Falmouth Institute - Tribal Secretaries Blog

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2010-08-23T07:15:00.001-07:00

The TriSec Blog is now located at www.falmouthinstitute.com/trisec

The Excellent Ellipsis (…)

2010-08-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

The ellipsis, a punctuation mark that employs three consecutive periods (…), is used when intentionally omitting a word, phrase, or paragraph within quoted text. When summarizing information or writing articles, it is occasionally necessary to include direct quotes from your research. You may not, however, always want to use long sentences that not only take up space, but may contain useless or irrelevant information.

When you use an ellipsis, you can take out the information that isn’t necessary while maintaining the integrity of the quoted text. For example, let’s consider a sentence from the latest AIR Blog entry “More than 200 sacred objects that were in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian were returned last week to the Yurok Tribe in northern California, as reported in an Associated Press piece published by the Times Leader on Aug. 15.” To eliminate the excess text and indicate that some text was omitted from the sentence, we would use an ellipsis:

“More than 200 sacred objects… were returned last week to the Yurok Tribe in northern California, as reported in an Associated Press piece published by the Times Leader on Aug. 15.”

If you want to omit words at the end of a sentence, you would include an ellipsis and then an additional period. Let’s consider the same sentence, but this time leave off “as reported in an Associated Press piece published by the Times Leader on Aug. 15.”

“More than 200 sacred objects that were in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian were returned last week to the Yurok Tribe in northern California… .”

Although you may not use an ellipse in everyday emails or memos, it is important to keep in mind when writing documents or presentations that require you to cite or quote important information.

Interviewing Don'ts

2010-08-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

All of us have likely interviewed for a job we didn’t end up getting. Unfortunately, we rarely receive feedback as to why we weren’t chosen for the position. A survey of 153 American Human Resource Managers identified the 20 most common errors made by applicants attending job interviews.

In order of importance, here is a list of reasons cited by the HR managers for why someone is not chosen for a job:

Poorly or inappropriately dressed
Overaggressive
Unable to express information clearly (difficulty understanding your answers to questions)
Lack interest and enthusiasm
Display no career planning
Seem nervous and lacking in confidence
Overemphasizing the importance of the pay for the job
Unwilling to start at the bottom
Make excuses
Lacking in tact and courtesy
Appear immature
Condemned past employers
Seem to have no genuine interest in the company or the job
Failure to look the interviewer in the eye
Application form poorly completed
Seem to lack sense of humor
Late for the interview
Failure to express appreciation for the interviewer's time
Failure to ask questions about the company and the job
Responses to questions too vague

What do you think about these reasons? This survey was conducted in 1986. How do you think this list has changed over the years?

Common Abbreviations

2010-08-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Abbreviations are meant to make our lives a little easier. By shortening frequently used words and phrases we are able to save time and convey the same information. However, some abbreviations can have tricky or inconsistent rules. Here are a few abbreviations that you might use on a regular basis when writing formal emails, memos or letters:

Titles before a name: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Prof., Dr.

Using titles before a person’s name is the proper way to formally address an individual in any written communication. You might begin a letter with the salutation “Dear Mr. Doe” or “To: Mr. John Doe.” However, when using a person’s name within the body of your message, it is not necessary to refer to an individual as Mr. John Doe. Simply use the name John Doe.

Titles after a name: Jr., Sr., Ph.D.

Using titles after a person’s name can also clarify which individual you are speaking of—for example: John Doe Sr. or John Doe Jr. You may also use this abbreviation in this way: Mr. and Mrs. John Doe Jr. However, it is not standard to use Jr. or Sr. when omitting the individual’s first name: Mr. Doe Jr.

Names of countries: U.S.A., U.K.
You can also use USA as an abbreviation for the United States of America, however, if writing U.S. it is standard to always use the periods in between.

Names of states: NY, VA, MD
These abbreviations should only be used when referring to addresses on an envelope or list. When referring to the actual state within the body of a message, it is standard to write the entire name. For example: “I am going to NY for the weekend” is incorrect while “I am going to New York for the weekend” is correct.

Names of commonly used objects: TV, DVD, CD

Periods between the letters of these abbreviations are not required.

Units of measure: in., ft, lb, m, kg

Using a period after units of measure is not necessary except in the case of in. Since this unit can be confused with the word “in” it is helpful to add the period after it. There is no need to add an “s” after the unit of measure to make it plural. Also, when using the unit as a modifier such as a 10-ft wall or 3-lb weight, it is common to add a hyphen between the number and unit.

Time: A.M., P.M.

This can also be written as a.m. or p.m.

Hopefully this has shed some light on the common abbreviations we use. Are there any others that we might have missed? Or do you have any questions regarding the ones we have used here? Please comment below!

The Dress Code Dilemma

2010-07-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

What kind of image do you project at work? Regardless of your level of employment or career path, it’s always a good idea to project a polished, competent image. But these days, when many offices don't have dress codes, it's hard to know what to wear to work. While a casual dress code is a nice perk, it doesn't mean that anything goes.

Whether your office has a strict dress code of none at all, there are a few commonsense guidelines that will help you look your best and gain respect in the workplace.

The goal is to look professional for your work environment. Look at the highest ranking female employee in your organization and mimic her style of dress. If she’s wearing business suits to work every day, then you should consider doing the same. On the other hand, if she’s wearing jeans to work every day, then maybe a business suit is too far over the top for your office. That’s not to say that you need to wear jeans to work every day, but maybe dressing up for your organization doesn’t require the classic business suit.
Avoid distracting accessories. Bangle bracelets, dangling earrings and garments that are too flowing are all things that distract from a professional image. Opt for more fitted garments, studs instead of hoops and closefitting bracelets instead of charm bracelets. And while we’re on the subject, avoid too much perfume. It’s annoying -- and sometimes even toxic -- to those around you.
Even if your office has a casual dress code, make sure your clothes are neat, clean and pressed, your shoes polished and your nails manicured. Your hair should be clean and neat. It’s all about attention to detail and caring about your appearance.
Avoid loud patterns and colors. That blouse with the florescent pink and orange flowers might look great on the dance floor, but it won’t do much for you at the office. Stick to subdued tones and prints.
Remember this: In the workplace, you want people to notice you because of the work you’re doing, not the clothes you’re wearing.

Effective Meeting Tips: Evaluating Your Meetings

2010-07-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Poorly run meetings are a special kind of torture, aren’t they? There’s nothing like having 1,001 things to do and then realizing you have a planning meeting for the next quarter that’s likely to take the rest of the afternoon… Especially when you know that chatty Darla is going to monopolize the discussion, as usual, and 75% of the time is going to be spent talking about unrelated topics, like your boss’s fantasy football team or new favorite skin cream.

You don’t have to suffer in silence. There is hope for dull, ineffective and inefficient meetings! If you’re in charge of meetings that keep seeming to get away from you, implement meeting evaluation procedures at the end of each group meeting. This is a great way to get feedback about what went well, what needs to be improved, and suggestions for next time.

If you aren’t in charge, suggest to the meeting organizer that your organization or company implement a quick meeting evaluation after the meetings that tend to be particularly unproductive. Instead of approaching the situation as though you’re making a complaint, put a positive spin on things. You could say, “I just read this blog post on meetings, and I think it had some great tips! What do you think about this meeting feedback form? Do you think it would work for us?”

Here is a sample meeting feedback form you can adapt to suit your needs:

Meeting Feedback Form

Date:
Name (optional):

Your feedback is essential in helping to ensure our meetings are as productive as possible. Please take a moment to fill out the form below and circle the responses which best reflect your feelings. Your honesty and constructive recommendations are greatly appreciated!

1. How did this meeting’s productivity compare to our previous meetings?

1	2	3	4	5
Much worse		About the same		Much better

2. In your estimation, was our time used effectively in this meeting?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

3. Did the agenda help to organize the topics of discussion?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

4. Was the majority of our discussion oriented towards the present and future? (Did we avoid dwelling on the past?)

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

5. Did you have a good understanding of what the meeting objectives were?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

6. Do you feel the objectives were accomplished successfully and efficiently?

1	2	3	4	5
Not at all		Somewhat		Absolutely

7. What went particularly well at this meeting?

8. What needs to be improved for the next meeting?

Good luck, and happy meeting!

Strengthening Your Communication Skills

2010-07-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Good communication skills are essential in the workplace. Whether you need to write an email to a co-worker or a memo to the entire office, it is important to communicate clearly and effectively. By doing so, you will lessen the chance of misunderstandings and subsequent headaches.

To be a strong and efficient communicator, you must be able to both send and receive messages. Here are a number of tips to help strengthen your communication skills.

Plan your message. Think before you write or speak. The first and most effective way to avoid communication confusion is to consider who your audience is and what he or she would like to know. Ask yourself a few simple questions before you begin communicating with another person:

What is the purpose of my communication? Why am I sending this message?
Who is going to be on the receiving end of this exchange?
What is the best way to send this message (via telephone, email, letter, or in person)?

After asking these questions, take a moment to think about what you would like to write or say in the most succinct way. Try to avoid conveying information that isn’t necessary. A long email or telephone conversation does not necessarily result in better comprehension of the message you are trying to send.

Consider how the recipient of your message will perceive it. If you are sending a message to your boss’s boss, you would not use slang or informal remarks in an email to him or her. This could be perceived as disrespectful or unprofessional—therefore, using the right tone when crafting your message is crucial.

In terms of written communication, always take the time to review your work. Grammar, spelling and your use of jargon or slang are important factors to consider when composing a letter or email. By misusing an abbreviation or overlooking an incomplete sentence, you may cause more confusion.

Be sure to think about the many forms of sending messages. If the topic of your message is time sensitive or requires a great deal of detail, perhaps it is better to use the telephone. If the topic you would like to discuss may cause the recipient to become emotional in any way, perhaps explaining it to him or her in person might be the best route. On the other hand, any message that is short and simple could be sent via email.

When you are the recipient of a message, be sure to listen carefully or reread a letter or email at least twice. Many misunderstandings come from haste, so in order to be an expert communicator you must also be an effective listener and precise reader.

Miscommunication can happen, however, it doesn’t have to happen all the time. Try some of these tips and see if your communication skills improve!

Surviving the Slump-- High Energy Tips for Your Workday

2010-07-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

It’s 3:10pm, and you are exhausted. You feel like you’ve been working for at least 10 hours, and you are willing to give up your slice of the office birthday cake for a nap.

We’ve all been there, but you don’t have to feel like this every day. We have assembled some sure-fire ways to get you feeling peppy (or at least functional!) by the time 3:15pm rolls around.

Avoid coffee or energy drinks after 3pm. This may seem counterintuitive—the caffeine in coffee is supposed to make you peppy, so why would you avoid it just as you hit your afternoon slump? The answer is that caffeine consumed after 3pm can disrupt our sleep patterns. It can make it more difficult to fall asleep, and it can prevent you from entering the deep sleep that your body craves. If you want to feel rested throughout the day, avoid caffeine after 3pm.

Have some super snacks handy. Sure, you may want to raid the vending machine for your afternoon snack, but the highly processed items you’re going to find there are likely packed with sugar. While the initial spike in your blood sugar may make you feel like you’re flying high, the sugar crash will come sooner than you think. You’ll feel even worse than before you had your snack. Instead of snacking on a candy bar or chips, try one of these healthy alternatives:

Almonds or cashews
Raisins or other dried fruit
Fresh fruit
Peanut butter on whole grain bread or crackers
Humus
Cheese

And, if your only options are standard vending machine fare, try to choose something with nuts. The protein in nuts will help give you sustained energy and will cushion the sugar crash a bit.

Stay active! There are a number of exercises you can perform while at the office; however, changing your daily routine slightly can have a huge impact on your stamina throughout the workday.

If you work on the 2nd or 3rd floor of your building and are able to, skip the elevator when you’re going down to the lobby. Even doing this once or twice a day will help you gain some energy.
Take a few minutes every hour to stretch your arms, legs, neck, and torso. Try sitting up straight and raising both arms into the air, reaching for the ceiling. Hold your arms there for 10 seconds and then alternate extending your right arm and then your left arm a few times.Instead of calling or emailing your co-worker who sits at the end of the hall, walk over to his or her office if you have a question.
Try walking around your office or outside your building instead of taking your break by the water cooler. By just getting up and moving, you are increasing your heart rate and blood circulation—preventing your arms and legs from becoming strained. And if you are able to go outside, getting fresh air and ample sunlight will provide an instant boost of energy.
Take a few deep breaths. This is also a great stress reliever.

If you have any other great tips to avoid the midday slump, be sure to comment below!

Time- and Moneysaving Tools and Websites

2010-06-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/interstate/
Going on a road trip? This handy website will ask for your travel route and then show you what the weather will be like along your route! Use this site to build a custom forecast for your trip!

http://www.bing.com/travel/
Bing™ Travel (formerly Farecast) is an invaluable tool for the bargain traveler. Enter your desired travel dates and “To” and “From” cities, and Bing™ will tell you whether fares are expected to rise, remain the same, or decrease over the next week. It will also tell you how certain they are in their prediction! Bing™ bases its predictions on years of fare histories. Although it doesn’t yet have data for every possible city pair, the folks at Bing™ are always adding new combinations!

http://www.google.com/goog411/
Most of you have probably already used Google™. Have you heard of Goog411™? It’s a free 411 service you can reach on any phone (standard phone rates apply). Call 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone, state the location and business type you are looking for (for example, “Pizza, Fairfax, Virginia”) and Goog411 will provide you with a list of choices. You can then have them send you a text message with the information, or be connected directly to the business. And it’s free!

http://www.surprise.com/
Need a gift for someone and don’t know where to start? Instead of driving to the mall, visit Surprise.com for gift ideas for almost any recipient and almost any occasion. Or, for more targeted results, use the GiftFinder (http://www.surprise.com/gifts.html). Select the recipient, their personality traits, their lifestyle, interests, world view, and the occasion. Need a birthday gift for your shy, outdoorsy aunt who loves the arts and is spiritual? Surprise.com has got you covered with tons of fabulous gift ideas. Order them online and have them shipped to you or directly to your recipient!

http://www.retailmenot.com/
RetailMeNot has discount codes for thousands of websites across the internet. With coupon codes for everything from free shipping to 80% discounts (search restaurants.com!), RetailMeNot will save you money on almost anything you can order on the web.

