Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
New animated video on YouTube--Breathless Mom Project Conversation
Just released on YouTube--a Breathless Mom Project Conversation animated video. Melissa and Susan engage in a conversation about the Breathless Mom Project at the coffee area at work. As they talk about the project, both agree to work with JoelMonty to get more people involved in working on and with the project.
I've learned over the years that cartoons--and now, animated videos, can do more to convey a message than email, face-to-face, or video-conferences. While this may not be true for long-term messages, it is very true for small, tight messages.
Anyway, check-out the video, get involved with the Breathless Mom Project and tell me what you think.
I've learned over the years that cartoons--and now, animated videos, can do more to convey a message than email, face-to-face, or video-conferences. While this may not be true for long-term messages, it is very true for small, tight messages.
Anyway, check-out the video, get involved with the Breathless Mom Project and tell me what you think.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Need Help With "Breathless Mom" Project
(Reprinted from JoelMontyPresents.com, JoelMonty’s Facebook Fan Page)
Sharlie, Our Breathless Mom
Sharlie is a 32-year-old mom suffering from cystic fibrosis–a lung disease that is genetic and life-threatening–life-ending. I had a close friend in high school who suffered from the disease and who died at an early age. Please watch the YouTube video about Sharlie and her family.I have been working for several months with a group of caring Internet professionals who have decided to band together to make a difference for Sharlie–and for the people willing to help this Sharlie project.
This is not a non-profit (501C3) charity, there are no tax breaks for donating or participating. We are in a hurry to raise funds for Sharlie and for others. Some of these professionals have donated information products that normally sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Others have donated their time and expertise.
Sharlie isn’t looking for handouts–though donations for Sharlie can be made on the Breathless Mom Project website.
The people behind the project want this to be a “win-win” for everyone involved. How that works is that a variety of products are being sold at greatly reduced prices by people affiliated with the project. People purchasing these products get real value from their investment and most of the money goes to help Sharlie.
I’ve purchased product and am looking to replicate what I’m doing. At a minimum, I need three people to commit to purchase a product and to find three others to purchase a product. If we can do that, when it happens 11 times we will have generated Sharlie’s million dollars.
Want Some Breathless Mom Products?
I’m one of the affiliates who is working to generate funds for Sharlie and for other worthwhile projects as well. These links will get you to products I am promoting for Breathless Mom.Bye, Bye, Butterflies
Brush and Brush Kids
How to Start a Business Without Losing Your Mind in 12-Easy Steps
Ultimate Consulting Challenge
Social Media Hat Trick–Score Profits with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
EZ Pillars of Cash
EZ Affiliate Mastery
The Guardian of Heaven
Wow…You Don’t Look That Old!!
Want to join me in promoting the Breathless Mom Project and these valuable products?
Contact me and I will give you the details of how we can work on this together.
Moving Out of Census Daze
As you will have noticed by now, I have posted infrequently on this blog for almost a year--this after almost a year of daily blogs.
I was involved with Census 2010 as a bilingual (Spanish) enumerator and as an Office Operations Supervisor for a suburb west of Chicago. Census 2010 consisted of a series of operations and each operation could have separate staffing. I was involved with Census 2010 from March, 2010 through the end of March, 2011, and was scheduled to participate in a final operation during May and June, 2011.
The Census geared their temporary employees based on geography--wanting people to work in their local area. Fortunately for the area in which I live, there was little to do in the final operation and no one from this area was hired. For my area, Census 2010 and its follow-up activities are over. (The U.S. Census Bureau has ongoing operations--Census 2010 was the Decennial Census.)
The Census believes strongly in protecting privacy and Census employees agree to terms of employment that include a $250,000 fine and up to five years of imprisonment for disclosing personal proprietary information (PPI). That had a lot to do with not keeping up with posting. I had several months between operations. I took some of that time reviewing my earlier blog posts and am in the process of turning them into a book.
My focus and efforts are now in reaching out through the Internet to share my experience and insights as a global learning and change navigator. Visit my new blog at http://www.JoelMonty.Info/blog/.
You can also see more of what I'm up to these days on my Facebook Fan Page for JoelMontyPresents.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Helpful book to track recovery from brain injury
Open Letter to Mark E. Kelly
Dear Mark,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Gabrielle. After learning some of what her surgeon had to say about her condition, I felt drawn to suggest a resource that helped me support my mother through brain surgery in 1995.
