A PUBLICATIONOF THE HUMAN RESOURCESDEPARTMENT

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PRODUCED BY THE CITIZEN INFORMATION CENTER APRIL 2015

LFR Firefighter of the Year Awardwinner Andy McLaughlin (left)with LFR Chief John Huff.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue held its annual awards ceremony March 22 at theFirefighters Reception Hall. The event recognized Firefighters, 911 Dispatchers,Police Officers, Sheriff’s Office personnel and civilians for outstanding serviceto the community over the past two years.

Numerous Phoenix Awards and Unit Performance Awards were presented, inaddition to the following honors:

Firefighter of the Year – Andy McLaughlin

Fire Chief’s Award of Excellence – Pat Borer, Kelsey Romshek, Chad Roof,Pete Eppens, Dennis Kruse

Life-Saving Award – Guy Pinkman, Curt Faust, Trent Borchers,Shawn Mahler, Jesse Johnson, Shawn Shoup

Outstanding Service Award – Kim Kabourek, Julie McGahan, Lamar Reil,Jason Loch, Dave Backhus, Mikael Tupe, Mike Selvage, Jamie Bray

Outside Agency Award – Mike Selvage, Scott Renken, Jamie Bray,Nic Cunningham, Lamar Reil, Andy McLaughlin

Excellence in EMS Award – Develon Puckett, Eric Augustine, Nancy Crist,Jason Love, Jason Loch

Distinguished Firefighter Award – Brady Papik, Scott Nydahl,Joel Fankhauser, Jeff Leaf, Tyler Schirm, Eddie Mueller, Kris Draper,Steve Carruth, Nate Caldwell, Develon Puckett

“Each day, members of Lincoln Fire and Rescue come to work and are ready toassist citizens in need,” “Each year, we pause for a fewmoments to recognize outstanding individuals and teams with the annual awardsceremony. With more than 22,000 incidents in 2014, there were many instanceswhen Firefighters made a difference in the life of a citizen in need. The awardscommittee reviews recommendations from all levels of the department to determinethe annual recipients. In every instance, the individuals seem to respond with thesame ‘I was only doing my job’ kind of reaction to the recognition. While Iunderstand this, I also feel that excellence in service deserves recognition, so it iswith this in mind that we conduct the awards ceremony.”

said Fire Chief John Huff.

For more information on Lincoln Fire and Rescue, visit .fire.lincoln.ne.gov

Firefighters

Honored at

LFR Awards

Ceremony

By Keerun KambleCity Wellness Coordinator

SEE PAGE 4 FOR PHOTOS

Wellness Fair a Big Hit!

The City and CountyEmployee Wellness Fair wasa great success! Around 300people attended the fairWednesday, February 25th atthe City County Building andreceived information aboutnutrition, physical activity,tobacco cessation and stressmanagement. The halls werefilled with energy as employeesinteracted with 58 vendors fromlocal businesses, Citydepartments and nonprofitagencies, including bicycleshops, grocery stores,chiropractic offices, massageproviders, food coops andmuch more. More than 60people won door prizesdonated by the vendors suchas gift cards, tote bags,StarTran bus passes and gymmemberships.

We received a lot of positivefeedback from vendors andattendees. One vendor said itwas “great to have an opportunityfor community members to getinformation on a healthylifestyle.” About 97 percent ofthose who filled out evaluationforms said they learned newvaluable health information andthat they would use thisinformation to “improve myoverall health,” “find a new gym,”“eat locally grown veggies” and“improve work outs.”

Thank you to all who attendedand to the volunteers who helpedmake the fair run smoothly.

Thanks to all contributors toIf you have a contribution, please call Bill Kostneror Pam Hoffman at 441-7671, or fax to 441-6800.

Risky Business.

Camping is a fun way to get family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors. Follow thesetips, and use the packing checklist to help ensure your camping trip is safe and healthy.