What other time or moneysaving websites do you frequent? Please share in the comments section!

Either/Or, Neither/Nor

2010-06-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Quick! Look at the following sentences and identify whether there are any errors.

Either Janice or Samson are going to have to refill the water cooler.
Gerald is not a team player. He neither wants to stay late today nor tomorrow to help with the project.
Either my computer or my speakers needs to be replaced this year.
Simone neither wants to eat her lunch or go to a restaurant.

Did you find errors in every sentence? If so, you’ve got a gift for grammar. If not, don’t worry; correlative conjunctions (either/or, neither/nor) cause some of most commonly made grammar mistakes. Let’s take a closer look at each sentence to identify the errors.

Either Janice or Samson are going to have to refill the water cooler.

The problem with this sentence is that “either” is singular, not plural. It refers to one subject at a time. Said differently, the sentence would read “Either Janice is going to have to refill the water cooler, or Samson is going to have to do it.” The sentence should read “Either Janice or Samson is going to have to refill the water cooler.”

Gerald is not a team player. He neither wants to stay late today nor tomorrow to help with the project.

The issue here is a bit more complex. If the action is the same in both parts of the clause (in this case, “to stay” is the action in both parts), then the “neither” or “either” goes after the verb. Corrected, the sentence would read “He wants to stay late neither today nor tomorrow to help with the project.”

Either my computer or my speakers needs to be replaced this year.

Oh dear. Well, I have just told you that “either” is singular, not plural, so why is “needs” incorrect here? Look carefully at the subjects. “Computer” is indeed singular, but the word “speakers” is plural. If either of the subjects in the “either/or, neither/nor” clause is plural, the verb must be plural: “Either the computer or the speakers need to be replaced this year.”

Simone neither wants to eat her lunch or go to a restaurant.

Yikes! This one is a double doozey (and I’m not talking about cookies!) In this sentence, the action of each thing being compared is different—“to eat” and “to go”. When that is the case, the “either” or “neither” must come right before the first verb. Did you pick up on the second problem? We’ve got an “or” and not a “nor”! The corrected sentence reads “Simone wants to neither eat her lunch nor go to a restaurant.”

Communicating with Confidence

2010-06-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Picture this: You step into an elevator to travel to your office on the sixth floor, and just as the doors are about to close, a hand flies into the elevator and the doors re-open. It’s your boss’s boss and the head of the organization, both of whom you have only ever spoken to once before. Immediately your heart starts pounding in your ears and you feel your face flush. You wish you could slink to the corner of the elevator and blend in with the wallpaper, but that is not an option. You know you should say something, but what?

Or how about this: Your supervisor comes to your desk, breathless. She is holding a meeting with some VIPs from the community, and she just realized she sent the wrong presentation to the copier. She asks you to go to the conference room and entertain the VIPs until she returns.

How would you feel in these situations? Most of us would feel anxious, nervous, and pressured. According to the Book of Lists (2005), most people fear public speaking more than they fear death! Why is this? What is it about speaking in front of others that causes us so much panic?

For many of us, it is the fear of rejection. When speaking to important people, or to large groups of people, it feels like what we say matters immensely. One false word could mean intolerable embarrassment, which could seriously impact our self-esteem. If we recognize that these high-pressure situations are bound to happen from time to time, what can we do to prepare ourselves and initiate the best possible outcome?

The answer is simple, and yet difficult for many of us to achieve—self-confidence. Self-confidence is what makes a good speaker in high-pressure situations — not a special book, not the “good speaker” gene, and not necessarily lots of practice (although, the more you practice feeling self-confident, the more it will become your gut reaction to these stressful situations).

We’ve all heard the phrase “fake it until you make it.” In the case of high-pressure speaking, this axiom holds especially true. Even if we don’t feel particularly self-confident, if we project a confident image, others will perceive us as such, and this will actually end up making us feel more confident.

So how do you go about projecting confidence when you don’t feel it? Here are a few ideas:

Breathe deeply from your diaphragm. Imagine you are trying to suck in air through your bellybutton. This will help prevent verbal shakes and stammers.
Be aware of your facial expressions. Unfurrow your brow, warm up those smile muscles, and relax your lips.
Check your posture. Beware of hunching shoulders. Keep them pressed back and low, but only as far as is comfortable.
Make eye contact while smiling. This is perhaps the single most important “giveaway” of confident individuals.
Think positive thoughts about yourself. It may sound silly, but repeating the mantra “I can handle anything” or “I am calm and confident” or even “I am awesome!” can have a measurable positive effect on your self-confidence. This is known as the phenomenon of autosuggestion.

What else can help you project confidence in high pressure situations? Please share your ideas in the comments section below!

*For another perspective on public speaking, visit http://thingaboutskins.wordpress.com/2010/06/

Using Social Networking

2010-06-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

As the digital age continues to grow and expand, social networking over the internet has become one of the key ways to connect with people from all over the world. One website which focuses on connecting individuals in a professional capacity is LinkedIn.

This website is devoted to the sharing of “information, ideas and opportunities” over the internet and can be used to network with the people you know—such as your friends, family members, past and present colleagues, and schoolmates. By creating a LinkedIn profile, you will be able to connect and stay in touch with these individuals and then build on your professional network through linking yourself to other people’s networks.

LinkedIn also provides resources for professionals about their industries. Many professional associations, schools and companies have groups which offer forums for discussion, news and job leads. These communities provide a wealth of knowledge and ample opportunity to build your network.

Things to keep in mind when using a professional social networking website:

Maintain a mature and polished profile. Use a profile picture that clearly shows your face.
Do not use slang or abbreviations on your profile or in discussions. Always use correct grammar and punctuation in your profile!
If your email is visible to others, make sure that it is one that can be shared with potential employers! Some variation of your name or initials is ideal.

Falmouth Institute also has a LinkedIn company page. Please click here to view our page!

For more tips, check out this article: 13 Essential Tips for Landing a Job on LinkedIn.

Tips and Tricks Tuesday Poll

2010-05-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Please comment on this post if you do not see the subject you are particularly interested in!

When do you capitalize someone’s title?

2010-05-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

One of the most persistent sources of confusion about capitalization is the issue of capitalizing someone’s title. These days, most style books have taken the journalistic approach to capitalizing titles. When the title comes before the name and is used as part of the name, it is capitalized. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Navajo Tribal Chairman Joe Shirley. Law Professor James Jones.

When the title comes after the name, it is not capitalized. Hillary Clinton, secretary of state. Joe Shirley, tribal chairman of the Navajo Nation.

Note that the organization should be capitalized if the name is used in full as in Navajo Nation. However, if you wrote, Joe Shirley, chairman of the tribe, you would not capitalize tribe.

Tell the grammar bully where to get off...

2010-05-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

...it is OK to use a preposition at the end of a sentence!

Somewhere deep within all of us there lurks a “grammar bully” -- the stern guardian of the language who will never let us forget a comma or allow us to meander into a run-on sentence. She means well, but sometimes you need to tell her where to get off.

If it were up to her, we would never end a sentence with a preposition, such as at, off, with or for. Instead, we’d be twisting our words into tortured phrases to avoid it and we’d all be the worse for it. It’s time to quell the grammar bully on this subject and to do what makes sense. As Winston Churchill reportedly said when someone rewrote his words to correct his use of a preposition at the end of a sentence: “This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.” Happily, none of us have to put up with it. Despite what your grammar bully is telling you, it is generally fine, and sometimes preferable, to end a sentence with a preposition.

The original rule was derived from a Latin linguistic prescription to end a sentence with a strong word, and while that is good advice, you don’t have to go to extremes. A preposition at the end of a sentence is acceptable if it helps you to avoid an awkward sounding and poorly constructed sentence.

“Which table did you eat at,” sounds better to Americans than “At which table did you eat?” “He gave the audience the performance for which it longed,” is not better than “He gave the audience the performance it longed for.” If you say, “At what are you driving?” instead of “What are you driving at?” you’ll avoid the preposition at the end of the sentences, but all your friends will think you’re weird.

There is a time when you shouldn't use a preposition at the end of sentence and that is when you don’t need to. If the sentence makes sense without the preposition leave it off. “Where will you be meeting her at?” is wrong, not because it ends in a preposition, but because the preposition is not necessary.

TriSec 17 Photos

2010-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that pictures from TriSec 17 are finally here! To see the rest of the photos, please check out our online album. The same pictures are also uploaded on Facebook.

When the Two Become One – Ever-Evolving Compounds

2010-05-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Two words brought together to express a new concept create a compound. A compound can be written as two words, one word, or it can be connected by a hyphen.

Many times compounds will evolve over time. For example, a compound may start out as child care, morph into child-care and finally it’s more commonly written as childcare.

The use of hyphens in compounds can sometimes be confusing. Here are some general guidelines for using hyphens in compounds:

Use a hyphen when two or more words are used as an adjective before a noun.

over-the-counter drugs

six-year-old boy

one-way street

Do not use a hyphen when the compound modifier comes after the noun.

The boy is six years old.

I bought the drugs over the counter.

The street is one way.

Use a hyphen with compound numbers.

Sixty-five

Twenty-one

Use a hyphen to avoid confusion.

An old-furniture salesman means the man sells old furniture. However, “an old furniture salesman” could be an old man who sells furniture.

On the other hand, the phrase “used car salesman” might not generate as much confusion, therefore, a hyphen between “used” and “car” might not be necessary.

As you can see, sometimes there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to compounds. Since word usage often evolves, it’s always best to consult the latest version of a good, standard dictionary.

Organizing Yourself Using Outlook

2010-04-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Working in an office environment requires a great deal of organization, task management and careful planning. When using a pen and paper to write down your to-do list or a sticky note to remind yourself of an important meeting, crucial information can get lost on your desk in stacks of papers or on a cluttered bulletin board. One program that can be used to organize and keep all of your tasks and appointments together is Microsoft Outlook 2007.

This new version of Microsoft Outlook has many features that are now simpler to use. These functions can be used to not only manage your work life, but your life outside of work as well.

I. The To-Do Bar:

a. This handy new tool, which can be found on the far right of the window, shows: a calendar (1), your upcoming appointments (2), and tasks for the day (3). Using this function, you can keep track of exactly what needs to get done during the day.

II. The Calendar:

a.    The calendar now has features like larger buttons (1) and back and forth arrows (2) to navigate between months, days and weeks more smoothly.
b.    New on the calendar is the task area which shows your current and upcoming tasks and accomplishments (3).

III.    Flagging Email Messages:

a. Use this function to follow up on email messages in a timely manner. By choosing Today, Tomorrow or This Week you can mark these messages and create a reminder that will appear in the Tasks area and on your To-Do list.

IV. When creating new appointments, use the Reminder function (1) to organize your time and remember your appointments. When you pick a time from the drop down menu, Outlook will create a pop-up reminding you of your upcoming event. And always remember to save any changes that you make to your appointment (2)!

It’s easy to keep yourself on schedule when you have everything together!

To further your understanding of Outlook and Microsoft 2007 Office Suite, Falmouth is currently offering a course called Maximizing Your Potential in an Electronic Office Environment for Tribes and Tribal Organizations in Las Vegas, NV. Learn other great tips and tricks from our expert instructor and practice them right in the classroom! Click here for more information.

If you are already familiar with Microsoft Outlook 2007, what are some of your favorite functions? Are there any tools that you just can’t live without? Leave a comment and let us know!

TriSec 17 is underway!

2010-04-21T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek of one of the sessions held yesterday:

Check out TriSec on Facebook for continuous updates and to upload your own photos of the conference.

Cleaning Up Your Resume

2010-04-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Oh, springtime! I think this is the most gorgeous time of the year—when the daffodils begin to bloom and your allergies start acting up. It is also the season of rebirth and renewal. And you know what that means… time for spring cleaning! But instead of tidying up your house, let’s think about tidying up your resume. Even if you are already employed or not currently seeking employment, it is always a good idea to freshen up your resume from time to time. Think of it as a one page advert that explains who you are and what you are capable of as a working professional. Take a look at your resume and try to do some of the following:

Make sure your resume follows some of these common guidelines:

Be sure that your resume fits on one standard page (if you need to use two pages, make sure you fill up all of the space on both pages).
Use a standard font that is easy to read like Times New Roman, Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, or Arial in a type size of 10-12 pt.
Check if you are using the same consistent verb tense throughout (past or present).
If you haven’t already, make sure you are using a professional email address in your contact information. Although you like your email sexybabe74643@hotmail.com, try to opt for some combination of your name.

Review your education and related work experience:

Make sure the descriptions of your work experience are up-to-date.
Use action verbs to describe your experiences.

Update your skills and additional experience:

List the computer programs and databases you can comfortably use in the “Skills” section of your resume.
If you have participated in a certification program like Falmouth’s Human Resources Certification, make sure you have mentioned it in your “Skills” section as well!
In an “Additional Experience” section of your resume, you could note that you attended Falmouth’s Tribal Secretaries Conference or any other professional experience you may have participated in (like an internship or fellowship).

Just like your house, your resume needs to be tidied up and refreshed once and a while. Why not do it now while you’ve got the spring cleaning bug? :)

TriSec is now on Facebook!

2010-04-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to view our page and become a fan! Receive the latest updates on TriSec 17, get and stay connected with other TriSec alumni, and give advice to those who are thinking of attending TriSec in the future!

Be sure to submit your photos and post to TriSec's wall during the conference and let us know what you think of the workshops, venue and other aspects of the event. We want your input!

