Tumbling Dice

I've been keeping as busy with pictures as I have with words during the past month.  Many of my photos have been shared on Tumblr.  If you've missed some of them, click on the subheadings below to see the photos which accompany my short write-ups.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Is there anything more American in springtime than Opening Day in major league ballparks across the United States?  When the teams are from Washington DC and New York City and the pre-game ceremonies include a huge American flag, probably not!  

Back to campus on a gorgeous spring day

If you return to visit the college you attended a generation ago, it’s bound to confirm that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”  At Seton Hall University, that means a statue of the Pirates mascot appears outside the Richie Regan Recreational and Athletic Center ready to charge the Walsh Library.  The sun continues to set on President’s Hall and the Immaculate Conception Chapel as it has since the 19th century.  And, students still enjoy a break from studies by playing wiffle ball on the University Green.

Cosmos Country, 2014

It’s NASL soccer on turf with an eclectic roster featuring Brazilian-born former Spanish international Marcos Senna, but today’s Cosmos is not the club your father may have seen a generation ago.  The 2014 edition plays second-division soccer in front of a few thousand fans at Hofstra University, not 40,000-70,000 as it did at the New Jersey Meadowlands, although it continues the winning tradition established in the 1970s and ’80s when it was among the world’s most famous soccer clubs.

Today’s New York Cosmos, however, features some things not seen many years ago — ultras standing and chanting for 90+ minutes behind a goal and a sponsor prominently displayed on banners and uniforms.  At yesterday’s home opener, Pele was even on hand to pose (sort of) for pictures with fans old and new.

Yesterday’s Coney Island, today

The Parachute Jump stands as tall as ever, its colors probably blinding the ghosts of yesterday’s thrill seekers.  Wonder Wheel cars slide through their circles, the sounds of the Cyclone and its shrieking riders a background soundtrack. An antique car sits by Nathan’s, like a picture from a vintage postcard or book. 

On a pleasant spring weekend day, Coney Island remains as vibrant as ever, attracting the tired, the poor, the huddled masses and many others, just as it did over a century ago.  Signs of new investments hint at possibilities of even greater summertime memories ahead.

Behind Wilson Hall

Many Monmouth County residents and vacationers have seen Wilson Hall as they peek to the south while passing through Monmouth University. Erlanger Gardens, situated just west of Wilson Hall’s back rooms, is another of the university’s architectural gems.  The garden occasionally hosts students and events, but often sits peacefully at sunset.

The Frenchman

He won’t be appearing in the World Cup for the first time in 20 years this summer, but Thierry Henry is expected to continue being in top form as the New York Red Bulls attempt to capture their first MLS Cup this season.

After scoring 51 goals in 123 internationals for the French national team, Henry has notched 45 goals in 106 matches for New York, including one in last night’s 4-0 win against Houston.  He remains difficult to mark as he roams around the pitch, and still gets past defenders who challenge him, always to the joy of Red Bull Arena ultras grateful for his skills and leadership.  

On the subject of Tumbling Dice, don't the Rolling Stones -- all officially senior citizens -- still sound great in concert?  (Thank you, Wang Lynn, for sharing your video of them performing the song in Shanghai last month.)   

Advice to any professional, aspiring or experienced

During a career event last week at Monmouth University, where I'm an adjunct professor, I shared the following advice to a group of aspiring communication professionals:
1. Write well and often.
2. Be a creative problem solver.
3. Embrace emerging technologies.

I subsequently posted this advice on the discussion boards of LinkedIn's Corporate Communication, Communication Professionals and NJ Corporate Communicators groups, and asked, "What would you add to this list?"

The responses from around the world are quite interesting.  When reading them, I realize the advice is applicable for aspiring or experienced professionals.  Considering how important effective communication is for professionals in any field, nearly all the advice is useful to anybody!
 
