Perspectives from The Front Desk

2012-01-26T08:34:00.001-08:00

It is another beautiful day here at Show!! The sun is trying to shine so we will pretend that it is shinning and everyone is smiling. It is fairly early in the day so we will see if the smiles hold out all day - I am betting they will.

Big things are happening in the recycling center today. We recently received a donation of another large commercial shredder and our maintenance manager went to pick it up yesterday. He has been spending the morning getting it re-assembled and ready for service. I am cheering for this addition because we are getting so many more shred customers and large ones at that. It will be exciting to see it up and running. Now Mr. G. won't be the only one shredding 1000's of pounds of paper! Yes, he seriously shreds thousands of pounds a day. That wasn't always the case. I remember when we first received our new commercial shredder a few years ago. He was so careful and only put a few sheet on the conveyor at a time and waited until those were done to load up more. The shredder that Mr. G. works on is designed to take up to 80 sheets at once and has a conveyor belt that feeds constantly. Now he is a shredding dynamo! He is continually feeding larger stacks of paper and an amazing pace. He literally shreds over one ton of paper a day. Hopefully he can give whoever gets to operate the new shredder some pointers.

Yep, another beautiful day at Show!

2012-01-18T06:52:00.000-08:00

Well, it is the start of another brand new year and things are jumping here at Show. We are starting off our new year with a couple of events that should have everyone slap sticking and doing half court shots.

First off is the OKC Barons game on Feb. 3. A portion of the ticket sales of all tickets purchased under Show's name will be donated to us. So all you hockey fans need to go support our local (sort of) hockey team and Show as well. If you have never seen a hockey game this would be a good time to start.

Next up Show is being featured at the Tulsa 66ers game on March 3 at the Tulsa Convention Center. Show is selling tickets to the game for $10.00 each, just come on by and pick yours up today. This is also a good way to get to meet some of the folks that work here at Show. So come and get your tickets for what is sure to be a great night of b-ball and fun. All proceeds from these ticket sales will go to Show.

Now that I am done plugging different ways to support Show let's see how we did on our everyday stuff in 2011. Last year we processed 1,650,174 pounds of material! That is about 825 tons or enough to fill 43 semi trailers. We had 307 processing days last year which means that we did 5,375 pounds or 2.7 tons a day. That is alot of stuff!! Of course, I am still hoping for that 2 million pound mark so everyone needs to start recycling and bring it to Show.

2011-11-22T13:27:00.000-08:00

We are just a couple of days away from Thanksgiving and all the wonderful food, family and friends. The Front Desk had mine this past Sunday with all the kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc, etc. (we have a rather large family) and the turkey with all the trimmings.
Of course it is also the time of year when we all think about the things that we are thankful for. There are the standard things - good health, a job, family, friends - things like that. We all tend to say them and sometimes not stop to think what that really means. What does it really mean to have good health? Does that mean you are fit as a fiddle or does that mean that you are able to roll your own wheelchair? Is your job that you are thankful for just a daily grind that is a means to an end or is it someplace you actually enjoy being? Is your family your parents and brothers & sisters or the housemates you live with?
This year try and put a little more thought into the things you are thankful for.
Personally, The Front Desk is thankful that I get to work with such wonderful people who make me smile everyday. I am thankful to be able to come to work everyday. I am especially thankful for the wonderful family that was given to me.

What are you truly thankful for?

2011-11-17T11:45:00.001-08:00

Had the chance to walk through the recycling center today - that is always fun - and found myself noting just how clean it was out there. Looked like most everything had been unloaded, sorted and processed.
It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of material that our folks can actually process. So far this year we are over 1.4 million pounds of material. Included in that is 67,000 pounds of aluminum alone. That translates to over 2 million aluminum cans - that is alot! The crews in the recycling center process a little over 2 tons of material per day. That is enough to make anyone stop and think. Stop and think about the folks that we employ - adults with developmental disabilities. Now stop and think about the amount of recycled material that they process each day. Now tell me that our folks don't have the ability to be productive and contribute to the workforce. Now let me tell you that almost every one of them does it with a smile on their face.
The longer I work here, the more I find myself looking forward to coming to work and the more I find myself wishing that everyone could see what we see when we look at all of the folks that work for Show.

