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page 12 Salem Business Journal april 2008 Should We “Take our Sons & Daughters to Work?” April 24 is “Take your Child to Work Day.” This 15-year old program is, according to the founders, designed to “create an enriching educational experience for our nation’s daughters and sons.” The observance was first held in 1993 and was called Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The purpose of the observance was to expose teenage girls to career options. It has been estimated that over 25 million children have participated to date. To create equal opportunities, the day has now been expanded include sons as well as daughters. This is an annual event, on the fourth Thursday in April and every time this day rolls around, I look at my two sons (10 and 13) with anticipation and ask them if they want to miss a day of school to visit the office to see what I do all day. Their resounding Telling Your Story: “NO!” comes from children who have been exposed to my workplace more than their peers. Being a small business owner, my children have spent many an exciting weekend at the VanNatta Public Relations stuffing envelopes, emptying trash cans and cleaning the parking lot. On Saturday, when many children are stationed in front of the Nintendo®, my kids get a choice of going to the office or doing chores at home. I stand proudly in my title of the “World’s Meanest Mom.” There seems to be a societal resistance against having children work. It is my opinion that because of this, we’ve been The Language of Change By TIM BUCKLEy Change of mood. Change of mind. Change of players. The electorate this year seems bent on wholesale change. It’s not the first time such fervor has gripped the country. JFK, Jimmie Carter and Bill Clinton were swept into the White House on waves of change. After them, voters swung the compass needle right again, electing Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Bush. And Congress has weathered its own sea changes: The Great Society followed by The Contract with America and so forth. It appears that the changes we all so desperately want are more easily promised than they are delivered. As a nation, we symbolize our deep desire for change by demonstrating, contributing money and voting. But finding universal peace and security is more complex than chanting slogans and crossing your fingers at the ballot box. In most cases, families, societies and nations are organized hierarchically; that is, there are those in charge and those whose destiny is to follow. That arrangement has always left a vacuum between the promise and practice of equality. Such hierarchical structures are most often accompanied by a black and white approach to reality. Things are right or wrong. Judgment from those in authority gets us either punishment or reward. Some call this a “paternalistic” view of the world: the stern father deciding what’s best for the family. Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of Nonviolent Communication, calls these “domination” societies. He says we’ve been saddled with this model – and the predictable revolutionary reactions – for at least 10,000 years. Jalaludin Rumi, a 13th Century teacher, mystic and poet wrote this line at a time when Genghis Khan was marauding through the Middle East. He said: “There is a field, out beyond right and wrong; I’ll meet you there.” Rumi believed Continued on page 1 Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE slowly and insidiously trained a generation which feels disconnected from the concept of work or believe it is a punishment and money magically pops out of machines. A major complaint from employers is that young people are entering the workforce with an attitude of entitlement, unprepared to show up on time, meet dress codes and work full time. Congratulations, you have now graduated from high school, but are you ready to hit the streets to seek an 8-hour day? In the children’s defense, I realize that life and school isn’t what it was in the 1970’s. They appear to have more homework, more social pressure and more fears and demands than we did at the same age. Not to mention the homework. Also, if you haven’t been playing soccer since 3rd grade, you probably will have trouble making the team in high school. This compels parents to keep kids deeply involved in extracurricular activities. So, while, at 12, I was home watching Gilligan’s Island, most kids today are going to sports practice after school, leaving just enough time for dinner before scouts or music lessons Lives of our youth are more complicated than ever with family and societal strife influencing their attitudes. They have a myriad of choices pulling them in every direction. It’s an attention deficit disorder life where things change every 45 minutes. As business people, how should we approach “Take your Child to Work Day?” If you have children, your students will find a sparse classroom on that day anyway. Most parents are finding this a great opportunity to connect with their kids and remove the mystery of what happens between 8 and 5. If your workplace permits, it is valuable for children to see both the fun and challenging sides of work. Plan ahead and provide activities in which they can make a difference and really help at work (organizing bookshelves for the younger kids or making copies or filing for older ones). Take them to the employee lunchroom and share your sandwich. I encourage you to not let it end there. Whether you are part of a family business or not, we are training our kids to get out of school and find a way to make a living, aren’t we? We hope they will be able to secure and continue in an interesting job of their choosing. We want them to make their own way in the world. You don’t want them coming back to live with you at 22, do you? Keep your children engaged in opportunities to work, learn and earn, even at the earliest age. Give them the pride of purchasing their own Gameboy®, movie tickets and treats. I promise, they’ll appreciate it and perhaps be more prepared for the real thing. So, while you take your kids to work, I think I’ll send mine to school. They can work on Saturday. Mary Louise VanNatta, CAE has received her Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives. She is CEO of VanNatta Public Relations, Inc., a PR, association management, event planning and public policy consulting firm in Salem, founded in 1967. In 2007 VPR was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with a Spotlight Award for Event Planning. She can be found at PRSalem.com
