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NSUJL: Because There's No Eraser on a Lineman's Pen
Helping and Supporting Line Workers and Their Families
Learn more and continue the conversation:
This month our discussion takes a turn to get to know some of the people UECU serves and supports. As a Credit Union that has served utility workers since 1934, we've gotten to know first-hand how important their work is, and the many different ways they keep their communities safe, connected and comfortable. Today, we'll spend some time getting to know the challenges that families face when a spouse works the third most dangerous job in the US, and how the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen (NSUJL) helps when it is needed most.
Rae Johnson, President and Founder of the NSUJL, found her purpose. In doing so, her life experiences, all of the pain and struggle she personally faced came full circle to make that purpose possible. Now Rae and the NSUJL help others through times like she's experienced...on a national level. Today, we get to hear her story and the story of the organization she help create. You won't want to miss it.
Topics & Timing:(1:30) Electric Lineman: 42/100,000 lost on the job each year, 2,400 injuries: 3rd most dangerous job
(2:52) Meet Rae Johnson, President and Founder of National Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen
(5:00) How NSUJL was founded, and why. Now celebrating their 10th year!
(5:50) How Rae’s injury and industry experience played and continues to play such important role in the work of NSUJL.
(7:34) QUOTE: “It was definitely the moment when your whole like finally makes sense, your purpose…” -Rae
(7:59) Why line worker families need NSUJL's help
(8:28) How NSUJL got started and the help they could offer. “It was a dream, a home, an intent” -Rae
(10:48) Quick overview of a line worker’s life, and the life of the line family
(11:41) Storm duty and how it effects the family and the ability of the spouse to work
(12:28) Injuries and their impact on the line worker family, and what NSUJL does to help.
(14:25) QUOTE Regarding power outages: “My respect and understanding for what happens in that small amount of time has grown tremendously” -Janene
(14:58) Why electric workers have storm duty beyond the boundaries of the company they work for (Mutual Aid Agreements)
(16:46) The real story behind “Oh, my lights went out…where are they?”
(19:40) Third most dangerous job means injuries happen. This is where NSUJL steps in, because the families are not always prepared for that situation.
(20:39) QUOTE: “I’m a big advocate for financial preparation” -Rae
(25:00) All of those things are part of an estate plan. Learn more about Estate Planning in a quick and easy way with UECU’s www.uecu.org/cueitup short e-courses.
(26:46) QUOTE: “42 out of 100,000, that’s not going to be me. The fact is it’s somebody.” – Janene. It’s important to be prepared.
(27:40) Preparation is important, but it’s important to fully prepare. Even with full preparation, the need for NSUJL support is still real.
(32:50) How NSUJL offers support and reaches the families is different for each situation.
(34:33) NSUJL provides financial support, trauma therapy, in-home care provided by their nationwide members, and more.
(35:30) NSUJL is member-powered, just like UECU! Their members are the ones that meet personally with families in need, run the organization, represent the organization at events, and more.
(38:30) The NSUJL Line Worker Benefit Rodeo and the Climbing For Lost Linemen ceremony takes place every year over Father’s Day weekend. NSUJL-supported families are brought to the event as part of the support they receive.
(40:07) The Lineman Competition is open to the public because it’s a safe place to see them work. Lineman come from all over the country.
(41:06) QUOTE: “Some of these guys can scale a 45 foot pole up and back in 17 seconds!” -Rae
(41:50) UECU is proud to help sponsor the annual NSUJL event.
(42:25) The line worker community’s commitment to safety is real.
(43:14) QUOTE: “There’s no eraser on a lineman’s pen.” -Rae. This is why safety is key in their line of work.
(43:58) Having your financial life in order keeps distractions at work at bay because there’s no room for error.
(45:12) What is the Climbing For Lost Lineman Ceremony like? It’s both sorrow and pride on display.
(48:44) Line workers are part of that rare group of people who run into the storm. They are first responders too.
