can postpone taxes now, to build savings more effectively and to create a well-balanced portfolio of investments for yourself. Unlike most conventional savings or investment programs, deferred compensation offers you a variety of money management advantages such as — ❑ Payroll deduction (automatic investment of your deductions) ❑ Minimal deferral (as little as $20 per month) ❑ Tax-deferred benefits You can put aside as much as 25% of your gross taxable income, to a dollar maximum of $7,500 per year. Employees who have not deferred the maximum contribution over the years may "catch up" on amounts they could have deferred previously. Total deferrals, including regular and "catch-up" amounts, cannot exceed $1,500. When you retire or terminate employment you can choose from a number of payment plans, many of which provide you with income for the rest of your life. Income taxes are payable in the year or years your account is paid or made available to you or your beneficiary. City of Sebastian Employee Newsletter