Recreation 210 ? 2/11/08

Recreation 210 ? 2/11/08 Career Perspectives ? Advancement and Development 1st Exam Review No true false. No matching There are a few fill in the blank type questions Short answer essays. Test is 75 pts. Study guide: Define leisure: free and un obligated time; the time that is left when work and other necessary things are not being done. Leisure is a combination of free time, recreational activity, and it is a state of mind. Leisure is the spare time, or free time in people?s lives. The time away from obligation and that people can take to relax. Leisure is different to certain age groups and races and different circumstances. As a recreational activity, I believe things like baking cakes or brownies or reading in a recreational activity that can be leisurely for me. This may not be the same for everyone. Some might think sleeping in on Sat. is leisurely while others might think competing in a marathon is leisure. Lastly, leisure as a state of mind refers to leisure as being feelings of self-satisfaction. This suggests that leisure includes capitalizing on opportunities for building meaningfulness to life. I do believe that when people engage in certain activities, they add more to their life. A simple hike or finishing a great book can add richness to a person?s life. Theories: Four Basic Theories of Leisure classical (if you?re a citizen you have leisure) Classical State of being in which activity is performed for its own sake ? sharply contrasted with work Work = ignoble/boring/monotonous Created for Greeks with slaves Modern problem ? leisure cannot be the privilege of a few social class (leisure for nobles or idle rich) Leisure for nobles / ultra wealthy/Idle rich Conspicuous consumption Created for South by slaves Modern problem ? except for a few jet setters no people form of activity (not work activity, relaxation, voluntary) Non-work activity during free time Liberation and pleasure >> relaxation/entertainment/personal growth Voluntary activity in contrast to work, which is required, utilitarian and rewarded economically Modern problem ? life is more than work and free time free time Non-obligated, discretionary time > beyond existence (living) and subsistence (work, school) Modern problem ? pre-supposes work > can leisure exist without work? Who doesn?t work ? those with true leisure (rich, retired) and those with enforced leisure (prisoners, children, unemployed, ill, handicapped) Triangle of circles of life. (pyramid) Man?s Use of Leisure Time: BIG TRIANGLE Creative/Adventure/Experience Participation the maker of the model Active Participation copying in the model playing the part Emotional Participation person moved in appreciation Entertainment/Amusement/Escape from antidote to boredom Monotony/Killing Time Injury or Detriment to Self excesses Acts Against Society delinquency, crime Can Americans be trusted with leisure. (look at triangle / pyramind) ANSWER: No they can?t: We are going to be the ones that are entrusted to let Americans enjoy their leisure. When we let people be responsible with leisure the facts at the bottom of the triangle tend to become seen more because it?s easy. Do we know how to choose? Idleness Debauchery / gambling Do we consider leisure acceptable ? dare we accept leisure? Concepts of working poor Inspired by Greg Halpern?s ?Harvard Works Because We Do? ? Student at Harvard ? Inspired by Studs Terkel?s ?Working? > workers history ? 1998 began photographing ?custodians? > lowest paid staff ? LPS > janitors, security, grounds, food servers, truck handlers > the INVISIBLE PEOPLE > seen not heard > about 1,000 at Harvard More Background: ? Living wage vs. minimum wage ? $22 billion endowment > ranked 2nd ? Student protest > sit in > supported by faculty > different than civil rights or war protests > for the Blue Collar worker ? Succeeded ??? Living Wage: ? Federal Minimum > State Minimum > Living wage (usually always more) ? Washington based Economic Policy Institute ? Hourly worker should, in a 40 hour work week, earn enough to cover 1. housing 2. food 3. basic living expenses Living wage- $ a week to pay for housing, food, and basic living expenses. Examples from book: ? Carol-Ann Malatesa, p.29 ? Bill Brooks, p.38 ? Judy Alford, p.59 ? Rachael Herman, p.66 ? David Noard, p. 95 ? Gary Newmark, p.108 Concentrate on chapter 1. What happened in the 50s and 60s and how it still happens today? 