Our small but proud contingent of Barre Rotarians and guests had barely finished the rituals before Tom had to pass the gavel. Tony wasted no time in fining our acting president for dereliction of duty in placing the eagle on our flag facing the corner (not to mention some conspicuously absent banners). A weak defense about absent sergeants-at-arms meant the buck did not stop with Tom but rather went straight to the basket. Visiting Rotarian Doug Bullett lightened the mood with a happy dollar for having had a wonderful time visiting with his family. Tom's lack of hospitality in making Doug walk all the way across the room to submit this happy dollar earned him yet another fine, this time from Sarah. Soon-to-be-Barre-Rotarian Ed Rousse next stood to submit his membership application to Barre Rotary. After some confusion over whether spouses could (or should) sponsor each other, Tom agreed to step in as Ed's sponsor. Ed's application will go to the board first before being presented to the membership. .jpg) Secretary's ReportEven if Vermont gave her a chilly reception, Barre Rotary heartily welcomed Susan back from Florida. - Susan had an unofficial meeting with Ron Parnigoni while down south.
- The Salvation Army contacted her to see if any Barre Rotarians would be interested in helping man the kettles in Berlin on Saturday, December 16 from 10AM - 6PM. We have a few takers already but still need more; contact her if you're interested.
- We had two guests who both happened to be visiting Rotarians: Doug Bullett from the Bon Aire Rotary Club and Ed Rousse, soon to be formerly of the Montpelier Rotary Club.
- This was the second reading of Sam Markewich's membership application.
Tony told a joke, and we sang a song together (accompanied by Dick) that Tom declared "awesome". Ed next reported that he'd attended the birthday celebration for Harley Jordan at the Central Vermont Rotary Club and, while there, talked with Gary Haas about the possibility of their club merging with one of the other area Rotary clubs. He reported back that their reluctance comes from the fact that no other club serves U-32, and they want to ensure students there are not left behind when it comes to all the opportunities Rotary holds for high schoolers. This is something for all of us to ponder going forward.  Emerging Trends in Design and Cultivation of Best Places to Work - Stephen Frey, Architect Steve's architectural firm, Arocordis Design, helps cultivate thriving organizations, people, and places while enabling high performance. He showed us how good architecture and design can translate into positive employee experience, leading to increased productivity and improved retention. He identified 7 emerging trends in workplace design that are changing not just what our work looks like, but how we work. - Cause. Employees of all ages are motivated by wanting to work for a company that they believe in and which shares their values. Values are something that can be reflected and showcased in a workplace's design choices.
- What office? People are not tied to an office anymore and can frequently do their work from anywhere. Offices thus need to offer something beyond just being a place to do one's work.
- Activity-based workplace design. Many companies are eschewing the traditional cubicle and office approach in favor of flexible spaces focused on certain activities instead of certain individuals. You might start your day in a social meeting room, move to a technology-focused design space mid-day, and end in a quiet solo project work room, in part because your work is no longer tied to a single place and because different places are conducive to different kinds of work.
- User experience and branding. Good design is essential to controlling the public narrative about one's company and ensuring that consumers associate your brand with the things and feelings you want them to.
- Nature near. Psychologists agree that being closer to nature is good for our mental health and therefore good for our productivity. Designers are taking their cues from this research and are finding creative ways to bring nature into the workplace, whether it's through indoor plantings, strategically placed windows, or garden and water features throughout an office.
- Wellbeing at work. Companies are increasingly focused on the wellbeing of their employees. This includes promoting healthy lifestyle choices, improving work/life balance, and ensuring access to resources that can improve wellbeing. For example, some companies are moving toward using walking meetings instead of traditional sedentary meetings as a way to encourage exercise.
- DIY Design Engagement. Companies are increasingly taking design into their own hands as well and letting employees and even customers participate in the process.
For more stories, photos and news visit: www.barrevtrotary.org
|
