Certified Trainers Blog

 Posts Tagged ‘North Dakota’

Bring on those May flowers. Gardens and fields are being plowed and planted in anticipation for the wonderful summer season that is fast approaching.  Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner; time for camping, cooking, and family gatherings.  I hope you all have a great time and be safe.

A couple of days ago, I read a wonderful article from Microsoft At Work.  The article talked about how to take control of your e-mail in different ways.  There were two areas that I really liked within this article that I would like to share with you.

First, it talked about setting up a reference system.  All you do is take your e-mails and categorize them by two different ways; Reference Information or Action Information.  With Reference Information e-mails, these are e-mails that just provide information to you as the receiver and they are e-mails that do not require action.  An e-mail that is notated as an Action Information e-mail, you the receiver are required to perform some type of action.

The last thing that this article talked about was the “Four Ds for Decision-Making”.  When dealing with e-mail, there are four things you should consider when trying to figure out what to do with the e-mail. “Delete It.  Do It.  Delegate It.  Defer It.”  By using this model for decision making, you as the receiver of the e-mail will be able to go through the e-mail quickly and effectively.

The full article can be viewed at http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/productivity/email.aspx.

Testing. Testing. Is this thing on.

I am new to the great big sea of information that is Therap. I have been swimming in it for about a year and have come to realize a few things. First, the deeper into Therap one goes the more amazing it is. Second is that fact that once you step into the Therap waters you are carried swiftly (and gladly) into those deeper waters. And finally I have learned that no matter how deep you get there is always a friendly Therapite to guide you.

Until next time this is Craig, from the blue waters of the Pacific Northwest, signing off… Wait is this thing still on.

I write (or technically I type) today with a sad state of mind…I’m reading all these posts about people going to the National Conference…and alas, I won’t be there:-(  Think of me during your week of learning!

We in ND are experiencing the WIERDEST winter ever!  Here I sit and it is currently 37 degrees out today with a high of 45!?  No snow on the ground!?  Not quite sure what to make of it, hoping it remains this way until summer.  On the bright side, this kind of weather gives us such an awesome opportunity to get people out of the house and out into the community.

On another note…our growing ‘little’ community that has erupted over the last couple years is on the way to becoming even more famous.  Check out http://www.luckydogfilmworks.com/television.html for a new series that is apparently coming out.  The young ladies’ mother actually used to work for our agency.

Until next month (when I promise to share more useful information:-), take care, and enjoy the conference for those of you attending!

-Tony

Good Afternoon everyone.  It has been a busy past couple of months in the Fraser, Ltd. IT world.  Yesterday I was given the Executive Director’s Certificate of Appreciation for all my hard work and exemplifying the value of “service above self” within the Fraser, Ltd. organization.  Along with the certificate I was awarded a dozen colorful roses.

Now for some IT helpful hints.

Today’s helpful hints have to deal with security.  Each of you is responsible for keeping information confidential within your organization.  By following these simple steps you will be able to keep your information confidential and the information of the people that we support.

1. Use strong passwords.  A strong password is a word or a combination of letters and numbers that are (a) at least 8 characters long (b) does not contain your name, your company or your user name (c) is not a dictionary word (d) contains a character such as $@! Or numbers.  An example of a strong password would be tg34uwU!
2. Do not enable the “Save Password” option
3. Don’t save files to your computer, save them to the network
4. Lock your computer when you leave for a short period of time.  To lock your computer press Control Alt and Delete all together and then when the screen prompts you select Lock Computer
5. Do not open questionable e-mails

Fun Facts

• The Tonle Sap River in Cambodia flows North for almost half the year and then south for the rest of the year.
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• The brain operates on the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb.

Wow!  It has been exactly two months since I blogged!  I am REALLY losing my touch!  …or life has just been extremely busy…

I had the privilige last week of attending a seminar with Tom Pomeranz.  I have been scheduled to attend his training twice, and both times had to back out due to various reasons.  But last Monday found me in Sidney, MT attending one of his sessions.

I think the greatest thing to get from him is his little’ gem’.  Good Enough for Me!  A question we should all ask ourselves each day as we go about our duties.  The choices we help people make each day should be carefully considered as if we are making those choices for ourselves.  One thing I push my staff to do is to have the people we support participate in their Therap documenation.  We have not yet began giving people their own login and password, but we do have the people participate in charting their ISP’s and writing the T-Logs.

I also had the benefit last week to run into Candy from Glenwood out of Plentywood, MT.  She made a point of letting me know I never responded to her email from July…oops!  (told you I’ve been busy)  Next month I will enjoy getting to head to Plentywood again to help them take another step in the Therap journey!

Tomorrow morning I head to Bismarck for Part I in a Supervisory Training.  Wednesday will be on ‘Understanding Our Interpersonal Influence’, and Thursday will be covering ‘Understanding What Drives and Inspires Us’.  I will try to remember next week to blog what I’ve learned.  But the highlight of the trip….tomorrow evening I will get to enjoy supper with Therap’s own Deb Hibbard! 

Friday, I will be heading back  to Minot with a couple of the folks I support to hit up the ND Hostfest and take in the Gaither’s Friday night.