Prepare healthy and safe foodBring healthy food along on your camping trip, and follow these steps to keep your food safe:

• Pack foods in tight, waterproof bags or containers. Keep them in an insulated cooler.• Wash hands and surfaces often. Use hand sanitizer if water is not available.• Separate raw foods from cooked foods.• Cook foods to proper temperatures. Ground beef should be cooked to an

internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.• Chill foods promptly.

Protect Against Carbon Monoxide PoisoningCarbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can cause illness or death in peopleand pets. Never use fuel-burning equipment such as gas stoves, heaters, lanternsand charcoal grills inside a tent, camper or other enclosed shelter. It can causedangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up.

Alternative heat sources to fuel-burning appliances are recommended inside anenclosed shelter. Campers should bring adequate bedding and clothing and shouldconsume extra calories and fluids during the outing to prevent hypothermia.

Avoid wild animals, and protect family petsSome wild animals carry diseases that are dangerous to people including rabies,hantavirus and Giardia infection. Avoid touching, feeding and getting near wild animals.Enjoy watching them from a safe distance in their natural surroundings. Keep foodsstored in sealed containers and out of the reach of animals. Make sure your family petsare vaccinated, and always keep a close eye on their location. Check for ticks, andremove them promptly. Make sure pets have plenty of water, food and shelter.

Packing Checklist• adequate bedding/sleeping bag and extra blankets• lightweight, light-colored clothing, including long-sleeve shirts and long pants• tent and plastic ground cloth• insect repellent containing DEET for skin and Permethrin insect repellent for clothes• broad-spectrum sunscreen and lipscreen with SPF 15 or higher• wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses• healthy on-the-go snacks and other food• water and other alcohol-free and sugar-free fluids• insulated cooler• alcohol-based hand sanitizer• first aid kit• compass, GPS and map• flashlights and extra batteries• life jacket, helmet and other protective gear• sturdy shoes and extra set of clothes• medical record, including information on vaccinations; insect, food, plant and other

allergies; diseases and conditions; medicines, dosing schedules and storageinstructions; emergency contacts; and activities your doctor or nurse says to avoid

Source: www.cdc.gov

Health, Safety Tips and Packing ChecklistHAPPY CAMPING!

(part 1)

Rick Schneider from ICMA willbe available for one-on-oneappointments Wednesday,April 8. ICMA administers theCity deferred compensationplan and post-employmenthealth plans for some Countyemployees.

Spots are limited. Meetingswill be held in the HumanResources conference room.If you’d like to schedule anappointment, contact PamHoffman at 402-441-7671.

Schneider will also conduct aone-hour presentationbeginning at noon April 8 inCouncil Chambers.

ICMA AppointmentsAvailable April 8

The Hands Have It!by Robert NemecekCity-County Safety and TrainingCoordinator

Spring is here! The grass isturning green, perennials arepopping through the winterground, trees are budding outand there’s work to be done!

Before starting any of your springchores, make sure you have theproper gloves available to protectyour hands. Whether you aredigging in the dirt, pruningbushes or trees, or just cleaningup debris from the winter, weargloves to protect your handsfrom blisters and all those thornyclippings. Keeping your skinintact will help you avoidinfections. Clean and soft handshave better uses, so protectyour hands while working.

APRILWorkshopand LocationDate Time

4/3

4/17

8:30 to9 a.m.

8:30 to9 a.m.

New EmployeeSafety Orientation

New EmployeeSafety Orientation

4/16 10:30 a.m. City-WideSafety Committee

County-City BuildingHuman ResourcesConference Room, third floor

County-City BuildingThird floor, room 302

County-City BuildingThird floor, room 302

__________ is the best conductor of electricity.*

A. Silver B. Gold C. Copper

*Source: www.blueridgeemc.com

safety.blr.com**Source:

Send your answer by April 18 for a chance to win an incentive gift.Mail interoffice to Pam Hoffman or e-mail phoffman@lincoln.ne.gov.

Find the correct answer innext month’s

Open to City employees only. No more than one winning entryper person in a six-month period.

Risky Business.

