Monday, December 24, 2001
Note from Al: I will post Morning Meetings throughout the holiday week to help you through what often is a lean week for news. I hope these ideas will help you go home as early as possible to be with your family and friends.
Christmas Eve a holiday in 22 states
Several governors who declared holidays on Christmas Eve cited the events of Sept. 11 as a reason. President George W. Bush also signed an executive order giving federal workers a paid holiday Dec. 24. Declaring holidays may be no gift for state budgets. In West Virginia, the payroll cost of the holidays is estimated at $8.3 million, according to the state auditor’s office. Stateline.org says, “States such as Wisconsin, Kentucky and Michigan routinely have given employees a two-day break for both Christmas and New Year’s. Workers in Wyoming and North Dakota will work a half-day on Dec. 24. Colorado workers will get the option of taking off either Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. In Nebraska, state government is bound by law to shut down whenever the federal government observes a holiday. Kansas Gov. Bill Graves followed a state regulation allowing him to designate days on which state offices are to be closed in observance of a holiday or a holiday season. In Mississippi, state workers can take a holiday Dec. 24 at the discretion of agency heads. Missouri state employees who must work Dec. 24, such as corrections officers and hospital workers, will be given a day off later, said Jerry Nachtigal, spokesman for Gov. Bob Holden. “I think that it’s appropriate, given the events of Sept. 11, that state employees be given Dec. 24 off to spend more time with their families and experience the true meaning of the holiday season,” Holden said in a statement.
One Gift Certificate-Hundreds of Stores
This is one of the cool things about the Internet. One site, one gift certificate and the recipient can choose from hundreds of stores and services to spend the money.
Don’t Let the Holidays Stop the Job Search
Here’s a story idea from Erin McElroy, WSBT-News 22, South Bend, IN.
Don’t take a holiday from the job search. Some firms are in a rush to hire now because they have open jobs they need to fill by Dec. 31st or they will lose those slots for budget reasons. Talk with people in your community who have been laid off. Are they planning on waiting to look again after the holidays? See if there are local employers eager to hire now.
Source article: The Washington Post
Getting Liquored Up at the Airport
Erin McElroy also suggests a story about how, when airport lines are long, people spend more time in airport bars. See if your local airport restaurants and bars are seeing a jump in drunk fliers.
Source article: The Washington Post
10 Tips for Traveling with Kids
The travel time to a loved one’s home is the perfect opportunity to share family traditions and past experiences with your children. Great tips from Parenthood.com