2011-11-01T14:24:00.001-07:00

Well, we are closing in on the end of another United Way campaign here at Show. Our final No Finer Diner is on Friday and all of our remaining activities end at the same time.

This year has been no different than past years - busy, busy, busy with diners and dances and contests and auctions and dreams. Everyone seemed to have a good time with all of the activities which is important because the more fun you are having the more likely you are to spend money, or in our case, give money. Of course there are always those that complain about having to open their wallets which has always confused me. I have to wonder if these folks know what United Way, or Show for that matter, do for the communites they serve? If you don't, I would invite you to take a look at the United Way website, and more specifically, the Tulsa Area United Way, to see just how many agencies are supported and then take a look at what those agencies do. I would venture a guess that you or someone you know has or could have benefited from one or more of these agencies.

Anyway, our campaign is almost at a close but I would invite you to take a look at other ways you can give to United Way and other charitable organizations in your community. Like they say - Think Globally, Act Locally.

2011-10-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy few weeks with all of the United Way activities going on but we are on the downhill slide now. Only one more bingo, one dance and one more No Finer Diner to go. Of course there is still the auction, envelope dreams and the door decorating contest to keep up with. Just as a side note, there are photos of the doors posted on our Facebook page so when you are done reading this pop on over there and check them out. If you see one your like (the autism door - hint hint) you can come down to Show and "vote" for it and while you are here, check out all of the great things we have up for auction. Yes, I a shamlessly plugging our United Way fundraising events - it's my job.
Luckily I don't have to plug them to our folks that work here. As always everyone is excited about what is going on next and the focus right now is the Parking Lot dance next Saturday. So many of them are making sure to let me know that they will be here - which makes me happy. It also makes all of the stress (albeit, self induced) of the campaign worth it, to see the smiles and hear the laughing and knowing that everyone is having a blast. It is the simple things in life that seem to get us through and that is one of my simple things - watching the folks that I work with everyday just have a good time.

2011-09-12T09:42:00.001-07:00

Oh WOW! A post almost two days in a row! Will wonders never cease.

Just wanted to share that all of the efforts of our Day of Caring volunteers are such a welcome site. They tell me that 16 bales of paper, cardboard & plastic were done and I know quite a bit of the sorting was finished up. That is a lot of material! Of course, the inside work is apparent as soon as you come in the door. We had some very nice curtains hung is our main work space and it just makes it look so much better. Then I get to walk by our 'storage' office that used to be piled with stuff that is now nice and neat and clean - it just makes me smile. (yes, I will admit it, I am a neat nick) Our outdoor picnic tables also got a coat of water sealer so they should last for many more years.

Being here at Show all day, I didn't really get to see everything that the landscape volunteers had done until I started looking at the pictures that were taken. They really got into some work downtown - I even saw some power washing of sidewalks going on!

The amount of work that our volunteers did in one day is truly amazing and I just hope they know how much it is truly appreciated.

2011-09-09T07:33:00.001-07:00

Oh My - we are a flurry of activity today! Today is the 20th Annual United Way Day of Caring and we have loads of volunteers here today helping with a variety of projects. Some are helping out our landscape crew in downtown Sapulpa, some are out on recycling runs and helping to process in our recycling center and some are busy working to help spruce us up a little more.

Our folks really enjoy the day because they get to meet lots of new people and they know it kicks off Show's annual United Way campaign and we have a lot of fun activities planned this year.

It always amazes me every year just how giving our folks can be. For no bigger than we are and given the population that we employ, Show almost always comes in as one of the top 10 givers in Sapulpa. That is generosity! Our folks are always there and ready to support all of our activities. I have the pleasure of being the campaign coordinator for Show and most of the time, I will admit, it can be very stressful but then I look at the faces at our diners or during one of our contests and especially at our Annual Parking Lot Dance and it makes everything worth it.

