Sometimes it is good to reflect on the fact that we control our own destiny and that we create the situations in which we find ourselves.  For July, we are not going to specifically bring up ways to be safer at work but to just remind you that YOU can help yourself and keep yourself and your coworkers safe. 

How can you do this?  ATTITUDE.  How you decide to act and deal with life every day.  Below is a great quote from Charles Swindoll.  Enjoy

ATTITUDES

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.

We are delighted to announce that St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA has expanded its operations with Minuteman. We are implementing a program at St. Jude that inlcudes valet parking attendants and self-parking cashiers. We had previously been conducting lane ambassador and shuttle operations at St. Jude and this change will broaden our service to the hospital. For over 50 years, St. Jude has met the needs of the community with values such as these:

DIGNITY

We respect each person as an inherently valuable member of the human community and as a unique expression of life.

SERVICE

We bring people together who recognize that every interaction is a unique opportunity to serve one another, the community, and society.

EXCELLENCE

We foster personal and professional development, accountability, innovation, teamwork, and commitment to quality.

JUSTICE

We advocate for systems and structures that are attuned to the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged and that promote a sense of community among all persons. These are the guiding principles for all we do, shaping our interactions with those whom we are privileged to serve.

Minuteman shares St. Jude’s values and outlook. St. Jude is the fifth hospital we have added to our growing portfolio of satisfied clients during this past year, and we are excited to start servicing its patients and visitors with compassion and respect.

Minuteman Parking would like to recognize one of our employees, Kirk Boardman, for his constant Commitment to Excellence in service.  Kirk is a Driveway Ambassador at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, and what he does on a daily basis for the guests and visitors at this hotel is what great service is all about.

Just ask Mr. Ric Wunn, a recent guest at the Manhattan Beach Marriott:

“While waiting for my team out front of the property each morning, I watched your Valet team.  Kirk, one of the team, was particularly interesting. When a car was delivered for a guest, if the party was not waiting, Kirk would grab a cleaning solution bottle, squeegee, and rag, and clean the windows.  He would occasionally stop and assess his work.  When the guest arrived, he would greet them, open the doors, load luggage, etc.  I don’t know if the guests all noticed, but I did.  I complimented him on his professionalism.

On June 3rd I gave a speech on professionalism to a group of high level managers.  In that speech I mentioned Kirk and his professional approach to what he did.  I told the group that Kirk didn’t just do the job, he owned the job.  Absolutely the finest Valet team in the business.

I am District Manager for all Air Traffic Control operations in Colorado and Wyoming.  My business is very exacting and complex.  I now have a goal of taking the Marriott Valet story to my own teams.  There is the old saying…’I know professionalism when I see it….and I know it even more when I don’t.’ At the Marriott Manhattan Beach, I SAW professionalism throughout the team. You can all be very proud of yourselves…I am.”

                                                                      -Ric Wunn, District Manager, FAA Denver Air Traffic District

I have had the pleasure of working with Kirk at multiple properties, both as a valet under his tutelage, and as his manager at his current location.  He taught me most of what I know about service.  His knack for remembering people is uncanny and is his greatest asset.  I believe that this comes not from some God-given talent, but from his passion for serving others.  Kirk truly enjoys knowing and helping all of our guests and does it with professionalism and enthusiasm every time he punches in for his shift.  Kirk makes the job fun and those around him laugh, but most of all, he makes each guest feel special and that is a prized ability in the hospitality industry. 

Ask anyone who has visited the Manhattan Beach Marriott in the past eight years and they will remember Kirk.  And even if they don’t remember his name, they will most certainly remember the enthusiastic and helpful blonde-haired character on the front drive who loves fishing.  I guarantee it.

- Ian Wilson

As we gear up for the summer months we want to remind all Minuteman Parking Company Employees about Heat Stress and what you can do to prevent it from happening. Over 4,000 Americans die each year do to heat related illness. Many of the heat related deaths last year where due to working in the heat or certain diseases that can disrupt your body’s temperature control mechanism.

Hear are the 3 varieties of Heat related problems and what you can do to prevent them.

1.)    Heat Cramps

            When you start getting heat cramps you should get out of the hot environment and         

            stop using your large muscles. You should also drink a lot of water to replenish         

            your electrolytes.

2.)    Heat Exhaustion

For heat exhaustion you should get out of the heat immediately and take off any excess clothing. You should lie down with your feet up and drink a liter of water slowly. You should also use a fan to help cool your body down. If after 30 minutes you are still feeling the effects of Heat Exhaustion you should seek medical attention.

3.)    Heatstroke

              If you are experiencing heatstroke you are having a medical emergency. You  

              will need to call 9-1-1. You need to lower your body temperature if you are            

              having heatstroke. You will want to put ice packs on your neck, armpits and      

             groin. You also want to be covered with a wet sheet or towel and go into a room          

             that is air-conditioned.

What can you do to prevent Heat Stress? Here are five simple steps that will help reduce your chances of having any Heat related illnesses while at work.

1.)    Pre-Hydrate: You should drink 16 ounces of fluid before you start work and drink 8 ounces every 20 minutes during strenuous activities.

2.)    Drink Flavored Water

3.)    Acclimate to the heat slowly: If you are not used to working in the heat it will take 5 to 7 days for your body to get used to the high temperature. You need to acclimate your body to the heat by adding more time outside each day.

4.)    Don’t Wear a Hat: Wearing a hat restricts heat loss through your head.

5.)    Wear loose, thin synthetic fabrics

So as your work day starts to heat up, stay cool and you will be safe.

