As part of the Iowa Energy Workforce Consortium initiative, IAMU’s Bob Hiatt and Dave Swanson conducted an “energy awareness event” on April 9 and 11 with students from Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa campus). Fifteen students participated on the first day and 12 students participated on the second day. The event consisted of a host of hands-on activities both in the classroom as well as on the training field. The activities consisted of activities that would be typical to the electric utility industry.
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IAMU Safety Specialists hear about work-related injuries and near misses all the time. Often, injuries could have been or were avoided by following specific safety procedures and/or having the proper equipment.
To help share these teachable moments, IAMU Safety Specialist Margret Meade has created a new publication called “Lessons Learned.” The goal is to provide real-life examples of what can happen and what should happen when it comes to workplace safety. The “Lessons Learned” highlight sheets will be available as downloadable PDFs. Feel free to print and post the highlight sheets in employee gathering areas, hand them out during employee meetings, and/ or distribute them electronically to others. If you ever have any questions about the highlight sheets or have lessons to share for publication, you may contact Margret at mmeade@iamu.org or 515.289.1999. All individual and organization names will be removed before distribution. To view and download the first “Lessons Learned” on Chainsaws and Kevlar, click here. When members need help, they know they can count on colleagues from around the state. It’s the power of Mutual Aid (MA).
IAMU Director of Member Services Dave Hraha was contacted by Brad Willemssen, Electric Superintendent from City of Sibley, last Thursday morning at 5:09 a.m. At that time, he was calling in with 45 poles down on their rural line to Bigelow. More poles went down during the event. Hraha then contacted Roger Morris, Spencer Municipal Utilities Electric Manager and IAMU MA Primary Coordinator in Region 1, and John Bilsten, Algona Municipal Utilities General Manger and Secondary Coordinator in Region 1, along with Rod Vitchum, Algona Electric Line Superintendent. Morris and Vitchum led the response. Those members that assisted included:
Power was restored Saturday night. “Thank you cannot be said enough,” Willemssen wrote in an email. “Everyone worked hard to get it done. Crews took different tasks on the project and worked together well. It is obvious that the Mutual Aid program is very organized by how smooth everything went.” Do these warmer temperatures have you itching to get out on the golf course? Get in some practice now so you’ll be ready for the annual IAMU Golfin’ Fore Safety event on June 24. This year, the golf outing will take place at Bos Landen Golf Club in Pella, Iowa.
For more information or to register, click here. Proceeds from the event go toward purchasing materials and equipment for the IAMU Training Field. Don’t worry if you don’t have a foursome; we can pair you up with others. If you’re an associate member and are interested in helping to sponsor the event, IAMU has several options available. The two-day workshop will be held May 22 and May 23 at the IAMU Office and Training Complex in Ankeny, Iowa. Each day of the hands-on training is eligible for 0.6 CEUs for Water Distribution.
Day 1 rotating sessions include:
Day 2 rotating sessions include:
For more information or to register, click here. Do you need help completing the Consumer Confidence Report? If so, this workshop is for you! The goal of the workshop is for each participant to leave with an understanding, or refresher, of what the CCR is and why it needs to be completed.
The CCR workshops will be held on the dates/locations below: (Please click the dates for more information & registration) April 16: Alta Community Building, 27 N. Lake St. (N. of Hwy. 7, W. of Buena Vista Raceway) April 17: Mason City Lime Creek Nature Center, 3501 Lime Creek Rd. (N. edge of Mason City off Hwy. 65) April 18: Independence Falcon Civic Center, 1305 5th Avenue NE April 19: North Liberty (*New Location) North Liberty Water Treatment Plant, 433 South Front St., North Liberty, IA 52317 April 24: Ankeny IAMU Training & Office Complex, 1735 NE 70th Ave May 3: Atlantic (*New Location) Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022 Important! Please bring the following items to the workshop:
The latest edition of IAMU's Toolbox Talks - Sleep Deprivation is now available. Click here to download it.
Other Toolbox Talk articles are available here. If you have a Toolbox Talk idea, please send it to Margret Meade. IAMU accomplished a lot in FY2019 (March 1, 2018 – February 28, 2019). To get a glimpse at some of the notable achievements in our various departments, check out “Year in Review.” The annual report is available as a PDF on our website. You must be logged in as a member to see the Annual Report option under the About IAMU section. IAMU will also have printed copies available at our office. If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to reach out to any of the IAMU staff. We look forward to serving and supporting you in FY2020.
