How many of you follow a blog? OK, back up a bit: How many know what a blog is? Way back in the late ’90s or so, people started to create online web logs, or blogs, which were basically a personal journal of the writer’s life or experiences or opinions. I haven’t ever gone looking for someone’s blog, and I’ve maybe stumbled across a few that were interesting, but I usually have a pile of reading sitting at home that takes precedence over any additional forms of communication. To throw more confusion on the fire, there is also Twitter, which is kind of an extremely short form of blogging where you have only 140 characters or keystrokes to communicate with — many writers use both but blogging provides more opportunity to get really in depth on a subject.
So, now that the really web-savvy people are thinking, “What a wiener,” and the un-web-savvy are thinking, “Huh?”, but the actual point is that our very own Tia, whom you all know as our head fitness technician, has started a personal blog called What’s Up Fitness, probably because she is the most passionate person I have ever met on the subject of personal health and fitness. I thought I’d mention it because it does take some courage to actually put your thoughts on “paper” and share your expertise on a subject, along with presenting in a manner that is logical and captures the reader’s attention. (Yes, I realize half of you drifted away after my first paragraph.) Tia’s blog can be found by searching What’s Up Fitness on Facebook or go to www.whatsupfitness.wordpress.com. There are some pretty good tips and articles already in the short lifetime that this has been around. Check it out!
One blog I loosely follow is Humor at Work by Michael Kerr, which, despite his mistaken spelling, has some pretty good stuff on customer service, morale, current trends and other tidbits that can be applied in a positive fashion. He has also spoken at a few BC Recreation and Parks Association conferences, which tends to leave fellow reccies energized and a little more optimistic. His philosophy mirrors many successful companies that believe in the power of humour to change the way people interact and communicate with one another, and in the process transform an entire workplace culture. It is a proven fact that using humour, whether you are interacting with employees or customers, communication is better, presentations skills are improved, and it is a team builder. I include our patrons in that mix as part of our team because that is why we are here and why you keep returning. Hey, who would you rather be greeted or taught a course by: someone that can joke about the weather and all the snow and ice we have been getting or someone that feels Mother Nature has taken a personal vendetta against their existence and, boy, you are going to hear about it?
We are still hopping busy here, which is good, with the Butterfly Bonspiel wrapped up but with the BC Masters curling taking place, and our Creston Valley Thunder Cats still playing great hockey. The Creston Valley Figure Skating Club’s annual carnival is March 8 at 4 p.m. in the arena and that’s always a great show for all ages. We have had a pile of Grade 10s in the pool taking some swim training — I’ll fill you in on that success story in another column — plus we have been prepping for upcoming events such as the Creston Valley Home, Garden and Leisure Show, Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments and cattlemen’s association conferences. Have a great weekend!
Neil Ostafichuk is the recreation supervisor at the Creston and District Community Complex.