Congratulations to last month’s winners:Lyla Walker, Information Services; Anita King andSusan Winkler, Health Department

Last month's question and answer:

You should wear safety goggles, long pants and sturdyshoes when using lawn mowers.**

True

Peoples Choice FCU Merges with LINCONE FCU

4638 W Street

5705 S 86th Drive

402.441.3555 / 888.790.7261

www.linconefcu.org

2500 N Street

6700 S 70th

402.475.7059

www.peopleschoicelincoln.org

STRONGER TOGETHER

April Luncheon Meeting

WHEN:

WHERE:

PRESENTATION:

PRESENTATION NOTES:

MEETING NOTES:

PRESENTER:

Thursday, April 23 at 11:30 a.m.

Lincoln-Lancaster CountyHealth Department3140 “N” Street, lower-leveltraining area

“Building the First‘Steamship’ in History”

John Laurence Busch

The presentation is based upon John LaurenceBusch’s book, “Steam Coffin: Captain Moses Rogersand The Steamship Savannah Break the Barrier.”Busch will attempt to re-calibrate your mind before

Please RSVP to Elaine Severe at byApril 20. The cost is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.For more information on the presentation, visit steamcoffin.com.

esevere@lincoln.ne.gov

showing why the proposition of making the first crossing of theAtlantic Ocean on a “steamship” was met with a mixture ofskepticism and fear. He will then show how Captain Rogerspossessed and practiced a variety of leadership traits andtechniques that allowed him to build a new kind of steam vessel,capable of overcoming the dangers of the deep.

A special membership vote on the merger ofPeoples Choice Federal Credit Union withLINCONE Federal Credit Union resulted in itspassage by an overwhelming majority March 5,2015, clearing the way for the April 1, 2015 merger.

Although the merger will occur on April 1st, thetwo former credit unions will not complete themerger of their data processing systems andmember records until August 1, 2015. Thatmeans staff at the two LINCONE locations willnot be able to access the accounts andpersonal information of People Choicemembers until after that date.

Until August 1, Peoples Choice membersshould continue to conduct business at the2500 “N” St. and 6700 S. 70th St. branches.They will retain the same hours andemployees, and members can continue tocontact Peoples Choice at 402-475-7059 orinfo@peopleschoicelincoln.org.

After August 1, members will be ableto use all four locations. Several newproducts and services will also thatbecome available at that time.

Peoples Choice Federal Credit Unionthanks its members for their pastsupport, and looks forward to theopportunities and benefits provided bythe uniting of these two great creditunions. The merger creates a larger,stronger credit union that will benefitboth memberships with expandedchoices in financial products andservices.

People's Choice asks for members'patience during the transition. Watchfor more information, updates andannouncements on the upcomingchanges.

Nicole Shulde, a Prosecution Assistant in the City Attorney's Office,is one of nine local artists selected for the Lincoln Arts Council's thirdCommunity Supported Art (CSArt) project. The multi-media artist isusing locally salvaged, weathered wood panels and combining themwith abstractly painted tiles. She says, "The juxtaposition of materialsrepresents our history and foundation as well as our cultural growthand contemporary vision, capturing the shared sense of communitythat is Lincoln." For more information on the CSArts project, visitartscene.org.

City and County employees,

As campaign coordinators and on behalf of the United Way,Community Health Charities and the Community ServicesFund of Nebraska, we would like to express our thanks andappreciation to all employees who participated in the 2014Combined Campaign.

We are grateful for your support and generosity. Together,we raised $215,932.00 for the Campaign. Your contributionsto these agencies will help individuals in our community tolive better lives. Together, we do make a difference and helpbuild a stronger community.

Again, thank you for your support.

Elaine SevereCity Campaign Coordinator

Thank You!