Following are excerpts from the responses to my question on the LinkedIn discussion boards:

“4. Be organized and proactive 5. Listen, listen, listen”
—Lene Kruger

“listening to understand before responding is most definitely important”
—Koketso Molebale

“Carry paper and a pen everywhere and take notes... lots of them.”
—Stephanie Jones

“Be a team Player and have a inquiring mind.”
—Eunice Asantewaa Ankmah

“Strive to build great working relationships with people.”
—Dean Askin

“Put yourself in the shoes of your audience/target.”
—Shelly Smith

“Read! Read anything and everything.”
—Annabella A. Simbulan

“Be an authority on grammar and the use of punctuation. Seek first to understand the audience”
—Kaamini Reddy

“Have enough knowledge of what you're writing about. Do some research on the subject.”
—Mtanga Noor

“Volunteer to help small local nonprofits or professional association chapters with their communications needs.”
—Richard Buse

“Don't try to communicate to others what you don't understand yourself.”
—Mandy Vavrinak

“we need to stop thinking about what we want to communicate and first think about what we want to accomplish”
—Kathleen Baumgardner

“Get a strong background in business.”
—Jim Shaffer

“Never forget that what you say, show, write, do or communicate by any mean is not necessarily what everyone else hears, sees, needs, feels or understands.”
—Francine Bernier

“Take hints and learn good writing techniques from well written material whatever the subject or context.”
—Helen Jebson

“Understand your target audience and be specific on what you would like to communicate to them.”
—Megha Puri

“Develop empathy. Walk in the shoes of your audience.”
—Angela Mohtashemi

“Know who the stakeholders are and what their issues are.”
—Stephen J. Kasser

“Ask questions, think critically, identify the big picture, and word messages clearly.”
—Judy O’Brien

“Write well and often is a lifelong practice”
—Annemarie Russoniello

New WPU Adjunct: Students Ready to Go at 8 a.m.

Being an adjunct professor is proving to me that a great classroom experience can often result from a lot of preparation.  In some ways, it’s similar to other experiences during my career.  A commitment to do it right can be time-consuming and exhausting, but fill me with a sense of accomplishment.

Even though the classes I teach at William Paterson University start at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, most of the students arrive ready to engage in discussions and activities.  I typically feel energized after teaching a class.  

The diversity of the student body makes for some very interesting interaction.  The variety of perspectives from students with different backgrounds, life experiences, values, academic majors and career goals enriches the learning experience at WPU.

Most of my former corporate colleagues would be surprised at the amount of time required to properly plan for a class and review the work of students.  For a three-credit course that meets twice weekly, I typically spend 7-8 hours each week on preparations.  My father was a schoolteacher and also spent a lot of time working outside the classroom, something I almost forgot after working over 30 years at various companies.

WPU pays adjuncts higher than Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College, where I also teach, but it expects more from them. The course I teach at WPU has identical objectives and student learning outcomes required across its sections.  There are guidelines for teaching methods, student activities, student evaluations and readings, but ultimately it’s up to the adjunct professor to define and implement these for a class. 

The other schools provide less flexibility than WPU, but make more materials and other help available to adjuncts.  All the schools, however, encourage adjuncts to teach to their strength and share their work experience in the classroom.  My sense is that many students appreciate hearing about the real-world relevance of information in their textbook.

In any case, it’s unlikely that educated, motivated professionals are attracted by the pay rate offered to adjuncts.  At times, it feels only a step or two above community service, which can also be time-consuming but fulfilling.

The above write-up was published in the December 5, 2013 edition of the William Paterson University student newspaper, Pioneer Times.

Landscaper to librarian, man’s job is to help others find theirs

For 15 years, Charles Gross worked in very physical jobs — commercial landscaping for a decade, followed by a few years as a carpenter, then a boat builder.

The wear and tear on his body prompted him to find a less physically demanding line of work. Without a college degree or much other experience under his weather-beaten belt, it was a challenge that would be daunting to some people. But not to Gross.

Today, Gross is a librarian at the Monmouth County Library System’s Eastern Branch on Route 35 in Shrewsbury. His specialty is the library’s Career Information Center, where he assists people looking for a career change or new employment locate information they need on a computer and among stacks of books and periodicals.

After hanging up his tools and doing a one-year stint at Brookdale Community College’s library in Middletown, Gross knew a career helping people find information was for him. While he worked in the library of Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on evenings and weekends, he completed his undergraduate studies at Thomas Edison State College in Trenton. He then decided to pursue a master’s degree in library science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick while working part-time in the library of Monmouth University in West Long Branch.

