​IAMU is pleased to announce the addition of Ashley Ulrich as the Member Services Assistant. Ashley replaces Kathy Hoffman, who retired last month.
 
Before joining IAMU, Ashley worked at New Horizons Adult Day Center for five and a half years. She was involved in activity programming and implementing for adults with brain injuries.
 
As the Member Services Assistant, Ashley will answer and direct phone calls, help with conferences, organize catering for events/meetings, perform office work such as checking and sending mail and email, and taking reservations for the facility, etc. She will also help coworkers with projects/tasks as needed.
 
“The atmosphere at IAMU and the people have been a wonderful surprise,” Ashley said. “The environment and my colleagues are very friendly. I like and take pride in being helpful for my coworkers. I just assisted someone on a project so that it could get up and running on our new Safety Reporting system sooner than expected.”

​IAMU is pleased to announce that Jared Masker is the new Director of Electric Services. Jared is replacing Bob Hiatt who will retire soon but who is staying on to manage and complete several ongoing projects.
 
Jared has been with IAMU for two years, serving as the Electric Services Coordinator. Prior to joining IAMU, Jared had several years’ experience as a journeyman lineman with Greenfield Municipal Utilities. Before GMU, Jared worked at Anita Municipal Utilities. He completed lineman school at Northwest Community College in 2010.
 
“I have enjoyed getting to know the IAMU members better and working with committees to put on various workshops and classes,” Jared said.  
 
In his new role, Jared will lead the Electric Services team, oversee the IAMU electric line maintainer and line repairer apprenticeship programs, and help with workshop development, organization, and training. He will also assist members to comply with regulations, represent IAMU in public appearances, and support members during large storm restoration events.   
 
The Electric Services team is busy with several member-focused initiatives. Jared noted that the team is currently working to create an online outage reporting map that will show real-time data on who is without power. In addition, the team is always working to improve the apprenticeship program and going paperless, Jared said.
 
“We also have a few new classes we are hoping we can offer in the future to continue to add value to the IAMU members,” he added.

​Want to have a blast and support a great cause? You are invited to the inaugural IAMU Shooting for Scholars event. The sporting clays competition, which will benefit the IAMU scholarship program, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the New Pioneer Gun Club (31454 312th Place) in Waukee.
 
The cost is $45 per person, which covers the shooting and lunch. You will need to bring your own gun and shells, although shells will also be available for purchase at the range. Eye and ear protection is required.
 
Check-in begins at 9 a.m., and shooting starts at 10 a.m. There will be awards and prizes.
 
The registration deadline is October 8. To register: go to the IAMU website events page. You can register online or download, print, and fill out a PDF form.
 
For IAMU associate members, two sponsorship levels are available if you’re interested in supporting this fundraiser.
 

• 12-Gauge: cost - $300, logo included on sponsorship banner displayed at lunch, 1 complimentary round of sporting clays, 4-week Informer ad, logo displayed at 1 shooting station
• 20-Gauge: cost - $200, 1 complimentary round of sporting clays, logo displayed at 1 shooting station

 
The sponsorship deadline is September 29. Submit your logo (300 DPI, high-res .jpeg, .png, or PDF format) to jsoenen@iamu.org.
 
For any questions, contact: Steve Marsh at smarsh@iamu.org or by phone at 515-289-1999.

​Happy September! We’re well into the second half of 2021 and coming up on fall soon. In a little over a month from now, it will be Public Power Week and Public Natural Gas Week. Now is the time to start planning if you haven’t already.

​Public power utilities across the United States celebrate Public Power Week the first full week of October every year to help customers and stakeholders understand how they can better engage with their community-owned utility and benefit from all its offerings. This year, Public Power Week is Oct. 3 – 9. The American Public Power Association (APPA) makes many resources available to get the word out about all that public power professionals and utilities do for their communities.
 
Resources include:

• Logos
• Videos
• Infographics
• Coloring sheets
• Sample social media messages
• Sample news releases
• Sample proclamations
• Sample guest columns
• Sample employee recognition certificates

 
To access all these materials, go to the APPA Public Power Week webpage. 

​Public Natural Gas Week (PNGW) is a nationwide observance that offers the perfect opportunity for public natural gas utilities to showcase their public natural gas systems and generate enthusiasm about the benefits of public natural gas. This year, PNGW will be celebrated Oct. 3 – 9. Just like the APPA, the American Public Gas Association (APGA) has several resources that natural gas utilities can use, including:
 

• Logos
• Videos
• Sample social media messages
• Sample news releases
• Sample proclamations
• Sample op-ed pieces
• Celebration suggestions

 
To access all these materials, go to the APGA PNGW webpage.

You may not realize it, but digger derricks play an important role in our everyday lives. Companies use these vehicles to dig holes and set the poles used by electrical utility and telecommunication companies, as well as those used for signage and outdoor advertising.

ANSI/ASSP A10.31, Safety Requirements, Definitions and Specifications for Digger Derricks, offers guidance to those involved in the design, manufacture, sale, lease, use and operation of digger derricks about how to ensure that the equipment is designed and manufactured properly, and that everyone understands their responsibilities for its safe use.  
With so many different parties involved in the process, there are many considerations to keep workers safe while operating these vehicles.

