CDHRA JULY 2005 Newsletter
Happy Birthday America! “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

CDHRA News
SHRM Online - Highlights
SHRM Interactive - Webcast Series
On the Web - HR News
Growing Your Nest Egg
How Much Are You Worth?
Working Up A Sweat
Financial Failures
Kids Need Online Safety Rules
Keep Safe and Secure on Vacation This Summer
Facing a Challenge?
Fireworks on the 4th
DANGER! Lightning Storm
What's Your Risk of Heart Attack?
We Can! - Ways to Enhance Children's Activities and Nutrition
Constructive Conflict
Clear Communication
Time Flies

CDHRA News.

CDHRA Member Profiles
Stephen Braus has been the Parish Administrator for St. Mary’s Parish in Bismarck since 1991. Steve’s key duties include human resources, finance, and plant management. Previous to that Steve was Parish Administrator and Director of Sacramental Programs at St. Joseph’s Church. Steve holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Math/Chemistry and Secondary Education from Dickinson State University. He secured a Master of Science in Secondary Education Administration from Northern State University and a Master of Science in Management, Human Resources concentration, from the University of Mary. Steve enjoys reading theology, bike riding, and roller balding. His first paying job was carrying-out groceries. The best advice he ever received was to, “Be true to yourself.” Three words that describe Steve are dedicated, dependable, and likable. The accomplishment he is most proud of is developing an excellent staff for St. Mary’s with very little to offer for compensation. Please welcome Steve to CDHRA and a big thank you to Bob Evans and Chuck Klein for his referral!
Joe Kary is the Human Resource Coordinator for Pride. Joe has been with Pride since 1982 and previously had been a residential assistant, case manager, and responsible for the training, quality assurance, and accreditation programs. Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work/Business from the University of Mary. His hobbies and interests include ranch work, going to auction sales, and spending time with his grandchildren and other relatives. Joe’s’ first paying job was as a clerk specialist for the U.S. Army and the best advice he ever received was, “Finish what you start.” Three words that describe Joe are responsible, helpful, and caring. The accomplishment he is most proud of is going back to finish college after 21 years. Please welcome Joe to CDHRA and a big thank you to Jan Rogneby for his referral!
Cheryl Froelich is an Organization Development Specialist for WBI Holdings, Inc. Prior to that Cheryl was director of Professional Relations at SCCI Hospital in Mandan. Cheryl has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Mary. Her hobbies and interests include walking, volleyball, gardening, scrap booking, and spending time with her family. Cheryl’s first paying job was as a Little League softball coach. The best advice she received was, “Make the most of every opportunity. And sometimes the things we want the most we don’t get because there’s something better ahead.” Three words that describe Cheryl are organized, diplomatic, and optimistic. The accomplishments she is most proud of are having a beautiful family and a rewarding job Please help welcome Cheryl to CDHRA and a big thank you to Laurie Kadrmas and Stacy Fischer for her referral!
Holly Jundt is Controller for Stan Puklich Chevrolet. Her duties include all accounting, payroll, and human resource functions for Stan Puklich. Prior, Holly was Controller and Office Manager for Farm and Ranch Guide. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. Please welcome Holly and a big thank you to Paula Graner for her referral!

 

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SHRM Online Highlights.

For the latest HR information, resources and reference material, visit www.shrm.org.
NOTE: SHRM membership may be a requirement for access to these articles.

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SHRM Interactive.

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On the Web.

For more news and updates on these and other stories, see the online version of HR News visit www.shrm.org/hrnews.

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Growing Your Nest Egg. How to build a secure financial future.

Creating more wealth for your family takes dedication and lots of homework. Begin by figuring out what type of investor you are.

A conservative or low-risk investor identifies with statements like these:

• I don’t want to risk any of my principal.
• I want a guaranteed rate of interest on my investment.
• I am near retirement.

A moderate or medium-risk investor identifies with statements like these:

• I can live with some ups and downs.
• I would like a combination of high- and low-risk investments.
• I have some time for my money to grow.

An aggressive or high-risk investor identifies with statements like these:

• I have an iron stomach and can handle market swings.
• I want the highest possible long-term rate of return, even if I risk losing short-term principal.
• I have at least 10 to 15 years for my investments to grow.

What Should Be in Your Portfolio?

Financial experts agree that it’s best to diversify your portfolio by including:

• Individual stocks (moderate to high risk depending on company)
• Mutual funds (moderate to high risk)
• Money market accounts (low risk, but also low rate of return)
• Certificates of deposit, savings bonds, and Treasury bills (low risk, but also low return)
• Bond funds (safer than stocks, but sensitive to interest rate fluctuations)
• Balanced funds, a blend of stocks and bonds (lower risk than stocks alone, but also lower rate of return)
• Stock index funds, which attempt to mirror performance of stock market indexes (moderate risk)
• Growth and income funds, which include companies that have a solid record of paying dividends (moderate risk)

Choose investments based on your age, the type of investor you are, and your personal and family needs. Check out your choices and monitor them diligently.

