Oh no... It's back to school!!!
By Mike Hyland
Executive Director, NEPPA
As I sat down to write this month’s NEPPA Newsline, I’m reminded of last week’s Annual Conference in Groton, CT. The time spent away from the office is always difficult, especially for the smallest shops that don’t have the deepest bench. I appreciate the efforts and resources it takes to attend such a conference, and for those that couldn’t make it – we missed you. For those that did, glad that you could attend, and I hope you enjoyed the time, walked away with some new relationships, and maybe even learned something new. The speakers were excellent, and the weather cooperated as attendees supported the NEPPA Benevolent and Scholarship Funds while golfing or enjoying the famous aquarium. Others simply enjoyed downtown Mystic, including some of the Young Professionals Group that sauntered around town on a ghost pub walk. The diversity of the New England region is wonderful to experience, and I’ve enjoyed the past two Annual Conferences in Stowe, VT and Groton, CT since I joined the NEPPA team. Next year, we will return to the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH, and I hope you will plan to join us next August. But that’s a long time away and the fun and learning doesn’t stop for the 362 days in between the NEPPA Annual Conference.
On my way into the NEPPA office this week I was reminded of the emotions surrounding the ‘back to school’ routine that we all have faced, and many continue to face each Autumn or even Monday Morning. Many of our minds are reminiscing of good times spent over the summer, from sandy beaches to camping in the mountains, boating and fishing, or traveling to lands far away. For me and my family, we stayed at a lighthouse on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Super Cool! And seems like yesterday. Regardless of your preference and pleasure, the idea of ‘hitting the books’, ‘getting back into a routine’, or facing the ‘Sunday Scaries’ is difficult for many of us. A LinkedIn survey suggests that approximately 80 percent of professionals face the Sunday Blues, and an even higher percentage if we focus specifically on the Millennials and Gen Z generation. So, what can we do to combat this emotions? How do we adjust our thinking to free ourselves from the dread of overthinking a Monday morning that hasn’t even occurred or a first day of school that is inevitable to experience? The answer isn’t easy.
Some of the greatest ‘thinkers’ of the last century have pointed to the concept of ‘continuous learning’ as one method of embracing new experiences and learning opportunities. Steve Jobs of Apple fame stated, “Learn continually - there’s always ‘one more thing’ to learn! “and Albert Einstein is tagged with saying “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only with death.” But, like many of you, I read these quotes, enjoy their intentions, yet still find myself dreading Monday. I’m more motivated and embrace quotes that seem to make sense in my life, such as ‘Embrace the Suck” used by Navy seals or Mark Twains quote “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
Regardless of whether you are a procrastinator, or unmotivated, the world keeps turning, and we need to show up and be present. Probably best if we try to enjoy the ride instead of waiting for next summer’s respite on Mount Washington. As they say – time to saddle up and head out on the learning trail. With that in mind, NEPPA offers some great opportunities to learn as we all get into that ‘back to school’ mode these next few weeks. Advanced Lineworker and Substation II classes start September 5th, the virtual two-day APPA Safety Manual review on September 19 & 20, and the new Supervisory Skills Training is set for September 25 & 26 here at the NEPPA Training Center. On September 27th the Reading Municipal Light Department will host the next General Managers roundtable, and October 24th thru 26th NEPPA kicks off its new Energy Connect Conference at the Wylie Center at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. Formerly known as the Customer Service Conference, the intent is to expand its reach and deliver sessions for a wider audience. We are excited – and we hope you are too!
I look forward to seeing you or your staff at some of our upcoming learning opportunities. Together – the Back-to-School blues have nothing on us.
-Mike
|
|
Save the date...
Registration Opening Soon
|
|
(formerly The Customer Service Credit & Collections Conference
|
|
Upcoming Training & Events |
|
Advance Lineworker Program
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
NEPPA is pleased to offer a completely redesigned Advanced Lineworker Program which will be held in 4 sessions; each sessions 3 days.
