Employee Newsletter - Portland Water Bureau

Thursday, May 19, 2011

In This Issue

Featured Article

PEER Support

HR Corner

Women in Trades

Take a Break for Safety

Golf Tournament

Follow Us

for regular news and information

PEER Support

Pondering how to resolve an awkward work or personal situation? Needing a "second opinion" about possible options? We've all been here...Call a PEER! The PEER Support Program is a resource for employees who are experiencing a workplace difficulty and want to confidentially speak with someone who may offer fresh insight on the situation. The Bureau PEER volunteers are trained to assist co-workers to clarify and frame workplace and personal issues, and suggest resources useful in resolving a situation. PEER volunteers do not solve other's problems; rather they discuss issues in a neutral and non-judgmental way and facilitate the person coming to their own solution.

Why would you contact a PEER volunteer?

To check perceptions and emotions on an issue.
To get an unbiased second opinion.
To have someone "safe" who will listen confidentially.
To get suggestions and referrals on resources available to solve the problem.

Meet your PEER volunteers!

Front Row

Hope Chacon, Korya Ames, Barbara Rice, Jody Inman
Middle Row

Cory DeVore, Darcy Cronin, Debra Caskey, Jayden Williams, Neelam Jain, Mia Sabanovic, Allison Marleau, Bruce Bulick
Back Row

Jonathan Clark, Michael Rick, Dan Hogan, Ben Gossett, Carla Ralston, Eric Brainich, Vill Villanueva, Robert Alter, Joe Howe
Not Pictured

Manual Crockett, Patty Burk, Carol Stahlke

PEERS by Location

Downtown:

Eric Brainich

Joe Howe

Dan Hogan

Jodie Inman

Mia Sabanovic

Ben Gossett

Darcy Cronin

Barbara Rice

Carla Ralston

Patty Burk

Michael Rick

Korya Ames

Interstate M&C:

Hope Chacon

Debra Caskey

Vill Villanueva

Neelam Jain

Manual Crockett

Carol Stahlke

Jonathan ClarkCory DeVore

Interstate Operations:

Allison Marleau

Security:

Jayden Williams

Sandy River Station:

Bruce Bulick

Robert Alter

-Carla Ralston

HR Corner: Prioritizing Your Time

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back." - Harvey MacKay

Time is a unique resource in that everyone is given an equal amount - a gift of 24 hours each day. How you invest that gift is a major factor in how you feel about your life.

Even though the term "time management" is used a great deal, there really is no such thing as time management. Using time effectively is actually a matter of your own personal management.

Time goes by at the same rate no matter what you do. You can't speed it up or slow it down. Unlike the other resources that you manage, there is no way to control time. The best you can do is take charge of yourself in the framework of time, investing yourself in those things that matter most in your life.

Being effective with your time means you are investing your time on the most important tasks. You evaluate your effectiveness by whether what you got done was what really needed doing.

Here are some strategies for effective time use -

Assume ownership of your time - do not allow others to make commitments of your time without your permission
Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize - As you remind yourself to direct yourself to the most important tasks first, you will find yourself letting go of tasks that really did not need doing after all.
Learn to work with your biological clock - Each of us has a peak time of day when our energy is at its highest and concentration at its best.
Break down large jobs into smaller pieces - Break down a large task into manageable pieces and then begin with a piece you know you can handle.

Reward yourself when a major task is completed or a major challenge is met.

If you have any questions about this topic please contact your HR Business Partner.

-Elizabeth Lopez

Girls Learn From WB Staff at
Women in Trades Fair

We had a great turn out of young women interested in learning about the Portland Water Bureau at the recent Women in Trades Fair. They learned how to do a live tap, repair a main break, take chlorine samples, and use a small crane. We provided some hands-on work for these young ladies to learn about some of our various jobs. Inside the building we had some great speakers who provided information about our apprenticeship program. This was an excellent opportunity for us to show these young women that there are many opportunities for them in the Trades.

-Jasmine Varela

"Take a Break for Safety"

a Big Hit with Employees

The Safety Committee opted to present earthquake preparedness materials at this year's Safety Fair in the aftermath of the 9.0 quake and tsunami that struck the Hokkaido region of northern Japan on March 11^th.

While it is just a remote possibility that the Portland Metro area would be impacted by a tsunami, our region is susceptible to earthquakes - not only from local faults but from larger quakes from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. A severe quake would likely interrupt public utility supplies as well as transportation of consumable goods into the metro area.

Having an emergency plan to deal with these impacts is vital for the well-being of your family. The information that will help you get prepared can be found on the Bureau's Water Cooler website. You can also contact the Safety Committee or Emergency Management staff for assistance.

PRIZES

At the end of the event, a drawing was held to award prizes for Safety Fair participants. The winners were:

72^nd Hour Emergency Kit: Irene Risken

Red Cross Family First Aid Kit: Joseph Nkemoph

WB Pitcher & 4 Glass Set: Cherri Warnke

4 in 1 Emergency Tool: Eric Hofeld, David Johns

Loctite Fun-Tak: Kathy Koch, Michelle Creek, Chuck Buyukas, Cesar Lara, Jeff Sandberg.

Battery Hand Fan: Tim Ford, Jeremiah Hess, Marnie Anderson, Tim Alcover, Teresa Elliott, Rich Barrows

WB Hand Crank Flashlight: Bob Goldie, Peter Nierengarten, Dan Hogan, Julian Ribera, Mia Sabanovic, Cristi-An Littrell

12 hour Chemlights: Larry Greep, Darren Kipper, Michael Angerinos

LED Technology Signal Light: Margaret Kehrli, Ryan Nelson, Judi Ranton, Erin Stillwell

Wind up Flashlight FM Radio: Pam Flynn-Anderson, Barbara Rice, Jon Johnson, Pat Easley, Jerry Moore

Bicycle T-Shirt: Tom Carter, Lindsey Berman, Sergey Dezhnyuk

Bicycle Map Scarf: Mike Ross, Anna Lyman

Bicycle Rules of the Road Game: Eric Brainich

Bicycle Bucket Kit: Anne Hill

Bicycle Flat Repair Kit: Paul Ejgird

The Portland Building Safety Committee: Gary Egan (Chair), Mark Boyko, Eric Brainich, Mary Ellen Collentine, Jillian Cornejo, Robin Hagedorn, Kathy Koch, Kate Leatherbarrow, Shannon Musson, John Popenuk, Mark Sieberg and Terry Wenz. Able assistance was provided by the staff from Health & Safety: Eric Fullan, Deb Caskey and Jeff Guard.

-Robin Hagedorn

Golf Tournament

The Bull Run Shootout is back! This year we have expanded the invitation to the entire Water Bureau so come join your fellow workers in a golf tournament full of prizes and fun! We have also worked hard to make this as affordable as possible to everyone!

Details:

Saturday, June 25^th

Broadmoor Golf Course (NE 33^rd and Columbia Blvd)

First tee time @ 11:30

Cost: $39; will cover 18 holes and prizes (if wanted, carts are $15 per person)

The format will be a 4-person scramble and we plan to hang out in the club house restaurant afterwards for prize presentation and food/drinks

Feel free to request a teammate. The final teams will be determined by the committee to pair up people from Interstate and Downtown. If you are interested in playing please let us know as soon as possible so we can reserve your spot, money will be due by June 15^th.

Please contact the 2011 BRSO Golf Committee with any questions (Tony Re, Kate Leatherbarrow or Karie Meketa).

Link to the course: http://www.broadmoor-1931.com/Broadmoor_1931/Welcome.html

-Tony Re