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How Much Are You Worth?

Figure out your net worth by balancing your assets against your liabilities — in other words, what you own minus what you owe. By calculating your net worth today, you can develop plans to build a secure future.

First, consider your assets, or what you own. For example, the current value of:

• Your home
• Home furnishings, such as appliances and electronic equipment
• Other real estate you own
• Jewelry, valuable artwork, etc.
• Your vehicles
• Boats, recreational vehicles, etc.
• Retirement funds, such as 401(k)s or IRAs
• Savings, such as bank accounts, money markets, certificates of deposit, savings bonds, etc.
• Investments, such as stocks
• Insurance policies (cash value)

Next, look at your liabilities, or what you owe. For example, the current debt on:

• Mortgage
• Car loans
• Bank loans, such as home equity loans or educational loans
• Personal loans, such as money owed to family or friends
• Credit card debt
• Other debts, such as installment payments owed to doctors, dentists, etc.

Finally, subtract liabilities from assets, which yields your total current net worth. It’s a good idea to determine net worth every few years to make sure that your financial goals are on track and that you are working steadily toward a secure financial future.

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Working Up a Sweat? Drink plenty — and often — in the heat.

With temperatures climbing and the hottest days of the summer yet to come, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of drinking extra fluids every day, and drinking often during the day, advises the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Because you sweat more in the hot weather, you require extra fluid intake so that your body’s own thermo regulation system can keep you cool. When the body becomes overheated, there is an increased demand for blood from the brain, skin, and muscles. Without enough fluid, dehydration occurs, along with the risk of potentially serious conditions such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

The Academy says most people do not realize how much fluid is necessary when working hard or exercising in the heat — either indoors or outdoors. With strenuous activity, you could require at least 3 to 4 quarts of water per day! That’s up to a gallon (16 eight-ounce glasses) of fluid. And because the body absorbs fluids best in small amounts, it’s better to drink often, rather than waiting until you get really thirsty and drinking a whole quart of fluid at once.

Thirst is actually the first sign of dehydration. So by the time you’re thirsty, you are already low on fluids. Drink plenty and often to stay healthy in the summer heat.

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Financial Failures. Seven financial planning mistakes.

1. Not setting financial goals. Goals should be in writing, agreed upon by both spouses, and revised over the years as circumstances change.
2. Not creating a family budget. If you don’t know where your money is going, you can’t begin to accumulate wealth and create a secure financial future.
3. Not having an emergency fund. Keep at least 6 months’ worth of family expenses in the bank.
4. Not taking full advantage of employee benefits. Put the most you can into employer savings plans and retirement funds such as 401(k) plans.
5. Not having both spouses involved in planning. You both need to understand and agree on financial goals so that you can work together to realize them.
6. Not sufficiently diversifying investments. Putting all your (nest) eggs in one basket is a costly mistake — as many investors learned when the market fell.
7. Not having enough insurance for both spouses. If one dies, a substantial part of the family’s income is lost. Even if a stay-at-home spouse brings home no salary, replacing household and child care services is costly.

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Kids Need Online Safety Rules.

Make sure your kids are safe on the Internet by following these rules from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

• Don’t give out personal information (for example, address, phone number, name and location of school, or parents’ work address or phone number).
• Tell your parents if you see any information or receive any e-mail that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Never make a date to meet someone you chatted with online without your parents’ permission, and then meet only in a public place in the company of a parent.
• Never send a photo of yourself, your room, your family, etc., without your parents’ permission.

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Keep Safe and Secure on Vacation This Summer.

If you’re staying in a hotel or motel:

• Test your room’s smoke alarm.
• Read fire instructions posted in your room as soon as you check in.
• Find the closest fire exits, and be sure the whole family knows where they are.
• Don’t leave money or valuables in room.

If you’re renting a vacation home:

• Keep your vacation home locked when you’re out and at night.
• Review escape plans with your family in case of a fire or other emergency.
• Follow safety and security precautions that you’d take in your own home.

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Facing a Challenge? Don’t worry, you’ll manage.

Do you start to sweat or get a knot in your stomach when you’re given a tough job assignment or special project? Many people do. But the secret to success in situations like these is to remember five important points:

1. You wouldn’t have been chosen if you weren’t capable of handling the challenge. So have confidence that you are the right person for the job.
2. You can learn whatever you don’t already know by asking questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t stop asking until you have all the answers you need to understand exactly what you’re expected to do.
3. It’s OK to get help if you get stuck. Your supervisor would rather have you ask for help than make a mistake or fall behind schedule.
4. Accepting and conquering challenges is the best way to develop skills and gain experience that can lead to advancement. Taking on a challenging new job assignment or special project is a good way to get noticed — and get ahead.
5. Think about how good you’ll feel when you succeed. And how sorry you’d feel if you didn’t accept the challenge or give it your best shot.

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Fireworks on the 4th. Prevent injuries and property damage.

