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How To Inspire Purpose In Employees

By
Grace Baldwin
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It is difficult to run a business when your employees do not like being there. Employees who love what they do, who they work for, and who they work with will produce much better than those that do not.

“A business needs a purpose and each employee needs to be inspired by and contributing to that purpose,” said Paul Ratoff, president of newly formed non-prophet Strategy Development Group Inc. and author of “Thriving in a Stakeholder World: Purpose as the New Competitive Advantage.”

The current philosophy of many businesses around the country focus strongly on shareholder value. Ratoff is a firm believer in pushing less for shareholder value but, rather, for stakeholder value. Stakeholders include everyone who impacts the company or is impacted by it, from customers to suppliers to communities. This is what it takes for a business to survive and thrive in today’s economy.

“If everyone in an organization feels good about the work they do and is committed to the organization’s purpose, then you’re likely to see good results,” said Ratoff. “But if workers aren’t engaged, their productivity can suffer, and the company as a whole may pay the price. Imagine if you could get employees to look at their jobs as something with a purpose that goes beyond just earning a paycheck. That could result in a more engaged workforce, better productivity and perhaps less turnover.”

Having purpose in a job gives an employee a reason to stay at a job and a reason to perform well. Studies show that millennials in particular seek purpose in the jobs they take and are much quicker to switch jobs if they do not find it.

So, inspiration is critical to success in the workplace, and employers are crucial to inspiring their employees. How does an employer inspire his or her employees?

Here are a few tips Ratoff suggests for inspiring employees:

• It starts at the top. It’s not enough that employees find the purpose inspiring. “The leader of the company has to be inspired because the leader will cause others to be inspired.” Ratoff says. Ultimately, it’s important that the entire management team be on board and enthusiastic.

• Make sure the purpose is clear and meaningful. Company leaders must find a common purpose that’s broad enough to be meaningful and important to employees. In the absence of a clear organizational purpose, people focus on their individual goals and may perceive different purposes for the same organization.

• Discard what doesn’t fit. Identify company activities that aren’t aligned with the purpose and remove or transform them.

“Purpose isn’t an idea that only lives in a strategic plan or on a website,” Ratoff says. “It lives in the daily operation of a business and in the ongoing communications with stakeholders. And it lives as the internal compass for keeping a complicated organization with many competing interests on course.”

So choose a purpose that adequately describes the ideals and goals you wish to set, and stick with it.

Jewelry Making, Tech Talks At The Public Library

By
Grace Baldwin
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STEAM 4 KIDS: Binary Jewelry at the Public Library

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library invites children ages 7 to 11 to participate in a STEAM 4 KIDS program on Thursday, September 1st at 5:30 p.m.  Participants will learn how computers think and how to write their name in computer language. Every participant will make a personalized necklace to take home. Please call 559-2970 to register.

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library is excited to offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs for children ages 7-11 this Fall.  By offering such programming, the public library strives to provide an informal environment where children can become engaged in fun, hands-on learning activities in the STEAM disciplines. STEAM programs will be offered every Thursday from 5:30 – 6:30pm. All programming is free to the public, but we ask that you register ahead of time so we will be prepared with adequate materials.

Tech Talks at the Public Library

The Judy B. McDonald Public Library invites the public to an informal monthly workshop for anyone with technology questions or issues.  The open workshop is every month on the first Friday at 4:00 p.m.  The next meeting is September 2nd.  All are welcome to attend and ask questions, troubleshoot devices or just listen.

The workshop is free and no registration is required.  Please call 559-2970 for more information.

IN THE BOOKS: Lady Roadrunner Soccer Team Notches Program’s First Win

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunner soccer team celebrates the first win in program history, a 2-0 victory over Ranger College Tuesday in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)

Roadrunners Fall to Ranger College in Season Opener

In a pre-match ceremony, Angelina College president Michael Simon, Athletic Director Guy Davis and Dean of Student Services Steve Hudman provided a ceremonial first kick to celebrate the college’s very first home soccer games.

A packed house got its money’s worth in a college soccer doubleheader.

