Better Meetings for Everyone

Volume 16, Issue 2
Publisher: Jana M. Kemp

1. Today’s Agenda: First Amendment Rights at Work
2. Seen Elsewhere: Choice Quotes
3. Tools & Tips
4. Meetings@Work: NEW

First Amendment Rights at Work

By Jana Kemp

What are your and your employee’s First Amendment rights? I’ve been reminded in the last few months that not all employees are experiencing protection of their First Amendment rights.

Recently at a Rotary meeting I heard an 86 year old survivor of Hitler’s Germany share her account of being 11-16 years of age and gaining passage to America while her extended family perished. Her story sadly reminded me of some workplaces where people are being asked and even told NOT to share their opinions in the workplace or online.

For instance, being told by an employer that you can not participate in certain legal activities, can not share your opinions in the press, or can not comment online about how the state of affairs in the community or the world are going or that you will suffer negative workplace consequences seems to be a violation of a person’s First Amendment rights. (Disclaimer: I am NOT an attorney).

I believe in all of the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and believe that there is a continued real reason and need for the First Amendment to be protected as equally strongly as Americans stand up to defend the others. Years ago, I sent clients a Fourth of July postcard with the First Amendment on it because of the work I do to lead productive meetings. My point was that in our country, being able to hold meetings on any subject, at any time, and at just about any place without scheduled-permission or a permit is an incredible asset to our way of living and conducting business. Interestingly, even a recent book club discussion included “and isn’t it lucky we can even meet to talk about a book!”

Action Items: Revisit the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to discover how well your workplace policies and practices respect and uphold it. Explore with employees how your workplace culture may have begun stepping on First Amendment rights and what the company will do next.

Choice Quotes:

“Life is all about choices. Good or bad; right or wrong; Your destiny will unfold according to the choices you make.”  Unknown.

“All along you’ve told me that freedom is not something that can be conferred on you by someone else. It is something you have inside of you, a way you choose to be.” – Nancy Horan in her novel Loving Frank

For reference: “The First Amendment – Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”

“To meet, or not to meet, That is the question.” – Unknown

MOVING MEETINGS – now available on demand!

Amazon.com has it: 
http://www.amazon.com/Moving-Meetings-Jana-M-Kemp/dp/0786303336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234292963&sr=1-1

And it is also available from Barnes and Noble at this link:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Moving-Meetings/Jana-M-Kemp/e/9780786303335/?itm=1

Learn to improve your meeting leadership skills thereby getting more done in meetings and spending less time doing it. Written by Jana Kemp, this book was her first to be published (1994) and first to be translated (Italian).

Prepared Not Paranoid – NOW AVAILABLE !

by Jana Kemp and Doug Graves. NOW AVAILABLE
Ready to learn how to be prepared for great living every day rather than being paranoid? This book combines Jana Kemp’s 2002 police academy experience with veteran officer and police trainer Doug Graves’ and produces a readable book for keeping yourself and loved ones safe every day. www.amazon.com

Boise Book Signing: June 18, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Borders at the Boise Town Square Mall

Moving Out of the Box

Tools for Team Decision Making by Jana Kemp
Commanding Collaborators in Chief – are in demand! They master both coming to consensus and command-and-control decision making approaches because these decision tools are equal. Learn why in this new book (Praeger/Greenwood) that also introduces a tool for reaching consensus when a team or group is so stuck that chaos or indecision are the most likely results. To Buy, visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

Building Community in Buildings



By Jana M. Kemp and Ken Baker
If your organization is building or remodeling office space, this book provides the HRD2 Model for creating productive and creative workspaces that encourage employees to shine. Released in late 2006, this book includes models, surveys, good-example photos of buildings and resources to help human resource and training professionals positively impact the architecting and design of built spaces. To Buy – visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

 

NEW!

www.TheresAlwaysAChoice.com Discover how you and your team can make better choices by having Jana Kemp keynote your events or deliver decision-making workshops.

Continued:

Looking for a meeting facilitator, a conference speaker or a workshop presenter on the subjects of meetings, time management or decision-making? Visit www.JanaKemp.com for information on these services and conference presentations.