Apropos - Summer 2005

• HP Works with mess halls
• From the Ceo
• Succession Planning
• Putting Pollyanna to work
• Travel Services Website
• Ottawa new hires
• Connecting CF Youth
• Your body talks
• Train the trainer
• Proper posture
• Helping those in need
• Crowning the Customer
• Official Languages
• Workplace Accommodation
• CFPSA personnel receive medals
• HR conference
• Meet Gerry Mahon
• Branding CFPSA
• Honesty is the best policy
• Winner of Find a Typo
• CFLRS presentation
• Fernand Dery
• Did you know?
• Centrepointe goes down under
• 2005 SISIP FS volunteer recognition program
• Petawawa children's wish
• In Profile: Valcartier
• Kudos Corner
• Into The Archives
• Military Family Services Symposium

PREVIOUS APROPOS

• Volume 5, Issue 2
• Volume 5, Issue 1
• Volume 4, Issue 3
• Volume 4, Issue 2
• Volume 4, Issue 1
• Volume 3, Issue 3
• Volume 3, Issue 2
• Volume 3, Issue 1
• Volume 2, Issue 3
• Volume 2, Issue 2
• Volume 2, Issue 1
• Volume 1, Issue 4
• Volume 1, Issue 3
• Volume 1, Issue 2
• Volume 1, Issue 1

Message From the CEO

As the good weather intensifies and we approach the official beginning of summer, I can't think of a better theme for this edition of Apropos than one of our core values, the importance of having a positive attitude. From information on how workspace ergonomics can contribute to a positive personal attitude (page 6), to creating a positive organizational attitude through our new banner and "At-a-Glance" brochure (page 10), sharing a positive attitude with our community through volunteer service (page 6), and positive affirmation through awards (pages 8, 11 and 14), you'll find lots of examples of success through a positive attitude.

I enjoy golf (although I wish my game were 10 strokes better). As an avid golfer with a vicious slice, I am always looking for ways to improve. A recent magazine article on improving your golf game included a tip, which is also a good life philosophy - be positive. The article stressed that you must be totally committed. It stated, "In order to do that most successfully, it's crucial to focus on what you want to do [before hitting your shot] not on what you don't want to do…visualize a successful outcome…."

Photo: Rosemary Mintz To be successful in golf, as in every day life, try to be positive - even in less than ideal circumstances!

How does that apply to everyday life? Think about what you want, not what you don't want. Serve your clients and customers as you would like to be served. Try to be positive even in less than ideal circumstances. This is especially important during stressful times at our Military Family Resource Centres, and during deployed operations. Our organization is responsible for delivering morale and welfare programs and services. To do that successfully, we need to maintain a positive attitude, regardless of how we personally feel. It's a challenging task, but as I recently told the Deployed Operations Course, you must maintain your own morale to successfully respond to the morale and welfare needs of CF members and their families. That is why a positive attitude is essential, and why developing and maintaining positive, smooth-running teams is so important. Good teams are more than the sum of their parts, especially when those parts (the people) provide positive support and affirmation to each other, particularly during difficult times. In short, I encourage you to stay positive, and to help each other maintain the good humour and upbeat attitude that I witnessed so often during my first seven months in the organization.

Whatever your holiday plans, I wish all of you a healthy and relaxing summer, and look forward to meeting more of you in the autumn.

Major-General Langton
Chief Executive Officer, CFPSA