I ran across a saying a couple of years ago that I just really love (maybe that is why I have it posted on the front of my desk)

"We make a living by what we make but we make a life by what we give" - Winston Churchill

2011-08-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, how many of us just drag out of bed in the morning and wish the workday was already over with? I know I have had my share of those mornings. Just really don't want to come to work but you do it anyway and some days not with a smile.
Well, I saw something this morning, looking out of my big windows. One of our newer workers was just arriving for work and her attitude made me think about how many times I complain about having to work. She got out of the car, with a big smile on her face and a spring in her step. She was delighted to be here, to have a job to come to. She was truly excited to come to work and it showed. A little later I had the chance to go through the workshop and there she was, with that same smile and cheerful attitude. She was busy shredding papers and did not stop until she had ran out of things to shred.
That really got to me. How many of us would have a better day and make the day better for those around us if we all came to work with that attitude. So the next time you are complaining about having to get up and go to work again, step back, put a smile on your face and strap on a positive attitude and see if your day doesn't go better - I am betting that it will.

2011-08-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well, another Monday has rolled around here and it is a typical Monday - tons of things to do so we all hit the ground running.

Of course, The Front Desk just got a little more interesting over the past couple of days. The powers that be decided that Show needed a Facebook page so I had the honor of getting that up and running - and we are up and running. We have actually already had some posts and some people like us. For those of you who actually read the blog, pop on over and check it out.

Also, in keeping with some of the upgrades around here (i.e. the facelift, new Facebook) and to hopefully help promote Show and all of the programs, I now get the pleasure of re-designing the website. That is actually fun for me, I get to play around with some things and learn some new things. I have spent the last few days on my trips around the building seeing what and who I can get pictures of to put on the new site. There are so many smiles around here, some days that is a hard decision. I am truly excited about it because the new site will focus more on what it should - our services to people. It will take a while but I think the end result will be well worth it.

Oh, I almost forgot! One of our guys that started out as a production aide in the recycling center apparently decided that he really liked us, did all of his training and is now one of our new job coaches. We are all very proud of him. You know, like I tell people, this place can be addicting - once you start here it is very hard to stop.

2011-07-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

As The Front Desk here I have the opportunity to go all over the building for one reason or another. Most of you probably know that is one of my favorite things to do because I get to see what everyone is up to and have a moment to visit.
Well, the other day I happened to be out and about and actually got scolded by one of our guys here. Mr. S., in no uncertain terms, informed me that I had hurt Mr. D's feelings the day before. Okay, a little background here - Mr. S. & Mr. D. are roommates and ever since I have worked here I have said good morning to and joked around with Mr. D. and in return gotten the biggest smile you can imagine. Apparently I forgot to do that the other morning and was scolded by Mr. S.
That got me to thinking that everything we do, or don't do, has an effect on someone else. It can be as simple as being busy and forgetting to say good morning. I actually felt pretty bad for the rest of the day because it just never occured to me that the absence of two words could have an effect on someone.

This is my first job in the non-profit sector - I have always worked in for profit companies and the biggest difference that I have found is that in for profit it is all about the dollar but in non-profit - especially here - it is all about the people.
Maybe we should all be that way more often.

A Brand New Show

2011-06-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

After years of wear and tear, Show is getting some much needed repairs and a facelift!

Before the work began, the color scheme was put to a vote of employees and the majority vote was for a light tan and brick scheme.Then, several weeks ago the work began with the awnings coming down and needed repairs and patching to the face of the building. Then the scaffolding went up, causing some confusion as to exactly how to get into the building. Fortunately we still had full access while the new skim coat went on the building. We all watched with anticipation as the skim coat went on. I was particularly excited to see the portion around the front window finished and the plastic taken down. I spent several days not being able to look out the front windows - I am kind of self proclaimed parking lot monitor. ha ha.

During that time, the “Show, Inc.” at the end of the building got some sprucing up of its own with the makeshift "I" being replaced. Parking stops were also installed to help prevent any future damage to the building from backing trailers, etc. and we do a lot of that around here. Painted a bright yellow they should be hard to miss!

The new awning fabric went on a few days ago and then mounted back on the building and Voila! Show has a brand new look!!

It looks really amazing and I invite anyone within range to come check it out or just keep an eye on the website - I am sure there will be pictures soon!

