RE: tutor perks

[Latisha LaRue <kfischer@keller.clarke.edu>]

	I hope I'm not taking this thread out of warp, but I wonder if "perks" 
aren't also achieved in other ways.  Yesterday we had our first ever 
outback/outpost writing lab out at the John Deere plant (yes, if you must 
know, I DID wear the tractor pin) for employees who are taking college 
course on-site from Clarke through a special new arrangment.  Anyway, 
one of the goddesses (tutors) accompanied me and just as I was about to 
introduce her to the "Academic Director of Industrial Services" who heads 
up this special liason and to clients, it hit me to be very careful about 
the terminology I use.  I introduced her as "my associate."  She perked up 
and our Deere writing clients accorded her with the same respect for her 
writing advice as they did me (and as they well should).  If I had 
introduced her as "a student tutor" or as "someone who works for me" or 
something like that, I don't think the effect would have been the same.  
After nearly three very interesting yet exhausting hours, the goddess and 
I chatted all the way back to Clarke about how it had gone.  She had 
excellent insights about the writing needs of this special population and 
when we arrived back on campus, she commented about how she couldn't wait 
to get back to Deere next Wednesday.  I think this little bit of care in 
language in introducing her did more as  a "perk" than anything we have 
done as far as pizza parties, special computer privileges, or any honors, 
and awards we've bestowed on the goddesses over the years.  I learned a 
lot from subtlety yesterday.
	And on another note, I did ask them for backhoes for y'all, but 
they said "not this year."  Shucks! After years of having seen the 
Harleys lined up on the interstate between Dubuque and Milwaukee each 
summer on their way to THE Harley convention, I thought it would be so swell 
to see the backhoes lined up along the freeway.  In December when the 
snow stopped local highway construction here, three such machines 
appeared alongside the roadways with huge signs on them, each saying "Ho."
					Katie-Tishie
*************************##################################*******************
Katherine M. Fischer      Box 1569               319-588-8115
English Department        Clarke College         319-588-6445
Writing Center            Dubuque IA 52001       kfischer@keller.clarke.edu
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On Thu, 22 Feb 1996 writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca wrote:

> Hey, Kate. This isn't really a perk, as such -- but it sure is cheap!
> (I mean inexpensive. ;) ) How about little notes from time ot time
> letting your staffmembers know you appreciate something in particular
> about their work. You can keep track of who got a note, when, so that
> everyone gets one by the end of term. 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jacqueline Howse
> Coordinator, Writing Centre
> Memorial University of Newfoundland
> St. John's, NF
> writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca
>