Advanced Lineworker is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to build, maintain, troubleshoot and repair a distribution system.
|
|
Substation II
Program
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
Building on the success of Substation I, NEPPA is pleased to offer a completely redesigned Substation II Program which is held 3.5-days/week for 4 weeks.
Substation II expands on Substation I and moves into protection and controls, understanding operations, schematics and diagrams, testing and test results interpretation of substation equipment.
|
|
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Presenter:
Art Graziano, Human Capital Consultant
|
|
Sept. 5 - 7, Sept. 26 - 28, Oct 17 - 19, Nov 7 - 9
Sept. 5 - 8; Sept. 19 - 22; Oct. 10 -13; Oct. 24 - 27
Littleton, MA
September 12, 2023
2:00 pm (EST)
Virtual
September 14, 2023
Virtual (9:30 am)
September 19, 2023
8:00 am (EST)
|
|
Year 1
Group A Aug. 29 - Sept. 1; Oct. 17 - 20
Group B Aug. 29 - Sept. 1; Oct. 24 - 27
Year 2
Group A Sept. 12 - 15; Oct. 31 - Nov. 3
Group B Sept. 12 - 15; Nov. 7 - 10
Year 3
Group A Sept. 26 - 29; Nov. 14 - 17
Group B Sept. 26 - 29; Nov. 28 - Dec 1
Year 4
Group A & B Oct. 3 - 6; Dec. 5 - 7
Apprentice Lineworker Program Graduation: Dec. 7, 2023
Apprentice Lineworker Program Make-Up Weeks
The following “Make-Up Weeks” are scheduled for any student who needs make-up time in the Program and/or competencies for the Program.
Nov. 28 - 29, 2023 (hands-on)
Nov. 30, 2023 (exams)
|
|
September 20, 2023
8:30 am (EST)
September 25 - 27, 2023
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
September 27, 2023
8:30 am (EST)
Reading Municipal Light Department
Reading, MA
Underground Distribution Maintenance & Repair*
October 3 - 5, 2023
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
October 10, 2023
2:00 pm (EST)
Virtual
October 17, 2023
Energy Connect Conference*
(formerly Customer Service Conference)
October 24 - 26, 2023
Wylie Conference Center
Beverly, MA
October 31 - November 2, 2023
Metering II*
November 7 - 9, 2023
|
|
November 14, 2023
8:00 am (EST)
Littleton, MA
November 14, 2023
2:00 pm (EST)
Virtual
November 21, 2023
8:00 am (EST)
Littleton, MA
Annual Membership Meeting*
December 7, 2023
Doubletree Leominster, MA
December 12, 2023
2:00 pm (EST)
Virtual
OSHA-10 Course*
December 13 - 14, 2023
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
December 19, 2023
8:30 am (EST)
December 20, 2023
8:30 am (EST)
|
|
Energy: Senate EPW/House E&C Committee leaders call for modifications to NRC’s small modular reactor framework; FERC finalizes its generator interconnection rule...
|
|
Infrastructure: Senate Democrats send letter to DOE to finalize distribution transformer conservation standards; Senate ENR holds a hearing on federal transmission permitting; House E&C Committee holds a hearing on threats to grid infrastructure...
|
|
Appropriations: The Senate Appropriations Committee finalizes its FY24 Energy-Water spending bill for floor consideration...
|
|
MEET THE
2023 NEPPA
PERSON OF THE YEAR
|
|
William G. Bottiggi,
Braintree Electric Light Department
|
|
|
|
Left: 2023 Annual Conference, Mystic Marriott |
|
We want to hear from you!
Share what's happening!
|
|
CONTACT THE NEPPA NEWS TEAM
Current utility and corporate/ associate members can submit their white papers, articles, and press releases to be considered for NEPPA's Monthly Newsline and/or Social Media Platforms.
Please use the form below to submit content for consideration to appear in our news feed. All topics are subject to approval.
Contact our news team for information on Northeast Public Power Association Newsline and NEPPA's Social Media Platform.
|
|
Northeast Public Power Association | communications@neppa.org | www.neppa.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