Tackling Possessive Apostrophes

2010-04-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

By many an English speaker, the application of the apostrophe (‘) is often abused and misused. In the case of the possessive apostrophe (the type of apostrophe which shows ownership or belonging), it seems impossible to decipher where and when “s” should or shouldn’t be added. But fear not! You can avoid this grammar catastrophe by following four simple rules:

1. Add an apostrophe + “s” to any singular nouns that do not end in “s”:

The boy's hat

2. Add apostrophe + “s” to a singular noun, even if it ends in “s” (this use may vary depending on whether or not the noun in question is a proper noun):

Thomas’s presentation (Thomas’ presentation is also acceptable—however, if the proper noun is plural, one would only use an apostrophe after the noun, i.e. The Smiths’ house)
The boss's office

3. Add apostrophe + “s” to any plural nouns that do not end in “s”:

The children's toys

4. Just add an apostrophe to any plural noun that ends in “s”:

The co-workers' lunch break

Hopefully this has shed some light on the use of possessive apostrophes. I will now leave you with a funny cartoon:

Avoid Cannibalism: Use a Comma

2010-03-30T08:49:00.001-07:00

(For Jennifer)

Recently I joined a very popular Facebook group created to save society from cannibalism: "'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!' Punctuation saves lives." With its 667,470 fans, this Facebook group demonstrates the importance of the comma to not only save your readers from confusion and yourself from embarassment, but the comma saves society from cannibalism.

When using introductory words or phrases, you want to use a comma to separate them from the rest of the sentence:

When we are cooking children cannot come in the kitchen.

When we are cooking, children cannot come in the kitchen.

The first sentence might lead your reader to suspect you of cooking children; however, using a comma after your introductory phrase avoids confusion and clarifies your meaning.

Also, we must use a comma when addressing someone by name: this is referred to as the direct address comma. When addressing someone directly, you need a comma before the name if it's at the end of the sentence:

Let's eat Grandma!

Let's eat, Grandma!

The sentence without the comma tells the reader you want to eat Grandma, instead of telling Grandma that it's time to eat. Again, without the comma, the sentence may lead the reader to accuse you of cannibalism!

The direct address comma is necessary when the name is at the beginning of the sentence as well. Place the comma after the name to clarify your meaning. For example:

George Harrison has been sort of my hero.

George, Harrison has been sort of my hero.

If addressing George and telling him that Harrison is my hero, I must use the comma after George's name; otherwise, I am saying that George Harrison is my hero.

Also be sure to use two commas to off-set the name if it's in the middle of the sentence:

Let's eat Grandma and not wait for the rest of the family.

Let's eat, Grandma, and not wait for the rest of the family.

Without placing commas around "Grandma," the meaning of sentence changes drastically.

Yes, commas are overused and misused in the English language: as Oscar Wilde said, "I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out." However, we must remember that correctly utilizing the comma saves lives and keeps us from "cooking children" and "eating Grandma."

You Complete Me: the Subject and the Predicate

2010-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you may remember the classic scene in the 1996 blockbuster Jerry Maguire where Jerry wins back Dorothy by professing his love for her and saying, "You complete me." I'd like us to think about complete sentences in terms of that quotable line. Complete sentences may not seem nearly as romantic or compelling; however, in every complete sentence there is a relationship between the subject and the predicate, very much like Jerry and Dorothy's relationship.

Complete sentences are made of two parts: the subject and the predicate.

The subject is the noun (person, place or thing) or pronoun that the sentence says something about. The subject is the person or thing that acts or is described in the sentence.

Jerry promised to show his client the money.

The sentence is about Jerry, so Jerry is the subject. Jerry is the one acting in the sentence.

The predicate is the verb - the action or description. The predicate in a sentence is what the noun does or what that noun is. It tells us something about the subject.

Jerry promised his client the money.

What did Jerry do? In this sentence, "promised" is the predicate: it is what Jerry did.

When defining these parts of a sentence, ask yourself, "Who does what?" The "who" is usually your subject and the "what" is your predicate. Try it on these examples:

Annabelle and her colleagues attended the training. (Annabelle and her colleagues = the subject; attended = the predicate)

The HR department administers policies and handles payroll. (HR department = the subjec; administers and handles = the predicate)

Remember complete sentences need both a subject and a predicate. Imagine the subject as Jerry Maguire, saying to the predicate, "I love you. You...you complete me."

Want to test your knowledge? Here's a great game about subjects and predicates: http://www.quia.com/rr/36764.html

The Controversial Oxford Comma

2010-03-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Use of the Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma or the Harvard comma) is often debated in the grammar world. To use it or not: that is the question. Most non-journalistic writing in the United States follows the Chicago Manual of Style for writing and uses this little comma; however, most journalistic writing follows the Associated Press Style Guide, which suggests against using it. To help you decide whether or not the Oxford comma is necessary, let's take a quick look at both sides of this controversy.

But first, I want to make sure we all know what we're talking about when discussing the Oxford comma. This is the comma used before the last item in series or list of 3 or more items. It is used to separate and remove ambiguity from the author's meaning. For example, this sentence uses the Oxford comma:

My duties include answering phone calls, responding to emails, filing, and supervising employees.

The final comma before "and" separates the last two duties - filing and supervising. Without that comma, the reader might think that my responsibilities include "filing and supervising employees," leaving the reader to ponder how someone files employees.

On the other hand, there are those who argue that the use of (or the lack of) the serial comma is of little to no consequence because the items in the series are words equal in weight and value, and they are separated by "and" or "or."

The basic reasoning for or against using the Oxford comma breaks down as such:

Reasons for using it:

it clarifies ambiguity
it matches spoken cadence

Reasons against using it:

it is redundant

To use or not to use: that is the question. In arriving at your decision a practical tip is to not assume that your audience will automatically think what you're thinking and to err on the side of caution, utilizing the serial comma to clarify your meaning. However, it is also important to take your organization into account. In your office you may notice a prevailing trend to use (or not to use) this controversial comma in your fellows' writings. If you notice a trend in your office, then go with that!

Confusing Than and Then

2010-03-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

National Grammar Day was last week (March 4, 2010) and I read several posts on various grammar websites about the top grammar mistakes. Over the past several months we have covered most of the topics that made these top 10 lists commemorating National Grammar Day. However, one common grammar mistake that made several of these lists that we haven’t discussed is the confusion between than and then. Similarity in pronunciation and spelling often causes confusion when trying to distinguish between then and than. Let’s take a minute to clear up any confusion.

Than = Compare/Contrast

The word than is used when comparing (or contrasting) two things. It indicates a comparison or difference. For example:

At a young age, he showed a higher intelligence than most children.
My mother’s apple pie is better than mine.
Emily dressed differently than her sisters.

We use than in connection with the word “rather:” such as,

I would rather work from home than in the office.

Than is also used in connection with “other.” For instance:

Hudson wanted to live anywhere other than where he grew up.

Then = When/Time

While than has to do with comparisons, the most common use for then has to do with a sequence of events in time. It’s used to mean “at that time:”

His mother told him that once he cleaned his room she’d take him to lunch then.

Then can also mean “immediately following:”

First I will check my email; then I will return phone calls.

Other than referring to time, then also stands in for “in that case” or “as a consequence of.” For example:

If you want the memo written well, then write it yourself.
If you work hard, then you will receive a raise.

The tricks to keeping these two confusing words straight are 1) remember that than signifies a comparison, and 2) when you think about then remember the word "when" (because it deals with time).

Dealing with Difficult People and Situations

2010-03-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Think of your last workplace conflict or disagreement. What emotions did it stir up for you? Whether it left you rattled or confident, satisfied or bitter, may depend a great deal on your style of conflict management.

Not all conflict is negative. Sometimes well-meaning people disagree and those disagreements can lead to a better process, product or attitude. The key to positive conflict resolution is learning to disagree without being disagreeable.

When confronted with difficult people or situations, there are a several courses of action available. Most people fall into a pattern of reaction. But awareness, a plan of action and flexibility can bring about a resolution that leaves everyone feeling good about the result.

You’ll learn more about strategies for dealing with difficult people and situations at Falmouth Institute’s 17^th Annual Tribal Secretaries Conference, April 20-22, at The Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, Las Vegas.

TriSec 17 Workshop Highlight: Your Spiritual Self

2010-01-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

Gain the knowledge that you need to succeed in the workplace.

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHT:

Your Spiritual Self
How do people navigate successfully in two different cultures? Discover the wisdom and power you gain from your Native culture and learn to apply it to your interactions with non-Indians.

Balancing traditional values in the policy and procedure workplace
Using cross-cultural communication skills
Putting stereotypes to rest

TriSec 17: Keynote Address

2010-01-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

Make sure to join us for TriSec 17! Register early — Don't miss out on the Early Bird Discount!

HIGHLIGHT: Keynote Address

Reaching New Heights: Discovering the Possibilities within Yourself
This engaging and motivating speech will inspire you to be the best that you can be. You’ll be empowered to maximize your potential and shatter those damaging limits we’re all guilty of placing on ourselves. This keynote address will set the tone for TriSec 17 by instilling the “can-do” attitude that’s necessary to improve in the ranks of any organization!

View all workshops and descriptions here.

Tips & Tricks Travel: Where to Find the Best Airline Deals

2009-12-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

Booking airfare can be a tricky business. Fares can change by hundreds of dollars in a matter of hours, and with so many booking options it’s hard to know where to start. While calling an individual airline or going directly to their website are certainly options, this approach will limit your options of finding the best deal. The best way to begin is to access a website that pulls airfare directly from multiple airlines. A few to check out are:

Bing Travel - http://www.bing.com/travel/
Bing pulls ticket prices from multiple major airlines and has a very user friendly interface. It also offers Farecast technology which utilizes past fare pricing data to predict if the fare is likely to go up or down.
Expedia - http://www.expedia.com/default.asp
Expedia is a well-known interface that pulls information from most major airlines and is commonly used by businesses for their travel needs. Should you need assistance, their customer service is almost always prompt and helpful.
Booking Buddy - http://www.bookingbuddy.com/
Unlike the other two sites, Booking Buddy pulls from the major travel sites like Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity, etc. You can access more information this way, but it can be less user-friendly.

Things to note:

Mondays and Fridays are popular with business travel and often result in higher fares. Changing your travel dates by just a day can sometimes save you a bundle.
Southwest Airlines (http://www.southwest.com/) often has great deals but their information isn’t pulled by other websites. It’s a good idea to check their website before committing to another flight.
Priceline (http://www.priceline.com/) can save you money on airfare but is definitely a gamble. You enter your travel cities and dates and name the price you want to pay but once you submit this information, you’re committed to buying the ticket if your bid is accepted. You also don’t have control of the flight times or stops. If you’re a leisure traveler who just wants to get to your end point, this can be a great option.

Whichever route you choose, the most important thing to remember is that shopping around pays off. It’s easier to head straight for your favorite airline’s website but you never know where a great deal may be waiting. Best of luck and safe travels!

Due to vs. Because of

2009-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

The use of due to and because of is a common source of confusion (or perhaps you’re like me and hadn’t given it much thought before).

Did you have trouble getting to work due to the weather or because of the weather?

Here’s the scoop:

Due to modifies nouns
Because of modifies verbs

So what’s the correct answer? You had trouble getting to work because of the weather. Getting is the word being modified, and getting is a verb.

*Hint: After the verb to be (and forms of it including is, was, were, are), because of is usually the correct choice.

Other examples:

Anna was late for her appointment because of a flight delay. (Modified: late.)
Anna’s tardiness was due to a flight delay. (Modified: delay. Also, notice the verb “was.”)
The roads were slick because of the snow. (Modified: were.)
The slickness of the roads was due to the snow. (Modified: snow. Also, notice the verb “was.”)

TriSec 17 Information Available

2009-12-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

Enhance your professional skills and gain the knowledge that you need to succeed in the workplace.

Click here to view information on TriSec 17. Plan now to meet us in April!

Making Sure Pronouns Agree in Number

2009-12-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

This week’s grammar tip is to make sure that your pronouns agree in number.

First, let’s review what a pronoun is. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun (a person, place or thing). For example, “he” would be a pronoun for Catherine’s brother “John.”

Since a pronoun should be able to stand for the noun that precedes it, the pronoun and the noun should agree in number. If the noun is plural, the pronoun should be plural. If the noun is singular, the pronoun should be singular.

In casual speech, pronoun usage when it comes to number agreement is often incorrect. For example:

If anyone wants to claim this ticket, they have to visit my desk now.

A grammatically correct way to word this sentence (even though it may sound a little awkward) would be:

If anyone wants to claim this ticket, he or she has to visit my desk now.

“Anyone” refers to ONE person, not several; therefore the pronoun must also refer to ONE person.

Nouns that you should be careful pairing with pronouns include anyone, nobody and everyone, because they are singular. It might feel natural to pair these words with plural pronouns like their or they, but this is incorrect!

More examples:

Incorrect: My neighbor always leaves their cat outside on my lawn.
Correct: My neighbor always leaves her cat outside on my lawn. (Let's assume that I know my neighbor is a she.)

Incorrect: If a student takes the exam on Friday, they’ll have to wait until Wednesday to receive the grade.
Correct: If a student takes the exam on Friday, he or she will have to wait until Wednesday to receive the grade.

However Joined

2009-12-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

In our November 3rd Tips & Tricks post, we discussed “Run-on Sentences.” One of the ways discussed to properly join two sentences was “Inserting a comma and then a conjunction (and, but, or, yet, for, nor or so).” One of the grammatical mistakes I’ve seen lately has been the use of however as a conjunction.

To join two sentences together you need to use a conjunction (and, but, or, yet, for, nor or so); however, it is a common error to use the word however. However is not a conjunction: it is an adverb. Here are several quick tips to help you tidy up your use of however.

One way is to use a conjunction instead of however:

Incorrect: The weather outside is frightful, however the fire is so delightful.
Correct: The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful.

The conjunctions but and yet work well in places you would likely use however to join two sentences.

If you are set on using the word however in the middle of the sentence, another tip is to use a semi-colon and a comma. The semi-colon does the work of a conjunction, joining two independent clauses. Place a semi-colon before however and a comma after it:

Correct: The weather outside is frightful; however, the fire is so delightful.