Minette GenuchiCounty Campaign Coordinator

Wellness Fair a Big Hit! (story on page one)

Promoted To:

Job Title Started Retired

Name

Name

Zachary BeckerDaniel Payzant

Ronald EdsonPatricia BabbTom HoppesRickey Ihde

Public Works and Utilities / Engineering ServicesLaw DepartmentPublic Works and Utilities / StarTranPublic Works and Utilities / StarTran

Senior Engineering SpecialistLegal Secretary IIBus OperatorBus Operator

07-15-197106-30-199312-05-198802-17-2005

03-11-201503-25-201503-11-201503-30-2015

EngineerCommunity Center Supervisor

Public Works and Utilities / Engineering ServicesParks and Recreation

Department

Department

Starting DateJames PrattMeagan MooreGene GarzaTrevor HansenPatrick BergeAbigail LittrellRebecca SmithWade ForemanTyler SvaraVictoria KeatingMichele TesarJeffrey HohnSamia Gamie

Public Works and Utilities / Street MaintenanceLibraryPublic Works and Utilities / Engineering ServicesPublic Works and Utilities / WatershedPublic Works and Utilities / WastewaterLawPublic Works and Utilities / Street MaintenanceParks and RecreationPublic Works and Utilities / Water / Business OfficePublic Works and Utilities / ManagementAgingPublic Works and Utilities / Engineering ServicesHealth

Public Works LaborerLibrary Service AssociateEngineering SpecialistGrant Coordinator IAssociate EngineerSenior Civil Rights InvestigatorSenior Office AssistantAthletics SupervisorAccount Clerk IIIOffice SpecialistAging Specialist IIIEngineering SpecialistPublic Health Educator I

02-18-201502-19-201502-26-201502-26-201503-05-201503-06-201503-02-201503-09-201503-09-201503-09-201503-09-201503-12-201503-12-2015

DepartmentName Title

NEW EMPLOYEES

RECENT PROMOTIONS

RECENT RETIREMENTS

LANCASTER COUNTY/CITY OF LINCOLN

2015 TRAINING CALENDAR

Supervisory workshops recommended forsupervisory/management staff, but any employeemay attend with supervisor permission.

HOW TO REGISTER:Contact Melodie Montielat 402-441-7505 ormmontiel@lincoln.ne.gov. All-employee workshops recommended for

support and supervisory staff.

Registration required forall training.

Leadership Link and NMA members earn CEUcredits. Certificate of Completion availableupon request for non-members.

County Extension444 Cherrycreek Rd.

County Extension444 Cherrycreek Rd.

9 to 11 a.m.

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

May 19

April 16

NEW! SUPERVISORY

NEW! ALL EMPLOYEE

WORKSHOP:

WORKSHOP:

CONFLICT...OK, BRING IT ON

BRINGING OUT THE BEST(VERSUS THE BEAST)IN PEOPLE

Presented by:

Continuum Training Partner

John Leonard Harris M.Ed.

Encouragement Consulting Services

Presented by:

Continuum Training Partner

Jeanne Baer

Creative Training Solutions

APRIL 2015

HEH WAH

CONGRATULATIONSto the Health DepartmentEmployee of the Month for

Community HealthServices Division

Wild Adventure Day Set forNature Center April 25Bring your family to Pioneers Park Nature Center for thesecond annual Wild Adventure Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Saturday, April 25. The event is held in partnership withthe Nebraska Wildlife Federation and the Friends ofPioneers Park Nature Center. Activities for all ages willbe set-up throughout the Nature Center:

Raptor Recover show at 11 a.m.

Up close encounter with reptiles and raptors

Stream discoveries

Children’s garden and natural play area exploration

Hiking on the prairie, into the woods and along wetlands

Food will be available for purchase, but you’re alsowelcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy before, after orwhile exploring. Wild Adventure Day is a free, family-friendly event. Attendees are asked to leave their petsat home for the day. No registration is necessary. Makeplans now to attend!

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Ameritas Rep to DiscussDeferred Comp Plan

Are you looking for a way to save more for retirement AND reduceyour current taxable income? Are you considering a Roth account?If so, make plans now to attend a meeting and demonstrationfeaturing Scott Holechek, Ameritas Director of Governmental andClient Relationship Services. Holechek will discuss the City’s457 Deferred Compensation Plan and demonstrate the retirementplan features available on the new Ameritas website.

WHEN: Friday, April 3 at noon

WHERE: Council Chambers, County-City Building

SPEAKER: Scott Holechek, Ameritas