Recycle 101

2011-06-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here we are again – well on our way into summer. It seems that this is the time of the year that more people are calling in to see what they can and can’t recycle. I actually like letting people know this since it means that much more is being recycled instead of filling up our landfills.
It seems that most people have the most difficult time with their plastic recycling so I thought I would do a little Recycling 101. While I don’t claim to be an expert here, I will pass along what I have learned in my almost 5 years here at Show, Inc.
#1 PET plastic is one that most plastic recyclers can accept. This is most commonly pop bottles and water bottles.
#2 HPDE plastic is also accepted with a few conditions. A good rule of thumb here is if a #2 plastic has a neck or a handle it can be recycled. This is most commonly milk jugs, liquid detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, etc. If you aren’t certain look for a handle or a neck (usually with a screw on cap). These are molded plastics that can be recycled. I constantly hear from people who tell me “But the butter tub has a #2 on the bottom, why can’t you take that?” Because, plastic, like so many other things, will come in different grades. It may say #2 on it, but it may not be a grade of #2 that we can accept.
If you are ever uncertain if a plastic can be recycled, call your local recycling center and they can tell you exactly what they can and cannot accept. Many times what they can take depends on what their processor will accept.
Okay, let’s move on to metals. While a good majority of metal can be recycled, here at Show we only accept aluminum and steel cans. Other metals can be taken to scrap yards or other recyclers in the area. One question that I get a lot is “When is the price of aluminum going up?” That is one question that I really wish I could answer. Most of what we accept is considered a commodity market item and if I could accurately predict a commodity market, I probably wouldn’t be working here – or maybe I would. Hard to think of ever leaving here. Point is – me, or whoever else, is paying out for your cans probably has no idea when the price will go up – or down again for that matter.
Next on the list is paper and I like paper because we take it. We take almost any paper – office paper, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, phone books (yes, Show will take phone books), etc. About the only thing we don’t take in the way of paper are books. Okay, check that, we also don’ t take things like facial tissue, napkins and paper towels. Since we are on paper, let’s just go ahead and cover cardboard too. Yes, we take corrugated boxes. Yes, we take what is called chipboard which is things like cereal boxes, soda boxes, etc. as long as they are brown on the inside.
I always encourage everyone to not only recycle but to take the first steps to reduce and reuse. The more we can reduce our waste and reuse as much as possible the less we end up recycling or worse yet, throw away.

Big Things Going On

2011-03-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

Some big goings on here recently. Our carts now have a home out of the grass (and mud when it’s raining) and our cardboard now has its own baler (and doesn’t have to share with the plastic).
For the last few weeks there has been a crew setting frames, doing dirt work, setting forms and finally pouring concrete for a new pad out back of our recycling center to park all of our many carts on. It was fun to watch the progress and they had quite an audience the day the big concrete truck rolled in here to finally pour. Well, now the frame is off and carts are parked with nice clean wheels.
Of course, it has been a buzz of activity here most of the month since at the same time our cardboard baler was delivered. Then came the electricians and making sure that everything was set up so the baler could be put into operation. We are pretty excited because that means now we don’t have to stop baling cardboard to bale plastics and then switch back. The first bale was done and the results were great – an 1100 pound bale.
I was excited enough to share all the goings on with some other folks and they looked at me like it was no big deal. Well, I am sure to a larger business it would be no big deal but around here even the small additions are cause for celebration.

Such A Slacker

2011-02-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

I just looked back at the last time I actually posted an entry and I feel like such a, for lack of a better term, slacker. Other things have just been screaming louder for more attention but isn’t that always the way. Then I was reminded by a caller this afternoon who I am when I am sitting at my desk. A particular lady called and I answer the phone like I always do “Good Afternoon, Show” and on the other end I hear this “Hi Show, oh I am so sorry, I mean Chris”. We both had a good chuckle but she was right – I am Show when I am sitting at this desk, or at least part of it since I am usually the first contact someone has with us either by phone or in person – my voice and my face are the first one they hear and see. Well, being that I am Show I thought I had do a better job and get some blogging done.

We are having some excitement around here – or at least it is exciting to us. With all of the growth in our recycling routes, we have collected quite a few large poly carts that we have been putting in the back, by the fence, in the grass. Well, that also means they are in the wet and mud and junk when it is wet and rainy outside, which means the wheels get dirty which is not a good thing. Exciting part is that we are now getting a concrete pad poured out back to put all of our poly carts on! Hey, we are excited and the activity is fascinating to everyone. I am just wondering who is going to get to put their initials and date in the concrete when it is poured.