The third tip is to put however at the beginning of the sentence (don’t forget to put that comma after it):

Correct: The weather outside is frightful. However, the fire is so delightful.

Don’t fall victim to misusing however. However is an adverb and by itself cannot be used as a conjunction. The quick fixes are to either replace however with a conjunction (but or yet work best); use a semi-colon before however and a comma after; or place however at the beginning of a sentence.

Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa

2009-12-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

When you attend TriSec 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada (April 20-22, 2010), the sensational Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa will welcome you with peaceful surroundings, extraordinary service and, of course, thrilling entertainment. Regardless of your tastes, your professional development couples perfectly with this exciting luxury hotel.

After a day of learning and networking, a Las Vegas night is yours in one or more of Red Rock Casino’s clubs, bars or lounges. The hotel’s “backyard” boasts a beach area, drinks and pool-side gaming. Want more gaming action? Ease into the early morning hours at the casino, where the fun is endless.

Don’t forget relaxation. The Spa at Red Rock is singing your name. Take a moment at the fitness center and salon, and tranquility lies ahead.

The mountain vistas are waiting! TriSec 17 is pleased to call Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa home.

A limited amount of rooms have been reserved at a discounted rate for Falmouth attendees. For a rate of $150 per night, please call 1-866-767-7773 and mention Falmouth Institute by March 26, 2010.

Check back often for more information on TriSec 17.

Lose vs. Loose

2009-12-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Lose and loose are two words that are often misused in place of one another. Perhaps the source of confusion is that lose is a verb and loose, while sometimes an adjective, can also be a verb.

Let’s examine the differences between them.

Lose is a verb. A few common definitions are:

to come to be without (something in one's possession or care), through accident, theft, etc., so that there is little or no prospect of recovery.
to suffer the deprivation of.
to fail to win (a prize, stake, etc.).

Examples of the correct usage of lose:

Allie didn’t want to lose her place in line.
Carmen lost her mother in a car accident in 1997.
Sharon knew that her basketball team was going to lose the tournament on Saturday.

Loose can be an adjective or a verb.

Some common definitions of the adjective loose are:

free or released from fastening or attachment.
free from anything that binds or restrains.
not put up in a package or other container.
not firm, taut, or rigid.

Examples of the correct usage of the adjective loose are:

The eggs in the “local farms” area of the supermarket are loose; I pick which ones I want and later place them in a carton.
The bolt on the wheel was loose; I was afraid the wheel would come off the bike.

Some common definitions of the verb loose are:

to let loose; free from bonds or restraint.
to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
to unfasten, undo, or untie, as a bond, fetter, or knot.
to make less tight; slacken or relax.

Examples of the correct usage of the verb loose are:

On Saturday, Jenn let the parrot loose from the aviary.
My dad loosened the bolt on my bicycle wheel to fix it.

Quick quiz (answers are below — don’t look ahead!):

After ____________ (-ing form) a good amount of weight, John found that his pants were ____________.
The doves were set ___________ on a sunny day.
You’re going to ___________ in this situation unless you tell him the truth.
I don’t want to ____________ you as a colleague.
He left the screw too ____________, so the frame fell off the wall.

Answers:

losing, loose
loose
lose
lose
loose

Thanks to www.dictionary.com for the above definitions.

The Adjective and the Countable/Uncountable Noun

2009-11-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend, my niece and I played Mad Libs and she asked me to name an adjective. I paused to recall the difference between adjectives and adverbs, so as not to make a fool of myself in front of a 9 year old. I quickly remembered that adjectives are words that describe or modify a person, place or thing in the sentence. Most of us have a handle on this basic rule; however, there are a few tricky adjectives that I’d like us to look at.

First, we need to understand the difference between a countable noun and an uncountable noun. Countable nouns are ones that take on a plural form such as “dog - dogs,” “friend - friends,” “cookie - cookies,” “person - people.” Uncountable nouns usually don’t change in their plural form: “water,” “food,” “deer,” “money,” “air.” We don’t say, “I sold the deers for many moneys” because these nouns don’t change in their plural forms.

For the majority of adjectives, it doesn’t matter whether the noun is countable or uncountable. We say “the dirty dogs” and “the dirty water.” But I mention these two types of nouns, because using a countable or an uncountable noun matters with a few tricky adjectives.

Much or Many
We only use much to describe uncountable nouns:

A pregnant lady drinks so much water.
We don’t have much money saved.

We use many to describe only countable nouns:

Many dogs don’t wear collars.
The little girl ate many cookies.

A lot of or Lots of
Think of these two adjectives as casual substitutes for what we just went over with much and many. Use them with uncountable nouns when we are using them to mean much and with countable nouns when they mean many. Let’s look at some examples:

A pregnant lady drinks lots of (much) water.
We don’t have a lot of (much) money saved.
Lots of (many) dogs don’t wear collars.
The little girl ate a lot of (many) cookies.

Little or Few
Just like with much, little describes only uncountable nouns:

There was little food leftover after Sunday’s dinner.
It was so hot outside that it felt as though there was little air to breathe.

Likewise, the adjective few modifies only the countable nouns:

The girl only has a few friends.
A few people are going to the show tonight.

A little bit of
This adjective phrase is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

There is a little bit of food in the dog’s bowl.
I’m hoping for a little bit of snow before Christmas.

The tip and trick is: when using any of the adjective or adjective phrases listed above, check whether or not the noun is countable or uncountable and use the appropriate adjective. Have fun modifying!

Top 3 Reasons Why Grammar Matters

2009-11-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

Many times over the years, I have been called a “grammar Nazi” for my devout adherence to and championship of grammar rules. Usually these comments just roll off my shoulders. However, a recent comment left on a previous blog started me thinking about why good grammar is so important. I believe that appropriate grammar should not only be important to me, but to everyone — especially in the workplace. Let’s take a look at my top 3 reasons why grammar matters (or should matter) in the workplace:

Getting a job. Good grammar and correct spelling are important in getting a job. In a survey of hiring managers, 75% said it was worse for an applicant to have a spelling or grammar error on her application than to show up late or even swear during an interview! In another survey conducted by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, nearly half of all recruitment professionals said that over 50% of the resumes they received contained grammatical errors. What do these errors in your resume say about you? Those reviewing your application may think you’re uneducated, you lack communication skills, or you don’t pay attention to details. This is not the message you want your resume or job application to convey: these messages won’t get you that job you want.
Keeping a job. Even after you have the job you want, grammar mistakes and spelling errors can be costly (and in some cases even cost you your job). For instance, in 2005 poor grammar and atrocious spelling cost U.K. companies a staggering $25 billion in lost sales. Can your company, organization or office afford to lose that kind of money? Another costly grammar mistake led the Cancer Research Center in Hawaii to lose $8 million in funding: a bill to tax cigarettes established a one-cent tax increase for the next 6 years (a total of 6 cents), but the bill was supposed to designate one-cent per cigarette sold. I definitely would not want to be the person responsible for that costly mistake! In a survey by Office Angels, 84% of surveyed employers believed that excellent work is devalued by sloppy spelling and poor grammar.
Giving and receiving respect. Lastly, grammar isn’t about following rules like a robot: it isn’t about blindly following the orders of us “grammar Nazis.” Correct grammar is about being aware of appropriate context and making your voice, your message, your content understood. Appropriate grammar shows respect for the person you are addressing. Good grammar sends a message that will be respected.

Basically, if you want your excellent work to receive the value it deserves and if you want to receive the respect you deserve in the workplace, then grammar matters!

Used to (and Would) vs. Use to

2009-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Last week a co-worker and I were discussing our biggest grammar pet peeves over lunch (yes, some of us nerdy-types do sit around and discuss this from time to time) and her biggest grammar pet peeve is when people write use to when they mean used to. There I sat with my fork in hand and my salad in front of me, wondering how often I was guilty of this grammar infraction. To be honest, I couldn’t remember the rules about when to use used to and when to use use to. I went back to work and did a little research and decided to share this with you as this week’s Tips and Tricks topic: when to use “used to (or would) vs. when to use “use to” (without the ‘d’).

Used to (or would)
1. When we say something used to happen, we are talking about repeated events and actions in the past, which usually are things that are now finished and no longer happening. (For this use of used to you can also use would.)

When Suzy was a child, she used to collect Barbie dolls. (When Suzy was a child, she would collect Barbie dolls.)
During the Great Depression, my grandfather used to sell scrap metal. (During the Great Depression, my grandfather would sell scrap metal.)
I used to go out a lot before having children. (I would go out a lot before having children.)

From the examples, we can assume that Suzy no longer collects Barbie dolls, my grandfather no longer sells scrap metal and I no longer go out a lot.

2. We also use used to when talking about repeated habits in the past (Here we cannot use would).

My cat used to hiss at squirrels.
My husband used to smoke.
I used to be a tribal administrative assistant.

These sentences imply that my cat no longer hisses at squirrels, my husband no longer smokes and I am no longer a tribal administrative assistant.

Use to (without the ‘d’)
The only time that we should use use to (without the ‘d’) is when it follows “did” or “didn’t” in a sentence. (Here we also cannot use would without changing the meaning).

Did you use to work in the same office as Sally?
Didn’t we use to go out?
What sort of games did your children use to like?
Sally and I did use to work together.
Due to the snowy winters, we didn’t use to go out much.

To spare my co-worker from the annoyance of her pet peeve, please remember this general tip: when “did” or “didn’t” is in the sentence, use use to (without the ‘d’), but when there is no “did” or “didn’t” in the sentence, use used to.

Run-On Sentences

2009-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Often it's thought that a run-on sentence is a very long sentence that cannot be spoken in one breath. Not true! A run-on sentence has two or more independent clauses (groups of words that communicate complete thoughts — an independent clause could stand alone as its own sentence) placed together without the correct punctuation. By this definition, a run-on sentence can be very short.

People use run-on sentences when speaking, but by using changes in vocal tone or in tempo (pauses, speaking slower, etc.) the meaning is easily understood. In writing, correct punctuation must be used so that the reader does not become confused.

Run-on sentences can be corrected by:

Inserting a semicolon between the independent clauses
Making the clauses two separate sentences
Inserting a comma and then a conjunction (and, but, or, yet, for, nor or so)

Now, let’s look at some examples and how we might correct them.

(Short) Run-on: That little girl didn’t seem happy she was crying.
Correct Option: That little girl didn’t seem happy; she was crying.

Run-on: Karen was upset with Jenna about what she said however, she appreciated her honesty about the matter.
Correct Option: Karen was upset with Jenna about what she said; however, she appreciated her honesty about the matter.

Run-on: Jessie’s dog was sick this morning, Jessie had a bad day at work.
Correct Option: Jessie’s dog was sick this morning, so Jessie had a bad day at work.

Run-on: I found my keys in my roommate’s purse, she mistook them for hers.
Correct Option: I found my keys in my roommate’s purse. She mistook them for hers.

*It’s important to note that even though a lengthy sentence might not be a run-on sentence, multiple sentences might be easier to understand.

Necessary Words Only

2009-10-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Business writing (from e-mails and memos to articles and reports) needs to be about clarity over length. Keeping your sentences short, using easily understandable words and minding the length of your writing ensures a clearer message for your reader.

Tip 1: Use short sentences.
Research shows that understanding drops when sentences are too long. A suggested average sentence length is less than 20 words. Break longer sentences down into two or more sentences, if possible. Try to stick with simple sentence construction by using the S-V-O (subject-verb-object) model for your sentences, where the subject of the sentence is first, the verb second and the object last.

Tip 2: Use simple words.
Simple words ensure that your meaning comes across loud and clear. Your audience may not have the same vocabulary that you have. Here are some examples:

Use “prove” instead of “substantiate.”
Use “use” instead of “utilize” or “operate.”
Use “now” instead of “currently.”
Use “broken” instead of “nonfunctional.”
Use “this means” instead of “tantamount”

Apply this tip to phrases as well. Instead of saying “on a regular basis,” just say “regularly.” Instead of saying “advance planning,” stick with “planning” (all planning is technically in advance after all). You don’t want to overload your reader with unnecessary adjectives and adverbs.

Tip 3: Pay attention to overall length.
Avoid general wordiness — cut out any words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs that aren’t central to what you want your reader to understand. A general rule is to proof read your writing and cut it by 10%.

In today’s business writing, wordiness and length tend to obscure the meaning of the writing, leaving the reader confused. We tend to value length over clarity — a habit that needs to be broken so our readers will understand what we are saying.

Writer for the Harvard Business Publishing blog, David Silverman poses the following challenge to reduce a complex phrase to something simple. Can you cut this to just a word or two?

It is the opinion of the group assembled for the purpose of determining a probability of the likelihood of the meteorological-related results and outcome for the period encompassing the next working day that the odds of precipitation in the near-term are positive and reasonably expected. [Silverman, David. “Why Is Business Writing So Bad?”]

Indian Country Human Resources Training: ONLINE

2009-10-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Join Falmouth Institute for an Online Training experience. The same great training, without the expensive and time-consuming travel.

Coming in November and December (click title for more information):

Ethics and Office Politics: Being the Champion of Change
November 12, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Explore ethical solutions to everyday situations and workplace situations that prompt change.

Interviewing Skills: Asking the Right Questions
November 10, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Learn the difference between the right questions and the questions that will lead you no where.

Hot Topics and New Development in Employment Law
December 7, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Are you aware of recent changes to Federal statutes regarding employment?

Sign up to receive Online Training updates via e-mail

Hyphens: Correct Usage Between Words

2009-10-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

In my experience, usage of the hyphen both in formal and informal writing is often haphazard. Sure, it’s possible that your readers will not notice (or care) that your hyphenation is incorrect (or missing), but when it comes to writing in professional situations, your credibility may be at stake.

This Tips & Tricks post will focus on the correct usage of the hyphen when it’s placed in between two words.