(50:04) QUOTE: “They are the nicest, roughest people you’ll ever meet” – Rae
(52:39) QUOTE about being a line wife: “We all just hold our breath when they leave, because we know that we could get that call.” – Rae
(53:18) QUOTE: “You go home and you flick that switch and you expect it to work. This is why they do what they do, and it makes them proud when they help the community get the power back on." -Rae
(53:50) How we can support line workers is simple: a coffee, some food, a thank you, and a bit of kindness and patience. It all means so much.
TIP TALK:(22:00) Rae & Janene: get a major life insurance policy, short-term disability, long-term disability, and make saving for emergencies a priority. Pick a percentage to save every pay check, and it will automatically grow with every pay raise. “Set it and forget it.”(30:02) Rae: Make sure you have all of the important documents covered that are part of the “Estate Plan” so your family can make financial and medical decisions as easily as possible(31:07) Janene: Don’t let the list of things overwhelm you. Just pick one thing and get it done. “The peace of mind and security that your family will have, knowing that those things are done…what a difference it would make in their lives just to know that they’re prepared and take care of.” RESOURCES:National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen | NSUJL
- Learn more: www.nsujl.org
- support with no extra costs charged to donors or NSUJL: http://paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2137002
- Climbing for Lost Linemen & Lineworker Benefit Rodeo: https://nsujlrodeo.com/
UECU's free CueItUp E-courses discussed today:
- Playlist “Preparing for Retirement” https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/preparing-for-retirement?locale=en
- E-course “Estate Planning” (6 minutes) https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/preparing-for-retirement/1940?locale=en#estate-planning
- E-course "Family Conversations About Money" https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/building-financial-capability/1695?locale=en#family-conversations
- E-course "Budgeting for Families" https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/building-financial-capability/2531?locale=en#budgeting-for-families/
- And many other short e-courses on the basics to share with your family (of all ages): Savings Accounts, Checking Accounts, Credit Cards, and more. www.uecu.org/cueitup
Learn more and continue the conversation:
- Podcast: www.uecu.org/podcast
- Facebook: @UECU.org (Utilities Employees Credit Union)
- Instagram: @uecuhappy
- Twitter: @UECUhappy
- LinkedIn: Utilities Employees Credit Union
- 800.288.6423 | www.uecu.org
View all episodes
By Utilities Employees Credit UnionHelping and Supporting Line Workers and Their Families
Learn more and continue the conversation:
This month our discussion takes a turn to get to know some of the people UECU serves and supports. As a Credit Union that has served utility workers since 1934, we've gotten to know first-hand how important their work is, and the many different ways they keep their communities safe, connected and comfortable. Today, we'll spend some time getting to know the challenges that families face when a spouse works the third most dangerous job in the US, and how the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen (NSUJL) helps when it is needed most.
Rae Johnson, President and Founder of the NSUJL, found her purpose. In doing so, her life experiences, all of the pain and struggle she personally faced came full circle to make that purpose possible. Now Rae and the NSUJL help others through times like she's experienced...on a national level. Today, we get to hear her story and the story of the organization she help create. You won't want to miss it.
Topics & Timing:(1:30) Electric Lineman: 42/100,000 lost on the job each year, 2,400 injuries: 3rd most dangerous job
(2:52) Meet Rae Johnson, President and Founder of National Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen
(5:00) How NSUJL was founded, and why. Now celebrating their 10th year!
(5:50) How Rae’s injury and industry experience played and continues to play such important role in the work of NSUJL.
(7:34) QUOTE: “It was definitely the moment when your whole like finally makes sense, your purpose…” -Rae
(7:59) Why line worker families need NSUJL's help
(8:28) How NSUJL got started and the help they could offer. “It was a dream, a home, an intent” -Rae
(10:48) Quick overview of a line worker’s life, and the life of the line family
(11:41) Storm duty and how it effects the family and the ability of the spouse to work
(12:28) Injuries and their impact on the line worker family, and what NSUJL does to help.
(14:25) QUOTE Regarding power outages: “My respect and understanding for what happens in that small amount of time has grown tremendously” -Janene
(14:58) Why electric workers have storm duty beyond the boundaries of the company they work for (Mutual Aid Agreements)
(16:46) The real story behind “Oh, my lights went out…where are they?”
(19:40) Third most dangerous job means injuries happen. This is where NSUJL steps in, because the families are not always prepared for that situation.
