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August 1998 
 
GBA Attends 
 
NASFA Conference 
 
The National Association of State 
 
Facilities Administrators (NASFA) held 
 
its annual conference and trade show in 
 
Scottsdale, Arizona, from 
 
..  It  
 
June 27-July 1. Execu- 
 
 tive Director Luther 
 
Lewis attended along 
 
: with Doug Ivey, 
 
Deputy Director of 
 
Operations, Lamar 
 
Holland, Assistant 
 
Director for Contract Administration, 
 
Dave Mathieson, Assistant Director for 
 
Facilities Planning, Greg Snapp, 
 
Architect for the Roofing Group, and 
 
Ken Johnson, Project Manager for #2 
 
Peachtree. Held at the Camelback inn, 
 
the conference was attended by repre- 
 
sentatives from 27 states and 20 corpo- 
 
rate exhibitors. Last year's conference 
 
and trade show was held in Atlanta 
 
with the Georgia Building Authority 
 
serving as host. Luther Lewis served as 
 
the 1997-98 president of NASFA. 
 
Darby Checketts, President of 
 
Cornerstone Professional Development 
 
of Meaz, Arizona, opened the confer- 
 
ence with a keynote address highlight- 
 
ing the importance of the "customer" in 
 
our operation. According to Mr. 
 
Checketts, "In today's business environ- 
 
ment, a satisfied customer isn't enough. 
 
We have entered a new age of wherein 
 
we must positively astonish our custom- 
 
ers by cleverly anticipating their needs." 
 
Mr. Checketts believes the main goal of 
 
your organization should be to be 
 
customer need driven. He also suggests 
 
that organizations begin redefining job 
 
titles so that all titles begin with "cus- 
 
tomer." New opportunities must be 
 
found to be responsive, anticipatory, 
 
See, NASFA, back page 
 
VOLBNOB 
State Personnel Board Approves Health Benefit Plan Change to PPO 
I n their June 30 meeting, the State Personnel Board approved a plan to implement regional Preferred-Provider Organization (PPO) networks for state employees currently under the State Health Benefit Plan's (SHBP) High and Standard Option plans. This change will take effect July 1, 1999. Dana Russell, Commissioner of the Georgia Merit System, cited preservation of the financial integrity of the SHBP as the impetus for the Board's decision to change to the Preferred-Provider Plan, a fee-for-service arrangement that maintains the member's ability to choose any care provider. "Increasing cost from both the prices paid for medical care and the rate that employees use medical care resulted in an operating loss of more than $21 million for the fee-for-service plan for FY'97. And while the figures for FY'98 are not yet in, operating losses for this year are expected to reach $25 million. Potentially, the plan could see operating losses totaling $288 million by FY2000 if we do not make this change," said Russell. Russell also advises, "Without these changes, extremely large increases in contributions by the employees and the state would be required." Under the new PPO plan, the state will be divided into nine regions and each will have its own PPO network. One network contract will be awarded in each region with the selection based on quality of service, accessibility and price. Employees will not be bound to any one region. 
See, PPO, inside 
GBA Terminates AmeriCare Contract 
The Georgia Building Authority terminated its contract with AmeriCare Early Learning Centers for the operation of the Capitol Hill Child Development Center on July 20 due to financial problems experienced by AmeriCare. 
AmeriCare failed to meet their July 17 payroll needs forcing GBA to assume operation of the Center. GBA plans to operate the Capitol Hill Child Development Center until a decision has been made regarding another operator. Katharine Garrison, AmeriCare's director of the Center, and many of the existing staff remain in their current positions as GBA employees. 
While the termination of AmeriCare's contract was unexpected and regrettable, GBA believes the actions taken are in the best interest of the parents and children involved with Capitol Hill Child Development Center. 
 
