Chief Learning Officer - June 2008 - (Page 4) EDITOR’S LETTER A Rare Day in June I f you’re of a certain age, reading the familiar line of poetry, “And what is so rare as a day in June?” might conjure up a very distinct image — a stuffy gradeschool classroom full of fidgety children on a sunny day near the end of term. I’m sure when James Russell Lowell penned this famous line in the late 1800s, he wasn’t thinking about all the young students who some day would be forced to sit and listen to his praise of a June day’s charms instead of being outside on the playground actually experiencing them. This poetic flash from the past hit me the other day as I was walking down Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. “Rare” doesn’t begin to describe what happens when Chicagoans emerge from blustery winter and soggy spring into the bright summer sunshine. Cares and inhibitions are shed along with coats and scarves, and there’s a contagious feeling of celebration in the air. I guess I caught it because when I got to my desk, I went online and looked up official holidays, observances and celebrations for the month of June. Most of us know about Flag Day (14) and Father’s Day (15). But did you know we’re supposed to celebrate Recess at Work Day on June 19? Makes sense to me. Being stuck in a stuffy office on a rare day in June is a lot like being forced to sit through a recitation of James Russell Lowell poetry when the Cubs are playing. I found some other tasty nuggets in the list. June is National Candy Month, and there are special dates set aside for Doughnut Days (6–7) and Banana Split Days (7–8). For balance, June also is the time to celebrate Vinegar Day (21). Ironically, Carpenter Ant Awareness Week, National Mosquito Control Awareness Week and the Great American Backyard Campout overlap on June 28. Also sharing the month of June are Make Up Your Mind Day (31), Blame Someone Else Day (13) and Let It Go Day (23). There’s truly something for everyone. Several more profound observations occurred, as well. What does it say about our priorities that in June we observe National Accordion Awareness Month and Potty Training Awareness Month, but only a single National Hunger Awareness Day (6)? I believe what we celebrate — both silly and serious — says a lot about us, as a country and as a culture. And I think the same is true of organizations. The Campaign for Learning, a nonprofit organization in England, provides a shining example. In 1999, the committee launched a national Learning at Work Day to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning. Each year, thousands of organizations take part in the celebration, offering creative business-related learning activities to help the workforce acquire new skills. On May 22, the 2008 Learning at Work Day was celebrated with businesses, trade unions, universities, nonprofits and schools hosting a variety of short workshops and events based on the theme “Sustainable Workplaces.” Referencing the constantly changing world in terms of legislation, environmental issues, technology, social trends and the global economy, event organizers emphasized the importance of organizations and individuals being able to adapt. Program components encompassed the environment, work-life balance and learning through life. The national effort in England has proved to be very successful in highlighting not only each organization’s, but also each country’s, commitment to workplace learning. What about your organization? Do you celebrate the learning achievements of your workforce? Do you really “sell” the benefits of learning to everyone, from management to the shop floor? Do you know how to build employee motivation for learning? If you do, I believe that’s something worth celebrating every day of every month of every year. Drop me a line and let me know what learning celebrations are on your calendar. Sunny day or not, I’ll be here — with the possible exception of June 30, when it’s Please Take My Children to Work Day! Norm Kamikow Editor in Chief norm@clomedia.com 4 Chief Learning Officer • June 2008 • www.clomedia.com http://www.clomedia.com
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