Vantage Point Solutions is pleased to announce Julie Darrington has joined the Vantage Point team as Vice President of Consulting. Darrington, previously a Vice President at CenturyLink, brings over 25 years of experience to Vantage Point. She began her duties April 1.
The role was previously held by Rep. Dusty Johnson, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018. “Julie brings an incredible depth of experience to Vantage Point, and we’re certain our Consulting clients and team members will benefit from her leadership,” said Vantage Point CEO Larry Thompson. “Our industry is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges, and her strategic, engaging leadership will really benefit our clients. Her extensive background in managing field operations and her understanding of the operational realities faced by broadband providers have set her apart in the industry for years. We’re very pleased to welcome her to our team.” As Vice President, Darrington takes the helm of a successful and growing Consulting department which recently led clients to securing over $165 million in the Connect America Fund Auction 903 (”CAF II Auction”). In addition to securing funding for rural broadband, Vantage Point’s consulting group is particularly known for its strategic, financial, regulatory, and operational guidance for broadband providers. Darrington has worked in telecommunications for over 25 years, with experience ranging from small business services, sales and marketing, and field operations to ensuring service reliability and delivery to business, residential, government, and wholesale customers. Her experience was particularly focused on states across the Great Plains, where she developed a strong appreciation for the unique considerations facing rural communities and providers. “Joining the Vantage Point team is a spectacular opportunity,” Darrington said. “Vantage Point’s commitment to improving lives through broadband access, and doing so while putting clients and employees first, resonates with my personal values. In particular, I’m looking forward to working directly with companies who provide this critical communications service across the country.” For more information, please contact Jacki Miskimins at 605-995-1784, email info@vantagepnt.com, or visit Vantage Point online at www.VantagePnt.com. ABOUT JULIE DARRINGTON – Julie Darrington comes to Vantage Point with over 25 years of telecommunications experience, ranging from small business services, sales and marketing, and field operations to regional market management. Much of her experience was in managing operations across Great Plains states, including Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Montana, and Wyoming – where she developed an appreciation of the unique circumstances facing rural providers. She is renowned as a strategic, determined leader whose pragmatic and focused approach excels in the ever-changing broadband and telecommunications industry. A committed community volunteer, Julie has served on boards and councils for Chambers of Commerce, Service Organizations, and Arts and Leadership Programs throughout her career. Julie and her husband, Paul, have two young adult children. They reside in Mitchell, SD where Vantage Point is headquartered. ABOUT VANTAGE POINT SOLUTIONS – Vantage Point Solutions is a national provider of engineering and consulting services for the broadband/telecommunications and financial industries. Vantage Point combines professional engineering, technical expertise and extensive regulatory knowledge to design technically advanced and economically viable solutions customized for each client. Progressive thinking has made Vantage Point well-known and respected in the industry. With over 300 employees and hundreds of clients across the country and international, VPS has the vast experience necessary to understand the best solution for any company. The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) has been awarded a $200,000, two-year grant by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), with funds from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). The funds will be used to conduct a high-level assessment of the energy resilience posture of Iowa’s municipal electric utilities and to develop a “Comprehensive Iowa Municipal Energy Utilities Hazard Mitigation Plan” to remediate any assessment findings.
“Energy generation, transmission, and delivery by Iowa’s municipal utilities require a strategic approach that addresses the diverse security, technical, and environmental risks of the 21st century,” said Russell Saffell, IAMU’s Director of Member Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection. “Emerging threats from both manmade and natural hazards present significant challenges to utilities that are often understaffed, limited in response capability, and have aging or inoperable infrastructure. This grant will allow IAMU to assist municipal utilities by assessing current potential risks and helping to fix any vulnerabilities.” IAMU will also provide technical expertise in emergency management, risk and hazard mitigation, business and operational continuity, cyber and physical security, and disaster recovery. The goal is to enhance energy resilience programs at Iowa’s municipal utilities and their respective service territories through a shared program manager approach from IAMU. “We are pleased to dedicate funding for projects that support IEDA’s efforts to implement the Iowa Energy Plan,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “Through support of this project, our goal is to foster innovation and enhance the reliability and safety of Iowa’s energy systems.” |
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