Three games into their existence, the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners etched their names into the college’s history books with the soccer program’s first-ever victory, a 2-0 shutout over Ranger College Tuesday night at Lufkin High School’s Jase Magers Field in Lufkin.

Angelina College’s Carley Elkins (16) heads a ball past a Ranger defender during Tuesday’s match in Lufkin. Elkins missed this attempt, but would net another one later as the Lady Roadrunners notched the program’s first-ever victory, a 2-0 win over the Lady Rangers. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Angelina College’s Carley Elkins (16) heads a ball past a Ranger defender during Tuesday’s match in Lufkin. Elkins missed this attempt, but would net another one later as the Lady Roadrunners notched the program’s first-ever victory, a 2-0 win over the Lady Rangers. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)

The Lady ‘Runners showed how fast they learn on the fly after dropping their previous two games to tough competition. AC put the pressure on nearly all match long, with BB Arevalo banging home a deflection barely eight minutes into the match and teammate Carley Elkins heading home the team’s second goal at 32:30 of the second half.

AC keeper Nanci Juarez-Sedano, fresh off her seven-save performance in last week’s loss to Navarro College, pitched the shutout with help from her back line, including Lauren Voss and Allie Chapman, who swept the box clean on numerous Ranger runs.

Arevalo’s goal came off a deflection from a Ranger defender; the sophomore found open space in the center of the box and drilled the ball into the inside left corner of the net.

Elkins’ goal came after two previous attempts just missed: She knocked a header attempt off a Ranger defender, tried blasting one from long range only to see it sail over the crossbar and finally took Chapman’s head flick and bounced it past the Ranger keeper to seal the 2-0 win.

Men's-web
Angelina College’s Kaci Bennett (right) dodges a sliding tackle from a Ranger defender during Tuesday’s match in Lufkin. The Roadrunners dropped their season opener –the program’s very first game – by a 3-1 score to the Rangers. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)

The Roadrunners, playing in their very first regular-season game, ran into a big, physical Ranger team and came out on the short end of a 3-1 loss. AC did, however, record a little of its own history when Luis Garcia got a second chance at a header and knocked it past the Ranger keeper for the first-ever goal in program history. Ranger scored each of its goals on breakaway opportunities, with Kyle Edwards, Azinho Solomon and Yurg Nascimento finding the nets.

Afterward, head coach Freddy Drago told his team, “Hey, the first game of the season is always the toughest. We saw where we need work, but I’m proud of the way you fought tonight. We’re going to get better.”

The Lady Roadrunners (1-2, 0-1) will travel to Mesquite on Friday to take on Eastfield College at 6 p.m. The Roadrunners (0-1) travel to Houston on Thursday to take on San Jacinto College in the teams’ conference opener. That match kicks off at 7 p.m.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Registration Still Open For Angelina College’s New Technical Programs At Sabine Area Career Center

By
Grace Baldwin
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Angelina College’s Sabine Area Career Center is offering two new technical training programs this fall. These programs are being implemented in cooperation with Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas in response to requests from local industry and area market demand.

The Certified Production Technician program is awarded through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC). According to the MSSC website, this is an industry-led, training, assessment and certification program that focuses on core skills and knowledge needed by front-line production and material handling workers.

This program is based upon industry-defined and federally-endorsed standards. A Registered Medical Assistant certification program is also offered at AC’s Sabine Area Career Center. Medical assistants are currently in great demand in Deep East Texas and throughout the state.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for medical assistants is expected to increase during the next 10 years. Medical assistant classes begin Sept. 6 and MSSC classes begin Sept. 12. Call Angelina College’s Community Services division at 936-633-5206 for registration information.

Texas Health and Human Services To Undergo Major Changes

By
Grace Baldwin
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At the direction of the Texas Legislature, the state’s health agencies have begun a massive restructuring to make the system more efficient, effective and responsive for all Texans.

On Sept. 1, about 4,000 employees and more than 120 programs and functions will officially “move” to the Health and Human Services Commission from four other health and human state agencies.

