Transit Services celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of providing a public bus carrier for the campus network on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15. Around 160 alumni spanning the entire 50 years attended the weekend-long celebration. The weekend commenced with a reception in Old Chapel. Paul Jablonski, a former campus bus motive force and contemporary CEO at the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, became a featured speaker.
Jablonski came to UMass initially to pursue a pre-med curriculum but took an element-time job as a bus driving force because he had enjoyed using trucks on farms in Hatfield, MA. Of his time working for transit offerings within the 1970s, Jablonski stated, “It’s what began my profession. It is the complete enjoyment here, consisting of the schooling. It turned into an outstanding mastering experience.”
Since graduating, Jablonski has held several jobs in the transportation industry in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. He says he finds fulfillment in operating within the industry. “It’s a crucial factor in our society. It gets human beings where they need to move,” he says. Following the reception in Old Chapel, alums participated in activities like an excursion to the transit center, a ride to Yankee Candle, and lunch and dinner gatherings.
The Virtual Assistant
VAs are a special breed. It’s difficult enough just to put in place on your own without also setting yourself within the firing line with annoying customers. So, it is no longer sudden that many give up. But those who stay with it are normally professional, resilient, creative, and capable folks who know their task inside out.
However, being a VA brings with it an array of challenges:
The Boss is now a “client”… Who may be simply worrying
Their IT device is now their responsibility to manage and keep
They must cope operating alone, and with flexibility comes the want for self-discipline
Most VAs are good communicators and enjoy managing conflicting clients. Still, conflicting priorities can be headaches, and coping with purchaser expectations has to be a core talent. The age is another count number, however. The VA needs IT to help keep the operation going. This is often provided on an ad hoc basis by an associate or a pal, which could leave them vulnerable.
It’s well worth checking out their scenario first, so you do not discover yourself stranded. If you want your VA to use your generation—from Microsoft Exchange and Groove to ACL and other online calendar or report-sharing tools—they may need to be IT-savvy enough to manage or access extra expert assistance.
Working alone has its set of troubles. VAs commonly take steps to interrupt their isolation and have moral aid close at hand, but being the most effective character inside the enterprise can again leave them at risk of workload peaks and infection. Not forgetting, everyone wishes a holiday a while, too. For advice to someone looking at using a VA, ask them about those issues and ensure that the trade-off in risks vs. Benefits is acceptable for your business.