Let’s examine some common hyphenation rules and examples to illustrate them:

Numbers:

Compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine:

The lady who lived in the house at the corner of my street was known to have twenty-three cats.

Fractions:

He was out of town on business for about one-fifth of each year.

Adjectives that come before a noun and operate as one modifier:

The right-side window was broken.
Jerry’s long-awaited promotion offer was given to him on Friday.

Compound nouns: In the case of compound nouns, it’s best to check a dictionary (or http://www.dictionary.com/) to see if a compound noun should be two separate words, one whole word (without a hyphen) or hyphenated.

That new horror movie isn’t for the faint-hearted.
I borrowed my mom’s hand-held blow dryer when I visited her for the weekend.

To provide clarity: In confusing sentences, a hyphen may be used to clarify words that should go together, even though the words are technically separate.

My first grade school teacher was Mrs. Smith. or My first-grade school teacher was Mrs. Smith.
I saw thirteen odd dogs. or I saw thirteen-odd dogs.

Between the repetition of a letter:

Her sister lived on a co-op with several friends; they grew and shared produce on land they all owned.
The snake re-emerged from the pool of mud, and Jake screamed.
EXCEPTIONS: There are several exceptions to this. For instance, the words overrule and underrate should not be hyphenated.

Finding Your Active Voice

2009-10-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Grammatically speaking, writing in the passive voice is not wrong. However, it is important to know the difference between passive and active voice. The active voice tends to be more direct, which is necessary in business and professional writing. Knowing the difference between these two voices is important because “the habitual use of the active voice…makes for forcible writing” (The Element of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White).

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence acts. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon — the subject isn’t “doing” the action. Let’s look at a simple example:

(Active) I love you.
(Passive) You are loved by me.

In the first sentence (the active voice), “I” am the subject and “I” do the action (“love”). The second sentence isn’t as straightforward or direct. The subject of the sentence is “you” and “you” don’t do anything — “you” are the recipient of the action (“love”).

To clarify, let’s look at a few more examples:

(Active) Your letter of October 9, 2009 arrived today.
(Active) We received your letter of October 9, 2009 today.
(Passive) Your letter of October 9, 2009 was received by us today.

(Active) The “spell-check” feature makes correcting my spelling easier.
(Passive) Correcting my spelling is made easier with the “spell-check” feature.

(Active) The administrative assistant filed the report.
(Passive) The report was filed by the administrative assistant.

Tip: Nearly 100% of the time, the active voice uses fewer words than the passive voice. It is more direct and usually conveys a clearer message.

Remember that neither voice is grammatically incorrect. However, most business writing needs a clearer, more direct voice to convey a clear message, so use the active voice.

Exception: In instances when diplomacy and tact are necessary, the passive voice tends to sound softer. The passive voice works well to convey unpleasant news.

(Active) I find your work unsatisfactory.
(Passive) Your work has been found unsatisfactory.

That vs. Who

2009-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, a teacher corrected an essay of mine. Since I can’t remember the exact topic of the essay, let’s say I was recounting a dream that I’d had:

“Then, I ran into the woman that had given me the exam.”

Whoops. My teacher crossed out “that” and replaced it with, “who.” In the margin, she wrote, “That refers to objects. Who refers to people.”

Since then, I’ve found myself catching others’ misuse of these two words.

While it’s come to my attention that the English language is actually very forgiving of instances when individuals (whether in writing or in speech) interchange that and who, conventional grammar rules do offer a clear (and easy to remember) distinction.

That refers to objects.

I liked the shirt that fit me somewhat loosely.
I applied to a school that was known for its Visual Art program.
I trained the dog that knows how to “speak.”

Who refers to people.

She became best friends with the girl who played with her first.
I’m the one who taught the dog how to “speak.”
He’s the guy who found my keys at the gym.

Using Bad Badly or Using Badly Bad

2009-09-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I watched the movie Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang (2005), staring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. In this movie the two main characters go back and forth correcting each others’ use of bad and badly in a humorous way. After Robert Downey Jr. tells Val Kilmer that he should say "sleep bad" not "sleep badly," Kilmer responses indignantly, saying “Who taught you grammar? Badly’s an adverb. Get out. Vanish.” This comedic exchange led me to this week’s Tips and Tricks topic: Using Bad Badly or Using Badly Bad.

Here’re the facts: it is correct to say you feel bad when expressing an emotion. Bad is an adjective that modifies the noun.

Saying “I feel badly” implies that there is something wrong with your sense of touch or something wrong with the way you feel. It’s like saying you don’t feel things correctly.

Badly is an adverb - it modifies a verb. When someone says “I feel badly,” the adverb badly modifies the verb (feel).

Think of it like this: would you say, “I feel madly” or “I feel sadly”? No, you’d say, “I feel mad” or “I feel sad.” It works the same with bad and badly.

This tip applies with all verbs that describe our senses (feel, taste, smell, etc.). For example:

“I smell bad” means “I have an offensive odor.” / “I stink.”
“I smell badly” means “My sense of smell doesn’t work correctly.”
“That tastes bad” means “That doesn’t taste good.”
“That tastes badly” means “That things sense of taste works incorrectly.”

Additionally, after most other verbs (excluding those that describe our senses), it is correct to use an adverb (such as badly). For example:

“My review went badly.”
“As a child, I behaved badly.”

Therefore, in Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, Kilmer’s character is correct in saying “I sleep badly” because badly is an adverb and the verb (to sleep) does not describe the senses. Don’t worry, Robert Downey Jr. — it’s a common mistake.

Like vs. As

2009-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

This week, let’s examine the confusion between like and as. The words are commonly misused in both speech and writing when comparisons are being made. The trick to determining which word should be used in a situation is to take note of what follows the word.

When making comparisons, the word like is a preposition. A preposition is a word that demonstrates the relationship of a noun to something else (for a detailed explanation about prepositions, please click here to visit English Grammar Revolution).

*Like should be used when a verb does not follow it.

For example:

Jen was obviously angry and seemed to roar like a lion.
At six months old, Evan looks just like his father.

*Like compares nouns but does not demonstrate equality. In the first example above, Jen is displaying a mannerism of a lion, but she is not a lion.

The word as should be used as a conjunction. A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases or sentences.

*As should be used when a phrase with a subject and a verb follows it.

For example:

When Sara’s mother passed away, her Aunt Jeanine acted as her mother.
When Clara is reading, it’s as though she is in another world.

*As compares clauses and demonstrates equality. In the first example above, Aunt Jeanine functions as (or, is “equal to”) Sara’s mother.

Participate in Our Survey!

2009-09-21T13:31:00.001-07:00

Please click here to participate in our survey and to help us plan TriSec 17.

The Continuing Drama of Lay and Lie

2009-09-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

In last week’s Tips and Tricks, I began the discussion of the ever confusing lie vs. lay by focusing only on the present tense. Assuming we are all on the same page and up to speed with our present tenses, let’s muddy the water by shifting our attention to the past tense and the past participle tense.

(Remember, we are talking about lie as in “to recline” and lay as in “to put or place.” The present tense of lie is lie or lying. The present tense of lay is lay or laying.)

To begin the confusion, let’s look at the past tense of lie. The past tense of lie (to recline) is lay — as in “Yesterday afternoon, I lay on my bed for an hour.” Wait! Let me get this straight — the past tense of lie (to recline) is LAY? Yes, as confusing as it may be, lay is the past tense form of to lie (to recline).

The past participle tense (when we use have, has or had) of lie (to recline) is lain — as in “She has lain on the bed all day.”

Got it? Okay, moving on to the verb lay (to put or place):

The past tense of lay (to put or place) is laid — as in “Yesterday afternoon, I laid the folder on your desk.”

And the past participle tense (using have, has or had) of lay (to put or place) is also laid — as in “She had laid the revised proposal on her boss’s desk before leaving for the day.” Well, that is easier to remember because the past tense and the past participle tense are the same word — laid!

For quick reference, I’ve created a little chart to help you keep track of these tricky verbs:

Feel like you’ve got it down or want to see if you can remember which verb and tense is which? Test your knowledge of lie vs. lay in this quiz from GrammarBook.com.

The Here and Now of Lay and Lie

2009-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

Driving to work this morning, I caught myself singing along to Bob Dylan’s song “Lay, Lady, Lay” as it played on the radio. As I belted out the familiar lyrics, I was struck by yet another casualty of the ever confusing “lay vs. lie.” To avoid this mistake ourselves, let’s take a quick look at these two tricky verbs.

*Note: For this post, we’re not talking about “to lie” to mean “to tell an untruth”, but the “to recline or to set” meaning.

The key is to remember that in the present tense, lay requires a direct object and lie does not. For instance:

You lay the folder on his desk. (The folder is the direct object)
You lie in the afternoon’s hot sun. (No direct object)

When talking about doing something now, you lie in the sun, and you lay down the folder.

Here are two tricks to help you to remember when to use lay and when to use lie:

The famous Bob Dylan song that I heard in the car this morning, “Lay, Lady, Lay” is grammatically incorrect! “Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed,” implies that someone else is placing Dylan’s lady on his big brass bed, which isn’t his intended meaning. Dylan is imploring his lady to stay with him, and grammatically speaking, Dylan should have said, “Lie, lady, lie, lie across my big brass bed.” (The same grammatical error occurs in Eric Clapton’s song “Lay Down Sally.”)
County music artist Chris Young’s song “Lay It on Me” uses lay correctly! When Young sings about his lady’s kiss that he wants her to “come on and lay it on me,” the kiss is the direct object that he wants placed upon him.

So in the present tense, in the here and now, Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay” is wrong because you lie across his big brass bed, and Chris Young’s “Lay It on Me” is right because whatever “it” is, it’s a direct object.

Remember, this is just the present tense use of these tricky verbs. I’ll tackle the even more confusing past and past participle tenses of lay and lie in next week’s exciting installment of Tips & Tricks.

More Confusing Homonyms: Its vs. It's

2009-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Let’s continue last week’s post on homonyms. “Its” and “it’s” are two more confusing homonyms that people, even native speakers of English, commonly misuse for one another. The source of confusion is that English speakers are used to adding 's after a noun to suggest possession of something; however, this isn’t the case with “it’s.”

To put it simply:

“Its” is the possessive form of “it.” It expresses that “it” possesses, or has or owns something.
“It’s” is the contraction form of “it is” or “it has.”

A quick check: If you can substitute the word “it is” or “it has,” the word that you should use is “it’s.”

Examples:

Its

Its capital city was very hectic.
I found its taste to be a bit too rich.
I saw that movie on the night of its premiere.
The dog spent all evening licking its paw.

It’s

In my opinion, it’s too hot outside to run.
It’s been a very eventful week.
The sky looks like it’s going to rain on us!
Do you think it’s time for us to leave?

Shedding a Little Light on Affect and Effect

2009-08-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Effect and affect are two of the most confusing homonyms (words that sound similar but have very different meanings), repeatedly misused for one another. The misuse of these two words isn’t necessarily because they simply sound similar, but more likely because the rules of when to use affect with an ‘a’ and when to use effect with an ‘e’ are so confusing! My job today is to try to simplify this as much as possible…

More often than not, we should follow the very simple guideline that effect with an ‘e’ is a noun and affect with an ‘a’ is a verb. If you use affect and effect in this way, you’ll be right 95% of the time!

Effect
As a noun, effect with an ‘e’ has many meanings; however, at the heart of all of these definitions seems to be the same underlying meaning. When used as a noun, effect means “a result.” If you are talking about a result, you need to use effect. For instance:

The humidity today had no effect on Susan’s hair. (The humidity produced no result on Susan’s hair.)
The negative effects of her attitude were noticed by our supervisor. (The negative results of her attitude were noticed by our supervisor.)

Affect
Affect with an ‘a’ is a verb with multiple meanings as well. One usage means “to influence,” as in:

The humidity today affected my hair. (The humidity today influenced my hair.)
Her negative attitude affects the entire office morale. (Her negative attitude influences the entire office morale.)

A second meaning for affect with an ‘a’ is that as a verb it can be used to mean “to act in a way that you don’t feel.” For example:

In order to help the children remain calm, I affect a degree of serenity despite my own fears.

The politician affected an air of self-confidence that most found unsettling.

As I said, most of the time affect with an ‘a’ is the verb and effect with an ‘e’ is a noun. There are rare instances when these roles are reversed, but those exceptions will have to be another Tips and Tricks entry. For now, remember this basic rule and you’ll be right 95% of the time!

Don’t Neglect Proper E-Etiquette

2009-08-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

E-mail is now as common in most workplaces as the telephone call. With the wide use of Internet applications such as Facebook and instant messaging, online correspondence is often seen as more casual, but there is proper e-etiquette that can’t be forgotten when conducting business.

The following 10 tips are useful when communicating about official business via e-mail.

Treat your e-mail as though you are writing it on letterhead (e.g. address Anne Smith formally as Ms. Smith rather than as Anne) when your relationship with a business contact is still new. Once your relationship begins to feel more relaxed, so can the tone of your e-mails.
Your subject line should accurately state what your e-mail is about. This will help your contact prioritize their e-mails. Note: Start a new e-mail thread with a new subject line if the subject of your e-mail is going to take a turn from the previous e-mail. Don’t simply hit “reply” if the e-mail isn’t a response about the previous content.
Don’t use abbreviations. Abbreviations such as “lol,” “idk,” “imo” and “brb” are best left outside of the workplace.
Avoid writing in all capital letters. SENTENCES WRITTEN LIKE THIS WILL BE READ AS THOUGH YOU ARE SCREAMING.
Avoid using sarcasm or making jokes. Sarcasm and comical tones don’t always come across as such in e-mail and might be taken offensively.
Don’t use emoticons (e.g. :) or :(). Emoticons are very informal.
The “Reply to All” option should only be used when you are sending a response that must reach each person who received the original message. You don’t want to clog your contacts’ e-mail inboxes with messages that don’t concern them.
Generally speaking, e-mails should be brief. In the busy workplace, longer e-mails should be replaced with telephone calls or meetings.
Attach any promised attachments. It’s a waste of your and your contact’s time to deal with two e-mails just because you’ve forgotten to include an attachment, even more so if you don’t realize that you’ve forgotten until much later.
Finally — Never send an e-mail that you haven’t proofread.

