June 2008 Newsletter

Introducing the New Character Bulletins and the Character First! Online Library!

Tom Hill, founder of Character First!, began publishing monthly character bulletins as a tool for discussing and building character in the workplace and home. The Character Training Institute now distributes 52,000 bulletins each month.

New Bulletins
The new 4th Edition Bulletin is 4-pages, making it quick and easy to read. Each bulletin focuses on workplace issues, such as customer service, quality, safety, productivity, leadership, and teamwork, and discusses how character qualities apply to life issues, such as relationships, family dynamics, finances, health, community, and personal growth.

The bulletins each highlight a Character First! organization that does a particularly good job emphasizing character in today's world.

New Website
A bulletin subscription now includes a membership on the new Character First! Online Library. The library contains a wealth of information. You'll find history stories, nature lessons, videos, tips for leaders and employees, family resources, printable posters, and much more!

We invite you to take the free 6-minute tour and subscribe today. Email info@characterfirst.com, or call 405-815-0001.


Five Keys to Building Alertness

1. Anticipate Obstacles
You sharpen alertness by understanding the process, anticipating potential challenges, and practicing awareness of surrounding individuals and events. These habits allow you to quickly recognize which areas need attention.

2. Connect Signals With Meaning
Every aspect of life is influenced by the other aspects of life. A construction worker needs to be aware of those working around him, not just of his or her own task.

Company leaders must maintain awareness of new needs and opportunities across the industry. Parents need to notice events in the neighborhood around their homes, not just events in their homes.

Recognize the implications of an event so that you can respond more effectively. When a basketball player is double-teamed he or she should recognize there is a teammate somewhere undefended. Think about what an event means instead of merely reacting to what you see first.

3. Tell Those Affected
You show alertness to the needs of others by spreading the word. When you know of a situation that will involve others, communicate! Whether it is putting up a wet floor sign or warning others before starting a noisy machine, identify and notify those affected.

4. Act Immediately
If you anticipate a particular obstacle or event, determine what to do before the pressure comes. Tomorrow's alertness depends on your preparation today. And acting on priorities today will reinforce your alertness to those priorities.

Take responsibility to develop a constructive response. Alertness in every area becomes harder when you procrastinate in any area. You might not be able to resolve a situation immediately, but you can establish patterns of alertness by beginning the process.

5. Take Time to Analyze
Seek to understand information gained from study and experience. It is not enough to merely witness an event, opportunity, or trend-an alert person will see the applications and comprehend the implications. This practice provides valuable insights that can help you respond to future situations.


Character In the News

Character plays an integral role in the unfolding of current events all around us. Check out our list of frequently updated links to related news stories: http://www.characterfirst.com/aboutus/inthenews/


Character First! in Brazil

In 2004, the Colégio Batista Mineiro in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, began translating and implementing the Character First! Education program. Teachers, administrators, students, and parents say focusing on character has significantly improved behavior and performance among the 7000 students.

"This school is one of the best examples of integrating character into the fabric of their school culture and identity," said Robert Greenlaw after visiting the campus in May 2008.

"The character message is visible at every turn, and teachers frequently talk about the importance of character when teaching academics. Then they systematically teach each character quality in fun and creative ways."

In order to help other schools and communities, the Colégio Batista Mineiro hosted the 2nd Conference on Building Character and Ethics in Schools in May 2008. About 100 educators attended, including leaders from a local juvenile girls' prison.

"Teachers from Colégio Batista Mineiro conduct character classes at the prison," Robert explained, "and after a few months, the girls' attitudes have drastically changed. We met several of the young ladies, and it was apparent that they were learning, growing, and thriving in their environment."

Character First! curriculum is now available in ten languages and 27 countries. See a listing of other translated materials when you download a Resource Catalog.