Exciting News:
A new ASB children's book about Maggie the American Saddlebred filly with very long legs debuted this past week at the Denver Stock Show.
"The Horse with a Dragonfly on her Nose" tells the story of how Maggie got the dragonfly marking.
It is also the story of friendship, instincts, life cycles of all creatures and the importance of memories.
I have pledged 10% of the book sales to Horses Forever a 501 c3 non-profit based in Colorado wand who has horses in Rhode Island and New York who are looking for their forever home; www.horsesforever.org
To see more or to order a copy go to www.maggiethehorse.com and click on the Can't Catch Me Icon.
Maggie (Sing to Champagne) was the 2005 ASB Sporthorse of the Year.
And yes, she does have a dragonfly on her nose!
Engaged Leadership’s Role in Workplace Violence Prevention
By Bill WhitmoreWhy does workplace violence rear its ugly head? Are we needlessly worried about potential violence at work or do we have genuine reason to be concerned? Unfortunately, it turns out that those who worry about workplace violence have cause to be apprehensive. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that approximately two million Americans are victims of workplace violence each year; costing businesses up to $120 billion annually. Every day, on average, two people are killed and 87 injured as a result of a workplace violence incident, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Almost 50 percent of all businesses have had at least one violent event, according to Extreme Behavioral Risk Management Inc. (XBRM).
A nationwide workplace violence survey AlliedBarton conducted in concert with a polling organization found that one in three Americans employed outside the home are “very” or “somewhat concerned” with their personal safety. The survey also revealed that over half of Americans employed outside their homes (52-percent) have witnessed, heard about or have experienced a violent event or an event that can lead to violence at their workplace.
While there are warning signs, there simply is no magic formula that dictates who the perpetrator is, where the violent event takes place, or who the victims will turn out to be. For every ‘typical’ perpetrator profile, there are outliers. For every common office attack, there are upscale corporate suites where incidents of violence erupt with victims coming from all walks of life.
My new book, “Potential: Workplace Violence Prevention and Your Organizational Success,” www.potentialthebook.com, underscores how a broad range of people—including executives, law enforcement, contract security, human resources and building management personnel—can collectively build a culture of engagement, empowerment and education to lower an organization’s workplace violence risk. I believe everyone in an organization has a responsibility to be an active participant in stopping workplace violence before it happens. However, employees are not apt to act on this kind of mandate just because management rolls out an unguided decree of “if you see something, say something.” However, they can effectively act on that motto with the appropriate education, awareness and organizational support.
Numerous studies over the years have indicated a link between leadership and physical safety—especially at job sites where there is a higher risk of accidents, such as at industrial facilities. What has been less examined is the relationship between solid leadership and workplace violence prevention. The way I see it, strong and steady leadership is at the heart of workplace
violence prevention. I believe that any company that fails to embrace a leadership culture, with a definitive mandate on what defines leadership for each and every employee, will be more prone to an incident of workplace violence.
There’s a direct connection between engaged leadership, workplace security and organizational success, regardless of your product or service. Psychologist Abraham Maslow identified safety and security as among the most basic human needs on the road to self-actualization — achieving one’s full potential. It therefore follows that if your employees don’t feel safe and secure, they’re not going to do the best job for you.
Our own experience shows that where there is a culture of leadership engagement — where leaders are seen as plugged in and responsive to their employees; where employees feel that their leaders are concerned with their everyday activities, personal well-being and overall security — those are the places where you see engaged employees on every level along with higher morale.
The rub for most organizations and their leadership teams is that it’s easy to be complacent in the absence of a workplace violence incident. The typical attitude of “it can’t happen here” is pervasive. In these cases, protecting against workplace violence is a question of motivation, or a lack thereof, on the part of an organization’s leaders and those who report to them.
One of the interesting discussions from an external leadership circle held at our headquarters was that you never see numbers associated with the success of preventative measures. As an example, a disgruntled employee who was considering committing an act of workplace violence may have been dissuaded due to the preventative measures being deployed. That one prevented incident will never appear on a statistical analysis. So when people think that “It can’t happen here,” is that because of the protective culture in place, or that tactics have worked? In some instances it could be just luck, but I believe that these measures do work.
Creating and sustaining such motivation requires special leadership skills, which may differ from those required to fulfill other business focused goals. Still, there is great commonality in purpose, since workplace violence prevention is essential to ensuring the protection of shareholders’ investment and company assets. It comes down to ownership of the full spectrum of risks that are out there, and accountability to your company’s employees and shareholders.
About the author: Bill Whitmore is Chairman, President & CEO of AlliedBarton Security Services, www.alliedbarton.com, the industry’s premier provider of highly trained security personnel to many industries including commercial real estate, higher education, healthcare, residential communities, chemical/petrochemical, government, manufacturing and distribution, financial institutions, and shopping centers.