 Congratulations to: 
Donald Holcombe (Stockroom) and his wife, Carla, who will celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary on August 3. 
Robert Pitts (MTNorth) and his wife, Jean, who will celebrate their wedding anniversary on August 21. 
John Copeland (Security) and his wife, Marlene, who will celebrate 13 years of marriage on August 1. 
Gil Hill (Police) and his wife, Patricia Smith (Security), who will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on August 14. 
John Pierce (Police) and his wife, Marla, who will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on August 16. 
Cedric Smith (Security) and his wife, Frankie, who will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on August 22. 
David Perkins (Police) and his wife, Kristal, who will celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary on August 30. 
Kent Perdue (#2 Peachtree) on the birth of his son, Kent Perdue, Jr., born July 12. 
Sympathy to: 
Annie Jones (Food Service) on the death of her husband, Larry, on June 29. 
Lula Mae Burley (Food Service) on the death of her mother on July 4. 
The family of Kenneth Threlkeld (former GBA Security employee) who passed away on June 19 after a courageous battle with cancer. 
Farewell to: 
Jon Blanco (MTSouth) who resigned to move to California with his wife who is in the U.S. Army. 
See, Notes of Interest, back page 
 
Employees of the Month 
D LJ J LJ 
Congratulations to Stacy Williams (Police), Laura Case (12 Peachtree}, Linda Smith (Human Relations) and Gary Hopkins (Shared Services) who were selected as Employees of the Month for June 1998. Johnny Wright (Motor Pool) is not pictured. 
Health Tips 
Understanding Blood Pressure 
No matter why you visit the doctor, you're likely to have your blood pressure taken. Just what do those numbers mean? And why should you care? 
For one reason, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a sign that your heart is working too hard and that can increase your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. It can also contribute to other serious conditions, such as kidney failure, eye damage and atherosclerosis. 
Your health practitioner uses a device called sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. The reading consists of two numbers, one written over the other, such as 126/79. The number on top shows your "systolic pressure," which is the amount of pressure in your blood vessels when your heart contracts and pushes blood through your circulatory system. The lower number represents your "diastolic pressure," or the pressure in your blood vessels between beats, when your heart is resting. 
The National Institute of Health considers normal blood pressure to be below 130/85. Readings between 130/85 and 139/89 are considered "high normal." Above that, high blood pressure is divided into four stages: 
Stage 1 (mild): from 140/90 to 159/99 Stage 2 (moderate): from 160/100 to 179/109 Stage 3 (severe): from 180/110 to 209/119 Stage 4 (very severe): 210/120 and up High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer" because it gives no warning signs. Many people don't find out they have it until they have already suffered damage to their heart, brain, or kidneys. 
 
 Employees of the Quarter 
April, May, June 1998 
 
Walt Jones MTNorth 
 
Stacy Williams Police 
 
Johnny Wright Motor Pool 
 
GBA Adopts Return-To-Work 
Program for Employees 
The Georgia Building Authority relies on its workforce to be 
1 able to fulfill the many responsibilities associated with being 
the facility manager for the buildings and properties on Capitol Hill and in the metropolitan Atlanta area. We could not accomplish all that we do without the efforts of every individual in our organization. Therefore, GBA recognizes the inherent value of our employees and is committed to keeping our employees, even when injuries or illnesses intervene and threaten their ability to work. 
Being able to return to work after an injury or illness is important. For many of us, work provides not only a source of income, but other benefits such as retirement, medical, disability and life insurance that are equally important. Also, returning to work is, for some, the only option when we do not have enough sick or annual leave to cover missed work time. For this reason, GBA has adopted a comprehensive Return-To-Work (RTW) program which enables, whenever feasible, injured and/or ill employees to return to work as quickly and safely as possible. The RTW program, applicable to all full-time and part-time employees, accomplishes this goal by ensuring effective communication between employees, supervisors and the medical community. 
When an employee who has suffered a work-related injury or illness is not able to commence his/her regular responsibilities, the RTW program utilizes a team of individuals, including the employee, the employee's supervisor, a Human Relations representative, and others as deemed necessary to facilitate transitional employment. Transitional employment is any temporary assignment that allows an injured and/or ill employee to remain productive until he/she is able to return to his/her regular position. The RTW program also provides a process for evaluating whether GBA can reasonably accommodate those employees who are found to have permanent limitations. 
The Return-To-Work program benefits both the employee and the organization. For a more in-depth review of the program, contact the GBA Human Relations Division at 404-656-3869. 
 