Click here to read more on the three factors that are particularly important to address to safeguard workers who use and operate digger derricks.

Picture this: you’re getting dressed for work, you put on an AR/FR shirt and pants and you’re ready to go. All is going well until you’re faced with a hazard where your AR/FR clothing has to act as your last line of defense. Now is NOT the time to wonder if your shirt is tucked in or not. In this week’s episode of Tyndale's Dangers of Improper Wear series, they share the facts, explaining the AR/FR standard rulings, and showing video proof to demonstrate why tucking in your AR/FR shirt is an absolute must.

Watch the video here.

As of September 7th, 2021, the Iowa DNR will be offering Iowa’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment operators multiple options for examination.

Testing Options and Locations:Proctored In Person exams by appointment at the following venues:

• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC):
  • DMACC Southridge, 1111 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315
  • DMACC Urban, 1100 7th St., Des Moines, IA 50314
• Northeast Iowa Community College:
  • NICC Calmar, Student Center, 1625 Hwy 150 South, Calmar, IA 52132
  • NICC Dubuque, Dubuque Center, 700 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001
• Iowa DNR Field Offices:
  • Field Office 1 - NE Iowa, 1101 Commercial Ct., Suite 10, Manchester, IA 52057
  • Field Office 2 - NC Iowa, 2300 15th St. SW, Mason City, IA 50401
  • Field Office 3 - NW Iowa, 1900 N Grand Ave., Suite E17, Spencer, IA 51301
  • Field Office 4 - SW Iowa, 1401 Sunnsyside Ln., Atlantic, IA 50022 
  • Field Office 6 - SE Iowa, 1023 W. Madison, Washington, IA 52353

Please note that in person exams are given by appointment only.  Do not walk into a venue without an appointment or call the venues looking to schedule an exam.

Remote Proctoring: Operators can take drinking water or wastewater certification exams on any laptop or desktop computer that has a camera and microphone. Please note that this does not include tablets, IPads, or phones. Once an operator logs in on the link provided by the testing company via email, their browser is frozen; a proctor can see them through the camera; their surroundings are monitored for extra materials or cheating; and the test session is recorded for future reference in case of cheating suspicions or accusations. The testing company provides a YouTube training video and live customer support for any technical issues arising during a remote testing session.  

What steps does an operator take to begin the exam process?

Step 1: Apply for exam eligibility online at the Operator Certification Database and Training Calendar website, using the “Exam Eligibility Application” link. Remember, you must be issued an Eligibility email from the Iowa DNR prior to registering to take any exam.

Step 2: Upon receipt of an Eligibility email from the Iowa DNR, email the following information to examopcert@dnr.iowa.gov:

• Operator/Examinee Name
• Operator ID# (for existing operators)
• Preferred Exam Option (remote or in person) and Venue (for in person option)
• Operator/Examinee email address, phone number and contact address
• Exam Type(s) and Grade(s)
• Indicate if this is a first attempt or retest

​Step 3: Receive response relative to your choice of exam delivery, following your exam eligibility submission.

• In Person Proctoring Option - Staff from the venue you indicated as your preference will contact you and schedule an exam appointment. Do not walk into a venue without an appointment or call the venues looking to schedule; they will contact you.
• Remote Proctoring Option - Watch for an email from the proctoring service PSI Customer Service (schedule@goamp.com). This email will include detailed instructions for exam scheduling, the exam procedure, and a link for the scheduling and rescheduling of your unique exam(s). You will have complete control over this. Remote Proctoring is offered twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

​We are coming up on the 5-year anniversary of our first NCCER mobile crane operator certification and now is the time to access your NCCER Registry and note the expiration date of your mobile crane license! Re-certification is required every 5 years. In order to re-certify you must retake and pass both the practical examination and the computerized test with an 80% score for each. There is no grace period after your certification expires.

We will be scheduling abbreviated operator re-certification classes for 2022. A schedule for these and the mobile crane certification classes will be posted on IAMU’s website. Attendance is not required but highly suggested as there have been significant updates in both the practical examination and the computerized test.
​
To access your NCCER Registry go to https://registry.nccer.org/, click the “sign in” button and enter your registry number, located on the front of your license. If you have forgotten your password, a ‘set new password’ link will be sent to the email account on your registry. Once you have accessed your registry account all of your profile information can be reviewed and updated if you choose. Iowa crane operators are now allowed to use their driver’s license number for their alternate ID. In your profile, find the alternate ID box, click the drop-down button, find Iowa Driver’s License and enter the number. Be sure to save any changes to your information so that the system will be updated. NCCER revised their entire system, including the testing system, and you must successfully logon to your registry account to remain active. Please email Margret Meade mmeade@imau.org or call 515.210.6617 with any questions that you may have. 

​Please welcome one of our newest Associate members - Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.

​Voya helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. We serve the financial needs of more than 14 million individual and institutional customers in the United States. Our vision is to be America’s Retirement Company® while being equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. We are a Fortune 500 company (NYSE: VOYA) with a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time.