If you use fireworks, follow these tips from the Hanford (WA) Fire Department:

Before you light fireworks:

• Only buy legal fireworks.
• Put pets indoors (they may become frightened by the noise).
• Keep a bucket of water nearby in which to place all used fireworks.
• Have a water hose or fire extinguisher nearby to put out stray sparks.
• Clear a level area away from things that can burn.
• Teach family members to “stop, drop, and roll” if their clothes catch on fire.

When lighting fireworks:

• Have a designated adult — never a child — light all fireworks.
• Wear safety goggles.
• Light one at a time, move away, and keep away until the display is over.
• Use fireworks and sparklers only outdoors, away from anything that can burn. M Never throw fireworks or hold them after lighting—except sparklers.

After you finish:

• Clean up all debris.
• Duds can be dangerous. If a device doesn’t light or fire, an adult should wait at least 5 minutes, approach it carefully, and place it in a bucket of water.

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DANGER! Lightning Storm.

If you get caught out in a lightning storm this summer, follow these tips from the experts at the Oahu (Hawaii) Civil Defense Agency:

• Find shelter inside or in a vehicle — but not a convertible.
• If you’re outside, don’t stand under a tall, isolated tree or telephone pole.
• In an open area, seek shelter in a low place like a ravine.
• On a hilltop, get to lower ground.
• In a wooded area, seek shelter under shrubs or small trees.
• If you’re in the water, get out right away and find shelter.
• If you’re in a group in the open, such as on a golf course, spread out and stay several yards apart.
• Don’t touch metal objects, such as motorcycles, bicycles, golf carts, etc., and stay away from metal fences, pipes, stairs, rails, etc.
• If you feel your hair stand on end, lightning might be about to strike you. Drop to your knees and bend forward,
  putting your hands on your knees. Do not lie flat on the ground.

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What's Your Risk of Heart Attack?

Find out by using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Risk Assessment Tool.

You need to know your total cholesterol, your HDL cholesterol, and your systolic blood pressure (if your blood pressure is 120/80, your systolic pressure is 120).

Visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes Website for more information. [ More ]

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We Can!

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) is a national program designed as a one-stop resource for parents and caregivers interested in practical tools to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight. Tips and fun activities focus on three critical behaviors: improved food choices, increased physical activity and reduced screen time.

The program is a collaboration of four Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

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Constructive Conflict.

Whenever and wherever people work together, there will be disagreements. Conflict is a normal part of human life. People have different ideas, needs, and wants; sometimes those differences clash.

Disagreements arise within work groups or between individuals. They can be about professional issues or personal matters. They can be about trivial things, such as whose turn it is to clean the coffee pot, or about serious matters affecting work.

What’s important to recognize is that conflict does not have to be a bad thing. How so? Because conflict can promote creativity and innovation. It can also clear the air and lead to better working relationships.

The next time you have a workplace conflict, follow these suggestions:

• Acknowledge the problem right away.
• Sit down and talk. State your position calmly and objectively. Give other parties a chance to explain their position.
• Find common ground. Start with things you can agree on. If you can’t find anything, pick an area where you’re not far apart, and start there.
• Don’t insist on being right. A wise person once said, “If you think you’re right, you’re probably wrong. And if you think you’re wrong, you’re probably right.”
• Reach a mutually agreeable solution. At the least, agree to disagree and to respect each other’s views.

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Clear Communication. Five keys to getting through.

Whether you are talking to your supervisor, a co-worker, a customer, your family, or your friends, you need to be able to get your message across as well as to understand what others want and need from you. So always remember to:

1. Listen. Use positive body language to show the speaker that you are paying attention. Keep an open mind. Listen for key words and facts to help you interpret the message and the thoughts and feelings behind it.
2. Ask questions to encourage dialogue and to make sure you understand the speaker’s issues and ideas.
3. Speak with clarity. Be direct and honest.
4. Know when to stop talking. Don’t be afraid of silence. It can help both you and the other person reflect on what has been said.
5. Test for understanding. Repeatedly check to make sure that the other person has understood your message or point of view. You might say, “You know what I mean?” or “What are your thoughts about that?” Also make sure that you understand their message or point of view. Do that by paraphrasing the other person’s message. You might say, “So you think that….”

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Time Flies. Navigation tips for busy people.

American humorist Robert Orben once said, “Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.” Truer words were never spoken. How much work you get done on the job and at home every day depends on you.

Follow these navigation tips to manage your valuable time:

• Make a list and check it twice. It works for Santa, why not for you? Get control over your time by knowing what you have to do by when and prioritizing those tasks.
• Take the first step. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Take that step and get started. Proceed a step at a time in an orderly fashion until you accomplish all your top priority tasks. Then move to the second-level items.
• Use techniques that work for you. Different people use different management techniques. Use whatever method gets you going and keeps you going until the job’s done.
• Try a new approach. If the way you usually do things stops working, don’t get bogged down. Try a new way to tackle the job. Ask a co-worker or supervisor for suggestions.
• Set a time limit—and stick to it. Set a timer on your workstation. Then work to beat the clock.

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