TriSec 17 in Las Vegas, NV at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa

2009-08-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

TriSec 2010 has a home! We are excited to see you April 20 - 22, 2010 at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. Stay tuned for more details.

That vs. Which

2009-08-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

Many people mistakenly use the words that and which interchangeably; however, they do not serve the same purpose and are not interchangeable. While some grammar experts complicate and obscure the rules dictating the usage of that and which, I strive to keep them as simple as possible! The simplest way to properly use them is to remember:

That precedes an essential (or restrictive) clause
Which comes before everything else.

That and the Essential Clause
To understand when to use that you must understand what makes a clause essential. An essential clause (also known as a restrictive or defining clause) provides a necessary part of the sentence by restricting or modifying another part of that sentence. Basically, you can’t get rid of the clause without losing part of the meaning and these clauses use that to introduce them. For example:

Dogs that constantly whine annoy those around them.

“That constantly whine” defines the type of dogs you are talking about. Without the clause you would be saying that all dogs annoy those around them, changing the meaning of the sentence. That comes with a clause that cannot be thrown out.

(Note: With essential clauses and therefore with that there are no commas used to separate the clause from the rest of the sentence.)

Which and the Non-Essential Clause
Which introduces the non-essential, additional information to the sentence. The non-essential clause (also known as the non-defining or non-restrictive clause) provides information in the sentence that can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Which clauses can be thrown out and the sentence meaning remains the same. For example:

Dogs, which sometimes bark out of excitement or fear, make good pets.

“Which sometimes bark out of excitement or fear” can be removed from the sentence and the integrity or meaning of the sentence does not change - “Dogs make good pets.”

(Note: commas are always used to separate the non-essential information from the rest of the sentence.)

Wrap It Up
That provides vital information that cannot be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning, and commas are not needed. Which introduces additional, non-essential information to a sentence, and commas are always necessary.

Bonus Tip
Remember: Do not use which or that to refer to a person. Use who (or whom or whose). See Tips and Tricks entry on Who vs. Whom.

Misplaced and Squinting Modifiers

2009-08-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

A modifier modifies whatever it’s closest to in a sentence. A misplaced modifier might modify the incorrect thing.

For example, consider the following sentences:
I nearly met all of my sales goals.
I met nearly all of my sales goals.

As the writer, you have to make sure that what you write will be easily understood by the reader. Do you want the reader to think that you were very close to meeting all of your sales goals, or that you met most but not all of your sales goals?

Other examples:

The sun in Florida was hot. (Confusing — is there more than one sun?)
In Florida, the sun was hot. (Clear)

My husband took the newspapers to the bins that were more than a week old. (Confusing — the bins were recyclable?)
My husband took the newspapers that were more than a week old to the bins. (Clear)

A squinting modifier is a modifier that is placed in such a fashion that it could modify either what comes before it or what follows it. Your reader may not know which thing is being modified and will therefore not understand your sentence.

Examples:

He told his daughter eventually the dog would have to go back to its owner. (Confusing — did he tell her eventually, or would the dog eventually have to go?)
He told his daughter the dog would eventually have to go back to its owner. (Clear)

Janice likes that band only because she thinks the guitarist is talented. (Could be confusing — does Janice like only that band, or does she only like the band because of the guitarist?)

Janice only likes that band because she thinks the guitarist is talented. (Clear)

For more information on modifiers, please check our post on Dangling Modifiers.

We're planning TriSec 17!

2009-07-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

We're starting to plan our next Tribal Secretaries Conference! What would you like to see at TriSec 17? Respond to this post with comments. We want your ideas!

Exercising the Writing Process to Eliminate Error

2009-07-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to avoid common writing pitfalls is to follow an important writing process. People often think to use the writing process in formal writing or while in school, but it's just as important to utilize this process in our emails, memos, reports, grants, reviews, articles and everything else we write in the workplace.

All writing is a process and there are crucial steps in this process:

1. Plan the message you want to convey. Think about what you want your reader to understand from your writing. Sometimes this phase is as short as thinking through your email response before you type it, but other times this phase can include brainstorming, outlining or writing out a plan for your thoughts.

2. Draft - get the words down. Imagine that everything you write is a first draft and therefore unfinished!

3. Revise. Make clear what you are trying to say by changing words, clarifying, simplifying or reiterating. The main way to avoid common grammar pitfalls is through revising and proofreading before we hit send, print, publish or submit.

4. Proofread. There are proven proofreading strategies. First, read your writing aloud. We often hear the mistakes we write because they “just don’t sound right.” Second, start at the end. Read your writing one sentence at a time, starting with your last sentence. This works well to help clarify your ideas and your grammar sentence by sentence. The third strategy is to ask a friend or co-worker to read your draft. An additional set of eyes will often catch what we overlooked. Finally, utilize spell check, grammar check and other “look-up” tools, like www.dictionary.com. If the program you're writing in doesn’t have spell check or grammar check, copy your text into Microsoft Word and check it there. For more, click here for our May 5 Tips and Tricks Tuesday post.

According to Strunk and White’s acclaimed book on writing, The Elements of Style, we all benefit from approaching everything we write through this writing process because “few writers are so expert that they can produce what they are after on the first try.” Remember, everything you write is a rough draft until after you have worked it through the entire writing process.

Indian Country Human Resource Management Conference Speaker, Sherri Elliott

2009-07-28T07:29:00.001-07:00

Exciting news about Falmouth Institute’s 2009 Human Resource Management Conference (August 27-28, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona at Radisson Fort McDowell):

The author of the new book Ties to Tattoos will be one of our excellent speakers at this year’s conference. Sherri Elliott addresses the issue of a multigenerational workforce in her new book and through her company Gen InsYght (http://www.geninsyght.com/). Sherri will be leading a session at the conference on this very topic — helping companies understand and successfully overcome the challenges and reap the rewards of a multigenerational staff.

Sherri Elliott is the president and owner of Optimance Workforce Strategies, LLC, a leading human resource consulting firm. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources with an Associate designation in Risk Management with over fifteen years of corporate experience.

Please join us for this and many other exciting sessions at Falmouth Institute’s Human Resource Management Conference in Phoenix, AZ on August 27-28, 2009.

For a full list of conference topics, please click here.

Double Negatives

2009-07-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

A double negative is the improper placement of two negative words in the same sentence. Most of the time, the user of a double negative intends to make a negative statement, but two negatives form a positive statement. One negative and one positive form a negative statement.

Examples of negative words include no, not, nobody, hardly, barely and none.

The following sentences are examples of double negatives and what the sentences are actually implying. The negative words in the original sentence are indicated in bold.

I didn’t see nobody. = I saw somebody.
I barely ate none of it. = I ate a lot of it.
She didn’t need no one to help her. = She needed someone to help her.

The original sentences make positive statements because two negatives cancel each other out.

The following sentences are the incorrect sentences above rewritten correctly. The negative words are indicated in bold. The positive words are indicated in italics.

I didn’t see anybody.
I barely ate any of it.
She didn’t need anyone to help her.

The sentences make negative statements because of the placement of one negative and one positive.

Good/Well: When to Use "Good" and When to Use "Well"

2009-07-14T10:56:00.001-07:00

Speakers of the English language often use good when they should use well, especially in speech. The general rule regarding this common grammatical error is that you do something well, but a thing is good.

Well is an adverb — it modifies verbs. Good, on the other hand, is an adjective, describing nouns. As a rule then, we do not use good to describe verbs.

Correct: The boy behaves well when he is around his mother.
Correct: For his good behavior, he is given a good sized piece of pie.
Correct: The dog fetches well.
Correct: He is a good dog.

However, there are exceptions to this general usage rule (which is probably why this is such a tricky, typical error).

The first exception deals with verbs of sensation (relating to the senses). The word good is appropriate to use as an adverb with verbs of sensation. For example, saying, “The homemade cookies smell good,” is correct. Saying, “The homemade cookies smell well,” implies that the cookies have noses.

Exception number two is even trickier! An often difficult decision takes place when using a linking verb. Linking verbs don’t take adverbs, so we’ll want to use good and not well. For instance, we say, “I feel good,” and “He is good at pool,” because the verbs “feel” and “is” are linking verbs.

While keeping these exceptions in mind, the most important bit to remember is the general rule: you do something well, and a thing is good.

Know Before You Go: Airport Regulations

2009-07-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

Strict airport guidelines can add frustration and unnecessary time to your travel plans. Pay attention to these key tips to save time and energy at the airport:

Check in ahead of time. Most airlines let you check in and print your boarding pass on their Web site 24 hours before your flight. For airlines that don't assign seats, like Southwest, this is especially important because the sooner you check in, the earlier you will board and choose your seat. Printing your boarding pass ahead of time lets you bypass the long line for regular check in and go straight to the bag drop off.

Have your ID and boarding pass ready. Security agents will be looking for your photo ID and your boarding pass to be sure the names match when you join the security line. Save yourself the hassle and have these documents ready when you get in line.

Speed through Security. No one likes a long line. Do your part by wearing shoes that are easy to take off, limit your layers, leave the heavy metal at home and keep electronics convenient. Have a plan in mind for when you get to those little plastic bins. Be sure to take out any electronics such as laptops, dvd players etc. and place them visibly in a bin outside of your carry on. Assume that everything will make the sensor go off and put all jackets, bulky sweatshirts, shoes and belts in the bins as well. If you're traveling with liquids, check out the next tip.

Carry-on Rules for Liquids. There are very strict rules for bringing liquids through security and on the plane. TSA follows the 3-1-1 rule. Passengers are allowed to carry on containers of no more than 3 ounces each, concealed within 1 single 1 quart bag. The regular one quart ziploc bags are recommended. Any containers over 3 ounces will not be permitted through and will be thrown away (or you'll have to leave the security line and figure out what to do with them before returning). Water or soda purchased at the gate once you're through security is allowed on board but anything purchased before security will be thrown away. There are a few exceptions including baby formula and some prescriptions. For a full list of exceptions and prohibited items please visit the TSA Web site.

Keep these simple rules in mind for your next trip to have happy and safe travels!

I Vs. Me

2009-07-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

The pronouns “I” and “me” are often confused in writing and in common speech. “I” should be used as the subject in sentences and “me” should be used as the object in sentences.

“I” is a subject pronoun. It is the person performing the action.

For example: Michelle and I visited the local high school to conduct the experiment.

“I” visited the local high school with Michelle.

“Me” is an object pronoun. It is the person the action is done to.

For example: The local high school contacted Michelle and me about the experiment.

The school is the subject, and the school contacted “me.”

A good test is to see if the sentence makes sense when written or spoken with just the pronoun.

For example: The local high school contacted me.

You wouldn’t say: The local high school contacted I.

More examples:

Incorrect: The taxi drove Leslie and I to the airport.
Correct: The taxi drove Leslie and me to the airport.
Incorrect: Alisha and me felt like taking a walk at 4:00.
Correct: Alisha and I felt like taking a walk at 4:00.
Incorrect: My dad loves my sister and I.
Correct: My dad loves my sister and me.

Falmouth Online Training Offerings

2009-07-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

The following online training sessions are scheduled for later this month. Register today! Please click here for more information on online training with Falmouth.

Dealing with Difficult People, Places and Things
July 29, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Conflict is a part of any work environment but steps can be taken to manage conflict and help you deal more effectively with difficult people and situations. Learn the skills that will help you take action and create a more harmonious and productive workplace.

Sexual Harassment for Tribes and Tribal Organizations
July 30, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Anyone who has encountered sexual harassment will tell you that it’s bothersome, irritating and demeaning. It’s also against the law. During this workshop, you’ll learn the important aspects of handling sexual harassment issues and complaints. You’ll examine how to prevent unacceptable behavior from the beginning.

My Darling Dangling Modifier

2009-06-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most common grammatical errors is the dangling modifier. Although your reader may be able to decipher your intended meaning from the sentence, having a dangling modifier can create misleading information, confusion or concern.

What is a modifier? A modifier (also known as a participle) is a descriptive word, phrase or clause that adds detail to the noun to which it’s attached. It describes the noun closest to it. Dangling modifiers — also called dangling participles — are descriptive words, phrases or clauses suffering from separation anxiety. We usually find them at the beginning of sentences. The modifiers are perfectly happy (and grammatically correct) when the thing they describe is planted right next to them. When that modified thing isn’t next to the descriptive phrase, the participle will clutch at and describe the closest noun, ultimately changing the meaning of your sentence.

Let’s look at a few examples:

Example 1: Incorrect: Smashed flat by a passing truck, the dog sniffed at what was left of a half-eaten hamburger.

Oh no! That poor dog! Because of the way this sentence is arranged, the modifier in the above sentence — “smashed flat by a passing truck” — describes the noun nearest it, which is the dog. That was not the author’s intent. Read the sentence below with the modifier describing the appropriate noun.

Example 1: Correct: The dog sniffed at what was left of a half-eaten hamburger that had been smashed flat by a passing truck.

Let’s try another one:

Example 2: Incorrect: After rotting in the basement for a week, your brother brought me an orange.

According to this example, your brother has been “rotting in the basement for a week.” No one wants a rotten brother anywhere near them, so we move the dangling modifier to correctly modify the appropriate subject.

Example 2: Correct: Your brother brought me an orange that had been rotting in the basement for a week.

Here’s a slightly more serious example and one that is more likely to occur in an office setting. A company policy reads:

Example 3: Incorrect: If taking more than 3 consecutive sick days, a signed doctor’s note is needed.

Who is taking more than 3 consecutive sick days? This sentence says that “a signed doctor’s note” is taking more than 3 consecutive sick days. That is not the intended meaning. To revise, decide who actually will be taking off these days.