In April of 1995, my mother, now 96, underwent brain surgery for two subdural hematomas. These blood clots--caused by am old accident and a recent blow to the head--grew to the point that her brain was being compressed. She was on Coumadin and the surgeons had to wait until her blood could clot.
They shaved her head, pulled her scalp forward, and drilled four holes in her head--trepanning, surgery found in the skulls of cavemen. One hole allowed the air to come in and the other allowed the blood to flow out. They had to have two pairs of holes, one for each clot.
She almost died before they started surgery. Her body functions were starting to fail. The surgery was successful and she was alert and speaking well immediately after the surgery. Then her brain, which had been compressed, had to swell to return to normal size. It took several weeks to recover--which she did successfully. A book written by Glen Doman--in particular the Doman-Delacro Developmental Profile in the book--really helped me as I went through her recovery with her. The book is What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child and is available from Amazon.com. (I ordered two updated and revised copies tonight so that I can send one to you.)
I will look for an older copy of the book so that I can scan the chart and email it to you immediately. (I found the chart and copyright restrictions keep me from sending you a copy. It will be better seen in the book so that you can have the context of the chart.)
The book more accurately described the stages of brain growth, healing, and repair than the neurosurgeons did who performed the successful surgery.
This information may help both you and Gabrielle to understand her healing process better.
God bless you both and all concerned with her healing process.
I am posting this email to my blog and sending you the link in care of Diane Sawyer at ABC News because I believe she can forward it to you. Let me know where to send your copy of Glen Doman's book.
Sincerely,
Joel Montgomery
Dear Mark,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Gabrielle. After learning some of what her surgeon had to say about her condition, I felt drawn to suggest a resource that helped me support my mother through brain surgery in 1995.
In April of 1995, my mother, now 96, underwent brain surgery for two subdural hematomas. These blood clots--caused by am old accident and a recent blow to the head--grew to the point that her brain was being compressed. She was on Coumadin and the surgeons had to wait until her blood could clot.
They shaved her head, pulled her scalp forward, and drilled four holes in her head--trepanning, surgery found in the skulls of cavemen. One hole allowed the air to come in and the other allowed the blood to flow out. They had to have two pairs of holes, one for each clot.
She almost died before they started surgery. Her body functions were starting to fail. The surgery was successful and she was alert and speaking well immediately after the surgery. Then her brain, which had been compressed, had to swell to return to normal size. It took several weeks to recover--which she did successfully. A book written by Glen Doman--in particular the Doman-Delacro Developmental Profile in the book--really helped me as I went through her recovery with her. The book is What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child and is available from Amazon.com. (I ordered two updated and revised copies tonight so that I can send one to you.)
I will look for an older copy of the book so that I can scan the chart and email it to you immediately. (I found the chart and copyright restrictions keep me from sending you a copy. It will be better seen in the book so that you can have the context of the chart.)
The book more accurately described the stages of brain growth, healing, and repair than the neurosurgeons did who performed the successful surgery.
This information may help both you and Gabrielle to understand her healing process better.
God bless you both and all concerned with her healing process.
I am posting this email to my blog and sending you the link in care of Diane Sawyer at ABC News because I believe she can forward it to you. Let me know where to send your copy of Glen Doman's book.
Sincerely,
Joel Montgomery
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Census Daze--Almost Gone
Census Daze--it's certainly occupied my summer. It's coming to an end and my life (and blog) are beginning to return.
Census 2010 has been a long and involved process. From the inside the beginning and the (near) ending have much in common.
Hopefully the Census will have sufficient data for the next 10 years to do effective planning for Medicare, schools, roads, members of Congress, etc.
The U.S. Constitution requires a Census every ten years. The questions asked on the Census are approved by congress and become the "as approved by law" part of the Constitution.
Census workers agree not to divulge information they gathered while working for the Census. This is why you won't see many blog posts with lots of detail.
I'm already thinking of other areas--Flu Vaccine for 2010 (I had mine on August 10th at a local Walgreens), for example.
More soon.
Census 2010 has been a long and involved process. From the inside the beginning and the (near) ending have much in common.
Hopefully the Census will have sufficient data for the next 10 years to do effective planning for Medicare, schools, roads, members of Congress, etc.
The U.S. Constitution requires a Census every ten years. The questions asked on the Census are approved by congress and become the "as approved by law" part of the Constitution.
Census workers agree not to divulge information they gathered while working for the Census. This is why you won't see many blog posts with lots of detail.
I'm already thinking of other areas--Flu Vaccine for 2010 (I had mine on August 10th at a local Walgreens), for example.