The move marks the first of two waves of the state’s significant health agency transformation designed to help Texans find and receive services more efficiently.

This first phase moves many client services and administrative functions to HHSC, which administers Medicaid, CHIP and other services. The second wave, set for Sept. 1, 2017, moves certain regulatory programs, state hospitals and state supported living centers to HHSC from other agencies.

“This is a monumental effort that’s happening behind the scenes. Most people won’t notice a change, other than hopefully it’s easier for them to find what they need,” said Executive Commissioner Charles Smith. “It’s a work in progress, and we’re putting the system together in a way that puts Texans first.”

The most visible aspect on Sept. 1 will be the launch of a revamped website for Texas Health and Human Services. A major section of the site will be dedicated to services, with subgroups by service types, such as services related to aging, disabilities, women and children, food and fitness, child protection and others. The site will have a cleaner look and more intuitive navigation to help people find health and human services information.

One of the more significant structural changes starting Sept. 1 is the consolidation of client services into a single division at HHSC, rather than have them exist at several agencies. This Medical and Social Services Division will create a central structure, connecting behavioral, medical, preventive care, disability, developmental and other services into one area to better meet the needs of the whole person.

The changes are part of the system’s consolidation from five agencies to three. The transformation will eliminate the need for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and the Department of Aging and Disability Services to operate as separate agencies by 2017. The transformation also includes moving selected programs from the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Family and Protective Services to HHSC. DSHS will focus its efforts on core public health functions, and DFPS will focus on prevention and protective services.

An analysis of the system and the passage of legislation last year outlined the directive to transform the Health and Human Services system into a more efficient system to better provide services and benefits to Texans. No programs were eliminated as a result of the system overhaul.

5 Health and Wellness Rules to Live by this School Year and Beyond

By
Misty Boggs
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At school, kids are exposed to an influx of germs that can cause a number of preventable sicknesses, including cold and flu. The top germiest school-based culprits include water fountains, plastic reusable cafeteria trays, keyboards, toilets and…students’ hands.

To keep your family free from the sniffles all year long, here are five easy-to-follow tips to ensure a healthy, happy and absent-free school year.

1. Teach Kids to Wash Hands the Right Way.

It seems simple enough, but research shows that only 5 percent of people wash their hands properly. The CDC recommends following five simple steps: wet, lather, scrub (for at least 20 seconds), rinse and dry. Don’t forget backs of hands, between fingers and under the nails. Handwashing is the best defense against germs, but if soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer is a good alternative.

2. Sanitize School Supplies.

Sanitize school supplies, lunch boxes, bottoms of backpacks, etc., weekly. These items are exposed to a variety of germs lurking in places like gym lockers, on desks and in bathrooms. Use disinfecting wipes on plastic objects, and throw items like lunch boxes and backpacks in the washing machine. Send kids to school with disposable wipes so they can clean surfaces like desks, cafeteria trays and other surfaces throughout the day.

3. Set a Sleep Schedule.

A regular bedtime and an alert morning go hand-in-hand. The National Sleep Foundation recommends a calming nighttime routine like reading a book or taking a bath to signal the brain that it’s bedtime, and leave technology like tablets, laptops and cell phones out of the bedroom. If you’re wondering how much sleep your child needs each night, it’s recommended that toddlers receive 11 to 14 hours, preschoolers 10 to 13 hours, school-aged children nine to 11 hours, and teenagers eight to 10 hours.

4. Keep Healthy Snacks and Meals on Hand.

A healthy, balanced diet has been proven to keep kids mentally sharp and focused, but fast-paced schedules during the school year can sometimes result in quick-fix, and often unhealthy, food choices. Keep nutritious grab-and-go snacks like trail mix and fruit at the ready. And don’t skip breakfast. It can mean decreased cognitive performance in areas like alertness, attention, memory and problem solving.