Yeah, I know, it may not seem like a big thing but even small things are big around here. Maybe that is a lesson that we can all learn from – appreciate the smaller things, recognize and celebrate the small victories. That is one of the most important lessons that I have learned working here – to celebrate the small victories. I know it has made me a bit of a happier person (and just so everyone is aware – I am the resident grouch). Try it for one day with your kids, or even just yourself, to celebrate the small accomplishments, the small victories. It doesn’t have to be anything big, do a little happy dance, cheer for a minute or two, anything that will make that moment special. I am willing to bet that you will feel better at the end of the day, like you have truly accomplished something worthwhile. I think that is one thing that our workers have over the rest of us – they recognize victory in the small stuff.

What United Way Means to Me

2010-10-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

Every morning when I come into work I see the signs on our doors here at Show – Partner Agency United Way. Most days all that really goes through my mind is that one of them looks a little crooked to me. Of course at this time of year what I think about most is all of the things that need to be done for our United Way Campaign.
Well, the other day I stopped and after thinking that the sign looked a little crooked and all the things that needed to be done, I asked myself one question – What does United Way mean to me?
That question turned out to be harder than I thought. I know what United Way does from reading their website and the brochures, etc. that we have here but had never really thought about what it really means to me.
To help me out I asked around Show to see what United Way meant to some of the folks around here. The most common answer that I got was giving, caring, helping, and a couple of pretty long winded answers that could be summed up as giving, caring, helping.
These are all really good answers and exactly what United Way does but I was left a little lacking on what United Way means.

So, I thought about it a little more as I was going through what flyers needed to be posted next for which event we were having and updating auction bids on our website plus getting all of the rest of my job done.
Yet, I still could not quite put my finger on what United Way means to me so I gave up thinking about it. Maybe giving, caring and helping were the answer I was looking for and it just hadn’t sunk in yet.
So I set about to get my work for the day done. Now, during the course of my day I usually end up walking all over our building for one reason or another and as usual I was met with smiles and folks eager to tell me about what they were doing, or going to be doing, or about their latest trip, etc. On a side note, that has to be one of the best parts of my job.

Then it hit me, out of the clear blue, what United Way means to me – HOPE.

Not only the hope for a better future for all of us but the hope that United Way brings to so many individuals every day.

Hope to a single mother trying to provide for her children.

Hope to a family devastated by disaster.

Hope to a teenager with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

Hope to an elderly person that there are caring people outside their four walls.

Hope to a homeless person that there can be four walls.

Hope that one day we can all learn to LIVE UNITED.

The Front Desk

It's Almost Here!

2010-09-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Show is a flurry of activity today with much to do before It arrives. It is the United Way Day of Caring which is tomorrow and marks the official kickoff of the United Way Campaign.
There is so much to get done to get ready for the volunteers that will be here tomorrow to assist in our operations and see what Show is all about. Shopping to be done (gotta keep the tummies happy), tables to set up, cleaning to be done, grills to wash and the list goes on.
Everyone is so excited because it also means the start of our United Way campaign with tons of fun stuff over the next few weeks. Being the campaign coordinator I have the task of getting all of our events organized and making sure that we have everything we need. It can be pretty stressful at times but this is another part of my job that makes my heart smile when I see everyone getting all excited about all of the stuff going on. It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of giving back that everyone here does.

I do have to brag on us a little – okay, a lot. Show is one of the largest contributors to United Way for companies in our size range. Show has one of the highest percentages of employee participation for companies of our size. Last year we raised just over $5000 for United Way! That is a number that I am pretty proud of – that everyone here is pretty proud of.

I encourage everyone to contribute to United Way even if it is just a few dollars or a few hours of time. The return on that investment is greater than you can imagine, especially when it is put with the few dollars from others. Last year all those few dollars added up to over $400,000 being invested in Sapulpa and over 15,000 of our friends, family and neighbors getting help to make a better life.
Okay, I won’t get on that soapbox mainly because there is still a lot of things to get done before tomorrow. The Front Desk just wants to remind everyone to LIVE UNITED-Give, Advocate, Volunteer.