(20:39) QUOTE: “I’m a big advocate for financial preparation” -Rae
(25:00) All of those things are part of an estate plan. Learn more about Estate Planning in a quick and easy way with UECU’s www.uecu.org/cueitup short e-courses.
(26:46) QUOTE: “42 out of 100,000, that’s not going to be me. The fact is it’s somebody.” – Janene. It’s important to be prepared.
(27:40) Preparation is important, but it’s important to fully prepare. Even with full preparation, the need for NSUJL support is still real.
(32:50) How NSUJL offers support and reaches the families is different for each situation.
(34:33) NSUJL provides financial support, trauma therapy, in-home care provided by their nationwide members, and more.
(35:30) NSUJL is member-powered, just like UECU! Their members are the ones that meet personally with families in need, run the organization, represent the organization at events, and more.
(38:30) The NSUJL Line Worker Benefit Rodeo and the Climbing For Lost Linemen ceremony takes place every year over Father’s Day weekend. NSUJL-supported families are brought to the event as part of the support they receive.
(40:07) The Lineman Competition is open to the public because it’s a safe place to see them work. Lineman come from all over the country.
(41:06) QUOTE: “Some of these guys can scale a 45 foot pole up and back in 17 seconds!” -Rae
(41:50) UECU is proud to help sponsor the annual NSUJL event.
(42:25) The line worker community’s commitment to safety is real.
(43:14) QUOTE: “There’s no eraser on a lineman’s pen.” -Rae. This is why safety is key in their line of work.
(43:58) Having your financial life in order keeps distractions at work at bay because there’s no room for error.
(45:12) What is the Climbing For Lost Lineman Ceremony like? It’s both sorrow and pride on display.
(48:44) Line workers are part of that rare group of people who run into the storm. They are first responders too.
(50:04) QUOTE: “They are the nicest, roughest people you’ll ever meet” – Rae
(52:39) QUOTE about being a line wife: “We all just hold our breath when they leave, because we know that we could get that call.” – Rae
(53:18) QUOTE: “You go home and you flick that switch and you expect it to work. This is why they do what they do, and it makes them proud when they help the community get the power back on." -Rae
(53:50) How we can support line workers is simple: a coffee, some food, a thank you, and a bit of kindness and patience. It all means so much.
TIP TALK:(22:00) Rae & Janene: get a major life insurance policy, short-term disability, long-term disability, and make saving for emergencies a priority. Pick a percentage to save every pay check, and it will automatically grow with every pay raise. “Set it and forget it.”(30:02) Rae: Make sure you have all of the important documents covered that are part of the “Estate Plan” so your family can make financial and medical decisions as easily as possible(31:07) Janene: Don’t let the list of things overwhelm you. Just pick one thing and get it done. “The peace of mind and security that your family will have, knowing that those things are done…what a difference it would make in their lives just to know that they’re prepared and take care of.” RESOURCES:National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen | NSUJL
- Learn more: www.nsujl.org
- support with no extra costs charged to donors or NSUJL: http://paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2137002
- Climbing for Lost Linemen & Lineworker Benefit Rodeo: https://nsujlrodeo.com/
UECU's free CueItUp E-courses discussed today:
- Playlist “Preparing for Retirement” https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/preparing-for-retirement?locale=en
- E-course “Estate Planning” (6 minutes) https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/preparing-for-retirement/1940?locale=en#estate-planning
- E-course "Family Conversations About Money" https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/building-financial-capability/1695?locale=en#family-conversations
- E-course "Budgeting for Families" https://uecu.everfi-next.net/student/dashboard/financial-education/building-financial-capability/2531?locale=en#budgeting-for-families/
- And many other short e-courses on the basics to share with your family (of all ages): Savings Accounts, Checking Accounts, Credit Cards, and more. www.uecu.org/cueitup
Learn more and continue the conversation:
- Podcast: www.uecu.org/podcast
- Facebook: @UECU.org (Utilities Employees Credit Union)
- Instagram: @uecuhappy
- Twitter: @UECUhappy
- LinkedIn: Utilities Employees Credit Union
- 800.288.6423 | www.uecu.org