5. Nurse Kids Back to Health.

Germs are lurking everywhere — school, preschool and daycare, so be prepared if sickness does strike. Tools like TempTraq come in handy for unexpected fevers, giving parents peace of mind and children the rest they need to get better. This wearable, Bluetooth temperature monitor continuously senses, records and transmits body temperature for up to 24-hours. It can even send alerts to your smartphone via its free mobile app to notify you immediately if your child’s fever reaches an unsafe level. Visit Target or CVS to stock your medicine cabinet with this useful must-have, or order online at TempTraq.com.

From hectic schedules to germ-ridden classrooms, the stress and environment of school can take a toll on kids’ health. Keep them healthier with a few simple strategies and you’ll be headed to a perfect attendance record.

National Preparedness Month: 3 Tips to Get Your Family Ready

By
Lee Allen Miller
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While most people don’t like to think about worst case scenarios, giving them their proper consideration can ultimately offer peace of mind.

September is National Preparedness Month and it is a great time to get your home and family ready for a range of emergencies. Here are three steps to take.

Stock Up

Every home should contain a supply kit that includes a surplus of nonperishable food items, as well as fresh bottled water. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends one gallon per person in your household per day for three days.

FEMA also recommends that the kit include prescription medications for everyone in the family, personal hygiene items, a flashlight, extra batteries and matches, amongst other items. For a complete list, visit fema.gov.

Free Yourself of Your Phone

While we all know that smartphone technology and other mobile devices offer us useful information, in an emergency scenario these devices may lose their signal or their battery life. Stay prepared and informed no matter what happens with wearable technology that is not at the mercy of a cellphone tower or a battery that needs to be recharged every few hours.

For example Casio’s PRO TREK PRG300 timepieces feature functions like an altimeter, compass and barometer (great for staying aware of changes in temperature or air pressure). They also deliver this information hands-free, which can be useful any day of the week but extra valuable in an emergency.

Get Insured

Is your home and property properly insured? Know what your homeowners insurance covers and determine whether it is sufficient to meet your needs. For example, homeowners insurance policies do not typically cover flooding, which requires separate coverage. Learn more about your home’s primary risks and get covered now, before it’s too late.

No one has a crystal ball that can see into the future, so to best protect your family and your home, get prepared for everything.

Grants Available to Nacogdoches County Educators

By
Grace Baldwin
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Education grants now available from Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful for 2016/2017 school year.

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful (KNB) will award as many as 12 grants of $250 during the 2016-17 school year. In total, $3,000 will be awarded to educators within Nacogdoches County. Larger grants may be available for deserving projects.

Arbor Day projects will be considered separately as Texas Arbor Day is celebrated on November 4, before the original grant deadline. “With the Texas Arbor Day celebration in Nacogdoches, at Millard’s Crossing, educators can take advantage of the KNB grant to coordinate an Arbor Day project for their individual campuses,” Katie Blevins, KNB executive coordinator, said.

Any pre-K through grade 12 classroom or campus in Nacogdoches County, public or private, is eligible. Applications may be made by an individual campus professional such as a classroom teacher, counselor, librarian or principal for a group of students in a classroom, grade level, subject-matter team or school-sponsored student group.

“Recipients of KNB grants create beautification, litter management and waste reduction projects throughout Nacogdoches County,” said Cheryl Bartlett, KNB board member, “They involve kids and teach them how to improve the quality of the environment in their own community.”

Qualifying applications feature beautification and/or education projects that align with one or more of KNB’s core values: litter prevention, beautification, community improvement, waste reduction and resources, conservation, recycling and environmental education.

Applicants will need appropriate signatures from their school’s administration in order to be considered.

General applications are due Nov. 2, 2016, before 5 p.m. and applications related to Arbor Day projects are due Oct. 1, 2016 before 5 p.m. Applications may be emailed to info@keepnacbeautiful.org or mail ATTN: KNB Education Grant Committee, P.O. Box 633030, Nacogdoches, TX 75963. 2016. Applicants will be notified within two weeks after the deadline.

City Reviews Sidewalk Ordinance Draft During Discussion Series

By
Grace Baldwin
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Topics include walkability and sidewalk needs throughout our community

The City of Nacogdoches invites all residents to a discussion about sidewalks in our community. The meeting will be held at the Courthouse Annex on August 30th, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This will serve as an overview from the first discussion series that was based on the philosophy of sidewalks in our community. Residents are invited to share ideas to help shape the future of our community in regards to connectivity, walkability, and sidewalks in the proposed urban core overlay district.