More soon.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Census Daze
It's been many days since my last posting. Blame it on "Census Daze." I'm working with the Census 2010 in a variety of ways and am learning lots and lots about the census.
I've shared some about it on this blog. Details of the census are protected by a lifetime privacy agreement I committed to when becoming a census employee.
Here I can say that the No Response Follow-Up phase of the census (the most traditional phase with people with questionnaires showing up at a home) is a 24/7 operation. "Door-knocking" is usually from 8AM to 8PM and the rest is processing of the information gathered by the enumerators ("door knockers", census takers).
I've met lots of people from all walks of life, ethnic groups, and education levels both in the ranks of census workers and at the homes whose doors I have knocked on.
The process is rooted in the U.S. Constitution--where the job of Enumerator is listed along with President and Vice-President. Congress was involved in accepting the questions being asked by the census.
I'm bringing to bear many of the business skills I use in my consulting and teaching practice in the day-to-day-operations of my work with the Census and, while it is a temporary job with a modest pay scale, the work is helping me pay my bills while the work I do helps the government have the information to make informed decisions about how to distribute tax monies for the next ten years.
All in all it's very good experience. Sometimes my hours are strange and I haven't had the extra energy for this blog for a while. More later.
Back to Census Daze.
I've shared some about it on this blog. Details of the census are protected by a lifetime privacy agreement I committed to when becoming a census employee.
Here I can say that the No Response Follow-Up phase of the census (the most traditional phase with people with questionnaires showing up at a home) is a 24/7 operation. "Door-knocking" is usually from 8AM to 8PM and the rest is processing of the information gathered by the enumerators ("door knockers", census takers).
I've met lots of people from all walks of life, ethnic groups, and education levels both in the ranks of census workers and at the homes whose doors I have knocked on.
The process is rooted in the U.S. Constitution--where the job of Enumerator is listed along with President and Vice-President. Congress was involved in accepting the questions being asked by the census.
I'm bringing to bear many of the business skills I use in my consulting and teaching practice in the day-to-day-operations of my work with the Census and, while it is a temporary job with a modest pay scale, the work is helping me pay my bills while the work I do helps the government have the information to make informed decisions about how to distribute tax monies for the next ten years.
All in all it's very good experience. Sometimes my hours are strange and I haven't had the extra energy for this blog for a while. More later.
Back to Census Daze.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Census 2010--Revisited--Negative Impact from Not Completing a Questionnaire
Households who do not complete a Census 2010 Questionnaire--either on their own or with the aid of an enumerator (census taker) cost their state approximately $19,400 in revenues for roads, education, etc. Hispanic families who do not complete a questionnaire will not be counted in terms of providing adequate education resources for Spanish-speaking students and families. This year's questionnaire focuses especially on the Hispanic heritage of respondents, asking from which areas did the people come in the Spanish-speaking world.
This information, especially tied to individuals, is confidential and will not be shared for 72 years. Some individuals may choose to respond to the questionnaire without providing full names. That's fine for the census.
Identifying personal information will be stripped from the data to be compiled for statistical purposes. Those statistics influence lots of funding decisions regarding the distribution of federal taxes as well as representation in the House of Representatives.
Not completing a questionnaire can have a significant negative impact on all of these areas. Work with enumerators to complete your questionnaire.
This information, especially tied to individuals, is confidential and will not be shared for 72 years. Some individuals may choose to respond to the questionnaire without providing full names. That's fine for the census.
Identifying personal information will be stripped from the data to be compiled for statistical purposes. Those statistics influence lots of funding decisions regarding the distribution of federal taxes as well as representation in the House of Representatives.
Not completing a questionnaire can have a significant negative impact on all of these areas. Work with enumerators to complete your questionnaire.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
How to Help a Census 2010 Enumerator
Enumerators started knocking on doors on Saturday, May 1, 2010, in the No Response Follow-Up (NRFU) phase of Census 2010. Their job is to help households get their information to the Census Bureau so that their information can be added to the statistics needed to meet the requirements established by the U.S. Constitution.
Personal data collected during the census is stripped from the data added to the statistics and held confidential for 72 years. Information released to the Census Bureau is not shared with any other governmental agencies.
Households who have completed one of the questionnaires mailed to them by the Census Bureau and who have not mailed them yet can hand them to the enumerator when he or she calls. That will speed the process and reduce the time the enumerator needs to take with the family.
The Census Bureau does not have names of people living at residences. Questionnaires were mailed to "residents." People who do not want to share their names can share other information and their names will not be collected. If you are a neighbor and know that a house near you was vacant on April 1, 2010 (Census Day), please tell the enumerator in your neighborhood so that time will not be lost waiting for someone to respond from an empty house.
