WELCOME!

Chris Myren is a Business Systems Analyst in the Market Business Analysis and Rate Design Department. Chris was most recently employed at Nesnah Ventures as a Senior Business Analyst.

David Walleser is a Fleet Mechanic III in the Fleet Operations Department. David was most

recently employed at Ryder Transportation Services as a Diesel Technician.

SAFETY STAND-DOWN MTG.

Dairyland holds quarterly Safety Stand-Downs to help maintain organizational focus and align expectations on our #1 priority of Safety. Our fourth quarterly Safety Stand-Down meeting was held on Oct. 3, with a focus on finishing the year strong by avoiding distractions.

If you were unable to attend in real time, please view the recording promptly on the Breaker.

SOON! BENEFITS ENROLLMENT

All employees received an email from Total Rewards on Oct. 3 announcing the annual benefits open enrollment timetable and meeting schedule.

Open enrollment will be held from Oct. 31 - Nov. 9. This is the time when you can make changes to your current coverage or sign up for a new plan. Changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2024.

All employees will be required to attend a benefits meeting, either in person or virtually. Please see the email from Total Rewards for the meeting schedule; additional information will be provided by Total Rewards this month.

ERP PHASE 2 UPDATE:

ExFlow AP Automation Project

To optimize workflows and provide a better user interface, D365 will add ExFlow AP Automation on Nov. 6.

As reported in the Sept. 20 Short Circuits, the Dairyland Systems Modernization (DSM) Program has made significant progress on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Phase II projects this year. The addition of ExFlow offers many advantages by streamlining and automating the supplier invoice workflow by delivering better control, improved invoice and data visibility and lower processing costs. If you have any questions on the ExFlow project, please reach out to Lyndsey Finley or Rebecca Thompson.

For questions related to any of the ERP Phase II projects, please contact DSM Program Manager Denise Thompson. For additional information, please visit the ERP SharePoint site.

Please find details and submit your electronic application for the following position through Workday Career: 

Mechanic, Generation (Journeyperson) in JPM Maintenance. Responsible for the daily activities associated with the Mechanical Maintenance, Fuels and Solid Waste Maintenance departments.

Note: Successful applicants must reside/relocate primary permanent residence to within a 35 air miles distance of the Alma power plant.

(Posting period: Oct. 4 - Oct. 13.)

OUR SYMPATHY

Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of retiree John Thiel, following his Sept. 29 death. John joined Dairyland in October 1978 and retired in 2012 as Manager, Environmental Impact.

A celebration of life will be held later this fall at his hunting and fishing club near Hayward.

WORKDAY: TIP OF THE WEEK

To raise awareness of Workday attributes and efficiencies, a Workday Tip of the Week will be posted weekly on digital signage and on the Workday home page under Announcements. Tips will cover a range of HR and Payroll topics, including benefits, time keeping, recruiting, self service features and more.  

CIRCUIT BREAKER

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

-Muhammad Ali

TODAY: COOPERATIVE DAY OF SERVICE

Dairyland Strategic Priority: People First

Dairyland and our member cooperatives are kicking off National Co-op Month with the inaugural Cooperative Day of Service today!

Dairyland coordinated six service projects throughout our service territory and joined forces with employees from member cooperatives to showcase our dedication to the cooperative principle, Concern for Community.

“Concern for Community and Cooperation Among Cooperatives are core principles of the cooperative business model,” said President and CEO Brent Ridge. “Today’s efforts really take that commitment to another level. I am truly inspired by all the good work the employees and volunteers from Dairyland and our member cooperatives will complete in just a few hours today. This is the ‘Cooperative Difference’ at work and we are excited to lead this event to kick-off National Co-op Month.”

Projects include:

Alma, Wis. – Highway clean-up (over 12 miles, both sides of Hwy. 35)

Elk Mound, Wis. – Painting at the Elk Mound Hill Castle and the Village Park including the Lion's shed and ball field dugouts. Volunteers will also weed, rake and seed the Solid Waste and Recycling Site, clear brush and trails, seal-coat the basketball court and paint curb stops at the library.