The proposed urban care overlay district denotes an area of mixed institutional, retail, offices, multi-family residential, lodging, dining and entertainment establishments. If established, sidewalks will be required for development in these areas. Guidelines for these requirements will be discussed and reviewed at the meeting. The meeting will also address the question of where the urban core overlay district should lie.

“This draft ordinance is a starting point based on our previous discussions,” Steve Bartlett, City Engineer said. “There is a cost to sidewalks and wide-spread connectivity. This must be practically balanced with input from community members, creative strategies from all parties involved, and with the impact on businesses in mind.”

In the first meeting, 44 people attended and expressed strong support for sidewalk construction through public funding such as taxes, bonds and road maintenance funds. Many at the meeting also suggested sidewalk construction should be required in conjunction with commercial construction projects. From this feedback the draft ordinance has been created for public review in order to solicit feedback and changes prior to approval from Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.

“This is a topic the city has been asked to address by many citizens and we feel it’s important to have a second discussion about sidewalks prior to sending the draft to city council,” Larissa Philpot, Director of Municipal Services said. “Although we have drafted this document, it is important we continue to seek feedback now that we’ve put the community’s ideas in writing.”

Draft Ordinance can be found here.

Survey Feedback will be taken here.

Additional Work Set To Begin In Trinity County

By
Rhonda Oaks
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A new construction project is scheduled to begin in Trinity County that is designed to enhance the safety of US 287.

AR Brothers, contractor for the $618,487 project, will begin work on the south side of the city of Groveton and move toward the Polk County line. Work to safety treat fixed objects with upgraded culvert end treatments will include three roadway sections: from the Houston County line to SH 94, from SH 94 to the Polk County line and FM 230 from the Walker County line to SH 19. The project includes 22.25 miles of roadway. A date of completion for this project is undetermined. All work schedules are subject to change in inclement weather.

“We have several projects ongoing in Trinity County as well as in the city of Groveton at this time,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “We are urging motorists to stay alert as they travel through these areas and reduce their speed on SH 94, as they approach Groveton and US 287. Delays could be experienced in these areas as work progresses.”

Other work scheduled in the nine-county Lufkin District for the coming week includes:

ANGELINA COUNTY

BU 69/Kurth Drive: Crews will complete the outside bridge railings and move toward the inside bridge railing and metal beam guard fence as they upgrade and enhance the safety of the bridge and approach railings. Traffic confined to one lane through the work area.

BU 59/A&NR Railroad Bridge: Work will continue on adjoining driveways, curbs, gutters and inlets. Train traffic is scheduled to be switched this week.

US 59: Crews will be applying an overlay in various locations south of Lufkin.

US 69: Crews continue to upgrade and replace driveway culverts with safety end treatments from SL 287 in Lufkin to just north of Huntington School.

FM 3439/Spence Street: Striping is scheduled on the newly rehabilitated and widened roadway from US 59 to SL 287/US69.

Various locations: Crews will apply herbicide for vegetation control and repair potholes.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY

US 59: Work continues from SL 224 to 1.3 miles south of the loop and from US 59 to SH 7 West on SL 224. Crews are scheduled to continue work on sidewalks and driveways along with repairs and replacements of curb and gutter. Subcontractors are working on cross drainage structures and widening north and south of Spradley Street. Crews will continue to work to construct center medians.

SL 224: A project designed to resurface the roadway is ongoing from FM 2259 to FM 2609.

FM 95: Work to construct the detour for replacement of the bridge and placement of metal beam guardrail is scheduled at Parallel Creek.

POLK COUNTY

US 190: Crews are scheduled to continue placing embankment in areas where passing lanes are being constructed from Onalaska to FM 2457.

US 190/FM 350: Crews are scheduled to upgrade with safety end treatments driveway culverts and metal beam guard fencing.

