For the past three years, C.R. Fletcher has participated in Wear Red Day, the annual awareness and education campaign to fight heart disease in women.  We are participating again this year on Friday, February 3^rd.  This is my first year participating, and after some research I found that I was largely ignorant to the factors influencing heart disease.  Like most Americans, I can think of many women off the top of my head that have suffered from heart disease and especially this year, I think of my grandmother, Goldie.

There is much about heart disease that is out of our control.  Many people, by no fault of their own, are predisposed to heart disease.  However, there are risk factors that you can control.  Below are six such factors according to Go Red for Women:

Smoking:  If you smoke, resolve to quit.  No matter how long you have smoked, if you quit your risk of heart attack drops.

High Cholesterol:  Know your numbers to know your risk.  A simple blood test can show if your cholesterol is desirable.  Once you know your numbers, there are many strategies you can use to reduce your cholesterol.  Here are a few: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/nutrition/hic_cholesterol-lowering_strategies.aspx

High Blood Pressure:  Get your blood pressure checked every time you go to the doctor.  After age 55, more women than men have high blood pressure.  Here are some strategies to reduce high blood pressure: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/htn/bpstrat.aspx

Physical Inactivity:  Get moving.  Roughly 25% of women are sedentary.  The U.S. Surgeon general recommends 30 minutes of physical activity on most days.

Obesity:  It isn’t an appearance issue, it’s a health issue.  Obesity is a major health problem for all Americans, including children… http://www.letsmove.gov/

Diabetes:  Have your glucose levels checked regularly, especially if diabetes runs in your family.  About 22 million women are estimated to have pre-diabetes.

For more information about this great cause visit GoRedForWomen.org.

*Also, be sure to visit our Facebook page (C.R. Fletcher Associates) to check out our past Go Red photos and to see us Go Red in 2012!

We are happy to give an update on our three new hires at our firm:

Alexis Grace has been off and running… visiting clients, working on social media, and preparing for her upcoming marathon in Virginia. Alexis has been successful in continuing our business partnerships and fostering good will throughout the community. Recently she signed the team up for a project at the Samaritan Center which everyone found extremely rewarding. She formed “Fitness with Fletcher” and is trying to get our other associates up to her speed. She is a dynamo on the road and off.

Liz Eley, originally from Juneau, Alaska, has adapted well to our beautiful Syracuse winters. She joined us from a firm in Chicago and although misses the “Windy City” she has enveloped Syracuse and all it has to offer. She has been successful recruiting and placing technical engineering applicants around New York State. She too has jumped on with the “Fitness with Fletcher” program and has been spotted running the parkway with the group.

Corey O’Neill received both his undergrad and graduate degree from Le Moyne College. After having a successful career playing baseball he decided to hang up the glove and join as a Recruiter. Corey has managed several of our larger industrial clients placing on a temporary and contract basis. He has been a “hit” with our clients and has “scooped” up several key accounts. Being a team player he also signed up for “Fitness with Fletcher” and hopes to run the Mountain Goat.

        Over the holidays the C.R. Fletcher team had the opportunity to volunteer at the Samaritan Center located in the basement of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral downtown on Montgomery St.  What an eye opening and rewarding experience to do during the holidays.  It was a shock to see the number of men, women,  and children that rely on the Samaritan Center for meals on a daily basis.  Along with a group of volunteers from the Marcellus School District, everyone from C.R. Fletcher played a part to make the meal possible. My role was to welcome the guests and offer them a cup and tray, as well as offer them hats and gloves donated by individuals in our community.

        The Samaritan Center opens their doors 365 days a year.  They serve dinner everyday and both breakfast and dinner on the weekdays relying almost entirely on volunteer efforts ranging from donations to servers. They have been open for over thirty years, but with the recession they are seeing an increase in numbers.  The Samaritan Center is not just for the homeless.  A lot of people who visit the center are working, but are unable to support themselves on low wages.

        It was a great feeling to be able to help the homeless, disabled, less fortunate and otherwise stricken people. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity I would consider assisting the Samaritan Center.  They are continually looking for donations and volunteers to make their efforts possible.  If you are interested in volunteering, please visit www.thesamaritancenter.com or call the Volunteer Coordinator at 315-472-0650.

        New Years resolutions are usually made to be broken – so why not try something new in 2012? Instead of making resolutions, try to make goals. Studies found “open” resolutions are more likely to be broken (ex – I want to get in shape). The best way to guarantee success is to set a goal, develop a specific plan, and stick to it!

        In January of 2011 I signed up for Iron Girl Triathlon in Syracuse as my 2011 goal. At that point I could barely run a mile, so with the advice of some fitness instructors at the YMCA I started the “Couch to 5k” run/walk program (which can be found on www.coolrunning.com).

        This program was very specific and easy to follow, and within 2 months I was easily able to run a 5k. Since then I have completed multiple 5ks, 10ks, a triathlon, a ½ marathon, and on March 18th in Virginia Beach I will cross the finish line of my first marathon (that’s 26.2 miles I am talking about)!

        Physical fitness is typically the most common resolution, perhaps because the benefits go far beyond “looking fit.” A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows individuals who engage in exercise have better job performance than those who do not. Physically fit employees also take fewer sick days and get along better with coworkers.

        In 2012 think of specific goals you would like to accomplish, and figure out what you can do to guarantee success. On a calendar, write down your goals and the steps you need to take to accomplish them. It doesn’t matter how big or small your goals are –you will feel great crossing each off one by one!

        The sense of accomplishment and pride you will feel while achieving your goals will shine through on everything else you do, especially in your work. So take a few minutes and think about what YOU would like to accomplish in 2012 and get started working towards your goals. When 2013 rolls around, you will not believe everything you have done.

     A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (“Adecco Expects Temps are Here to Stay as Hiring Revives,” by Lauren Weber) revealed some promising news for temporary employees.  Tig Gilliam, the CEO of Adecco SA’s North American Group, believes there will be an increase in the need for temporary employees despite a tough job market. Gilliam stated “even a minor uptick in demand will lead to a hiring spot.”

     After the recession, the recovery of permanent placements has been much slower than that of temporary placements.  Gilliam stated this may be due to the fact that “companies are looking to rely more on flexible resources because they don’t want to go through the layoffs again.” Another reason temporary staffing is booming is because companies acted very aggressively during the recession, and when business started to turn around they “didn’t have the capacity to address it, so they had to come out and get help right away.”

     Gilliam began to see a strong and steady increase of need for temporary employees back in 2009 in the light industrial sector.  C.R. Fletcher Associates experienced the same thing.  Since then, the need for temporary employees has increased across the board.  The sectors that are seeing highest demand for temporary workers are engineering, health care, information technology, and finance.

     If you think temporary work is not for you, rethink it! Temping is a great way to get your foot in a company and show them exactly what you are capable of.  It is a great way to network, build connections, and get a good reference if you are out there doing your best. Not to mention, temping is also a great option to make some quick money. You never know where a possible job opportunity may be hiding – so why not give temping a try?