Digitizing records

As he first did at Brookdale, Gross initially spent much of his time at Monmouth on a “retrospective conversion” project, a huge undertaking at libraries across the country during the 1980s involving digitizing records so they could be easily accessed on computers. After earning his graduate degree in 1991, Gross began working full-time at the Monmouth University library.

“At that point, things began to get even more interesting,” Gross said.

He joined the Monmouth County Library system in 1995 as the law librarian in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold. Gross, of Middletown, said he interacted daily with inmates, some of whom were doing legal research to better understand their options while in prison.

In 2000, shortly after the Career Information Center was launched in the Shrewsbury location, Gross began his current assignment. He said it has been his most satisfying professional experience.

“It’s nice to be able to help people in some way,” Gross said. “I’m a librarian, not a career counselor, but I’m glad to be able to help people learn how they can develop new skills, find different resources like trade journals they didn’t realize existed, or get academic credit for their professional experience.”

Computer classroom

Gross said he is most proud of helping to establish a computer classroom at the Shrewsbury branch this past year. It’s particularly helpful for senior professionals looking to enhance their computer skills and take more advantage of Web-based resources.

In addition to maintaining a large library of circulating and reference materials on changing or choosing a career, interviewing, job hunting, networking and resume writing, the Career Information Center makes available online resources with business directories and periodicals, employment projections and job listings. Online resources are available at www.monmouthcountylib.org/cic.htm.

For a one-on-one appointment with Gross at the Shrewsbury location, or to contact him with questions, call him at the library at 866-941-8188.

This writeup with new photos appeared in the August 6 edition of the Asbury Park Press.

Bob Dylan, again

Last Sunday night at Monmouth University’s MAC center, I enjoyed seeing Bob Dylan in concert with my wife Noreen, sons Steven and Kevin, and friend Dave. It was the 15th time since 1975 I attended a Dylan concert – each of them in a different venue. If you’ve seen Dylan or any other performer 15 times, I’d like to hear about it, particularly if the shows were spread over many venues across a long period of time.

You never forget your first time, and for me it was on November 24, 1975, at the Hartford Coliseum. I drove three college classmates a few hours in a 1970 Thunderbird with worn tires to see Dylan perform with the Rolling Thunder Revue. My friend Patrice and I co-wrote an article about the evening that was published in the local Bloomfield, NJ weekly newspaper.

Three years later - three years before we were married - I drove with Noreen to Nassau Coliseum to see Dylan. From good seats on the side of the stage, she was quite taken by how he rocked. She earned a badge of honor 17 years later, though, when she stood on the hard floor of The Electric Factory for hours with me to see Dylan. I’ll never forget when Patti Smith, the opening act, joined Dylan on stage for a song and punctuated the performance with a kiss on his cheek.

I’ll also never forget the concert in Camden’s E-Center on July 28, 2000, the first time my two sons joined my wife and me at a Dylan show. My mind still retains the image of how excited my 9-year-old son Kevin was to see Dylan perform “Like a Rolling Stone.”

Five years later, I stood on a baseball outfield at Yogi Berra Stadium in Montclair, NJ through a couple of opening acts with my oldest son Steven, who just finished his freshman year at college, and Dave and his daughter just to be a few feet from where Dylan stood on the stage.

Following is my full setlist of Dylan concerts:
1975: Hartford Coliseum
1978: Nassau Coliseum
1981: Meadowlands Arena
1986: Madison Square Garden
1989: Waterloo Village
1995: The Electric Factory
1997: Garden State Arts Center
2000: E-Center
2003: Hilton Casino
2004: Tower Theater
2005: Beacon Theater
2005: Yogi Berra Stadium
2006: The Spectrum
2009: Blue Claws Stadium
2010: Monmouth University

You can never be too sure what you’ll see at a Dylan concert even though set lists are promptly posted on bobdylan.com, but fans attending the shows at New York City’s Terminal 5 next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City next Friday can expect to see the 69-year-old Dylan play guitar and harmonica more than he has in many years. Uncharacteristically, he may stand in the front of the stage holding a microphone and croon through a few songs. The songs from the past 15 years will sound fine, and 1960s classics like “Ballad of a Thin Man” will pack as much punch as ever. Oh, and Bob probably won’t take off his hat during the show, no matter how loud the applause.