In some neighborhoods, 80% of the residents have responded by mail. This probably means that the balance of households are either vacant or did not understand English. (The questions are available in 18 languages.)
After an in-person visit to each home that needs a questionnaire follow-up, telephone interviews work to gather the information required. While visits to homes to collect the information are budgeted to cost $57 dollars, that is much more than the enumerators make. Enumerators are required to visit homes in person at least three times. The quicker the enumerator can gather the information or determine that the house is vacant, the lower the cost of the in-person enumeration.
If a home needs a language other than English, they can tell the enumerator who will make a note on the questionnaire and someone will follow-up with the appropriate language. If someone in the household (especially 15 or above) is available to translate, that works, too.
Remember, each completed questionnaire generates about $19,400 in federal funds for highways, schools, etc. within a state as well ad contributing to the number of representatives for each state in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Personal data collected during the census is stripped from the data added to the statistics and held confidential for 72 years. Information released to the Census Bureau is not shared with any other governmental agencies.
Households who have completed one of the questionnaires mailed to them by the Census Bureau and who have not mailed them yet can hand them to the enumerator when he or she calls. That will speed the process and reduce the time the enumerator needs to take with the family.
The Census Bureau does not have names of people living at residences. Questionnaires were mailed to "residents." People who do not want to share their names can share other information and their names will not be collected. If you are a neighbor and know that a house near you was vacant on April 1, 2010 (Census Day), please tell the enumerator in your neighborhood so that time will not be lost waiting for someone to respond from an empty house.
In some neighborhoods, 80% of the residents have responded by mail. This probably means that the balance of households are either vacant or did not understand English. (The questions are available in 18 languages.)
After an in-person visit to each home that needs a questionnaire follow-up, telephone interviews work to gather the information required. While visits to homes to collect the information are budgeted to cost $57 dollars, that is much more than the enumerators make. Enumerators are required to visit homes in person at least three times. The quicker the enumerator can gather the information or determine that the house is vacant, the lower the cost of the in-person enumeration.
If a home needs a language other than English, they can tell the enumerator who will make a note on the questionnaire and someone will follow-up with the appropriate language. If someone in the household (especially 15 or above) is available to translate, that works, too.
Remember, each completed questionnaire generates about $19,400 in federal funds for highways, schools, etc. within a state as well ad contributing to the number of representatives for each state in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Elder Abuse--Similar to Day Care Abuse of Young Children
My 95-year-old mother may have been the victim of a type of elder abuse where she lives. She reported that a person came into her room and said, "You're old enough. Why don't you die?" Mom felt threatened and kept replaying the one-sided conversation over and over in her mind.
She called for help and, by the time people arrived to help, there was no evidence that anyone had been involved in abuse. Because Mom does have short-term memory problems, it is easy for someone to record the incident as "senile dementia" or "confusion."
While Mom can get confused and forget things, especially when she's tired, she has reported similar incidents to me at least three or four times over the last few months. She does react by becoming nervous and upset.
When this happens in day care for young children, parents often set-up a hidden camera and microphone to see what's really going on. That will probably be my next step in finding out what's happening to Mom.
She called for help and, by the time people arrived to help, there was no evidence that anyone had been involved in abuse. Because Mom does have short-term memory problems, it is easy for someone to record the incident as "senile dementia" or "confusion."
While Mom can get confused and forget things, especially when she's tired, she has reported similar incidents to me at least three or four times over the last few months. She does react by becoming nervous and upset.
When this happens in day care for young children, parents often set-up a hidden camera and microphone to see what's really going on. That will probably be my next step in finding out what's happening to Mom.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Avatar movie, Amazon.com, Audible.com
Amazon.com and Audible.com offer access to latest books and movies, for example, the Avatar
movie. In publishing, I need to include Amazon on my list of locations to distribute my book.
movie. In publishing, I need to include Amazon on my list of locations to distribute my book.
Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
The explosion of the oil platform leased by British Petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico and the resultant oil spill of 5,000 barrels of oil per day will soon exceed the environmental damage caused by the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska, March 24, 1989. The recent oil spill is a significant environmental disaster. With the changes taking place on planet Earth, more man-made environmental disasters are one more element we don't need.
President Barack Obama has cleared the way for more access to oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico while, at the same time, authorizing more research into alternative sources of energy. We may have the technology to drill for oil, though not sufficient technology to control unexpected consequences of the process.