The Front Desk

Been Busy

2010-08-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks it seems like there has hardly been time to catch my breath, let alone get a post out, but sometimes you just have to make time, so I am making time.
Have to say that I am just so proud of everyone here, we have already processed over 1 million pounds this year and there are still months left to go! Our recycling, shredding and pickup crews have been working hard every day to help us get there. It kind of boggles my mind because that translates into slightly over 2 tons of material processed each day – that is a lot of recyclables. I took great pleasure in posting the notice on the bulletin board that we had already broke the million pound mark. I am excited to see what our final total for the year will be.
It also makes pretty happy to be living in Sapulpa because that also means that as a community we are getting greener. We now have over two hundred people that use our curbside recycling service and so many others that bring their recyclables to us. The curbside route drivers kind of dread the first and third Monday of the month because that route is getting pretty big and it is a challenge to get everyone picked up in one day. Come on, that is the kind of problem I like to have! It is just really nice to know that so much stuff is not going into the landfill but is finding its way to a new life.
Even though the amount of people in the community that recycle is growing there is still so many more that aren’t and it is those people that we all need to reach out to. I had one young lady that wanted to sign up for the curbside recycling but she lived in an apartment and we, unfortunately, don’t do apartments unless it is the complex as a whole. She commented that she guessed she couldn’t recycle then. Yeah, you guessed it, The Front Desk proceeded to let her know that everyone can recycle. Of course, being an apartment dweller myself I was more than happy to let her know a few tips to help her get started recycling.
If you do happen to live in an apartment and want to recycle it is very easy. What I do is have a large storage tub set up in my kitchen, right next to my trash can. All the recyclables to into the tub and once the tub is full I just bring it to work and have the folks in the recycling center empty the tub and I take it back home and start all over again. Now, since it does sit inside my apartment I rinse out my bottles and cans and smash everything I can, or I should say my grandson smashes everything he can. Some weeks I will but a large garbage bag in to line the tub just because it is kind of difficult to wash out a large tub when you live in an apartment. It is a challenge in my house to see if we can fill the recycle tub before we fill up the trash can. It is a challenge that my grandson takes very seriously and is constantly asking me if something is recyclable and sometimes will get disappointed if the item isn’t and he has to put it in the trash can.
That is what I like to see, the next generation coming up as avid recyclers. Maybe they will be the ones to take us all green.

The Front Desk

My Heart Smiles

2010-06-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me the other day why I worked here when I could make more money working someplace else. Without hesitation or really even thinking about it I told them my job makes my heart smile, which after years in a high stress job is worth its weight in gold to me. They couldn’t say the same about their job.
Sure, there are stressful days at my job, I get to wear a lot of hats around here. I get irritated just like everyone else but then I walk through the workshop and there is Mr. D. and he smiles at me and my heart smiles. Now mind you, Mr. D. doesn’t speak in words but he does communicate. He has the biggest smile that lights up his entire face and his eyes that you cannot help but smile back. Then there is Mr. S. and he is a joker, always calling me grandma (which technically he is right, I am one) and asking me where I am going. Of course, I can’t understand Mr. S. very well so we have a running joke that I have to have someone translate for me. Later in the afternoon I know I am always loved because Ms. W. lets me know that every day. On days that I have to go out to the recycling center for whatever reason I am always met by smiling faces, people asking how I am doing that day, if I am having a good day, and letting me know, with pride, what they have been doing that day. Everywhere I go in this building, my heart smiles.
Sure, I could make a lot more money someplace else, but I don’t think someplace else would make my heart smile. I have a sign posted on the front of my desk that to me pretty much says it all
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