Rushford, Minn. – Volunteers will work with the Southeastern Minnesota Citizens Action Council (SEMCAC) to complete various projects, including highway clean-up and painting, cleaning windows and replacing exterior lighting.

Holmen, Wis. – Volunteers will work with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to conduct brush clearing at the New Amsterdam Prairie.

Tony, Wis. – Volunteers will give a local ballfield a facelift by removing and replacing old fences and bleachers. Materials were donated by Tony Lumber and through contributions from Jump River Electric Cooperative.

Prairie du Chien, Wis. – Volunteers will work at Wisconsin Badger Camp, painting tables and cabins, organizing the maintenance shop, cleaning up trails and clearing brush.

Event coverage: Photos and videos from the project will be posted on Dairyland's social media pages and shared on the Breaker. President & CEO Brent Ridge will be interviewed while he volunteers at the Rushford, Minn., project site by WXOW-TV 19; coverage will be shared after it airs. Thank you to all volunteers!

FOCUS: DAIRYLAND'S LEGAL SERVICES TEAM

Dairyland’s Legal Services team works across all areas of the organization to reduce risk and lower costs for the benefit of Dairyland and our member cooperatives. With a mission to “provide high-quality comprehensive legal services that protect Dairyland’s interests, ensure efficiencies of legal spending and create cost-savings by strategically utilizing both internal and external counsel,” the team is here to serve you. 

Costs down, services up: Since the internal legal department was established in 2022, Dairyland has realized a significant cost reduction in legal spend while also supporting project efficiency and risk management. When specialty legal services are required, the Legal Services team sources outside counsel and provides management and oversight of that work by our team. 

Legal Services department members:   

Joyce Peppin - General Counsel. In addition to the Legal Services team, Joyce oversees Government Relations, Economic Development and Grants and Records & Information Management. Joyce represents the interests of Dairyland and provides legal advice and counsel to the Board of Directors and Executive Team. She also assists with contract negotiations, review of legal issues, sits on cross-functional teams as Dairyland’s internal legal advisor and ensures Dairyland’s risks are being properly managed.  

Kathleen Galioto - Deputy General Counsel. Kathleen has been with Dairyland since March 2022 and she assisted Joyce in building Dairyland’s in-house legal services department. Her main role is to support Joyce’s work as General Counsel and to ensure the legal work for Dairyland is conducted using our own legal staff or through management of outside counsel when special expertise is needed. 

Rob Maly - Staff Attorney. Rob joined Legal Services in March 2023, transferring from the position of Right-of-Way Agent he had held since 2015. In the initial months after his transition to Legal Services, Rob split his time between the Right-of-Way Department and his new role. In August, Rob transitioned full-time to serving as Staff Attorney in Legal Services. His Right-of-Way experience has made him a valuable resource regarding Dairyland’s increasing real estate-related areas of focus, including power delivery projects. Rob also supports the variety of legal work that comes into the Legal Portal along with regularly assisting Supply Chain with contract reviews and negotiations.  

Ryan Verhulp - Associate General Counsel. Ryan joined the Dairyland legal team in June 2023 and provides support with a variety of critical legal matters, including helping Dairyland to prepare and submit its first spent nuclear fuel claim to the federal government to recover damages for ongoing expenses in operating the ISFSI. Ryan is an experienced transactional attorney, and he is available to assist employees when legal analysis or opinions are needed on laws, regulations, contracts or risks associated with their work.  

Elyssa Cook – Paralegal. Elyssa provides support to the Legal Services team in all areas, managing the day to day operations and calendar of the department. She assists with registered agent duties, maintains the organized flow of systems, manages the Legal Services Request Portal, helps with Board committee notes, assists with retaining outside firms and manages outside counsel, contracts and invoices. (Elyssa is currently on leave, returning in December 2023.)

