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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 1 „..„:: \ ‘,_ V A Newsletter for { Employees and at teas x- :. : "`• " `, " " of Tompkins County ..„. • 4:::.: L 7 (r , \ii... Y 7 0 i 1 :„...:. ... t BROWN BAG SERIES UNDERWAY... IMPORTANT Healthy Heart Program ` REMINDERS c ,,. By: Louise McEwen, Benefits The Council on Physical Fitness and health in Tompkins County announces its brown Managers bag lunch series which will take place from January through March in various locations in Tompkins County. Tips for setting exercise goals and eating healthy are some of the PLEASE remember to keep your topics to be presented by Council members. Retirement beneficiaries All sessions begin at 12:10 p.m. and end at 12:50 p.m. up -to -date and correct. Even if you have a will, in the event of ` o your death the Retirement • Tuesday, January 12, 1993 Vt "Setting Realistic Goals for Exercise" ° System will pay any death benefit YMCA, Graham Road West due based on information on file Donna Black, Healthspan - Tompkins Community Hospital � with them X. It is important that you make any changes in the • Tuesday, January 19,1993,- •f _► event of marriage, divorce, death, "Setting Realistic Goals for Healthy Eating" � YMCA, Graham Road West i�� \ g..,..`4• or other factors which might Mary Day, Cayuga Tompkins Healthy Heart Program ,� change payment of your death � , - 4C - benefit. • Tuesday, February 16,1993 -- Also, because of a stringent new "Working Well: Healthy Habits on the Job" computer system, please keep (Location to be announced) your records up -to -date through Jeff Jones, Health and Wellness Consultant and Toni Cesari, City Health Club Personnel on your group health insurance. Blue Cross Blue • Tuesday, March 23, 1993 Shield will no longer "bend the "Making It Fun: Practical Tips on the Art of Loving Exercise" Tompkins Community Medical Office Building, 102 Dates Drive rules > on paying claims for Jim Carman, Healthspan — Tompkins Community Hospital anyone not appearing on your Pam Purvis, Cayuga — Tompkins Healthy Heart Program record. You should add and remove dependents according to The Council on Physical Fitness and Health includes representatives from worksites, your life situation to avoid local schools and colleges, health and fitness organizations, outdoor clubs, and com- munity agencies. The Council's mission is to encourage Tompkins County residents to problems with claim payments. make physical activity part of their regular routine and to promote recreation and fitness opportunities available in the area. The formation of the Council was prompted by the Healthy Heart Program's work with various community agencies during the past four and a half years. For more information on the Council or the brown bag lunch series call the Healthy Heart Program at 274 -6710. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH By: Scott Heyman — County Ad- issues that are of concern to you. The JoAnne Woodams, County Clerk's Of- ministrator primary purpose of the committee is to fice make information and expertise about Robert Mabee, Public Works (Buildings A newly- formed County committee on employee safety and health available to & Grounds) employee safety and health has now held those who need them and to hear ideas and Ted Merritt, Social Services two meetings. Minutes of meetings are being concerns from employees themselves about Alice Cole, Health sent to all department heads, and depart- this subject. Please use the person listed David Buck, Sheriff's Department ment heads are being asked to distribute below who is in your department as a William Shaff, Corrections these minutes widely. While all employees resource: Phil LaPadula, Social Services will not receive their own copy, department Steve Nicholson, Airport heads will provide copies to employees with Louise McEwen, Personnel, Chair of a substantial level of responsibility for the Committee For departments not listed, the depart - employee safety and health and will ensure Scott Heyman, County Administrator ment head serves as Safety Coordinator. that they appear on all departmental bul- David Wolf, Probation This Committee is not addressing letin boards. John Sincebaugh, Public Works (High- employee security issues. These are being Listed below are the names of all way /Engineering) reviewed by building -based committees. Employee Safety Coordinators. The one Paul Cowles, Public Works (Solid The buildings that have not had active from your department is someone you can Waste) security committees in the recent past are speak with about employee safety and health Barbara Karaviotis, Mental Health now organizing them. EMPLOYEE COUNCIL - CHAIR'S REPORT COFA Offers Help for Caregivers By: Evelyn Kalish - Office for the Aging By: Cheryl Nelson The Tompkins County Office for The Council met on 1/6/93 with the with notification of employees when adverse the Aging has published the latest Human Services Committee of the Board of chemicals are used, etc. or when potentially issue of their newsletter "In Representatives. It was decided that the dangerous conditions are sensed to occur. » Employee Council and the Biggs A Security Su of Caregivers". This issue The newly formed Safety Committee will Committee would conduct a