August Birthdays 
Willie Key ................................... 1st David Perkins ............................ 1st Herman Derrick ......................... 3rd Waldon Wolfe ........................... 4th Phil Thornberry ........................ 5th W.W. Holley .............................. 7th Harold Johnson ........................ 7th Ferdinand Malone .................... 7th Ernest Roberson ........................ 7th Gary Clark ................................ 8th Lula Mae Burley ....................... 9th Gary Pritchett ........................... 9th Bettyanne Mayo ..................... 10th Ray Neely ................................ 10th Les Robinson ........................... 11th Bobby Shropshire ................... 11th Aymond Rasheed ................... 12th James Woodruff ...................... 12th Angel Garcia .......................... 13th 
Earlene Hollis' 13th Scott Poitevint ......................... 13th Joe Spell .................................. 13th William Hall ........................... 14th Michael Wiggins ..................... 15th Kenneth Zachary .................... 15th Mindy Boynton ....................... 16th Deotha Harvey ....................... 17th Bessie Brown ........................... 18th Jimmie Cotton ........................ 19th Sam Bunn ................................ 21st Leroy Kelly ............................... 21st Gary Mitchell ........................... 21st Michael Boyd .......................... 22nd Rose Bugg ............................... 22nd Brenda Jones ........................... 22nd Luis Cacho ............................... 23rd Tommy Cobb ........................... 23rd Debra Day ............................... 23rd John Pierce ............................... 23rd Cedric Smith ............................ 23rd Michael Smith ........................ 26th Michael Edwards .................... 27th Kerry Day ................................ 28th Bobby Golden ......................... 28th Mary Lockhart ........................ 28th Rudy Seger .............................. 28th Luther Lewis ........................... 29th Bob Satterfield ........................ 29th Rosa Puckett ........................... 30th Bill Young ............................... 30th Dianne Carter .......................... 31st 
While it's nice to be 
important, it's more 
important to be nice. 
-Tip O'Neill 
 
 Recent Retirees 
Laura Aiken 
Laura Aiken began working in GBA's Food Service Section in 1987. 
Prior to that, she worked part-time for the Georgia World Congress Center. Believe it or not, Laura says she will actually miss getting up early. She'll also miss the "flock of friends" she has made in her 11 year tenure at GBA. Laura plans to rest, travel and spend time with her family. An avid bowler for 20 years, Laura plans to join a Wednesday morning bowling team. 
Leonard Deluca 
Leonard Deluca has been an important part of GBA Police and Security Section making sure all of GBA's security systems were installed corrrectly and in good working condition. He came to GBA in 1984 after having been a long haul truck driver for nine years. He is also retired from the United States Army. Leonard plans to take it easy and spend time with his wife, Mary, and their children and grandchildren. He leaves behind many friends and encourages them, "Hang in there til it's your time to retire." 
Calvin Nichols 
Deer hunting and fishing. That's what's on Calvin Nichols' mind as he begins retirement. Calvin began at GBA in 1983 in the Grounds Section, and besides a short stint in the Maintenance Section, has worked at many GBA properties including the Governor's Mansion and the Farmer's Market. Prior to GBA, he was self employed in a blade sharpening business. 
 