The Front Desk

Changing Society Views

2010-06-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Front Desk is in rare philosophical form today after an evening of what can only be termed as dirty looks and comments from other people. A little more about me as a prelude to this, I have a 9 year old autistic grandson who lives with me. Even though he is classified as relatively high functioning we still have our moments. One of those moments occurred in the store last night when, after a particularly bad day, he decided to meltdown after being told he couldn’t have a particular toy. Now normally these can be controlled and kept to a minimum but there was no stopping this one and it was a full screaming, whining, aggressive, beyond control meltdown. For a few minutes there was no talking to him and at one point he promptly declared at the top of his lungs that he wanted me to die. It was at this point that one lady marched up to me, told me to get control of my child and that if he was hers she would have busted his rear end (not the term she used) and marched him out of the store. I mustered all the calm I could at that point and simply told her that he was autistic and was beyond the point where he could control what was happening to him. She then proceeded to tell me that she thought that was a load of crap and I should just do my job as a parent and control him. My only response to this was to, not so politely inform her, that parental advice was not appreciated unless she too had a child with autism. During this entire exchange I got looks from others that ranged from utter disgust to total sympathy. My grandson did manage to calm himself with some techniques we have been practicing and we were able to continue our shopping trip. He then asked me why that lady was so upset with me, that it wasn’t anyone’s fault that he was autistic. Okay, so how do you explain to a 9 year old why so many people in our world look down on or fear things, and people, they don’t understand.
This got me in quite the philosophical mood that I am in today. As a society we tend to shy away from children and adults with disabilities. Many people would simply like to pretend they don’t exist. I have to admit that as a society we have come a long way in our treatment of those with disabilities but there is so much farther to go. I’ll admit that I am guilty of side stepping them in the store, not helping when I probably should have but working here has changed that and changed the way that I view disabilities. I don’t side step them anymore and if the opportunity arises to interact with them I take it. I think that is what we all need to do, but don’t.
I know that changing the views of a society as a whole does not happen overnight, it is a long process but it is one that we are beginning. I think of all of the people that work here and how they are helping to accomplish this. We have many of our individuals that go out on recycling routes and interact with our customers. It may only be weekly but every week they are there, in that business, they become part of our customer’s routine and soon that customer is not seeing the disability but the person and starts to interact more with them. Over time, one person’s view has been changed and then maybe they help the next person to see the person, not the disability and so on.
I know it is a lofty goal, to change society views, but it is one that I personally have a stake in even if it is partially a selfish reason – I don’t want my grandson to have to grow up in a world that views disabilities as something to be afraid or ashamed of. I want him to grow up in a world that accepts everyone for the person they are and can potentially be.

Having A Green Day at the Office

2010-06-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

As I scrambled around this morning to make sure that I made it in to work early to cover for our board of directors meeting, I was running down the list of things that I had to make sure was done prior to the meeting. I had not been in the office yesterday so I was trying to make sure that I had enough time to get all of my items complete but of course when I got here my boss had already done them ahead of time. It got me to thinking about just how much paper we go through here for copies, memos, schedules, etc. and it is a lot. Some of the paper use is unavoidable because of the nature of our work we have to keep hard copies of things and unfortunately we are not as “wired” as many places. To our credit almost all of the paper that we generate is shredded or recycled at some point in its life but with the copies that were made for this morning it got me thinking about how we can all make our day at the office a little greener.
Do I really need a hardcopy of that email? The answer for me is usually no because I save almost all of my emails and I am at my computer most of the day. If you have access to your email to reference it then take a second look at if you really need a hardcopy of it.
In this digital age ask yourself if an email, phone call, or in some cases a text message will replace that memo or letter. If most of the people in your office have email you might want to consider emailing that memo instead of making a hardcopy for everyone. Most email programs will request a return receipt so you know the person has actually seen the email. If you need the hardcopy to know that everyone has seen it, think about a distribution list instead. Print one copy, attach a distribution list and each person signs off that they have seen the memo and pass it to the next person on the list.
Considering changing the company logo or reformatting the letterhead? Take a look at your current stock and plan accordingly. Deplete the current stock as much as possible before implementing the new one. If you need to roll out the new logo or letterhead right away then consider using the old stock as scratch pads. Simply cut the paper in half or quarter and with a small bottle of padding compound you can have a good supply of scratch pads. Just be sure to recycle the paper when you are done with it!
Getting ready to clean out some old files? Save the file folders! Instead of buying new ones place labels or use correction fluid on the old ones and use them again. Same goes for paper clips and the binder clips. I can’t ever remember ordering either file folders or paper clips; we just reuse what we have.
Take a look around your break room. How many paper or gasp, Styrofoam, cups are there? Have everyone bring their own coffee mugs, or tea glasses or whatever. It takes only a minute or two a day to rinse them out. Think about what you bring lunch in and look for ways to reduce lunch waste. On days that I remember to bring lunch it is all in reusable containers that I take home and wash for the next day.
I would venture a guess that most offices today use less paper then a decade ago but we all need to think of more ways to reduce that even more. On those things that you need paper the next thing to remember is when that document is at the end of its life, recycle it, whether that is shredding or just straight recycling. Set up recycling boxes at each work station for all of the material that can be recycled – paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, old notes, etc. People are more likely to recycle if they can just throw it in a box by their desk. Of course then you can call us and set up a recycling program for you office and we will provide the deskside boxes and pick everything up for you. (i.e. read as shameless plug)
Take a look around your office today and see where you can be a greener employee, get others to do the same and before you know it there will be less paper to handle and file and store along with the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are all helping to improve the places that we live and work.

