Dream Jobs....

How many times have you said to yourself...."When I grow up, I am going to be a..."

I remember growing up in Chicago, and seeing the Soo Line trains run through our town, and wondering what it would be like to be a train engineer. So now, I work for a Railroad in Central Virginia. Sadly, not as an engineer, but as head of HR.

Recently, we were interviewing candidates for two positions on our track crew. We received 150 resumes and applications, interviewed eight, and need to select two. One of the candidates told us a story about a previous job he held. He was hired in a factory for a particular job. Two other candidates were hired at the same time, but for different jobs. On their first day at work, after extensive interviews, the two candidates walked off their jobs, saying that it just was not what they thought it would be. Our candidate was asked to take over in a different department, until the company was able to find other people to hire.

Takes us now to the railroad. So many times, our dream job may, or may not, turn out to be what we were looking for. Railroad work is, strictly speaking, hard work. It pays well, but there are times when one is slogging around in the mud on a cold, rainy day, repairing rail sections, or cutting up trees that have fallen over the tracks. Makes it very important to match the job to the individual.

There are ways to do this....see more at www.resourcesforperformance.com.

Oh...and by the way...the picture above is a winter shot, where the rail worker is heating the rails to move them back into proper position. Rails move in...and out....very important to keep the trains on the tracks! Derailment is certainly a bad word!

Greatest Basketball Team that Wasn't...

A basketball legend passed today. John Wooden, one of the greatest basketball coaches, passed away at 99. Sad to say, I did not much like him while in college. The burr in my saddle comes from one of the best USC basketball teams ever, who did not get to play in the NCAA tournament.

In 1972, USC went 24-2. The two losses were to UCLA, in the Bill Walton years. Those were also the years that UCLA won seven straight NCAA titles. Pretty awesome record. But I remember that year that USC had five players who went on to play in the NBA. Lead by Paul Westphal, one of the best guards to play the game, Chris Riley, Joe Mackey, and Chris Schrobilgen are the names I most remember.

UCLA played in Pauley Pavilion. USC, up until the last few years played in the LA Sports Arena, not quite the nicest digs, but that season was special. UCLA had gone to South Bend, and lost to Notre Dame, so the second game against USC was very important. USC was up by nine in the second half, but fell to UCLA in a slow down game....there wasn't a shot clock in those days.

Those were also the days, at least I believe, of college sports programs that were about graduating with a degree. Where have we lost that concept? Farewell, John Wooden. Good man....

Wind Damage to Rowing Eight

So, rowing is a Spring sport, at least, it always has been for me. But this Spring has been anything but kind to rowers at the University of Scranton. In a recent wind storm, our only eight oared shell was blown off the stretchers and into the trailer. The worst damage was a 2" by 2" hole in the hull, which makes the boat unrowable. We have two four man shells, but for over 30 kids on the team, that does not give much water time!

The crew, understandably, is down, and with races already every weekend, is planning on what can be done to at least enter and compete in some races. But this kind of blow can really hit morale pretty hard.

So the thing to do, is to find ways to get this boat fixed, some other damage that was "patched" redone and make this boat rowable again. Wish us luck!

Ever Been Flying in a Small Airplane?

Recently, I had a Saturday opportunity to go out flying with a friend from church. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, we could see New York City in the distance. We flew over to an airport near the NJ/NY border for lunch, and returned. The picture to the left is of still frozen Lake Wallenpaupack.





On the way over, we flew in formation with a second airplane that my pilot frequently flies with . While that was fun to watch, on the way back home, he turned the controls over to me....my first time flying a small airplane since about 1978, when I was taking flying lessons out in California, flying out of Van Nuys airport in the San Fernando Valley.



Van Nuys airport has it's own interesting history, opening as Los Angeles Metropolitan Airport in 1928. Hollywood apparently liked that airport quite a bit, with Howard Hughes, Cecile B. DeMille, and Gene Autry, and Wallace Beery all flying out of that airport. In 1929, Amelia Earhart set a new speed record there during races that were held.

In addition, some famous movies had scenes shot there, including Casablanca, Lost Horizon, Hells Angels, Men with Wings, and Test Pilot.

Proud Dad in Many Ways!

Admittedly, Bonnie and I have two of the best children any mom and dad could have. And good news has come to Dr. Jenny Lang (daughter,) who is pregnant with our first grandchild. Jenny, who last year completed her Doctorate at the University of Maryland, College Park, and is Director of Admissions for the School of Music there, is due late this summer.

To announce this to mom and I, Jenny and Brian gave us a small package, with a little baby outfit in it. On the front, it says "I watch Trojan Football with Grandma and Grandpa." Trojans, of course, referring to Bonnie's and my undergrad alma mater - USC.

So, even though this is not business-related, just had to share this good news!

Class Starts in March - HRM531 Human Capital Management

So, my teaching with the University of Phoenix starts in early March, beginning with teaching a class called Human Capital Management, HRM 531. I am looking forward to that new start, especially with teaching a class that is right in my "wheelhouse."

Recently, I've been asked to chair the Human Resources Committee for Tanglwood Lakes, the community we live in, which is run by a homeowner's association. There has been some excellent groundwork laid by previous committee chair and the Community Manager, so that is always nice to see. Organizations, big and small, always need to be aware of their employees and employee
relations.