Employee Spotlight 
Yibai Lu Makes Georgia Home 
Atlanta is becoming more and more a multi-cultural city, and in turn, the Georgia Building Authority is enjoying the same benefits and challenges from such a diverse workplace. Several GBA employees have grown up in countries besides the United States but have made Georgia and the Georgia Building Authority their home away 
from home. Yibai Lu, a member of GBA's Shared Services Section, brings not only enthusiasm and an infectious smile to work, but great knowledge and a good work ethic from experiences and schooling in her native China. 
Yibai grew up in Bejing where her family still resides. Her father is a retired professor. Her mother, an artist, is also retired, and her two sisters work in clerical/ administrative jobs in Bejing. She was first introduced to American history when her father translated the addresses and letters of George Washington and Woodrow Wilson into Chinese. Yibai attended Jiaotong, a university similar to Georgia Tech in the city of Xian, and received a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, she taught architectural/mechanical drawing and design courses at Jiaotong for 12 years. Hoping to enhance her education, Yibai traveled to the United States in 1990 to attend graduate school at Syracruse University in Syracruse, New York. She spent four years in New York working as a graduate assistant and studying for her degree. She received her Master's Degree in Industrial Design in 1993 with a 3.85 grade point average. After graduating from Syracruse University, she had had enough of the New York winters and relocated to Atlanta with the help of some of her father's American friends. Yibai began her career in state government with the Secretary of State's Office in 1994 in the Accounting Office and later worked in the Capitol Museum. In November of 1996, she was hired by GBA as a CAD operator. One of the few women in GBA's "basement" offices, she's learned her way around and can truly hold her own in the world that exists underneath the Floyd Building. Her duties allow her the opportunity to assist in numerous GBA projects involving construction, renovation and furniture design. Yibai has adjusted well to the American culture and admits she loves holidays, vacation and pizza. She's even been "adopted" by a multi-generational Georgia family and enjoys holidays and family reunions with them. Her biggest adjustment to living in the United States has been learning the lanquage, not only the written language, but conversational lanquage which includes all the informal phrases and words that are uniquely American. One of the major differences that she sees between the cultures of China and America is that the American family is smaller. In earlier times in China, the "family" included aunts, uncles, and parents all living together. While families in China are smaller today, it is still the tradition of the Chinese to respect the elderly and take care of them, something western cultures have moved away from. Yibai remains a Chinese citizen but hopes to stay in the United States and plans to obtain her U.S. citizenship in the near future. But for now, you'll find her in her basement office surrounded by friends and co-workers in GBA. 
 
 Anniversaries 
 
James Sanders 28years 
 
Hattie Davis 26years 
 
"'----~l~ 
 
Thomas Scott Maple Jean Steele 
 
26years 
 
26years 
 
Ei, 
 
Maynard Smith 26 years 
 
Tommie Wright 23 years 
 
Lamar Holland .... .. .. 19 years Geneva Hart ............ 18 years Bill Young ................ 17 years Lizzie Kelly ............... 17 years Reginald Hood ......... 16 years Keith Bradford ......... 16 years Michael Edwards ..... 15 years Robert Johnston ....... 14 years Deon Jackson ........... 14 years John Copeland ........ 13 years Dallas Day ............... 13 years Martha Hose ............ 13 years Wayne Atha............. 13 years James Gas ................ 13 years Stan Thomas ............ 12 years Dan Vickers ............. 12 years Jerry Jarrett .............. 12 years David Boswell .......... 12 years John Arndt ............... 11 years Clarence Blackshear 11 years Vernon Smith ........... 11 years Jerry Bradford .......... 11 years Mary Lockhart ......... 11 years Melissa Jones ........... 10 years Charles Rosser ......... 10 years Bobby Golden .......... 10 years Brenda Jones ............ 10 years Gary Mitchell........... 10 years Diane Alexander ..... 10 years Luis Cacho ............... 10 years Willie Wiggs............. 10 years 
 
Maxie f:inley 22years 
 
Mary Harris 20years 
 
Retirement/Financial Planning Seminars Available to 
GBA Employees 
The Employees' Retirement System (ERS) offers seminars to state employees on financial and retirement planning. Each are two day seminars. Retirement Planning is primarily for those employees considering retirement within five or less years. Financial Planning is for everyone! 
Seminars are popular and there is often a waiting list for participation. A Financial Planning seminar will be held at GBA November 45 for any interested employees. However, if you are interested in the Retirement Planning seminar or would like to attend the first available Financial Planning seminar, you can complete a registration form (available in the GBA Personnel Office) and send it to the Employees' Retirement System. ERS will notify you when space is available. 
If you have additional questions, contact ERS at 404-352-6400. 
 
Retirees, cont. trom opposite page 
Chester West 
In his ten years of service with GBA, Chester West has worked as a building monitor at the GBI Complex in Decatur. He is also a retired traffic engineer with the City of Atlanta. Chester plans to "enjoy life" at his home in Decatur and his home in Hiawassee. Enjoying life means spending time with his wife, Ina, son and daughter and their families, and of course, a little fishing. 
 
