elainec

Hi Karen. I use a lot of the same resources that have been listed. But I also look through the newspaper in entertainment sections and the what's happening now sections. and there are some small local papers call the Advertiser and the Merchandiser in lots of towns across the U.S. They tell about what's going on in those small towns. I also go to Christian book stores and they have booklets of what's going on in the area for the next several months too. I have gotten so many names of organizations or ideas through these resources. And I like to use local historical organizations. They have interesting displays and can often link me to crafters or historical actors or events. Music stores are good for linking me to musicians. And I like to look on the internet at college newspapers. They have lots of good entertainment at cheap prices. And ballet companies and ice skating clubs often put on shows at low prices and sometimes matinees, so I check in with them from time to time. Thanks, Elaine

Hi Gwendolyn. First, I would recommend going to a book store like Borders or Barnes and Noble and purchasing a book on resumes. The styles that are preferred change quite often. Find out what it preferred right now. Make sure you read the rules of a resume in the book and look on the internet for tips of writing a great resume. You need to put yourself ahead of everyone else in the pack. What will set you apart from the rest of the people? What gifts can you bring to the job that will help you stand out? Look for verbs to help you describe what you have done. You can look up "verbs to use in a resume" on the internet and they have some great suggestions. Adminstrators are looking for go getters. They want people who take initiative. Have you created something that wasn't in the program at the facility before you worked there? Have you contacted the media to do articles about the facility and its programs? Administrators are looking for creative people too. Anything creative in your background? Any creative hobbies that your have done with Residents. They also look for people who are responsible and are team players. How can you make that come through on your resume? Can you say that you collaborated with other departments to make events happen? Go to the facilities where you apply and drop them off in person. And let your personality shine through. Smile at the person you give it to. They will tell the administrator that you seemed very nice. There's a kudos to you right off the bat. And send a thank you note to the person who took the resume.That really goes over well! Good luck! Elaine

Hi Kelly, I really don't think your assistant is going to change. I went throught that same thing and my assistant would not change. In her head she knew best and there was nothing I could do to change that. And what made it worse is that she would go around saying that if she were boss she would be doing things differently. When someone is like that they are not a team player. You can not have someone on your team who is not a team player. She will undermine you every chance she can get. And she will have an excuse or something to say about it every time. I guarantee it. They are not the type of people who WANT to change. If I were you I would start documenting the things she does. And work on releasing her. I hired someone last year who said she was the right person to be an assistant. She said she loved to do crafts. She showed me a whole car trunk full of crafts that she had done. And she said she would learn to drive the facility bus. After she was hired she didn't want to do crafts or drive the bus. And she was bossy as all get out. Like you said, she was a lovely person, but the job was not for her. Those type of people end up bullying you and no boss works well with an assistant who bullys them. The only way this is going to change is if you get rid of her. It's painful, but you spend 8 plus hours a day with that and it's not worth making you spend every day wondering what she's going to do to sabatage your department that day! Remember, you are the boss. You get to call the shots and to set boundaries. Your administrator believes in you that you can stear your ship and keep it running. Don't let your assistant sink it! Good luck! Elaine

Good afternoon! That's always the issue, isn't it? Coming up with ideas on a shoestring budget! It really forces us to become even more creative! The 1980's? Wow, that brings back memories! That's when Madona's voice sounded like she was on hellium If you have access to a color computer maybe you could duplicate one side of a rubiks cube by making colored squares on the paper. Then you could print them out and paste them on boxes and make them look like a rubiks cube. Jelly bracelets were big then. Oriental Trading probably has them for almost nothing. You tie a buch of them together as garland. White and black or pink and black checked headband scarves were popular. Some place like A.C. Moore or Michaels or other craft store probably have them. Rayban sunglasses were popular. The dollar store usually has them too if you wanted to use some of them in centerpieces.You could make banners from cheap fabric and paint packman and other things on them with fabric pens and hang from the ceiling. Good luck! Elaine

Good evening. I know it can be very frustrating if you feel that an employee is sitting around with nothing to do. You might, however, have a golden opportunity right under your nose. Where are the bottlenecks in your actiivty program? I mean, what are the things that slow you down or prevent you from having a fabulous activiy program as opposed to good program? Could your evening person help to open the bottlenecks? Can she go around during that time and sign people up for a trip? It will save time for day employees. Can your employee call entertainers for you? Or perhaps do research on the internet for programs and crafts. Are there "details" like having to make copies, etc. That she could do to free up your time? Or.....could you give her more responsibility and tell her to come up with a club or two and that it is her responsibility to run it, come up with ideas, book people etc. for those clubs? She could use that time for that too. Could she run to the store and get groceries or supplies for you for activities. Could she recruit volunteers during this time? How about using the time to talk to some Residents about their satisfaction with your program so you can keep your pulse on the population of your facility? Just some thoughts. You might just have a golden opportunity-time. Good luck, Elaine

Hi Gwendolyn. I have been in Activities (Therapeutic Recreation) for thirteen years and a Supervisor for the last two years. Please feel free to contact me (Elaine) at ecampbell@willowvalley.org I'm taking MEPAP II and had to do this last semester. It would be my pleasure to help you. Elaine