Legal Services Requests Process: To assist Dairyland’s employees with accessing support for their legal needs, a Legal Services Request Portal is on the Breaker under Resources > Business Operations > Legal Services. Employees should use the Portal to request legal review of contracts and documents they have received from third parties and request legal advice on a variety of matters. Utilizing the Portal reduces the chance of an email requesting legal support getting lost in an inbox and improves efficiency in that requests will be immediately assigned to an attorney for review and tracked to closure.

“Employee engagement is essential to managing legal risk,” said Kathleen. “We encourage employees to come to us with any questions and please remember, there is no question too minor. It is better to know than to wonder when it comes to legal matters.”

When possible, requests or questions should be submitted a minimum of one week before they’re needed. For urgent legal needs, employees should not hesitate to call or email any member of the Legal team.  "The Legal Services team seeks to be a convenient and accessible resource for support of your work, so please do not hesitate to ask questions, request peer reviews, or ask for our participation," said Kathleen.

UNITED WAY: LAST WEEK OF CAMPAIGN!

Cooperative Principle #7: Concern for Community

Dairyland's United Way campaign is in the final week, ending on Friday, Oct. 6! It is your last week to get in your pledge form and be entered in for the weekly and grand prize drawings. The United Way page on the Breaker has one-click access to your pledge form.

Dairyland's goal each year is to exceed our donations from the previous year - please take advantage of your last chance to surpass our employee donations for the good of our friends and neighbors! Dairyland's Board of Directors has again generously offered to match our donations at 65%, so your donation goes even further.

This year's United Way theme is Every One Counts, highlighting the reach of each contribution to the Great Rivers United Way (La Crosse area) and United Way of Greater Chippewa Valley (Eau Claire area) campaigns.

This week's Every One Counts focus: Mental Health

Great Rivers United Way (GRUW) works to advance the common good to create opportunities for a better life for all individuals in its seven-county service region. When it comes to mental health, GRUW is working to ensure all residents have access to the services they need.

As of 2022, more than 859,000 Wisconsin residents live with a mental health disorder. One in six youth ages six to 17 in the United States face mental health challenges. Last year, Great Rivers United Way-funded programming provided 8,752 youth access to safe space where adult mentors can help them cope. This year, GRUW is continuing its investment to prevent, treat and respond to mental health challenges in our community. 

Whether you’ve utilized these programs in the past, or are experiencing something you never thought you would, Great Rivers United Way is in our community to ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to stay healthy and thrive.

Final week reminders:

• Pledge form submission prizes: All pledges are entered to win grand prize and weekly prize drawings. Grand prizes will include a Yeti Roadie, Kickback Rocker and a stay at a Stoney Creek (La Crosse) suite! Weekly incentive prizes have included Kwik Trip gift cards; lucky winners so far are Travis Martin (Fleet Operations), Mark Brudos (IT Bus Applications Services) and Karrie Schuldt (NERC Compliance).
• Kwik Trip Scrip Cards orders are available through November. Did you know that between 10%-15% of each gift card order benefits the United Way campaign? It's an easy way to make a difference on money you know you'll be spending at Kwik Trip sooner or later!
• Brent Featured in United Way Video! Brent has been a longtime supporter of the United Way and this year, the Great Rivers United Way requested to feature him in a campaign video. Click here to view Brent's full video and here for the overall campaign video with Brent's comments.

YOU FIRST: WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWS

Dairyland Strategic Priority: People First

October You First Focus: Maintaining Mental Health

During the month of October, we raise awareness of mental health. World Mental Health Day is Oct. 10.

EAP Lunch and Learn: Monday, Oct. 16

Amber Sherman, LCSW with Gundersen Health System, Dairyland's EAP provider, will be at the Administration Building on Monday, Oct. 16, from noon to 1 p.m. presenting on how to maintain mental wellness at work and ways to assess how you are doing personally when it comes to balancing work and the rest of your life. The presentation will be held in the Board Room or you can attend virtually.

Lunch options: You may bring your own lunch or order a Brown Bag Special from the Riverside Café. The Brown Bag Special will include a Club Sandwich with chips and cookie or fruit for $5. Orders should be placed on the sign-up form in the Riverside Café by 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13. Lunches will be available for pick-up after 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 16.