The economic impact of the newest oil spill on the economy of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas has not even begun to make itself felt. Worst of all, the oil spill continues to grow and to spread.
We need to keep focused on measures we can take to make a smaller, less negative, environmental "footprint" (impact) on our planet. I love the Gulf beaches in Florida and will hate to see them looking like the tar sand beaches in California and Canada.
President Barack Obama has cleared the way for more access to oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico while, at the same time, authorizing more research into alternative sources of energy. We may have the technology to drill for oil, though not sufficient technology to control unexpected consequences of the process.
The economic impact of the newest oil spill on the economy of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas has not even begun to make itself felt. Worst of all, the oil spill continues to grow and to spread.
We need to keep focused on measures we can take to make a smaller, less negative, environmental "footprint" (impact) on our planet. I love the Gulf beaches in Florida and will hate to see them looking like the tar sand beaches in California and Canada.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Responding to Census 2010
On Saturday, May 1, 2010 enumerators (census takers) will start visiting households from whom the Census 2010questionnaire has not yet been received by the Census Department.
In the creation of the US Constitution, Congress stated that, beginning in 1790 and every tens years thereafter a Census would be held in the United States. "Enumerators" would count the people living in the USA and representation in the House of Representatives as well as the division of tax monies collected from the states would be based on each 10-year census. The 2010 Census is the 23rd Census conducted in the USA. Each Census will cover items "determined by law." This year part of the focus of the Census is on Hispanic heritage.
In recent ABC 7 Chicago morning news program, an official from the Census Bureau reported that each questionnaire returned to the Census Bureau generates $19,400 in monies for the state--for roads, schools, health facilities, and more.
It cost $.42 to send a questionnaire to a household. For an enumerator to go to the home to conduct or collect the survey, the cost jumps to $57.00 per questionnaire (per visit to the home).
Confidentiality of Census data--United States laws (Title 13) cover information gathered during the Census. The Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau are not allowed to share personal information with any other governmental or nongovernmental department or agency. The Census Bureau summarizes the data into statistical reports after stripping off the personal information originally collected as part of the Census process.
When an enumerator comes to someone's door, it is making an extra effort to be sure that that household's information can be shared for the $19,400 that will be going to the state over the next 10 years. The service is available in 18 languages, though the person coming to the door may be monolingual.
If any questions are asked that a respondent does not want to answer, those can be skipped. It is important to collect as much of the targeted information as accurately as possible.
See previous posts about Census 2010.
In the creation of the US Constitution, Congress stated that, beginning in 1790 and every tens years thereafter a Census would be held in the United States. "Enumerators" would count the people living in the USA and representation in the House of Representatives as well as the division of tax monies collected from the states would be based on each 10-year census. The 2010 Census is the 23rd Census conducted in the USA. Each Census will cover items "determined by law." This year part of the focus of the Census is on Hispanic heritage.
In recent ABC 7 Chicago morning news program, an official from the Census Bureau reported that each questionnaire returned to the Census Bureau generates $19,400 in monies for the state--for roads, schools, health facilities, and more.
It cost $.42 to send a questionnaire to a household. For an enumerator to go to the home to conduct or collect the survey, the cost jumps to $57.00 per questionnaire (per visit to the home).
Confidentiality of Census data--United States laws (Title 13) cover information gathered during the Census. The Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau are not allowed to share personal information with any other governmental or nongovernmental department or agency. The Census Bureau summarizes the data into statistical reports after stripping off the personal information originally collected as part of the Census process.
When an enumerator comes to someone's door, it is making an extra effort to be sure that that household's information can be shared for the $19,400 that will be going to the state over the next 10 years. The service is available in 18 languages, though the person coming to the door may be monolingual.
If any questions are asked that a respondent does not want to answer, those can be skipped. It is important to collect as much of the targeted information as accurately as possible.
See previous posts about Census 2010.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Avatar Movie and Star Wars Movie--Following Inspiration
A few days ago a ninth-grade student in English class was watching the Star Wars
movie for the first time. The Avatar movie was just released last Friday. James Cameron, director of the Avatar movie, said that the Star Wars movie, written and directed by George Lucas, movie was an inspiration for the development of Avatar.
