Guest speaker Cam Marston, president of Marston Communications which specializes in employment issues related to Generation X, served up some insights for understanding his generation of young workers, those in the age bracket from 21 to 34. Only 30 himself, Marston is an Alabamian and Tulane graduate.
     Employers frequently encounter a disconnect when dealing with Xers, and complain that they "quit work but stay on the job." Remember what was going on during the '80s when they came of age. Corporate America was downsizing, terminating hundreds of thousands of longtime loyal employees, saying "we never promised you anything." That experience caused personal misery, dislocation and disillusion among older workers. In response, Xers are committed to protecting themselves and being loyal to themselves. Particular jobs are less important to them than their own growing knowledge and increasing skill level.
     This shift is reflected in the changing employee resume, which now stresses skills acquired and offered rather than jobs held. Xers believe they are valuable to employers because of what they know and can do. And they are short on patience and sacrifice. Their grandparents, the "great generation" as they are currently called, learned patience and sacrifice during the depression. World War II, and the Cold War. For their parents, the baby boomers, patience and sacrifice required that both parents work to provide necessities and luxuries for the family. The result: baby boomers spoiled the Xers who have never sacrificed for anything, and for whom patience means waiting for the appearance of a slow web-site.
     So, how can employers attract and retain generation X employees?
     Give them interesting work which provides new knowledge and generates new skills. If they grow bored on the job, they will look for a new one. Typically this responsibility falls to the immediate superior or boss, who becomes more important to the Xer than the corporation itself. Xers will be loyal to the boss who supports them and provides growth opportunities; and they frequently follow such a boss if the boss changes jobs.
     Give them flexibility or "flex-time" so they can satisfy personal and family needs and pursue leisure interests. Work supports leisure time, not in some distant tomorrow but now, day by day.
     Give them praise and recognition as rewards on the job. As youngsters, many Xers were latchkey children, home alone after school while both parents worked. It may be that now they are looking for parents on the job, who will encourage and recognize good work with praise. To illustrate, Marston recounted his own experience running the 26-mile 1995 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. At mile 19, he felt he was "hitting the wall" of physical limit and might not continue. Then spectators along the route began cheering for a fellow racer who wore "Cheer for Bob" on his T-shirt. And then they began to cheer for and encourage "Tulane", because Marston was wearing his Tulane T-shirt! Those cheers of encouragement released new energy in him to press on uphill to the finish line in exhaustion. There a marine greeted him with a simple "Good Job, Man!", and his father added, "Proud of you, son!" Encouragement with praise — reward enough!
     The club responded with prolonged applause, accompanied by Thomas Moore's playing of "Chariots of Fire."
     President Worth presided. Andy Fair introduced guests and visiting Rotarians, including Essam El Rafey and Ahmed El Sheikh from Rotary Clubs in Alexandria, Egypt, with whom President Worth exchanged club banners.
     Mac McCarley's Health and Happiness expressed sympathy for Don Steger at the recent death of his mother and encouragement for Warren Jeffries, who is seriously ill. He also expressed thanks for volunteers at the Habitat house, and for Bob and Robert Freeman's providing lunch at the worksite.
     Announcements highlighted Tom Robertson's leadership of the Habitat project, the rescheduled Millennium Party coming March 17, a letter of thanks from Johnson C. Smith for Rotary's gift of trees for that campus, and kudos for Ronnie Pruett for last week's successful joint meeting of all Charlotte clubs.
     Leroy Mayne alerted members to a March 29 Boy Scout party in Founder's Hall celebrating John Belk's eightieth birthday. Warren Ludlam introduced guest Andrew Wysmuller who then presented the club with a sheet of Liberian postage stamps honoring Rotary, stamps collected by his deceased father, an active Rotarian and world traveler. Marilynn Bowler encouraged all members to recommend new club prospects.
     After the Pledge of Allegiance, Richard Early led the singing of "America the Beautiful," and Jim Adams gave the invocation. Winn Maddrey introduced the guest speaker. Other members sitting at the head table were Fred Parker, Bob Reid and Chip Gwynn.

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