The Front Desk

Summertime Greens

2010-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

As I sit here, looking out of the huge windows by my desk, wearing a sweater (the A/C is on and I get chilly in here), I am reminded that summer is coming quickly and it looks to be shaping up to be a hot one. Then I walk outside (without the sweater on) and think that maybe summer is already here and we could all use some reminders on hot weather safety – something that is always on our minds here at Show. While we are thinking how to stay cool this summer, we might also want to think on how we can be more green in the process.
If you need to be outside please make sure that you have plenty of cool or cold water. Think about investing in a thermos with a drinking spout on it. You will generate less waste and always have plenty of water at hand. If you opt for the larger water jugs then invest in a reusable cup. The plastic cups from the convenience store may not be recyclable but they are reusable – I have one for each member of the family with different colored lids so we can tell what cup belongs to whom.
Try to stay away from caffeinated drinks – caffeine will actually dehydrate you faster.
Make sure that if you are out in the heat of the day to take frequent breaks, in the shade. Also watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Some signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, dizziness, paleness, headaches, cramps, nausea or fainting. If you or someone you are with exhibit these symptoms it is usually a good idea to get to a cooler place, rest and slowly drink cool water.
Of course the best thing is to just stay inside on those really hot days!
Summer is also a good time to think about ways we can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It not only saves money (to help pay that a/c bill) but helps build good habits for the whole year.
We can all reduce by purchasing our soda in larger containers and then recycle those containers. Get a reusable cup and just refill instead of buying individual bottles for everyone. The larger soda bottles also make good plant starters. Just cut them down, add your soil and seeds and you have a wonderful home for new plants. Once you transplant, the bottle can be rinsed out and recycled.
To help stay cool and find a use for old hand towels or t-shirts, make them into neck coolers. Simply dunk them in cold water, ring them out, roll them up and place them around your neck. It helps keep you cooler and gives a new life to an old item. Our supervisor in our recycling center goes around all summer with one around her neck!
Some tips to save on that a/c bill – turn it up! Turn the thermostat up to 78-80 degrees, throw on some shorts and a lightweight shirt and get out the fan. Also make sure that all of your doors and windows seal good to help keep that cool air in. Like I used to tell my children, I am not cooling the great outdoors. You also might want to consider cooking outside when possible or making use of the crock pot. Less heat inside means your air conditioner doesn’t have as much to cool.
A quick tour of the internet will yield tons of ideas on how to stay cool this summer. Of course, if you are like me and wear a sweater at work, you may not have that big of a problem.
The Front Desk.

Welcome to The Front Desk

2010-05-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings and welcome to Show, Inc. Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Chris and I am The Front Desk. I came to work here just about 4 years ago having never worked in this field before, I came from small & medium for profit businesses. Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive about working with adults with developmental disabilities. I wondered how to communicate with them, would I say the wrong thing, would I do the wrong thing, how would I react to their disabilities, how would they react to me. All of my fears were put to rest within the first week of being here. This is by far one of the best groups of people that I have ever worked with because no matter what is going on during the day at least one of them will put a smile on my face.
Along with learning about the individuals we serve I have also learned quite a bit more about recycling and going “green”. In the process of researching information for our website and other things I have also learned quite a bit about sustainability and a host of tips and facts. I’ve even had the opportunity to do a small informative presentation on recycling. Shush, don’t tell the boss, but I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
My job here at Show, Inc. is to provide administrative support to our staff, maintain our website and marketing materials, and a host of other things including being the United Way Campaign Coordinator. I am now adding ‘blogger’ to my list of duties because I have, over the years, become very passionate about the individuals we serve, the opportunities we provide through recycling and role we have in the community. You will find many different things in this blog. Some days it may be about our wonderful employees and some days it may be recycling or sustainability. Guess you will just have to pop over to see what’s blogging at Show.

The Front Desk