Were I a full-time English teacher this year, I would probably assign an extra-credit project to view both Star Wars and Avatar and to track evidence of Star Wars inspiration in the Avatar movie.
movie for the first time. The Avatar movie was just released last Friday. James Cameron, director of the Avatar movie, said that the Star Wars movie, written and directed by George Lucas, movie was an inspiration for the development of Avatar.Were I a full-time English teacher this year, I would probably assign an extra-credit project to view both Star Wars and Avatar and to track evidence of Star Wars inspiration in the Avatar movie.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Best Practice Exchange Facilitation for Continuous Care Retirement Communities
In previous posts, I have described Continuous Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Recently I began exploring two CCRCs which are owned by the same non-profit organization. My parents began living in one of them in 1992 and the second one is located nearer my home.
I had a tour of the Assisted Living facilities of the second CCRC--my Mom lives in the Assisted Living facilities of the first CCRC. Both CCRCs have some best practices that are worth sharing as well as some areas for improvement.
As an organizational change consultant for more than 30 years, I would like to offer my services to these CCRCs as a facilitator for Best Practice Exchange. Because my mother lives in one of the facilities, I would be happy to provide these services in exchange for credit for Mom's expenses at the facility.
I have not yet made a proposal to the CCRCs or their parent organization and I can see the value such a program could have on the two CCRCs I am familiar with and the potential value the program could have for the other CCRCs owned by the same parent organization.
Perhaps I can get someone to view my digital portfolio and to check-out my profile and services so that they can see that I am serious about these ideas.
I had a tour of the Assisted Living facilities of the second CCRC--my Mom lives in the Assisted Living facilities of the first CCRC. Both CCRCs have some best practices that are worth sharing as well as some areas for improvement.
As an organizational change consultant for more than 30 years, I would like to offer my services to these CCRCs as a facilitator for Best Practice Exchange. Because my mother lives in one of the facilities, I would be happy to provide these services in exchange for credit for Mom's expenses at the facility.
I have not yet made a proposal to the CCRCs or their parent organization and I can see the value such a program could have on the two CCRCs I am familiar with and the potential value the program could have for the other CCRCs owned by the same parent organization.
Perhaps I can get someone to view my digital portfolio and to check-out my profile and services so that they can see that I am serious about these ideas.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Using Visuals to Teach Direct and Indirect Objects in English Classrooms
I was a substitute today in a ninth-grade English classroom. The students were reviewing direct and indirect objects. While their textbooks had good examples and practice sentences, I found the need to create a visual that could communicate the basic ideas clearly and quickly, with graphic reinforcement of a simple English sentence. I created a graphic and shared it with the afternoon classes.
This helped several of the students master the basic concepts quickly. Those that were still challenged by the concept do not seem to have paid much attention to the graphic example.
Pictures and graphics are frequently great ways to anchor concepts in English and especially for non-native English speakers (English language learners). Students in the classroom where I was a substitute today already speak English and the graphics help them as well.
This helped several of the students master the basic concepts quickly. Those that were still challenged by the concept do not seem to have paid much attention to the graphic example.
Pictures and graphics are frequently great ways to anchor concepts in English and especially for non-native English speakers (English language learners). Students in the classroom where I was a substitute today already speak English and the graphics help them as well.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
What to Change? What to Change Into? How Do We Decide?--Proactive vs Reactive Change
Organizations are faced with important decisions. What needs to be changed? What do we need to change into? How do we decide about the change?
There are many processes involved with change. I have developed some tools that can help organizations explore the answers to these questions. They are available for purchase on eBay. The first is the Business Snapshot and the second is the Business Improvement Survey. (Find them both--including links for eBay searches--on the Services page for DrM-Resources.)
How do we decide about the change? Shared vision is important. If people and organizations do not move through the trust-building steps required to come to a shared vision (slide 11), planned change will be hard (if not impossible) to implement. When more than one person is involved, people need to move through the Organizational Change Curve (slide 9).
While these tools and concepts can help organizations facilitate change, the basic ideas raised initially need to be dealt with and a shared vision formed about the change for planned change to make progress. We can sometimes see change happening around us and react to it--positively, negatively, or neutrally. It is usually more effective to be proactive about change and to develop a plan to make the continuous process improvements needed to make organizations more effective.
There are many processes involved with change. I have developed some tools that can help organizations explore the answers to these questions. They are available for purchase on eBay. The first is the Business Snapshot and the second is the Business Improvement Survey. (Find them both--including links for eBay searches--on the Services page for DrM-Resources.)
How do we decide about the change? Shared vision is important. If people and organizations do not move through the trust-building steps required to come to a shared vision (slide 11), planned change will be hard (if not impossible) to implement. When more than one person is involved, people need to move through the Organizational Change Curve (slide 9).
