What is Really Valuable to Employers?

Some of the most desirable employee traits cannot be taught

Everyone knows that traits like intelligence, good training, and work ethic are important on the job. But are these the most important qualities that an employee can possess?
Although intelligence, training, reliability and obedience will always be critical to your success in the workplace, they are qualities that can be learned or acquired by most people. Employers are often going to be looking for characteristics that cannot be taught. For example:

Passion: A strong fondness or desire. Do you love what you are doing for a living? It makes a difference!
Creativity: The ability to transcend traditional ideas. Don’t just do your job; try to think of ways to do it better!
Initiative: Leadership, the ability to take action. Don’t always wait to be told to do things, take the first step yourself!

Combined with traditional skills, these other personality traits will help you to become a more valuable and successful employee!

Women’s History Month: Annie Oakley

How have Ohio women shaped history? Annie Oakley is the woman that most Americans remember when they thing of the Wild West. She managed to beat most men at the traditionally masculine sport of marksmanship.

Born in Drake Country, Ohio in 1860, a young Oakley shot rabbits and quails to help provide for her large family.

Later, she married fellow marksman Frank Butler and the two toured together on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Oakley was able to slice the thin side of a playing card from 30 paces away and shoot the cigarettes out of a man’s mouth.

She was beloved by many including Queen Victoria of England. She was charming and modest, as well as being devoted to charity in the community. She made charitable contributions to the educations of orphan girls.

She was mourned by many when she died in 1926.

Do you need a biography for class? The Library has great resources. For more information visit:
http://southwesterndayton.blogspot.com/2010/03/better-biographies.html
This information on Annie Oakley was retrieved from:
"Oakley, Annie (1860-1926)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale, 1998. General OneFile. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

Campus Announcements

From Financial Aid:
Have you completed your 2010-2011 Fafsa (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) yet? If you haven’t filled out this form, your financial aid may not be up to date. If you have questions or concerns, please see the Financial Aid office.

From the Business Office:
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
BOOKS FOR SPRING QUARTER WILL BE HANDED OUT ON THE THIRD FLOOR AT THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE STARTING TUESDAY, MARCH 16th.

TIMES FOR BOOK PICK UP ARE AS LISTED:
Monday -Thursday
9AM – 12PM
1PM – 3PM
5PM – 6:30PM
Friday
9AM – 12PM
2PM – 5PM

From Career Services:
Southwestern College in Dayton is now on Facebook! Current and Former students are encouraged to become fans of Southwestern College on the web. To find our Facebook site, search for either: Username “Southwestern College—Dayton” or by using the email address mjohnson@swcollege.net. Contact Melanie Johnson in the Career Services office if you have any questions.
Are you Graduating this Summer?
Southwestern College’s next graduation ceremony will be held on July 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the Dayton Convention Center. For those of you who are not familiar with the Convention Center, it is located at:
22 E. Fifth Street
Dayton, OH 45402
We look forward to seeing you there!

Has Someone you know been affected by Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence takes many forms. It can be physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial deprivation, and or extreme forms of power and control. The violence can be towards anyone living in the household including a wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, or children.
Domestic violence does not discriminate! Its devastating effects cross over all races, socio/economic levels, religions, ages and occupations.
There are many different ways in which a relationship can be abusive. The following are some of the most common symptoms:

• Minimizing, Denying or Victim Blaming
  
• Verbal Abuse, Criticism and Humiliation
  
• Abuse of Trust, Cheating, Lying and Jealousy
  
• Isolation
  
• Physical Violence
  
• Sexual Violence, Forced sexual encounters
  
• Threats
  
• Irresponsible use of weapons, Using weapons for intimidation
  
• Stalking
  
• Disrespectful Behavior
  

Everyone is different, but there are many common risk factors for abusive behavior. These include:

• Very strong beliefs/opinions about traditional gender roles.
  
• Growing up in a violent family
  
• Extreme Jealousy
  
• Keeping you off-balance with erratic behavior.
  

If you are not a victim yourself, but suspect someone you know is, below are some suggestions that may be helpful:

• Don’t be judgemental
  
• Acknowledge her fear and be supportive
  
• Offer to assist her in getting information.
  

Don't feel that you are alone! If you have questions or would like to speak with someone regarding domestic violence, please see Debbie in the Education Office.

The above was an excerpt from:
YWCA of Dayton, Women's Crisis Center/Safehouse and National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Help End Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence : Putting the Pieces Together. Dayton, Ohio: YWCA of Dayton, Women's Crisis Center/Safehouse, 2000.

I Am From by Jennifer Flohre

I am from a broken home
Plaster walls, shattered.
I am from a bedroom fight
Eyes, black.

Alcohol and cocaine married my mother
I am from a father who needed help.
A late night drive to the west side
Us in the back seat, tired.

I am from courtrooms, therapy and custody battles.
Our grandparents’ living room forts,
Peter Pan and our lion.

I am from an AA meeting
Coffee and smoke.
A sponser named Mark,
My father struggles.

I am from a family of love and hope
But divorced and saddened
A twelve year token.

I am from a faith that won’t give up
Forgiveness has a name, in my heart it lays.
I am from a father, saved
Sober
Recovered.

IT Corner: Keeping your Computer Virus Free By Dan Jarrett

Your first line of defense is to have a current Anti-virus program. Even if you cannot afford to buy one, there are some free programs out there.
Here are the top three free options:

• Microsoft Security Essentials www.microsoft.com/Security_Esentials/


• Avira Anti-Virus personal www.avira.com


• AVG http://free.avg.com/

They may not have all of the features of the store-bought Anti-Virus programs, but they do the job. This will have to be kept up to date along with your operating system. By keeping everything up to date you will reduce the chance that a virus, spyware or malware will get through.
You will often see ads for SPYware Doctor Downloads and others similar to that. Those are Trojans with Adware that keeps popping up. Limeware is also filled with viruses. If you are looking for music to download, try Frostwire; it is better. And if you are not sure which Anti-Virus to get, I recommend McAfee Internet security with website safety ratings, which can be found at:
http://www.mcafee.com/us/