Earlier this month Minuteman became a voting member of the National Valet Parking Association. We are excited to join this elite group of leaders in the valet and parking industry. Every year, NVPA holds an annual conference and last year the association featured the first annual Valet Olympics! The next conference will be held March 2011 in Florida and Minuteman is looking forward to attending the event.

In addition to NVPA, Minuteman is also a member of the National Parking Association (NPA) which was founded in 1951 and has a membership of more than 1,000 private and public parking professionals.

We are delighted to show our support to both of these organizations. Let the parking begin!

If you are Indoors:

q     DROP to the ground; take COVER and HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

q     What ever you are covering yourself needs to be a sturdy Table or piece of       Furniture.

q     If there is not anything to COVER yourself with you still want to DROP, COVER your head and HOLD ON. The best thing to do if there is nothing to get under is to crouch in an inside corner of the building.

q     Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity and you know that it is strongly supported, load bearing door.

q     If you are at home and in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Unless there is something that can fall on you, then you need to move to the nearest safe place.

q     Stay inside until the shaking stops and if it is safe to go outside.

q     Be aware that electricity may go out and if your location has fire sprinklers they may turn on.

You should stay away from:

q     Windows

q     Mirrors

q     Outside Doors and Walls

q     Anything that can fall off the walls

q     Light Fixtures

If you are Outdoors:

q     Stay Outside

q     Move away from buildings, streetlights, trees and utility wires.

q     Move to an open area and DROP to the Ground and Hold ON.

If you are in a Moving Vehicle:

q     Stop as quickly and as safety permits and stay in the vehicle.

q     Do not stop near buildings, trees, overpasses, utility wires and streetlights.

q     Once the shaking as stop use Extreme Caution as you begin to drive again. 

q     Do not pull into a Minuteman Parking Company Parking Garage during or after an Earthquake.

q     Wait until you hear from your Manager to enter any Minuteman Parking Company Garages.

q     When you are driving home after an Earthquake avoid overpasses, ramps and freeways that may have been damaged during the earthquake.

q     Listen to you local radio station for road closures

What do I do if I get TRAPPED?

q     Do not light a match or lighter

q     Do not move about and stir up dust in the area that you are trapped in.

q     Cover you mouth with a shirt, piece of cloth, or mask.

q     If you are trapped with someone keep the talking to a minimum as you do not want to inhale the dangerous amounts of dust that will be in the air.

q     If there are exposed pipes or a wall, TAP on the wall or pipe to alert Rescuers of your location.

q     Shout only as a last resort.

Minuteman Parking Company wants all of their employees to be safe during and after an earthquake. So be aware that Aftershocks will continue after the initial earthquake. Sometimes the Aftershocks can be stronger than the initial earthquake.

Stay calm and be conscious of your surroundings.

We are delighted to announce that the Courtyard Pioneer Square is our latest new hotel property. Located in the heart of Seattle’s downtown historic center, the hotel will open in May 2010 and offer views of the beautiful Elliott Bay. The hotel is an adaptive reuse of the Alaska Building which was built in 1904 as the first steel building in the state of Washington.

Valet will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Courtyard will join our growing list of clients in the Seattle area. Some of our other Washington properties include the Seattle Airport Marriott, Remond Marriott Town Center, and The W Hotel Seattle.

Minuteman is excited to be a part of the opening of this historic building. We look forward to servicing the hotel’s guests who have come to visit the magnificent city of Seattle.

In our line of business back aches and pains can make it very difficult to concentrate while at work. Our jobs can put significant demands on our backs throughout the day.  Can you avoid back pain and injuries at work? The answer is “YES” if you understand what causes these injuries and how to prevent them.

If you ask a doctor what causes back pain they are never 100% sure. They will ask what you do throughout your day and family history and generally will tell you that a combination of the things you do throughout your day and your history may be a cause of your back aches and pains. Not all of these factors are preventable. 

What factors are preventable?

The factors that we can control are the weight of objects we are lifting. We are in control of our own fitness routines and flexibility. If we change our lifestyle and incorporate some stretching and exercise we will strengthen our back and help reduce work related injuries.

While at work you will need to look at what you do and you will need to see if you need to modify your work performance to help reduce these risks.

 There are 4 factors that can increase your risk of back aches and injuries.

            Force- Are you over-exerting yourself?

            Repetition- How many times during your day do you do the same thing over and over?                                 Repetition can lead to fatigue in your muscles which can lead to injuries.

            Posture- This refers to how are standing, sitting or performing a task.

            Stress- Your stress level at work or home can lead to muscle tension and                                     tightness which can result in back aches and pains.

A combination of one or more these four risks can result in serious back injuries.

To help reduce Back Aches and Pains you should first be fit. You can do specific strengthening and stretching exercises that target you back muscles. By doing this you will strengthen your cores muscles and make your back stronger. Strong and flexible muscles will help keep your back in shape. 

Secondly, you want to pay attention to your posture. If you have poor posture you will put stress on your back. So pay attention to how you are standing and sitting while at work and at home.

Finally, you want to make sure that you are lifting properly. You want to make sure that you are following the lifting procedures that are outlined in our Job Safety Agreement.  Always remember to let your legs do the work and keep all items close to your body.

By adjusting what you do at work and adopting healthy habits you can reduce back aches and pains and you will feel better over all.

Before you lift an object remember to plan your moves and listen to your body.  If your body tells you that an object is too heavy, do not lift it, ask for help.

Be Safe and Be Healthy!!!!