US 59: Work will continue to resurface existing pavement in the southbound lanes from just south of Milton Creek to the BU 59 overpass.

Livingston State Park: Work continues to rehabilitate roads, campsite pullouts and parking lots at Piney Shores, Yaupon and Red Oak camping loops. Yaupon and Red Oak Camp loops remain closed.

Hooks Road: Crews will work to replace the bridge and upgrade approaches at a tributary of Bear Creek.

Howell Road: Work is scheduled on bridge approaches as construction of the new bridge at Pace Creek continues.

Upper Leggett Road: Work is scheduled to construct approaches for the bridge replacement at Big Sandy Creek.

Jack Pate Road: Crews will construct concrete abutments for the new bridge and approaches at Big Sandy Creek.

SAN JACINTO COUNTY

US 59/FM 2914 Overpass: Crews are scheduled to continue placing steel reinforcement for additional concrete paving.

US 59: Embankment is being placed on the southbound frontage road just south of the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Shepherd to north of FM 2914.

US 59: Work will continue to upgrade metal beam guard railing from just south of FM 2914 to the Liberty County line.

SH 156: Contractors are scheduled to clean, straighten and replace delineators and mailboxes in various locations.

FM 946: Work is scheduled for contractors to trim, remove dead limbs from trees, provide vegetation control along the rights of way in various locations.

Various locations: Work is scheduled to repair base failures and fill pot homes.

TRINITY COUNTY

US 287/Groveton: Work will continue to remove the old road surface and stabilize the subgrade on the west end of the city of Groveton.

FM 356: Crews will work on drainage issues, level up and patching in various locations.

HOUSTON COUNTY

SH 21: Motorists continue to be detoured off main lanes as construction continues to add new base material to the subgrade and widen the roadway from 2.3 miles east of FM 2967 to SH 7. In Austonio, work to remove the old road surface and reconstruct wider main lanes continues, as weather permits. Work on driveways and safety treating fixed objects also continues.

US 287/FM 132: Traffic continues to be confined to a single lane as crews continue to safety treat culverts and work to enhance driveways on US 287 from 2.1 miles north of FM 2663 to just south of SL 304. Work to remove and replace driveway culverts on FM 132 will also continue.

Loop 304: Crews are scheduled to do base work and seal road edges from SH 19 South to SH 7/21 West and from US 287 North to SH 7 West.

FM 3151: Work will continue to replace driveway culverts and safety treat culvert ends.

FM 227: Work continues at Hickory Creek to remove and replace the bridge and approaches. Crews are scheduled to tie steel for drill shafts.

FM 2110: Crews will work to level up and seal roadway edges in various locations.

CR 3615 (Sims Road): Crews are working to begin the new bridge deck.

SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY

US 96: Traffic continues to be detoured as workers extend cross drainage structures and work to reconstruct the roadway and add passing lanes from the Shelby County line to FM 3451.

US 96: Crews will work to safety treat fixed objects and replace metal beam guardrail from FM 83 to the Jasper County line.

US 96/Ayish Bayou: Approach work at the new bridge is underway and crews are scheduled to continue to treat the subgrade.

SH 21: Crews will work to safety treat fixed objects from SH 147 to FM 1.

FM 1175: Crews will work to safety treat fixed objects from the end of pavement to FM 83.

FM 705: Crews will continue to work to safety treat fixed objects and upgrading culverts from SH 147 to the end of pavement.

SHELBY COUNTY

US 84/Sabine River Bridge: Crews continue to work on paving in Logansport, LA along with forming caps, columns and drilled shafts for the new westbound bridge. In Texas, crews will work on driveway culverts and subgrade to prepare the area for cement treatments.

SH 7: Driveway culverts are being installed and safety treated from 4.4 miles east of FM 2913 to US 96.

FM 415: Crews are constructing detour structures as work continues to replace the bridge at Bear Bayou.

SABINE COUNTY

FM 1: Work is continuing from SH 184 to SS 1 as crews mix existing base and prime coating.

FM 87: Crews are scheduled to repair roadway base in various locations.

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