1950?s and 60?s organization of people in recreation. Military create MWR NRPA formed in mid1960s creating hundreds of new curricula were established in schools creating a higher education. Today, we are still expanding the pathways that students can go down with a degree in special events. Special events are here to stay. Several factors were responsible for the emergence of recreation and leisure as key elements in national life during the 50s and 60s. First there was a steady growth the population because the baby-boomer generation matured and was supported during the post- WWII decades. Next the amount of free time increased to most Americans. The labor union contracts reduced the number of hours to work per week and the number of holidays increased. Also they expanded vacation time. Leisure and outcomes Benefits ? Endless Benefits Based Management mission , goals, objectives programs & services to achieve monitor & evaluate to identify benefits report & publicize Personal Benefits health & fitness emotional social development cognitive/intellectual development Societal Benefits create a sense of community overcome prejudices reduce crime/juvenile delinquency cultural understanding social services to those in need Economic Benefits goods & services jobs impact/marketing Trillion Dollars ? zillion story Environmental Benefits Preservation Government > National Park Service, Forest Service Non-profits > Sierra Club, Audubon Society Leisure at the beginning of the 21st century. Tell Vern what you can do to get your next job. Don?t change jobs, just move up. Fix up your resume If you have contacts it helps Be prepared for questions Go through employment agencies Volunteering, getting your foot in the door. Only 20% are ever advertised 80% are through networking Building personal skills to add to resume is volunteering Gain experience from other fields and get certified or receive additional training. Seniority not the way ? doesn?t exist anymore. This way is gone. Upgrading skills and performance is the way In-service trainings ? great ways to improve. ? Certifications-- look for certifications. Computer certifications. Professional Associations ? member + commitment = success If you don?t get the job, don?t be depressed. A lot of times you have an interview doesn?t mean you always have a chance. Secret formula: Be a member. Add some type of commitment. Member + commitment = success. Traits and skills Personal Traits that all Leisure Delivery System organizations value Outgoing Sense of humor ? not complaining about problems, making fun of them instead Energy ? some days will be 12 or16 hour days. You need energy to keep going Like to work with people ? If you don?t like people you can sit at a computer all day. This is a people field. Kinetic ? you?re inside the energy and moving around. Not just sitting around. You can see that it?s huge in leisure delivery system Creative ? Problem solver ? being resourceful. If there were no problems there would be no managers. Managers need to be able to solve problems. Problems happen everyday and you just need to address them and listen. Service oriented Skills and Personal Qualities Initiative and energy > typical jobs are not clearly defined and repetitious > need leadership (initiative) and creativity (energy) to meet and solve challenges. Jobs are not working everyday on the same thing like a factory. Work hard, long hours > nights, weekends and holidays. General concept of streamlining? doing more with less. Each person does more. There is so much to do. Might be fun and games but it?s hard work. Organization > plan, use good judgment and make sound decisions, see the big picture and small details, follow through. You can be the most enthusiastic person and be willing to work long hours but you need to be organized. People-Centered > at every level > respect, tolerance of differences, ability to listen and emphasize, command respect and trust > meet others needs The difference between traits and skills is that skills can be learned and traits are things that already define a person. Things that a person is born with or naturally do. Hour glass of skill: Top: administrator, dealing with legal issues. You still have to have the supervisor/ manager skills. You tend to lose the technical skills Middle: supervisor/ manager : communiation, organization Bottom : technical skills, working a computer, answering phone correctly Know about interview questions. Situational questions ?how would you handle this situation?? ?What would you do if??? Most people make up answers. Answer: this isn?t what I would do, but what I have done in a situation..? This makes you special and stands out. You already have the experience. Weakness questions -make it as short as possible. Make it forgettable. Short and sweet. Make them completely forget this question. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah ? these people said nothing that made them stand out. Most people don?t step up. Their afraid. You give them the answer they want to hear. You need to give them something that makes you stand out and what makes you special. Don?t answer what they want to hear. Answer for what is right. Put your hands together and just sit them there. Don?t move your hands. Don?t fidget.