For Foraging

I am doing a research project on edible forests on public lands. The research has been very interesting and has sparked an especially strong interest of mine, foraging. Foraging is being able to know where to look in nature to gather edible plants/herbs. When conducting my research, I found there was very little established action in this area. In other states there are organizations or clubs that will meet up and scavenge for the day.

I did find one resource located in the Arizona Superstition Mountains. Patrick Bigfoot (not sure if that his real name or not) offers classes, newsletters, and even sing along at Reevis Mountain School. His teachings and walk about teach individuals how to be self-reliant on nature. Not only is this really impressive but extremely sustainable. If anything were to happen to the United States food system the foragers would be the only survivors! It really would be a wonderful tool to know. It is officially on my bucket list to attend!

The Web of Urban Governance

Arizona State Parks displays urban governance by engaging with many different organizations at various levels in order to accomplish common goals. For instance, we work with Federal agencies like Bureau of Land Management on land use issues. Currently, there is collaboration on managing pack goats and there interactions with Big Horn sheep on public lands. Along with that, ASP's mission is met with the help of local governments. Not only do we work with city's park and recreation departments but we work with the cities that host our parks. Since most State parks are in rural communities it is very important to establish relationships with the locals. At the same time, ASP rely's on various trail, off-highway vehicles, Audubon, conservation, etc. organizations. These organizations are specialized in various aspects and are helpful in gaining expert information for research.

The Wheels Keep Spinning

In my previous blog "Newbie" I discussed how I am getting use to my new bike. Here I am a couple weeks later talking again about my beloved fixie! Yesterday morning I jumped on my bike and took a morning ride through the prettiest parts of the neighborhood near me. The area is called Lakeshore and the resdents in this area get to enjoy beautiful, well-kept, manucured lawns and parks spaces along with a man-made lake and creek. Residents were out and about enjoying the morning and some were getting their patoon boats ready for a morning ride.

During my ride I was in pure bliss. I had disappointing news on Friday and I suprised myself with how happy I felt just the next morning. It made me realize how much a green envionrment can take a toll on your health mentally, physcially, and behviorally. There is much research about the benefits of green envionrments and the benefits to human health but what is interesting to me is how it effects behavior in the long term.

Instead of  drinking or eating my sarrows away with my disappointing news I had a new percepective on things after my scenic bike ride. I made better decisions throughout the weekend and know that I am where I am suppose to be.

My current happy self and my future happy self says thank you to my bike.

Energy Well Spent

I recently read an article that dicussed how instead of spending your time wisely you must spend your energy wisely. This concept has really helped over the last week. I was getting frustrated with myself because I didn't feel like I was getting enough things done throughout the day. I would sit and stare at my computer not typing or researching anything. I thought at first it was me just needing to get use to staring at a computer screen for long hours, however now I am aware that those times are best spent taking a walk, eating a snack, or even laying my head down for 10 minutes. Through this concept I have learned that I am a much better writer in the morning then at night so I should save my reading assignments for the evening.

Learning how to spend your energy wisely ultimately ensures you are spending your time wisely. I am much more productive throughout the week and can enjoy my weekends a bit more! I suggest anyone to read the article and take time to analyze their practices and learn when you have energy and how to spend it and when you don't and learn to accept it.

Who's Paying for My Hip Replacement?

I talked to my sister the other day who has been having a little back pain when she goes to her Crossfit class. She explained to me how she told her cross fit instructor/owner of the gym told her to go to his chiropractor. She did so and the trip was an utter success. The down to earth chiropractor explained that since she sits all day at a desk job her hips are tightening. She needs to make sure she stretches them out and warms them up before jumping into the WOD (work out of day). He also gave her some "homework" to do on a daily basis to keep the hips and therefore back stronger.


This struck a chord with me and my internship at State Parks. I sit all day. I hate it. I was a server prior to this job and I am use to and enjoyed moving around being on my feet. Now that my sister has mentioned the awful things sitting all day can do to your body I have been taking proactive steps to ensure I do not have problems down the road.

As I sit here, writing up this blog in a spread eagle position working on hip flexibility I can't help but curse my dang sitting job! But if you think more deeply at the root of this issue, could it not be traced back to the chair manufacturer? One could argue that the entity should provide me with a bouncy ball or an incentive for me to stand and exercise every 30 minutes. However, I work for a government entity where there is no way in hell they would purchase everyone a bouncy ball to sit on. Along with that, are jobs aren't to create ways to prevent a future hip replacement. Are jobs are to focus on conserving state parks! Should I have to pay for my bouncy ball or chiropractor trip? I will eventually have to pay for my own hip replacement. Average costs for patients without health insurance, a total hip replacement usually will cost between $31,839 and $44,816, with an average cost of $39,299, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Why does the chair manufacture not have to help pay for this? Health insurance would become more affordable and government spending would surely go down if the costs associated with sitting in a chair all day were assigned appropriately to the manufacture. 