In any case…I’ll try not to take two months to blog again:-)

Hey folks…we’re still keeping out heads above water here in ND!  We are just taking it day by day.

I am sitting in a Therap class as I type, while my ‘students’ are working through their final excercise.  During the class I was playing a video we took of when Tom Pomeranz was here in Williston providing some training and consulting for our agency.  I was letting the folks who were working through their material faster than others use it rather than have dead time. 

I think we can all continue to learn additional lessons on supporting people to become more independent.  One phrase that leaps out at me is ‘GET A LIFE!’  We are here to support people in getting back their lives!  But how do we do that?

There are SO many ways…but here are a few small ones…

You work in a group home and it is time for meds.  Who opens the med cabinets and pulls out the meds?  Are they your meds?  Is the person who is going to be taking them capable of pulling them out?  They why aren’t they?  (Please don’t tell me because it’s your job to do it!)

Who set the table for supper last night?

Who decided what was for supper?

Who decided what to type in the T-Logs yesterday?

We can make up ALL kinds of excuses…but that’s what they end up being.  If you were on the other end of the supports, what would you want?  I know that I would want a say in my life…after all, it’s MY life.

Another thing that sticks out at me is the question what will this person’s life be like one year from now?  Are there going to be any changes or is it going to be the same as it is now?  We are here to support people in fulfilling their dreams and working towards the lifestyle they choose.  Do you know what they want from life?  If not, how are you going to help them get there? 

Maybe there is a goal…but who set that goal?  The QMRP, the manager, the guardian, or the person?  Once again we have to ask ourself, who’s life is it?

Just some food for though!

Until next time – Tony

“Diamonds are forever.  E-mail comes close.”  ~ June Kronholz~

Everyone uses e-mail.  Somedays we have so many e-mails that it is just hard to keep up.  By completing a mental “triage” of your e-mail, you will be able to sift through all those e-mails, and yet still be productive.

1. E-mails marked with “high importance” must first pass the “cry wolf” test.  Keep in mind who the sender is and if the person is a frequent “high importance” sender, and then take into consideration about what the subject is about.
2. Give points to high priority people, i.e. management team, DD Case Managers, Guardians, etc..
3. Give points to high priortiy subjects, i.e. critical staff issues, health issues, etc.
4. E-mails that have hard to read writing and colorful backgrounds can wait till later
5. More than three e-mails about one topic requires a meeting or a phone call.

Fun Facts

• It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on in North Dakota
• Beer and pretzels cannot be served together in any bar or restaurant in North Dakota

Wow!  April 26th was my last blog!  I am REALLY slacking…(or I’m just so busy I haven’t had a chance)!  Depends on who you ask:-)

A lot has happened in the last month.  9.0 was released!  I’m interested to here what people have already started using Time Tracking for…leave some comments and share what your experience so far has been with it!

In May I had the opportunity to attend NDACP (North Dakota Association of Community Providers) Annual Conference.  (I even saw Justin there!)  While there, Patty Eide, one of my assistant managers was awarded DSP of the Year.  She was one out of seventeen across the state to recieve the award, presented by Lieutenant Governor Wrigley.  Way to go Patty!

In other news, our agencies community education committee has set up a facebook profile.  Search for Opportunity Foundation, Inc. in Williston, ND to see us online!  We are also in the process of putting together a presentation to present at local schools, clubs, churches, and basically to educate whoever is willing to listen about overcoming disabilities.  If anyone has any ideas to throw my way, please do!  I’m always willing to listen:-)

Up here in ND we are dealing with a lot of flooding.  Minot and Bismarck have been sandbagging like crazy.  So far Williston has a lot of flooded basements but we are feeling somewhat safe, provided the water released from Fort Peck Dam doesn’t come our way to fast!  The picture below is a road right outside of town leading to a boat ramp and picnic area.  I don’t think anyone will be having lunch there for awhile!  Of course, with all this excess water, I’m sure the mosquitoes will be worse than ever this year!  (If that’s possible in Williston!  They are HORRIBLE here EVERY year!)

Well…I’ve rambled enough.  I hope everyone out in Therapville enjoys their summer!

                         -Tony

“Trouble brings experience, experience brings wisdom.”  ~  Unknown

I have been experiencing some troubles lately with trying to get my wonderful posts out to you.  I’m going to see if this works and if it does, well then I will fill the page with my wonderful knowledge.

Have a great day one and all.

I was digging for some paperwork today, and came across the folder from our annual conference for NDACP. It got me to thinking…one year ago I was looking forward to going to NDACP next week. Following NDACP, I was driving back to Minot to board a plane. My wife…myself…minus the children…heading for a three night stay in a resort on the beach in Miami, followed by a five night cruise through the Caribbean!

This May…my wife…myself…three children….home….work….you get the point!

I suppose we will have to make the best of it and hit up the parks and enjoy this spring weather that seems to be trying to stick around! We may have to have some more impromptu weekends. We both had last Friday off, so I called my wife on Thursday shortly before 9 PM and said pack the suitcase for a two-night stay. I headed home, loaded the family in the van, and off we went to Billings for a few nights!

It may not be the Caribbean, or Miami, or a beach, but sometimes a person just needs to get away!

Who know, maybe next weekend we’ll be knocking on Allison’s door:-)