James Wade 
 
James Wade began his career 
 
------ 
 
with GBA in 1988 in the Security 
 
Section and later 
 
transferred to the 
 
Parking Section. 
 
Before GBA, he 
 
had worked for 
 
General Motors 
 
and Globe Battery Company for 27 
 
years. His retirement plans call for 
 
hunting and fishing and work in 
 
the yard. 
 
PPQ, continued from front page 
They will be able to select providers in any region they wish. Employees can also choose care outside the network at an increased cost. Commissioner Russell expects the majority of physicians and hospitals in Georgia to continue to be available to participants under the PPO and at more favorable prices. Increases in deductibles and outof-pocket cost to employees are also expected to be less under the PPO network plan. 
More than 407,000 state employees, retirees and their dependents participate in the Standard or High Option portion of the SHBP. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the current administrator, will continue to administer claims for all nine regions. Employees and dependents who are in one of the four managed-care health plans (BlueChoice, Aetna U.S. Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and Prudential) will not be affected by this change. 
 
 MARTA Transcard 
Available at Reduced Price 
In an effort to promote ridership among state employees, MARTA is offering a reduced introductory rate for monthly 
Transcards. For the months of August, September and October, MARTA monthly 
~i iI~.~ Transcards will be priced at $35.00, a 1"11J>J~----=-igl;.'!,_m'-'"'P.!J"""""" savings of $10.00 over the regular 
$45.00 price for a Transcard. After this introductory period, the cost of the Transcard will depend on the number of cards sold with anticipated cost between $38.35 and $40.05. 
All GBA employees who wish to purchase a monthly MARTA Transcard should notify the GBA Parking Office. Orders should be placed with the Parking Office by the 10th of each month and cards can be picked up during the last week of each month for the upcoming monthly card. During this introductory period, cash or check made payable to GBA at the time of purchase is the only acceptable payment. When the program is fully established, employees will have the option of using payroll deductions for card purchases. 
Only GBA employees can purchase Transcards through the GBA Parking Office. All other state employees must purchase Transcards through their own agencies. These agencies will place orders with GBA and purchase Transcards as an agency. 
 
From the Chef's Corner 
Summer. Ice Cream. The two just go together. Here's a really good recipe for fresh peach ice cream. 
 
Homemade Peach Ice Cream 
 
4 eggs, beaten 2 cups sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 quart (about) milk 
 
2 cups chopped peaches 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups half and half 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk 
 
Combine eggs and sugar in bowl; mix well. Stir in evaporated milk, half and half, peaches, vanilla and salt. Pour into I-gallon ice cream freezer container. Add milk to fill line. Freeze using manufacturer's instructions. May substitute favorite fruit for peaches. Yield: 32 servings. 
 
NASFA, continued from front page 
expansive and intuitive in providing true comprehensive customer support. Everyone can satisfy a customer, but organizations must go beyond the status quo and provide that service that makes them stand out among their competitors. 
The "customer" theme was evident in many of the presentations and networking sessions. Major topics of discussion included Utility Deregulation, Indoor Air Quality, Designer Errors and Omissions, Year 2000 Problems, Concrete Slab Moisture, Benchmarking, Performancebased Procurement, Comprehensive Preplanning for Catastrophic Events, Statewide Energy Performance Contracting, Roofing Maintenance Programs and updates on AIA documents. Next year's conference is scheduled to held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 
 
Notes of Interest, continued 
from inside 
Get Well to: 
Willie Mae Myles, mother of Tony Myles (Food Service) who is recovering from a stroke. 
Braggin Rights 
Raven Khadejai, granddaughter of Valeria Thomas (MTSouth) recently performed in her first dance recital in Fayetteville. 
Michael Pace, son of Christy Pace (Parking), recently returned from a two week tour of Montreal, Canada with the Tri-County Professional Boys Choir. Another son, Christopher, was a member of the East Point Amateur League baseball team that went all the way to the state championships before being defeated. 
Correction: Rajesh Gupta is the son of Bal Gupta (Facilities Planning). He is a graduate student at Yale and interned in Kampala, Uganda this summer.