To help me with my flexibility I bought an online yoga series from Codyapp. Although this entrepreneur has already seen a lot of success, where is the investments being made in entrepreneurs that will minimize the cost of health coverage in the future? Should my sisters Crossfit owner get a stipend for taking proactive steps that will minimize costs in the future?

It is time to start creating incentives, programs, and policies that think more in the future. It is time to think about corporations in a holistic manner by following their products life cycle and making them accountable for their indirect consequences. Government and tax payers are currently paying for the externalites which we can see the pressure it is placing on the economy.

Bizarre Reaction to Bezaury Interview

Coincidentally, I had an interview scheduled with the Acting Human Resource Director for the City of Phoenix, Cindy Bezaury for a prior class. I will also use this interview for the purposes of this blog because Director Bezaury was a very interesting person to interview. Cindy Bezaury has been in the HR world for quit some time. She got her undergraduate degree in Public Administration and started work in the private sector with an aviation manufacturing company. Her interest sparked specifically in Labor Relations and so she furthered her education to get a better understanding. She received a Masters in Labor Relations and from there she moved out of the private sector and started to work for various municipalities including agencies in Texas, Tucson, and Michigan. 

The Director's key responsibilities are negotiating contracts and agreements with Union Leaders. The City of Phoenix is very lucky to have Bezaury and her background knowledge because of the current issues in pension reform Phoenix is facing. The pension issue is a big concern for the City of Phoenix and all of their constituents. Bezaury indicated that police and fire pensions were the biggest cause in the $25 million defect the City is facing. 

When I interviewed Director Bezaury I was slightly intermediate by her persona. She was well dressed and spoke loud, clear, fast and expressively. I asked her what her advice was for someone interested in entering into the field of HR and she responded by addressing the youth entering the field saying to be prepared to pay your dues. I thought that was interesting advice. There is stigma against the Millennial Generation is that we are impatient and want things here and now. While I agree, we have adapted to the technology at our finger tips, is it true that we are not willing to climb the ladder? This article states how the stigma has gotten Millennial all wrong. I think a large part of this misunderstanding comes from the separation of these two issues. 1) my generation is attached to their screen 2) my generation is impatient. Viewing the two characteristics separately, an HR Director would be frustrated by the upcoming workforce. However, if you think critically about the issues and combine them it is because we are attached to the screen and therefore have more information readily available for us that we are impatient with the petty tasks at an entry level position. (Why couldn't I have said this at the time!) This indicated to me that Bezaury had a relatively narrow view on how to manage the future. 

I would indeed be interested in a HR position because I love that the department's responsibility is to cater to the hard working pool of public servants. I enjoy learning about the behaviors of individuals and creating a better society so the HR field would be an interesting combination of the two. Although Bezaury was an intelligent, well respected Director I am not sure if I would want to work under her supervision. She was big on accountability and metrics to prove ensure accountability takes place. She also said she enjoyed the challenge in negotiating with Labor Unions. Yet, she said she would no longer work for the City if legalization of marijuana would be passed. Hate to break it to you Bezaury but strong efforts and the trends indicated by PEW state that it is coming for AZ. I understand that this places HR Departments in public entities in a very difficult position but I want a Director who is ready to take on that kind of challenge. Taking risks and being innovative isn't just for corporations and the science and technology field; disruptive creativity can be manifested in the policy realm as well.

Chief

Leadership in my internship is organizationally structured to come from the top down. Technically I am a peon with little room to display leadership. However, I do not think that leadership is defined by hierarchical ranking. Currently, I think that I am able to show passion which will present me with more opportunities to display leadership.

There is a project I can take on that would obviously show leadership. Unfortunately, I am scared to take on this project because I am unsure of my capabilities to produce an effective outcome. The Parks agency (like most state government entities) are behind on up to date communication technologies. The Resources and Public Programs department (a total of 6-7 people) work so much with each other and share many documents. Version control and a systematic approach to sharing/editing documents would be highly effective in increasing efficiency. I would like to be the one to make these changes. This project including the research on how to do it would take a considerable amount of time due to the fact that I am only there 3 days a week and that I obviously must get my main duties done first. If I do decide to take this on, either if I fail or not, I believe it will certainly display leadership.

My Supervisor displays leadership capabilities by her responsiveness to her staff. She will always respond in a positive and ensuring way. I have observed that when she is answering a difficult question she makes sure pause and take her time to think about the appropriate response. Although my Supervisor is new and learning her current position as "Chief," she is learning quickly because of how well she listens. Being a good listener has a multitude of benefits. Not only is she observing and taking in things internally, but externally in the perspective of staff she is attentive. She will always take the time to listen to all of my ideas and my questions about the agency.  My Supervisor may not have all of the answers but she will make the time to explore the question fully and welcome ideas for answers. She is not afraid to to show that she is still learning. I love this because I am still learning as well. We are both being Chief's of learning.