april 2008 Salem Business Journal page 13 MEDia guaRD...Continued from page 1 guy and I couldn’t stand being stuck behind a desk.” Mills, who has been involved in the Salem and Keizer business community for several years, has recognized a need for small businesses. “Although advertising is one of the most important things to do for a business, I realized that I just didn’t have the time to do it properly.” Essentially taking time away from his eleven year old daughter, Reyna, at the end of the day. Mills realized that small businesses don’t just need help with their advertising, they need to save time. He was originally going to start up a business marketing, Consultancy Company, but discovered that the small business don’t have the budget for that type of service. “The majority of my services are free. It is similar to buying a cruise at a travel agency which is the same price whether you buy through the agency or direct.” Mills expressed how businesses were quite receptive to his services and he wished that they were available to him when he was running Northern Lights. Live From the Elsinore: Break Time! human Resources: Employers expect employees to put in a fair day’s work in return for their wages—at the very least. Actually, most employers admire those who exert “110%” for the good of the organization. What does this mean for the average worker? Suppose Betty is an office worker, performing general clerical duties. Her work day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Most days find her very busy at work. Sometimes she becomes so engrossed Films, Films & More Films April is the month for FILMS … and there will be lots and lots of films shown. Coming up April 18-20 the Elsinore Theatre will be a host (along with Salem Cinema and the Grand Theater) to nearly 50 films over three days at the 3rd Annual Salem Film Festival. If you enjoy seeing great films before they hit the Cineplex or seeing films that might not make it to the Cineplex then you definitely do not want to miss this Film Festival. The best way to experience a film festival is to purchase a festival pass that allows you to come and go all you want to all the films. You can also purchase a day pass to see all the films you can in that one day. Single tickets are usually available at each of the venues just prior to each screening, but you take your chances of not getting in the theatre if the film is full of pass holders. Another intriguing film will be “This is War; Memories of Iraq” on April 13. This documentary film follows the deployment of the Oregon 2/162 to Iraq and their eventual return home. This film is FREE to the public. “This is War; Memories of Iraq” premiered during the summer at the Theatre and the filmmaker wanted to bring it back for the community. The Spring Wednesday Evening Film “If you want to do advertising efficiently, you need to know the ins and outs of all the publications and media channels you’re dealing with and that all takes time.” He jokes that with his accent people thought he was saying “Media God.” “I don’t rate myself that high, but I can definitely help businesses with their advertising needs.” If you would like more informationabout Media Guard, Scott Mills can be reached at 503-881-1282 or e-mail him at scott@ media-guard.com Stephen Martin, Executive Director Series will also return. Beginning with the delightfully “scandalous,” romantic comedy, “Design For Living” on April 2nd, our spring Classic Series of seven movies is entitled “Images of Desire: Sin, Censorship, and Pre-Code Hollywood.” For nearly 35 years, until the current movie rating system replaced it in 1968, the Production Code Administration governed not only behavior on movie screens––sex, nudity, violence––but also what was permissible speech and thought. It wasn’t always so. Hollywood movies made during the few years just after sound was installed in theaters––but before the censorship Code was strictly enforced––comprise a brief, daring, celebrated period in American filmmaking. This “pre-Code period,” 1929 to 1934, when movies had just learned to talk, exhibited a lively expression of adult concerns, sensuality, and a broader comprehension of relationships and sexuality. While never explicit––certainly not by today’s standards––movies during this period were allowed a degree of frankness that was quite popular with audiences. But voices of protest demanded censorship. After 1934, the Code was strictly enforced to “family fare” standards, and movies would not be the same. Six famous pre-Code movies will be presented in their original or restored Alice Berntson, SPHR in her work that the hours fly by. It’s only her growling stomach that reminds her that maybe it’s time to stop and take a break. Her supervisor admires her dedication and determination. So what’s wrong with this picture? Betty, and thousands of workers like her, is a nonexempt employee. That means she’s subject to wage and hour laws that require specified rest and meal breaks. Almost all Oregon employees must receive rest breaks and meal periods, though specified government workers and workers exempt from minimum wage and overtime laws are excluded from the requirements for rest breaks and meal periods. Employers—supervisors and managers— are responsible for ensuring that employees take their required breaks. A rest break is required as close as possible to the middle of a work shift if an employee works any time over two hours, which is the major portion of a four-hour period. Under only limited circumstances could an employee forego these prescribed breaks. Each rest break is to be a paid 10 minute period during versions––a sampling of great films that played a part in provoking the arrival of censorship and/or were later cut––or banned outright––by the Code Administration. Additionally, we’re presenting an example of how a clever director during the Code era was able to slip forbidden subjects past the censors––Preston Sturges’ madcap screwball comedy The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek. Parallel to the Classic Series is our Silent Series of four movie evenings, beginning April 9 with Fritz Lang’s landmark thriller, “Spies.” Included are a silent-era pre-Code jewel, featuring famous lovers Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, “Flesh and the Devil”; a John Ford western, “3 Bad Men”; and a Harold Lloyd comedy, “Speedy.” The silent film presentations will feature live accompaniment by Rick Parks at the “Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.” As always there will be plenty of live performances that will round out this month at the Theatre. Visit our webpage at ww.elsinoretheatre.com for a complete listing of events. See you at the Theatre! which the employee is relieved of all duties. Employees may not choose to forego their rest breaks to have a longer lunch or leave early. A meal break period is required if the work shift is six hours or longer, and is to be timed to be taken during specified middle hours of the work shift. There are some circumstances under which employees can forego meal breaks, but generally this is not permissible. Meal break periods are unpaid, and must be at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time. If an employee performs any work duties during a specified meal break period, then the employee must be paid for the period. Breaks—rest and meal periods—can’t be deducted from the beginning or end of a work shift. In Betty’s case, her supervisor needs to make sure that Betty is taking her breaks and lunch at the appropriate times. If Betty “forgets,” her supervisor can (and should) initiate disciplinary action, because the employer is liable for a potential wage and hour claim if Betty doesn’t take the required breaks. Such wage and hour violations could result in thousands of dollars of fines, which could seriously impact an employer’s bottom line! It is important to make sure that all employees subject to the laws on breaks and meal periods take their prescribed breaks. Alice Berntson is the owner of Spectrum Human Resources consulting firm, providing clients with a full spectrum of human resources services and solutions She has more than 20 years of results-oriented experience in all areas of human resources and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources. Contact Alice at 503-428- 8633 or by email at alice@spectrum-hr.com. Visit the firm’s website at www.spectrumhr.com, for additional information.
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KATU TV-2's Melica Johnson Covers Salem - Salem Business Journal

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