series of open address this resolution and report back to covers the topics of depression in forum meetings with the employees and the Council with a recommendation. the elderly and in their caregivers, tenants in Biggs A. The purpose of the meet- A second Council meeting will be held on and local treatment options. For ings is to give the employees and the tenants 1/20/93 to handle the regular agenda not your copy, or for more the opportunity to: covered at the 1/6/93 meeting. The meeting i in • 1. Hear what has been done in Biggs re- will be at 9:00 a.m. in the Sadd Conference formation ca ll the office at lated to security issues since the Schuyler 277 -0148 Room. The regular Employee Council meet- . _ County shootings; ings are also held in the Sadd Conference « -�`, 2. Hear what is proposed ; and Room from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the first \` 3. Make any other recommendations not Wednesday of every month. These meetings '' covered in #1 or #2. On 1/20/93 the list of recommendations are open to all employees. will be sent to the Human Services Commit- The Employee Council would like to s -T thank Board of Representatives members �.. tee for consideration and action. �. � Barbara Mink, Mary Call, Beverly Livesay, oae Other business conducted by the Council Charles Evans Nancy Schuler and Eric ` 1 "\ on 1/6/93 included accepting the resignation , Lerner for attending the 1/6/93 meeting and lr of David Chase and henry Chan from the expressing their interest in and commitment �--� ' Employee Council (both from DSS). Also to the employees of Tompkins County. �. / the County Administrator discussed a -�;b �,; �\ j resolution presented to the Council dealing - 1 PERSONNEL NOTES FROM YOUR PERSONALS EMPLOYEE WELLNESS COMMITTEE: CONGRATULATIONS TO... Your Wellness Committee is just starting to "roll" on plans for 1993; any suggestions you have would be most welcome. Promotions... Weight Watchers At Work Program will begin a new eight -week series on February Terry Garahan - Mental Health, Clinic 17. The registration/orientation session will be held on February 10, Sadd Conference Supervisor Room, Biggs. This session will be free but if you choose to continue on February 17, please be prepared to pay the $74.00 fee for the eight weeks on February 10. Then, if you attend Transfers... at least six of the eight sessions as verified by the leader, you may apply for a refund of $45.00 through the Wellness Committee funds. This will be an all new format for 1993 ... Welcome to Ruth Pond, transferring we think you'll not only enjoy the sessions but be able to take off some pounds that you from the Health Dept. to Purchasing and really don't want! Central Services as the new Keyboard Specialist. Low- impact aerobics classes have started with Marilyn Nihill as the leader, and these are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in the DSS Conference Room at Biggs from 4 :30 Welcome... to 5:30. Eight sessions cost employees $10. Participants report they have a lot of fun, feel The Assessment Dept. staff wants to wel better after the class, and truly enjoy Marilyn's leadership and positive attitude. come Don Franklin back and to thank Ed We hope to have another blood pressure /cholesterol check during early 1993, in Hughes for his leadership during Don's ab- cooperation with the Tompkins Community Hospital. More on that later. sence. Don't forget to apply for reimbursement for an annual physical which is not covered Goodbye... by health insurance. The bill must be submitted to Louise at Personnel. Details of this Lori Munch (Mental Health) resigned program have been provided in earlier issues of this publication. Kim Sullivan (Mental Health) resigned Bill Hilker (Assessment) has resigned to We are working in cooperation with two other committees to attempt to plan a "cabin pursue other interests. fever day" for employees and families some time in February. We're also looking at the possibility of planning a bus trip for employees /families at some future time. Births... As always, the Wellness Committee continues its efforts to help employees "feel good Congratulations to Sharon Cooper (As- about themselves" as we believe good physical health is important to all of us — not only sessment) on her new granddaughter - personally but from the standpoint of helping keep our health insurance premiums down Jenna Marie Vieth born December 21,1992. — and in addition, feeling good about oneself is important to self - esteem and overall Congratulations to Melissa Cooper health. Any suggestions for improvements or additions to our programs will be most (Mental Health) on her new niece Jenna welcome. Marie Vieth born December 21, 1992. Congratulations to Jim Rolfe (Sheriff's PLEASE DON'T FORGET THAT FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH! DO ALL Dept. Jail), and his wife Margaret on the YOU CAN TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY... QUIT SMOKING, EAT LESS birth of their first baby — and the County's FAT, EXERCISE, AND GET STARTED ON A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. MANY first baby of the New Year — Cassandra RESOURCE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE HEALTHY HEART Ann. PROGRAM. GIVE THEM A CALL AT 274 -6710. N N N N N N N Get Well Wishes... LEARN