All those noble resolutions made to greet the new year are often forsaken within weeks. At East Tennessee State University, opportunities abound for employees to enrich their lives and keep those promises.
For those who would like to get in better physical shape, the Department of Campus Recreation and the Office of Human Resources designed “Introduction to Fitness” sessions. The two-hour workshops provide basic information on topics such as exercise, strength, endurance, and flexibility. Instruction on the use of cardio stations and the full circuit of weight machines in the Wayne G. Basler Center for Physical Activity is included, as well as workout safety. Additional one-hour sessions in aquatics, free weights, or yoga will follow the introductory workshop.
As ETSU faculty and staff come into greater contact with the region’s Hispanic population, a basic knowledge of Spanish is increasingly valuable. The Language and Culture Resource Center and the Office of Human Resources offer Spanish language workshops for interested employees. Rosa Bartra, an adjunct instructor and graduate student in the Department of Foreign Languages, teaches the class now in progress, and plans are in the works for more sessions.
For those who want to protect themselves, the Office of Human Resources will offer an Identity Theft Prevention class on March 20. Shawn Weems of First Tennessee Bank will offer tips to thwart those who use the mail, Internet, and public contact to steal the identity, and money, of others.
March is Employee Assistance Awareness Month in Tennessee, honoring the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), an organization established to aid workers and their families in coping with an array of difficulties, including stress, marital problems, family and child-rearing issues, chemical dependency, emotional difficulties, and financial and legal matters. On March 14, two EAP programs will offer a taste of the services available. During the morning, supervisors are invited to learn to identify and motivate troubled employees. In the afternoon, a session entitled “Rocking and Rolling Through Changes” allows participants to assess their attitudes about change, including the ever-present shifts found in the workplace.
For those who seek to move up to a better position, the Office of Human Resources established the Career Skills Enhancement Program, which offers everything from courses in mathematics to an introduction to computers.
The ETSU Retirees Association wants to assist those who follow them. The members are working together to create a workshop on the “real” information everyone should know to prepare for retirement. After navigating the myriad options related to finances, health care, and other aspects of life after ETSU, the retirees want to pass along that knowledge.
Those looking for intellectual stimulation might opt to join the Book Discussion Group of the ETSU Library Association. Everyone in the group reads the book selected for the meeting, and, among colleagues, while nibbling refreshments, participants share their insights about the reading material.

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