January / February 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

14 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY 2009
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY 2009 15
B A L A N C I N G
STRESS
in financial
turbulence.
Market Cycles are No
Cause for Panic.
It is no secret that the U.S.
financial markets experienced
increased volatility in 2008, but
that’s the natural cycle of the stock
market. While this can cause any
investor to feel uncertainty and
anxiety, as a long-term retirement
plan investor, your best bet may
be to stay calm, stay invested and
continue contributing to your plan.
NPPD’s Employee Assistance
Program, Best Care, provides
these tips for dealing with the
effects of an economic downturn
and the stress that accompany it.
Keep cool. Today’s 24/7 news
cycle is packed with negative
stories and commentary about
the state of the economy. Pay
attention to what’s happening, but
don’t let the doomsday hype drive
you to either overreact or become
passive. Both can lead to bad
decisions. Stay calm and focused.
Identify the sources of
your personal financial
stress and make a plan.
Getting your financial concerns
out of your head and onto paper
can be stressful in the short term,
but it pays big dividends both
financially and emotionally in the
long run. Review your current
financial situation and, using the
information and advice readily
available online, at your local
library, or through nonprofit
credit counseling services, make
a plan for reducing your expenses
and managing your money more
efficiently.
Use positive stress
management techniques
for dealing with financial
uncertainty. The American
Psychological Association says
that during uncertain economic
times people are tempted to
relieve stress by smoking,
drinking, gambling or emotional
eating. The additional strains
these indulgences inflict on us
often make matters worse. When
it comes to busting stress, stick to
the tried and true: breath, exercise,
laugh, and reach out to those you
care about.
Turn these challenging
times into opportunities
for real growth and
change. Economists call
situations like these “corrections”
for a reason. As a nation, our
collective greed and fear caused
us to lose sight of what’s truly
important. Now’s the time for
Wall Street and Main Street to
take stock and change both the
way they manage money and the
stress that accompanies it.
For more information on how
to manage financial stress, call
Best Care EAP at 402-354-
8000 or 800-666-8606. Or, visit
the Best Care website at www.
BestCareEAP.org for more
information and resources.
Alan Able, instrument and control engineering
supervisor (TA), Cooper Nuclear Station, to
instrument and control engineering supervisor.
Bill Belgum, joint procurement process support
leader, Sheldon Station, to inventory control manager,
Lincoln.
Kevin Block, operator, Kearney, to coordinator.
Nick Bockerman, systems analyst, Kearney, to
coordinator.
Nicholas Brichacek, temporary project management
intern, Columbus, to temporary construction
coordinator.
Shaun Brott, station operator, Gerald Gentleman
Station, to mechanical technician.
Alan Carpenter, planner, CNS, to lead planner.
Tim Chapin, senior quality assurance auditor, CNS,
to quality assurance internal team leader.
Thomas Crumrine, mechanical maintenance
supervisor, CNS, to refuel floor project manager.
Scott Driskell, security shift field supervisor, CNS, to
access authorization/fitness for duty analyst.
Nancy Fisher, lead custodian (TA), CGO, to lead
custodian.
Scott Freborg, valves engineering programs
supervisor, CNS, to mechanical engineering programs
supervisor.
Gabriel Gardner, civil engineering supervisor,
CNS, to nuclear steam supply system engineering
supervisor.
Monty Hergenrader, water quality technician, GGS,
to engineering specialist.
Todd Hottovy, equipment reliability manager, CNS,
to engineering support manager.
David Huff, security officer, CNS, to station operator,
GGS.
Bradly Johnson, planning supervisor, CNS, to
planning superintendent.
Julie Johnson, land management assistant, CGO, to
land management specialist.
Rory Mason, planner, CNS, to lead planner.
Robert McCarthy, engineering specialist, GGS, to
water systems engineering specialist, North Platte.
Todd Mertes, planner, CNS, to lead planner.
Jeremy Murrish, station operator, GGS, to
mechanical technician.
Cody Raml, coop engineer, CGO, to temporary
engineering intern, Lincoln.
Ron Rosenberry, inventory manager, CGO, to
contract negotiation manager.
Jeanne Schieffer, public relations/advertising
specialist, CGO, to corporate communications and
public relations manager.
Rocky Schultz, engineering support engineer, CNS,
to quality assurance engineer.
Bob Thacker, preventive maintenance/predictive
maintenance supervisor, CNS, to valves engineering
programs supervisor.
Mark Uhri, environmental chemist, CNS, to plant
chemist.
Joe Vetick, lead surveyor, CGO, to survey supervisor.
Josh Whisler, planner, CNS, to lead planner.
Fred Zacarola, plant chemist, CNS, to environmental
chemist.