TO SWIM ,r„_ to Sally Lewis (DSS, retired) 1 to Marguerite Jones (DSS) to Donna Whitaker (DSS) f the American Red Cross , i;;: and any other County employees or retirees who are on the "sick list ". Sincerest s MEDIA RELEASE is extended to "Cec" Bonsall, (Motor Vehicles Bureau (retired), on the loss of her American Red Cross aquatics programs enable children and adults to learn important husband, Bill. water safety skills in a supportive and fun environment. If you or your child would like to to Anita Fitzpatrick, (Personnel), on the join a "Learn to Swim" program this winter, please call the Red Cross at 273 -1900. loss of her brother, Robert. Beginners classes will be held evenings at Ithaca high School beginning February 1st. Cost is just $20 -25 for ten lessons. Pre - registration is required. The following information is excerpted from the January, 1993, edition of the "Social Security Bulletin" published by the Social Security Administration office in Ithaca. SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS MUST REPORT EARNINGS If you worked and received Social Security benefits in 1992, you have until April 15th to report your earnings to Social Security if you earned over the annual limits. The 1992 earnings limits were $7,440 for beneficiaries under age 65 and $10,200 for beneficiaries age 65 -69. The earnings limits do not apply to people who are age 70 and over the entire year. The purpose of the annual earnings report is to enable us to compare your actual earnings with the estimate you provided when you applied for benefits or when you filed last year's earnings report. The benefits you were paid in 1992 were based on that estimate. If you earn less than you estimated, you may be due additional money. If you made more than you estimated for 1992, you may have to repay some benefits. The report should also include an estimate of the earnings you expect to make in 1993. Note that the earnings limits for 1993 are $7,680 for beneficiaries under age 65 and $10,560 for beneficiaries age 65 -69. Again, your benefit check will be adjusted to reflect any excess earnings anticipated. If our records show that you expected to have earnings over the 1992 limits, we will send you an Annual Report of Earnings form in the mail automatically. If you do not receive the report form by the end of February, you should call our toll -free number to have one sent to you. Failure to report your earnings by April 15th may result in substantial penalties. You can be penalized up to one month's benefits and be required to repay any overpayment. You should be aware that filing a Federal income tax return does not take the place of filing an annual report to Social Security. Your report may be made by phone if you chose. To file an earnings report or to get more information call Social Security's toll free number, 1- 800 - 772 -1213. LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE MOVES As of January 11, 1993, the Ithaca, NY, Social Security office will be in a new location. The office is moving to 171 E. State St., Suite 216, Ithaca, NY 14850. This is located on the second floor of Center Ithaca on the Commons of downtown Ithaca, NY. Their new phone number is 256 -3651. They will be open for business at 9 a.m. on the 11th in this new location. WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA The SHOULDA WOULDACOULDA 7 Contest continues. There's the title; you write the article. Submit your entry to Respectfully and kiddingly submitted by: BUT I heard Lori's voice saying "The County Corridors c/o Purchasing and Iretta Ellis county has enough money" Central Services. (Anonymous entries not accepted.) I woulda gone to work I woulda sent that resolution I coulda gone to work I coulda sent that resolution p = I shoulda gone to work I shoulda sent that resolution FREE BUT I heard Scott's voice in the back of BUT the Board Office staff were busy U N C LAS S I F I E DS my mind saying "Stay Home" making Pizza Bagels I woulda paid the bill I woulda set up a blanket Classified ads up to 25 words in length: I shoulda paid the bill I coulda set up a blanket are free to County employees, retirees and: I coulda paid the bill I shoulda set up a blanket :their immediate families. Ads may be for BUT I heard Autum's voice saying "no BUT everyone was out on maternity any purpose except no personal ads will be more work today" leave ;accepted. No County addresses or : telephone numbers may be listed in the ads. 1 woulda sent the BCBS report in I woulda called B &G to unplug that iUse this coupon to send your ad to Cori. I coulda sent the BCBS report in. drain Eridors c/o Central Services. PLEASE: 1 shoulda sent the BCBS report in I coulda called B &G to unplug that drain :TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY! BUT I heard Louise's voice saying "I 1 shoulda called B &G to unplug that don't need this one on time today" drain BUT Roto- Rooter came along and I woulda typed that letter flushed my troubles down the drain I coulda sent that mail I shoulda copied that report I woulda quit smoking BUT my boss called in sick today I coulda quit smoking I shoulda quit smoking I woulda sent that check BUT I enjoy my damn cigarette so I coulda sent that check LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I shoulda sent that check ii