Tuesday, January 18, 2011  
   Volume 81 - Issue 3 passheraldarchive.ca   email: passherald@shaw.ca   $1.00   
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Quote of the Week
“Protecting our land is important to everyone here, and it is important to me.”
- Evan Berger  
- MLA for Livingstone Macleod   
   
 
The Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce held its regular luncheon on Wednesday, December 11th at the Blairmore Legion, enjoying catering by the Blackbird Coffee House, as well as discussions on local initiatives, and working in a multi-generational workplace.
Former president Lowry Toombs oversaw the proceedings, filling in for Chamber President Rick Breakenridge, who was absent.
Toombs informed members that the date for the Chamber’s 2011 Trade, Auto and Home Show has been set for May 6th and 7th.
“The trade show that we have in the Crowsnest Pass is one of the most successful in the entire area,” he said.
He also encouraged members to inform friends and family of the “Know the Snow” avalanche safety and awareness forum, put on by Teck Coal and the Crow Snow Riders, which took place at the Blairmore Lions Pride Hall at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th.
“It is important for anyone who uses or lives in the back country to be informed on avalanche safety,” said Toombs.
See the January 25th edition of the Pass Herald for highlights from the forum.
Next up, Jackie Woodman of the Crowsnest Pass Cross Country Ski Association informed members of upcoming cross country skiing events and other updates.
“There is a tonne of stuff happening with this group right now,” said Woodman.
The association recently received a grant from the provincial government to work with the Boys and Girls Club to develop a cross country ski program for students who use the club.
A moonlight ski for members is also scheduled for January 22nd at 6 p.m., and adult lessons and the Jackrabbit Program commenced on January 15th.
In addition, the first-annual Flight of the Crows Loppet cross country ski race will take place on Saturday, February 19th, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Allison Chinook Recreation Area, with distances of 1.5 kilometres, 7.5 kilometres, and 15 kilometres.
“The loppet is just sort of a fun family event,” said Woodman. “It’s very family oriented.”
She finished by informing members of the new informational brochures which are soon to be distributed for the association, and asked that any businesses wishing to advertise their business card in the brochure, at a cost of $200, contact her.
Lastly, Herky Cutler, president of Foothills Youth and Family Services, discussed the dynamic of having four different generations working together in the workplace today.
Cutler is currently working on a project which he hopes will help businesses better attract, manage, and retain staff, specifically of the younger generation.
He says the project came about after he was informed of a fist fight that broke out between two employees, one a 65-year-old man, and the other a 17-year-old.
  
“We want to address some of the issues surrounding multiple generations in the workplace,” he said.
As an exercise, Cutler asked those present to break into groups according to their generation, and discuss the differences between their respective generations.
Three people were of the “mature generation (born prior to 1946), 12 were of the “Baby Boomer” generation (born between 1946 and 1964), eight were Generation X (1965 to 1976), and one was Generation Y (1977 to 1995).
The Mature and Baby Boomer generations were thought to be comprised of harder workers, who were more focused on their work than their personal life.
Those belonging to Generation X identified their demographic more as they type of people who bounce from job to job, and work to strike a work/life balance.
The general consensus for Generation Y was that, for the majority, most individuals are goal oriented and focus more on their personal lives than on their professional lives.
Cutler observed that it is generally believed that the work/life balance is shifting with younger generations, away from being work focused, and more toward striking a balance.
He said that many of the problems which arise from inter-generational work relations come as a result of misunderstanding.
“You look at the world through your own filter,” said Cutler. “You view of everyone else is based on your own experience.”
After completing the exercise, Cutler said he is looking to enlist the assistance of 10 Southern Alberta employees, three of which would be from the local area, who employ younger workers, to become involved with his project.
The first stage would involve an employee survey, and going to businesses to observe operations and interactions and to speak with staff, followed by developing a workshop for Generation Y staff members.
Using the information gathered, he would then develop a training session for all staff, followed by a pre-post attitudinal questionnaire for those involved to fill out.
Cutler hopes this will foster discussion and understanding amongst employees, as well as allowing employers to attract and manage staff of all generations.
For more information on the project, call Herky Cutler at 403-627-5044, visit www.herkycutler.com, or email contact@herkycutler.com.
For more information on the Cross Country Ski Association, call Jackie Woodman at 403-562-2664, visit www.Allisonwonderland.ca, or send an email to cnpcrosscountry@gmail.com.
For more information on the Chamber’s annual Trade Show, or the Chamber in general, call 403-562-7108, visit www.Cnpchamber.ca, or email cnpchamber@telus.net.
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   Volume 81 - Issue 3 passheraldarchive.ca   email: passherald@shaw.ca   $1.00   
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