Example 3: Correct: If taking more than 3 consecutive sick days, an employee will need to provide a note from their doctor.

Dangling modifiers plague our emails, memos, letters, reports and policies, changing the meaning of them in unintended ways. When you know what to look for and be aware of, you too can avoid this common grammatical pitfall.

Your Workspace

2009-06-25T13:23:00.001-07:00

Due to the lack of responses to last Wednesday's post, we regret to inform you that we don't have any workspace photos to share.

Thank you for checking back!

Parallelism

2009-06-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

In writing, a parallel structure demonstrates that two or more ideas or items in a list are of equal importance. Parallelism is accomplished by beginning each idea or item with the same part of speech.

For example:

On Saturday, Jeanine wanted to visit her mother, mow the lawn and the dog needed a bath. NON-PARALLEL

The first two of Jeanine’s desires begin with verbs. Readers would trip over the last desire in this sentence. The following example uses parallelism and is much easier to understand.

On Saturday, Jeanine wanted to visit her mother, mow the lawn and bathe the dog. PARALLEL

Using parallelism makes it easier for your reader to understand what you are trying to convey; mixing forms risks misunderstanding.

More examples:

During the soccer tournament, Adam played quickly, excitedly and he was very happy. NON-PARALLEL
During the soccer tournament, Adam played quickly, excitedly and happily. PARALLEL

Carla is enthusiastic, hard-working and is a nice person. NON-PARALLEL
Carla is enthusiastic, hard-working and friendly. PARALLEL

Over the weekend, Kevin bought a new MacBook Pro online, two software programs, and arranged for free shipping. NON-PARALLEL
Over the weekend, Kevin bought a new MacBook Pro online, ordered two software programs, and arranged for free shipping. PARALLEL

We Need Your Input!

2009-06-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

Please click here to participate in a TriSec Blog survey. It will take just a few minutes of your time.

We Want Photos of Your Creative Workspace!

2009-06-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

"Designing a Creative and Effective Workspace" was an exciting and popular workshop at TriSec 16.

Is your workspace the perfect reflection of your personality? Is it comfortable, professional and creative? Send us a photo! If you aren't yet ready to show off your personal retreat, take the next week to add some spice to it, and then send us a photo. We'll stop accepting submissions on Wednesday, June 24 at 12:00 p.m. EST. We'll post submissions to the blog on Wednesday, June 24 at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Please attach your photos to an e-mail and send them to us by clicking here.

We can't wait to see your workspace. Have fun!

More on Writing in Style

2009-06-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

A style manual will not cover all the grammatical and writing questions that you confront as someone who works for a tribal government. Even the most comprehensive guide will not tell you the proper way to address a tribal leader in a letter or which source will be used to guide you on the proper name for tribal governments.

These are questions that may require research and consultation with department heads. Once a decision is made, it should be documented in a style sheet. A style sheet is a supplement to the style manual and it should address spelling, grammar and other writing questions that cannot be answered anywhere else. It should be shared and used like any other reference.

Style sheets are fluid documents that are constantly amended and updated as needed. As with most writing style questions, there may be several correct answers. The key to a good writing style is to decide on one answer and stick to it.

Below are some useful sources that may help you in developing a style sheet for your tribal organization.

National Congress of American Indians Tribal Directory – This is updated regularly and is a good source for checking the proper spelling and preferred reference for American Indian and Alaska Native governments.

Websites for Tribal Governments

U.S. Government Web sites – These will help you with the proper titles for government officials, the spelling of names and the official names for various agencies and departments.

U.S. Department of Interior -- includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- includes the Indian Health Service

Writing in Style

2009-06-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had an argument with one of your colleagues over whether this word or that should be capitalized or whether to use a comma or not? Before you come to blows with your office mates, remember this: you both may be right.

There are many questions about grammar that can be answered in several ways, for example the capitalization of certain words, how to write time, or whether to use courtesy titles. These types of grammatical questions are called style questions. In most cases, there are several correct answers. The most important thing is consistency — within all your correspondence and documents, within your department and across your organization.

Most dictionaries contain a basic style guide, but more comprehensive guidance on style questions can be found in style manuals. There are several well-respected style manuals available; which one you select may depend on the type of writing you do. Most manuals will tell you how to cite other works within your document and give you some guidance on capitalization, italicization and punctuation. If you do very specialized writing, such as legal writing or grant writing, be sure to have an additional style manual that will guide you on the standards for that industry. Below are just a few of the commonly used style books available today.

GENERAL

The Elements of Style: A Style Guide for Writers

BUSINESS

The AMA Style Guide for Business Writing

Style Guide: For Business and Technical Communication

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

United States Government Printing Office. Style Manual.

LAW

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation

Quotation Mark Usage

2009-06-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

In the workplace, correct usage of quotation marks is essential. Today, you’ll get a basic overview of quotation mark usage.

Quotation marks are called for in the following situations:

To note someone else’s exact written or spoken words. **Remember that quotation marks indicate that the words within the quotes are exactly what the person said — word-for-word.

Shelly said, “I would never do that in one million years.”

To note the title of short works or smaller parts of a bigger work. Short works include songs, book chapters, poems, articles, short stories and essays.

“Wild Horses”: A song by the Rolling Stones

Remember the following tips about quotation mark usage:

In the workplace or in research writing, it is crucial that your quotes are exact. Otherwise, you may state what someone wrote or said with an indirect quote.

Direct quote: Carol said, “I absolutely hate this restaurant.”
Indirect quote: Carol said that she didn’t like the restaurant.

Always make sure that you provide closing quotation marks for every quote.

Commas and periods should always be inserted before the closing quotation mark.

Stacy said, “Insert a period at the end of that sentence.”

Exclamation points and question marks should always be inserted after the closing quotation mark, unless they are part of the quotation.

“Do you believe his luck?” Robin asked me after the lottery drawing.

Colons and semicolons should always be inserted after the closing quotation mark, unless they are part of the quotation.

If you remember one thing about what your father said today, let it be, “Don’t let negative people get the best of you”; but I understand that sometimes that’s easier said than done.

When you need to use quotation marks within a quote, you should use single quotation marks for the interior quote.

“I don’t usually listen to the Beach Boys but I do like their song ‘Feel Flows’ a lot,” Mike said.

Compound Sentences and the Comma vs. the Semicolon

2009-05-26T13:14:00.001-07:00

When joining two independent clauses (or two sentences, or two complete thoughts), you’ll need to determine whether to use a comma or a semicolon.

When using a comma, one of these coordinating conjunctions must be used: and, but, for, nor, or, so or yet. The comma will be placed before the conjunction used. Examples of correct comma usage:

I’m going to the zoo, and I will see the gorillas.
Chocolate is my favorite ice cream flavor, but I sometimes like eating the strawberry ice cream flavor.
Jenny’s mother saw her come home late at 2:00 a.m., so Jenny is grounded for the next two weeks.

When using a semicolon, a coordinating conjunction is not needed to join two independent clauses. Examples of correct semicolon usage:

I’m going to the zoo; I will see the gorillas.
Chocolate is my favorite ice cream flavor; I sometimes like eating the strawberry ice cream flavor.
Jenny’s mother saw her come home late at 2:00 a.m.; Jenny is grounded for the next two weeks.

When using a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, nevertheless, etc.), a semicolon can also be used. Examples of correct semicolon usage with conjunctive adverbs:

Jenny arrived home late; therefore, she is grounded for the next two weeks.
Chocolate is my favorite ice cream flavor; however, I sometimes like eating the strawberry ice cream flavor.

TriSec 16 photos added

2009-05-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

New photos from TriSec 16 have been uploaded for you to view! Please click here or on the slideshow below to view the photos.

Your vs. You’re & There vs. Their

2009-05-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

For this week, let’s continue with more word usage tips.

Your vs. You’re

“Your” is a possessive form of the word “you.” Examples of correct usage of the word “your”:

You left your hat at my apartment last night.
Your mother is my best friend.
Is that your dog?

“You’re” is a contraction of the words “you” and “are.” Examples of correct usage of the word “you’re”:

You’re my best friend.
I did not know that you’re Shelly’s sister.
I once sat where you’re sitting right now.

Example of correct usage of both words: I will water your plants while you’re gone.

There vs. Their

“There” refers to a place. Examples of correct usage of the word “there”:

I would like to go there someday.
I want my desk placed over there.
I knew I would find you there.

“Their” is a possessive form of “they.” Examples of correct usage of the word “their”:

Sometimes Carol and Jeff play guitar together, and I love their music.
Their house is beautiful.
Jessica and Alan say that their parents are a lot of fun.

Example of correct usage of both words: I am going to California with my parents. While I’m there, I am going to see their old high school.

Who vs. Whom

2009-05-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

A common source of confusion when writing and speaking is usage of the words “who” and “whom.” Do you understand the correct usage of these words?

“Who” is always the subject of a sentence, and “whom” is always the object.

For example: Who is going to lunch with Sarah?

“Who” is the word that is performing the action. "Who" = the person who is going to lunch.

Now, let’s examine this sentence: With whom is Sarah going to lunch?

“Whom” is the word that receives the action. "Whom" = the person who Sarah is going to lunch with.

A simple trick is to rewrite your questionable sentence using the words “he” or “him” instead of “who” or “whom.” Using this trick, “he” represents “who,” and “him” represents “whom.”

For example: Who/whom did you tell about your vacation?

The sentence could be rewritten like this: I told him about my vacation.
Therefore, the sentence that you began with would be correct when written: Whom did you tell about your vacation?

Let’s try one more: I’m not sure who/whom visited my mother last night.

The sentence could be rewritten like this: He visited my mother last night.
Therefore, the sentence that you began with would be correct when written: I’m not sure who visited my mother last night.

Rachel Martin on TriSec 16

2009-05-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Listen to the sound clip below to hear what Falmouth Curriculum Specialist and instructor Rachel Martin has to say about her experience at TriSec 16.

When You're Editing, Use Your Head Not Your Computer

2009-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tips and Tricks Tuesday, a weekly column on grammar for tribal secretaries and administrative assistants.

Despite all the technology that has made writing easier, it can’t take the place of a powerful vocabulary, a firm grasp of grammar and a good eye — and ear — for editing your own work. Yes, of course, any word processing program worth its hefty price includes spelling and grammar checks. But spell check isn’t going to tell you the difference between heal and heel or when to use that, which or who. It’s also of little use when it comes to spelling most tribal names and most surnames — Native American or not.

So here’s our first tip: Use your head first and last. Never send out anything that hasn’t been checked and double checked.

When you’re editing your own work, follow these tips:

Walk away from it … at least for a little while. You need to take a break between your writing and your editing.

Use a pencil as you read your work. Point to every word and look at it. Does it look right? Are you sure of the spelling? If not, look it up. Don’t rely on your computer’s spell check.

Read your work aloud slowly. Reading your writing aloud helps you look at every word and it gives you a better idea of the tone or your work, whether all your sentences make sense and whether you’ve conveyed your thoughts accurately.

Get a second set of eyes. Find someone in your office with a proven record of good writing and editing skills and ask him or her to read your work. This is not needy or unprofessional. This should be standard operating procedure for all business material that will be distributed to the public.

Remember that writing and editing is a skill. Your ability will increase with knowledge and practice.

Online training sessions in June

2009-05-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

Continue to improve upon your professional skills when you participate in one of our online training sessions next month.

Business Communication Series: Error Free Writing

June 11, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST ONLINE

In November 2008, poor grammar led cancer researchers in Hawaii to lose $8 million in funding from cigarette taxes, as only one cigarette was specified in the law. Grammar mistakes can be costly! Don’t let errors in your writing negatively affect you and your tribal organization. Sign up today and begin our Business Communication Series with “Error Free Writing.”

Sexual Harassment for Tribes and Tribal Organizations

June 11, 2009 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST ONLINE

Anyone who has encountered sexual harassment will tell you that it’s bothersome, irritating and demeaning. It’s also against the law. During this workshop, you’ll learn the important aspects of handling sexual harassment issues and complaints. You’ll examine how to prevent unacceptable behavior from the beginning.

Records Management for Tribal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

June 16, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST ONLINE

The effective and efficient performance of an organization necessitates accurate records. Learn to tackle the ever-growing mound of data: paper and electronic. Avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes and discover proven techniques that will help you organize and manage important tribal records.

TriSec 2009 Welcome Reception photos

2009-04-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

To view more photos from TriSec 16's famous Hollywood Red Carpet Welcome Reception, please click here.

TriSec 16 a success!

2009-04-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you for attending. Stay tuned for photos from the conference.

We hope to see you next year!

TriSec: Day 2 under way!

2009-04-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today, April 15, is day 2 of TriSec 16 in Anaheim, CA.

Last night, the Hollywood Red Carpet Welcome Reception shined. Attendees celebrated their achievements and kicked off the week in style.

Trisec: Just days away!

2009-04-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you like to ...

... become a great public speaker?
... make your office more earth-friendly?
... prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
... deal effectively with difficult people and situations?
... manage work-related stress?

... then join us for TriSec 16! But hurry; time is running out to register. You don't want to miss this exciting learning opportunity.

Throughout the month, you, your efforts and your commitment are honored. You deserve the time for both personal and professional growth. Join us in Anaheim, where tribal secretaries and administrative assistants will gain the skills that they need to succeed. You can shape your future.

If you have already registered, click here to download and print your workshop slides. Remember: Falmouth will not provide printed presentation handouts for any of the workshops.

TriSec 16 just two weeks away!

2009-03-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

With TriSec 16 just two weeks away, be sure to remember the following:

Have you registered yet? Time is running out! If your organization would like to send several employees to enjoy TriSec 16, be sure to take advantage of Falmouth's group discounts. Call (800) 992-4489 for details.
TriSec's online Disneyland® ticket store closes on 4/10. Make sure you don't miss out on this chance to make the magic of Disneyland® a part of your trip.
Book your room at the Anaheim Hilton. Reserving a room is easy. Just click here.
TriSec is going green this year. Falmouth will not provide printed presentation handouts for any of the workshops. Instead, workshop handouts will be available for download on April 6 so that attendees can print handouts they would like to bring to the conference. Stay tuned for further details. We appreciate your support as we do our part for the environment.