While these tools and concepts can help organizations facilitate change, the basic ideas raised initially need to be dealt with and a shared vision formed about the change for planned change to make progress. We can sometimes see change happening around us and react to it--positively, negatively, or neutrally. It is usually more effective to be proactive about change and to develop a plan to make the continuous process improvements needed to make organizations more effective.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Who's Who and the Business of Being Recognized
Yesterday I received a call from a senior editor of Universal Who's Who, informing me that I had been selected to be featured in its upcoming publication. This is probably the sixth or seventh Who's Who publication that's contacted me and advised me that I have been selected for inclusion in their database and/or print-publication.
While I am honored at the recognition, I have found consistently that, to enjoy more recognition, I need to make some kind of investment in the publication--for materials they offer celebrating this recognition, for print copies of the publication, etc. As I look at my bookshelf, I see my copies of the 2003 edition of the Marquis Who's Who in America
.
Over the years I have learned to offer my input as long as there is no dollar investment. I've leaned to do that after investing several hundred dollars in various Who's Who publications. It's nice to be recognized, though, to date, I am not aware of any new business generated by being recognized in these publications.
One of my grandfathers was a minister recognized on a Who's Who publication of his time. I'm glad I'm carrying on the tradition, though I've now forgotten how many Who's Who publications I'm listed in--or, indeed, if they continue to remember me after my money stops going to them.
Being recognized is nice, though, as a business, it leaves something to be desired by the people being recognized.
While I am honored at the recognition, I have found consistently that, to enjoy more recognition, I need to make some kind of investment in the publication--for materials they offer celebrating this recognition, for print copies of the publication, etc. As I look at my bookshelf, I see my copies of the 2003 edition of the Marquis Who's Who in America
.Over the years I have learned to offer my input as long as there is no dollar investment. I've leaned to do that after investing several hundred dollars in various Who's Who publications. It's nice to be recognized, though, to date, I am not aware of any new business generated by being recognized in these publications.
One of my grandfathers was a minister recognized on a Who's Who publication of his time. I'm glad I'm carrying on the tradition, though I've now forgotten how many Who's Who publications I'm listed in--or, indeed, if they continue to remember me after my money stops going to them.
Being recognized is nice, though, as a business, it leaves something to be desired by the people being recognized.
Night Shift--Revisited--Experience Confirmed
Post for April 23, 2010
I received a call from the U.S. Census Bureau office in Elgin, IL, late in the afternoon of April 22, 2010, inviting me to help assemble materials for training scheduled next week for enumerators participating in the No Response Follow Up (NRFU) phase of Census 2010.
They needed help from Midnight to 8:30AM (an 8-hour shift with a mandatory 30-minute lunch) on Friday, April 23, 2010. I have had lots of experience with 24-hour shift work and working the night shift. From that experience, I know that it is not my best time to work. At the same time, as a professional trainer, I know how time-consuming it is to prepare training materials and how important it is to have the materials ready in time for the training. I agreed to come in at Midnight and arrived at the office in Elgin at midnight Friday morning (12:00AM).
Several members of the team I worked with during the Group Quarter Enumeration phase of Census 2010 had also volunteered to work the night shift. Some were working on computers, printing the final materials for the training binders. Others of us were working to assemble the map packets which will be provided to enumerators.
These map packets are divided into geographic areas assigned to Crew Leader Districts within a state and county area and are intended to allow enumerators to find the exact location of the places they are scheduled to visit. All of the details are confidential and there are lots and lots of Crew Leader Districts and maps to assemble. (A good GPS system will be lots more helpful than these maps, for enumerators who have the "high tech" capability.)
We worked throughout the night on assembling the map packets needed for the training and for the next phase of Census 2010. We took our mandatory lunch break at 4:00AM and went to a nearby Burger King with 24-hour drive-through Thursday through Saturday.
While the work was productive and I made a contribution to preparing the training materials for next week, I declined the invitation to come back from Midnight to 8:30AM on Saturday, April 24th. I knew that two days in a row of the night shift could have a significant impact on my health and readiness to do productive work during the day.
When I returned home about 9:30AM on April 23rd, I attempted to go to sleep. I used a blind fold (left over from air travel) to make the room dark. While I rested, I did not sleep well. I also didn't have the energy to get up and do my normal routines. I went to bed at my normal time Friday night and woke-up at a normal time on Saturday, April 24th. While I still fill a little "draggy," I am almost back to normal.