The History Press is pleased to introduce the new title:
A History
Michael J. Maddigan
In the late 1700s, settlers flocked to South Middleborough, Massachusetts, for the tall white pines that fed a booming lumber industry. Despite this early promise, residents struggled with frequent fires, financial losses and bitter debates within their young community. Local historian Michael J. Maddigan charts the history of South Middleborough from its early years, with stories of the contentious ministry of Reverend Ebenezer Jones and the original Hell’s Blazes Tavern, into the twentieth century, with memories of Wareham Street’s “milk shake king” and feisty candy maker Lucy Braley. Join Maddigan as he reveals the fascinating history of South Middleborough and pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of a New England village.
Michael J. Maddigan has been active in the fields of local history and historic preservation for nearly thirty years, and he currently serves as the vice-chairman of the Middleborough Historical Commission. He was responsible for the successful listing of South Middleborough on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, much of the research for which forms the basis of South Middleborough: A History. His other works of local history include Images of America: Middleborough, Elysian Fields: An Illustrated History of Rock Cemetery and Lakeville’s King Philip Tavern. He is the author of the popular local history column “Recollecting Nemasket,” as well as the website of the same name.
Taylor Swift, Ryan Sheckler, Greyson Chance, and Marta
Are Cover Stars of #1 Reference Book for Children
New York, NY —Which milestones will kids remember most from 2011? Just ask them about Glee, the final Harry Potter movie, or the media frenzy surrounding the British royal wedding. More than ever, kids today crave fun, exciting, and relevant information—and The World Almanac® for Kids 2012 (ages 8 and up; $13.99) delivers. On sale nationwide August 16, 2011, this annual favorite is a blend of fun facts, puzzles, activities, and games.
A dynamic foursome grace the cover of this year’s book: country/pop music star Taylor Swift, professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, FIFA’s top female soccer star Marta, and YouTube sensation Greyson Chance.
“I really can't believe I'm on the cover of The World Almanac® for Kids! Just two years ago I was an everyday kid from Oklahoma, and it's an honor to be here now—especially in the company of such amazing other young people!” said Chance, who took the music world by storm with his middle school talent show performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.”
Added Sheckler, “I am stoked to be part of the 2012 World Almanac® for Kids. It’s cool to see skateboarding be recognized so strongly by kids—now get outside and go skate!”
The World Almanac® for Kids 2012 includes an expanded “Environment” feature, with a section called “Living Green” that illuminates how small choices and practical changes can make a big difference. “Population” explores the results from the 2010 census, offering insight into the changing face of the United States. Readers will also find out what’s hot for 2012 with photographs and facts about their favorite sports and entertainment superstars.
“This iconic annual publication is a crowd pleaser for all children. The reaction from our readers, regardless of their demographic, is universal: it entertains, engages, and educates kids,” said Sarah Janssen, senior editor of The World Almanac®. “That’s the joy of producing this book. Our cover features four individuals who have positively impacted today’s youngest generation and tomorrow’s leaders. For all we know, this year’s readers could be next year’s cover stars.”
Notable features in The World Almanac® for Kids 2012 include:
• Faces and Places: Huge full-color photographs showcase the year's most talked-about topics in movies, music, sports, and more serious need-to-know news.
• Animals: Explore animals on a scientific level, from endangered species to creatures of the deep. Find out all about the biggest, smallest, and fastest creatures in the world and discover which house pets are most common.
• Environment: A brand-new section on “Living Green,” plus added information on biomes, pollutants, and climate change aids understanding of key environmental issues.
• Games: Check out the top-selling video games of all time and get a preview of the latest installments of some old favorites.
• Military: Timeless information on historical wars is complemented by up-to-date information on military innovations civilians use every day.
• Movies and TV: Fun facts about this year's most popular movies and TV shows give kids a close-up look at what’s coming up next for their favorite stories and characters.
• Music and Dance: Get the inside scoop on Adele, Bruno Mars, and more of the year’s hottest acts, including the 2011 winners of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.
• Nations: Make the world a little smaller with interesting facts and trivia about every country in the world, including population, language, and fun facts. Includes maps and flags of more than 190 nations.
• Population: Explore brand-new results from the 2010 census and learn about the changing face of the United States.
• Sports: Coverage of kids' favorite teams, athletes, and sports, including expanded coverage of soccer, college sports, tennis, and X Games.
• Technology and Computers: New advice on the best ways to avoid cyberbullying and stay safe online. Also gather quick tips on how to use the Web for research and homework help, and consult the handy glossary of technical terms to stay in the know.
• United States: New features on subjects from American Indians to presidential pets complement information about the 50 states.
The World Almanac® for Kids is available for purchase at www.worldalmanac.com.
About The World Almanac® for Kids
World Almanac®'s history as a publisher of award-winning reference titles dates back more than 140 years. The imprint includes such iconic titles as The World Almanac® and Book of Facts, the best-selling American reference book of all time, and The World Almanac® for Kids, the best-selling reference book for kids.
The World Almanac® brand is part of Infobase Learning (www.infobaselearning.com), an educational media company that owns such well-known brands as Facts On File, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Chelsea House, Bloom's, Ferguson’s, Meridian Education, and Shopware. Infobase is a portfolio company investment of Veronis Suhler Stevenson (www.vss.com), a private equity firm that invests in the media, information, and education industries.