Learning, networking and fun await you at Falmouth Institute's Annual Tribal Secretaries Conference. Hundreds of tribal secretaries and administrative assistants will join Falmouth at the Anaheim Hilton for this unique learning experience. We can't wait to see you there!

Prevent unacceptable behavior in the workplace

2009-03-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has encountered sexual harassment will tell you that it's bothersome, irritating and demeaning. It's also against the law. During this workshop, you'll learn the important aspects of handling sexual harassment issues and complaints. You'll examine how to prevent unacceptable behavior from the beginning. The workshop includes an overview of what sexual harassment is, explains the legal definitions, discusses sexual harassment prevention and shows how to maintain a positive work environment in your organization.

Join instructor Rachel Martin for the Sexual Harassment workshop at TriSec 16 and learn how to maintain a work environment where you and your colleagues will thrive!

Anaheim Hilton room block discount extended!

2009-03-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

TriSec 16 is being held at the Anaheim Hilton. A limited number of sleeping rooms have been set aside at a discounted rate for conference attendees.

Room reservations can be made by calling the Anaheim Hilton at (800) 222-9923 and mentioning the Falmouth Tribal Secretaries Conference. Reservations can also be made by clicking here to be taken to the reservation site.

Make your reservations now, before the room block discount expires on March 30.

TriSec Appreciation Luncheon Speaker: Bernadine Vigue

2009-03-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

TriSec Appreciation Luncheon Speaker Bernadine Vigue is an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians and was raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. She has more than twenty years of experience as an educator and counselor, providing academic, personal and career advising to diverse range of students. Currently, Mrs. Vigue serves as a Multicultural Academic Advisor and Instructor of English in the English Language Learns (ELL) Program at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) in Green Bay, Wisconsin where she counsels at-risk students in personal and academic crisis, retains American Indian students, and provides English speaking and writing skills to students from all ethnic and racial backgrounds. She has also taught courses in Psychology, Human Relations, and Race, Ethnicity and Diversity at NWTC.

Previously, Mrs. Vigue was an Advisor in the American Intercultural Center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In this position, she offered counseling services to American Indian students, designed recruitment and retention programs for at-risk students, and developed cultural programming to increase awareness of Wisconsin Indian history and tribal sovereignty. Mrs. Vigue has served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association, board member of the Oneida Child Care Center and Oneida Head Start Policy Council, and Diversity Advisor to the Brown County Family Services Association. She an active member of the ELL Statewide Curriculum Steering Committee, Wisconsin Association of Academic Advising and the Wisconsin Indian Education Association. Mrs. Vigue received her Masters of Science in Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin and Bachelors of Arts from St. Norbert College.

Anaheim Hilton room block discount to expire

2009-03-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

Have you made your reservations at the Anaheim Hilton? The special TriSec room block discount is going to expire on Monday, March 23. It's easy to reserve a room; just click here to be taken to the reservation site.

Meet your TriSec instructors! Rachel Martin

2009-03-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

With the belief that teaching, training, and dialog change people’s lives, Ms. Martin has spent the majority of her career in the field of education. For the past year, she has worked as part of the curriculum team at the Falmouth Institute; she recently began teaching various training sessions for them as well. Before joining Falmouth, Ms. Martin taught for George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) and the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN). She also worked for the YMCA and American Red Cross, teaching children and adults.

Throughout her career, Ms. Martin has helped to create meaningful, beneficial policies with regard to diversity, particularly in the realm of equal rights. She has worked with many committees and departments at different universities and organizations to establish sexual harassment training and diversity trainings for staff, faculty and students.

Ms. Martin holds a Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University with a double major in English and Women’s Studies. She received her Master’s of Arts degree in American Literature from the University of St. Thomas, with a focus on American Cultural Studies. Ms. Martin completed her course work for her Doctorate of Philosophy in Cultural Studies and received a certificate in Gender Studies from George Mason University.

Join Ms. Martin at TriSec 16 for the following workshops:
How to Green Your Office: Creating the Environmentally Friendly Office
and Sexual Harassment.

Early Bird Discount

2009-02-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

If you haven't yet registered for TriSec 16 and would like to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount, which expires tomorrow, February 26, register now by clicking here, or by calling (800) 992-4489. Don't miss out on this unique learning experience!

Welcome reception theme: Hollywood Red Carpet

2009-02-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

The TriSec 16 Welcome Reception theme is Hollywood Red Carpet. What to remember:

The reception is Tuesday, April 14 on the Sunset Deck.
Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. sharp. There is no waiting area, so please don't show up early.
Feel free to dress up for the celebration!
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Also remember to wear your TriSec t-shirts to the luncheon on Wednesday as the week of learning, networking and fun continues!

TriSec 16 reminders

2009-02-19T13:07:00.001-08:00

With TriSec 16 on the horizon, make sure to remember the following:

Register early: The Early Bird Discount deadline is next Thursday, February 26. Click here to register online, or call (800) 992-4489.
Make room reservations at the Anaheim Hilton: It's easy to make reservations at the Anaheim Hilton! Click here to reserve a room with the TriSec room block discount. Make your reservations early; the discount offer expires March 23, 2009.
Purchase your Disney® tickets: For Falmouth's TriSec 16 attendees, there is a special Online Disney® Ticket Store. For advance purchase of specially-priced Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Tickets, CLICK HERE. Tickets purchased here are valid from 4/11/09 to 4/25/09. The Ticket Store closes at 9pm PST on 4/10/09. Please note that this will be the last date to purchase tickets online at the discounted rate.
Download the handouts for your workshops: Beginning this year, TriSec is going green. Falmouth will not provide printed presentation handouts for any workshops. Instead, workshop presentation handouts will be available for download ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE CONFERENCE.

Check back often for more information on TriSec 16.
We can't wait to see you there!

$2.5 Billion for Indian Country in Stimulus Package

2009-02-17T04:50:00.000-08:00

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress Friday includes approximately $2.5 billion to create jobs and economic opportunity in Indian Country. Below is a summary of Indian Country provisions.

INDIAN HEALTH CARE

Indian Health Facilities – $415 million

New construction - $227 million
Maintenance and improvements — $100 million
Sanitation Facilities - $68 million
Medical Equipment - $20 million

Indian Health Services - Health Information Technology - $85 million

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

BIA Office of Indian Programs - $40 million (housing improvement and workforce & training)
BIA Construction - $450 million (schools, roads repair, jails, irrigation, dams)

PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE

Department of Justice Grants (DOJ) - Indian Jails construction - $225 million (coordinate with BIA, consider violent crime rates and detention space needs)
DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services – tribes eligible to compete - $1 billion program
DOJ Violence Against Women Prosecution Grants - $22.5 million (result of a 10% tribal set-aside)

TRIBAL ROADS AND BRIDGES

Indian Reservation Roads (DOT) – $310 million
Tribal Transit Set-Aside (DOT) – $17.25 million

INDIAN HOUSING

Indian Housing block grants (HUD) – $510 million (conference note to use funding to rehabilitate and improve energy efficiency in houses maintained by Native American housing programs)

EDUCATION

Head Start - $10 million (tribal set-aside)
Early Head Start - tribes eligible for a portion of the $1.1 billion program
Special Education (IDEA) – tribes eligible for a portion of the $12.2 billion program
Impact Aid – language urges targeted funding to military and Indian reservations from the $100 million program

ENERGY AND WATER

Bureau of Reclamation Tribal Water Projects – $60 million for water intake and treatment facilities
Safe Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Funds – $120 million (permissive set-aside)
Tribal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Black Grants - $56 million (result of a 2% tribal set-aside)
Weatherization Assistance Program – tribes are eligible to compete for competitive grants under the $5 billion program

OTHER PROGRAMS

Indian Reservation Food Distribution (USDA) – $5 million
Native Elder Nutrition (DHHS) - $3 million (Older Americans Act, Title IV)
BIA Indian Loan Guarantee Program - $10 million
Tribal Community Development Financial Institutions (Treasury) – $10 million

BONDING AUTHORITY FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

Tribal economic development tax-exempt bonds - $2 billion in bonding authority
Qualified Indian school construction bonds - $400 million in bonding authority

OTHER NOTES

Bill language permits Indian Tribes to contract and compact to build projects and create reservation jobs pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Self-Governance Acts

Meet your TriSec instructors! Lisa Harjo

2009-02-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Lisa Harjo is a Health Educator for Native American Cancer Research. She provides health education, recruits Native Americans for cancer screening and supports cancer survivors through education and outreach in the Denver Metro Area. Lisa also works as an Education Specialist for the Denver Public Schools Indian Education Project. She provides training for teachers and other professionals working with Native Americans in the school system and for those teaching about Native Americans. After receiving her Bachelors of Science in Native American Education and Child Development in 1974, she spent twenty years teaching all ages from preschool through higher education. Lisa also worked for many years in the field of non-profit organization management and development. She received her Masters of Education in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver in the early nineties. She co-authored several books in the field of education. Lisa has worked for decades with Native American tribes and other organizations, facilitating group meetings and training and assisting communities in building consensus and unity of visions.

Join Lisa and Falmouth Institute at TriSec 16!

Learn how to utilize the Web for your workplace

2009-02-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder if there are tools on the Internet that could help make your job easier? If only you knew about them or knew how to properly use them! During this exciting, new workshop, we’ll explore Web-based technologies that can enhance your job and transform your daily tasks in productive ways. Discover the benefits of utilizing things like “wikis,” blogs, shared Web space, Linked-in, social networking sites and web and video conferencing, meeting and training.

Join Falmouth and discuss these topics and more at TriSec 16.

Not a "born leader?" Build your potential.

2009-01-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

Don't be discouraged if you're not a "born leader." You, too can be a strong leader. In the workplace, you may describe yourself as a leader in certain situations and not others. See the tips below on how to build your leadership potential.

Stay informed. Communicate frequently with other people. In doing so, you'll gain knowledge.
Stretch your comfort zone. Continue to learn. You know the expression, "You learn something new every day." Make sure that you do! Speak with people in different occupations, read a book, newspaper, blog or magazine.
Take responsibility and ownership for your actions. It's easy to point a finger. Stand up and take responsibility — it shows integrity.
Be open to new opportunities. Look to your tribe, business, department and social community for ways to contribute and to grow.
Set goals and follow through. Make it a point to write your goals down (check our previous blog post on goal setting). Note specific steps that you must take and be mindful of realistic timelines. Track your progress regularly.
Be positive. Look to the positives of a situation — not the negatives — when change is on the horizon. Focus on what's working well in your place of business, and not what isn't. When there is a problem, find solutions.
Raise your emotional intelligence (EQ). A powerful force in the workplace is the ability to work well with others. Use your EQ to build rapport and relationships with those around you.
Network. Meet new people whenever you can, so that you can exercise your leadership skills (check our previous blog post on networking skills).

Get more professional tips like these at TriSec 16! We hope to see you there!

You can master public speaking

2009-01-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

The number one fear among adults today is public speaking. However, the keys to great presenting can be mastered by anyone who tries. During this hands-on workshop, explore the steps to successfully getting your message across, engaging your audience and leaving a lasting impression. You can be a great public speaker!

Your instructor for this workshop, Lori Bleitner, assists Falmouth Institute with Human Resources projects and HR related training programs. She has a Bachelor's degree in General Psychology and a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Currently, Ms. Bleitner is self-employed as an Organizational Development consultant in the St. Louis area. She enjoys supporting organizations in their Leadership Development initiatives, as well as creating strategic plans for the organizations' overall productivity and profitability.

Join Falmouth at TriSec 16 and attend "Mastering Public Speaking" and other information-packed workshops where you'll develop professional skills that are essential in the workplace.

Meet your TriSec instructors! Lisa Riggleman

2009-01-14T07:42:00.001-08:00

An independent trainer and professional speaker, Lisa Riggleman directs a consulting practice specializing in customer service, team building, business communication, management skills and leadership practices. She also serves as a personal speech coach and consultant as well as an adjunct faculty member with Webster University graduate school and the Community College of Southern Nevada. She is a senior consultant with more than 10 years experience with the Falmouth Institute.

Lisa brings more than 20 years of experience in the education, communications and human resources field to the Falmouth Institute.

Asked what her favorite thing about being a part of TriSec, Lisa responds:

"The best part of TriSec for me is the people — really! Seeing old friends, instructors and participants, and meeting new friends always leaves me feeling enriched and motivated to continue the work I do. TriSec is a highpoint in my professional year, and it's definitely an event where I always leave a better person."

Join Lisa and Falmouth Institute at TriSec 16!

What will you celebrate?

2009-01-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

Join us at TriSec 16 for learning, networking and fun in Anaheim, CA!

Don't let your visit to Anaheim rest without the magic of Disneyland®, just minutes away from our host hotel, the Anaheim Hilton. In 2009, Disneyland® is asking, "What will you celebrate?" Celebrate your professional and personal achievements!

For Falmouth's TriSec 16 attendees, there is a special Online Disney® Ticket Store. For advance purchase of specially-priced Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® Tickets, CLICK HERE. Tickets purchased here are valid from 4/11/09 to 4/25/09. The Ticket Store closes at 9pm PST on 4/10/09. Please note that this will be the last date to purchase tickets online at the discounted rate.

Check back often for more information on Anaheim, CA and TriSec 16. Be sure to vote on our TriSec poll at the top right of the blog!

TriSec is going green

2008-12-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Beginning this year, TriSec is going green. Falmouth will not provide printed presentation handouts for any of the workshops. Instead, workshop presentation handouts will be available for download prior to the conference so that attendees can print handouts they would like to bring to the conference. We appreciate your support as we do our part for the environment!

See our recent blog post about how to green your office by clicking here.

Remember to visit www.triseconline.com for complete information about the conference and to view the brochure! We can't wait to see you there!