My experience of the night shift confirms my feelings posted earlier. While people can be productive on this shift and while certain jobs or situations may require the night shift from time to time, it is very hard to accommodate these hours in a "normal" sleep schedule. It also takes some time to recover from taking the time to work a night shift.
I received a call from the U.S. Census Bureau office in Elgin, IL, late in the afternoon of April 22, 2010, inviting me to help assemble materials for training scheduled next week for enumerators participating in the No Response Follow Up (NRFU) phase of Census 2010.
They needed help from Midnight to 8:30AM (an 8-hour shift with a mandatory 30-minute lunch) on Friday, April 23, 2010. I have had lots of experience with 24-hour shift work and working the night shift. From that experience, I know that it is not my best time to work. At the same time, as a professional trainer, I know how time-consuming it is to prepare training materials and how important it is to have the materials ready in time for the training. I agreed to come in at Midnight and arrived at the office in Elgin at midnight Friday morning (12:00AM).
Several members of the team I worked with during the Group Quarter Enumeration phase of Census 2010 had also volunteered to work the night shift. Some were working on computers, printing the final materials for the training binders. Others of us were working to assemble the map packets which will be provided to enumerators.
These map packets are divided into geographic areas assigned to Crew Leader Districts within a state and county area and are intended to allow enumerators to find the exact location of the places they are scheduled to visit. All of the details are confidential and there are lots and lots of Crew Leader Districts and maps to assemble. (A good GPS system will be lots more helpful than these maps, for enumerators who have the "high tech" capability.)
We worked throughout the night on assembling the map packets needed for the training and for the next phase of Census 2010. We took our mandatory lunch break at 4:00AM and went to a nearby Burger King with 24-hour drive-through Thursday through Saturday.
While the work was productive and I made a contribution to preparing the training materials for next week, I declined the invitation to come back from Midnight to 8:30AM on Saturday, April 24th. I knew that two days in a row of the night shift could have a significant impact on my health and readiness to do productive work during the day.
When I returned home about 9:30AM on April 23rd, I attempted to go to sleep. I used a blind fold (left over from air travel) to make the room dark. While I rested, I did not sleep well. I also didn't have the energy to get up and do my normal routines. I went to bed at my normal time Friday night and woke-up at a normal time on Saturday, April 24th. While I still fill a little "draggy," I am almost back to normal.
My experience of the night shift confirms my feelings posted earlier. While people can be productive on this shift and while certain jobs or situations may require the night shift from time to time, it is very hard to accommodate these hours in a "normal" sleep schedule. It also takes some time to recover from taking the time to work a night shift.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day 2010--April 22, 2010
April 22, 2010 is Earth Day 2010. Disney has timed its release of the Oceans movie in theaters for this date and the Avatar movie is released in DVD and Blue Ray as of today.
The earth is experiencing lots of changes at its depths, on its surface, and in its atmosphere. We hear of earthquakes and volcanoes, global climate change, holes in the ozone layer, and much more.
Yesterday someone I know mentioned a belief from a previous generation that traveling outside of the earth's atmosphere--to the moon--would cause problems on the planet.
While I don't see the cause and effect relationship of our moon walk to current earth changes, it is a good time for many of the people on this planet to hold a focus for healing the planet. I don't know what the healing would look like--I leave that to Spirit. I do believe that we can hold a focus (or put out a prayer) for healing of our planet and everything connected with it as a contribution for Earth Day and beyond.
The images of our "blue marble" planet sent from space are beautiful. With all that beauty it is amazing to be aware of the conflict and crime and pollution that are still taking place here. Earth Day is traditionally (since 1970) a time to focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to preserve our planet. We may also want to be doing that within our own thought systems.
as of today.The earth is experiencing lots of changes at its depths, on its surface, and in its atmosphere. We hear of earthquakes and volcanoes, global climate change, holes in the ozone layer, and much more.
Yesterday someone I know mentioned a belief from a previous generation that traveling outside of the earth's atmosphere--to the moon--would cause problems on the planet.
While I don't see the cause and effect relationship of our moon walk to current earth changes, it is a good time for many of the people on this planet to hold a focus for healing the planet. I don't know what the healing would look like--I leave that to Spirit. I do believe that we can hold a focus (or put out a prayer) for healing of our planet and everything connected with it as a contribution for Earth Day and beyond.
The images of our "blue marble" planet sent from space are beautiful. With all that beauty it is amazing to be aware of the conflict and crime and pollution that are still taking place here. Earth Day is traditionally (since 1970) a time to focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to preserve our planet. We may also want to be doing that within our own thought systems.
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