"Military clarifies policy on faith-sharing"

The Tennessean published an interesting article today on a new Department of Defense policy that has come under scrutiny. According to the article: "A Pentagon ban on proselytizing had caused an uproar in social media this week. Conservative activists claimed that service members could face court martial for talking about Jesus." However, a Pentagon spokesperson has since clarified that service members can discuss their religious beliefs as long as they don't make "intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one’s beliefs (proselytization)." I absolutely agree with this policy and take no issue with it. This policy keeps with the government's commitment to separate church and state. The Military is clearly an organization of the federal government and should not be engaged in proselytizing. It is good to establish clear and firm organizational policies to prevent behavior that is out of line with an organization's mission. This new policy is a great example of sound organizational policy.

New "Light" Exhibit at Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

As I have mentioned before, I'm a gardener at Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art in Nashville. I wanted to let everyone know that an exciting new light installation is opening to the public starting May 24 and closing November 10. Here is some information from Cheekwood's website on the exhibit:

"CHEEKWOOD IS THRILLED to host the second-ever North American exhibition of Light, a stunning outdoor art installation by acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro. Using an inventive array of materials and hundreds of miles of glowing optic fiber, Munro's fascination with light as an artistic medium will transform Cheekwood’s beautiful gardens into an enchanting, dream-like landscape. This site-specific exhibition follows a wildly popular U.S. debut at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and has been uniquely designed by the artist to incorporate Cheekwood's gentle hills, expansive views and magnificent gardens. At the center of the exhibition's many installations will be the Field of Light, which submerges the viewer within a landscape of 20,000 lighted glass spheres, each rising from the ground on a slender stem. The sheer volume of spheres, the glow of the lights and the gentle shapes create an effect that is both natural and otherworldly. Cheekwood will offer extended hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings until 11 pm to present this grand-scale exhibition in its most stunning state: under the night sky."

"Ex-State Senator Was Directed to Record Elected Officials"

This article published today by the New York Times raises some interesting questions about corruption and scandal in politics, and really, organizations in general. The fact that two lawmakers in New York were independently recording colleagues says a lot about the state of politics. In many ways, I see parallels to organizations outside of politics. It seems like there are always scandals in all sorts of magnitudes at every workplace I've had. But how do we handle these conflicts ethically? Is secretly tape recording our colleagues the ethical route? I certainly never have done that before, but depending on the magnitude of the corruption, maybe it is merited. What do you think?

"Organizational Change for Better or Worse"

As an organizational leadership major, I found this article in The Gazette pretty interesting. Despite the prevalence of organizational changes, we often overlook the work behind the scenes by leaders to ensure smooth transitions. This article discusses how to successfully involve staff in organizational changes. This information is applicable to global brands, small businesses, and nonprofits alike.

A Conflicted Past: "Mississippi Burning" through the Conflict Perspective

In a Sociology course I took this semester, we were asked to use a sociological perspective to explore a film. I used the conflict perspective to analyze "Mississippi Burning," which is based on the 1964 real-life murder of three Civil Rights activists and the subsequent investigation by FBI agents to uncover the truth. I created a Digitized Text of my essay, which provides a more visual experience for readers. I encourage you to read it and learn more about the upsetting realities during the Civil Rights movement.

"Rewinding History, Bush Museum Lets You Decide"

A recent New York Times article by Peter Baker discusses a new museum that has opened in honor of former President George W. Bush. The major theme of this museum is the array of struggles that Presidential leaders face in making decisions. However, the magnitude of the decisions the former President faced are not your everyday managerial issues. As the article puts it: "Invade Iraq or leave Saddam Hussein in power? Deploy federal troops after Hurricane Katrina or rely on local forces? Bail out Wall Street or let the banks fail?" At this interactive museum, guests are faced with hypothetical exercises such as these and asked how they would respond. As someone very interested in politics (and not the biggest admirer of the the former President), I would really enjoy visiting this museum and facing these dilemmas myself (hypothetically, of course). You can learn more about this interactive museum model here.

Photo courtesy of www.whitehouse.gov

Matthew Amelung's Professional Resume

Matthew E. Amelung

mea3w@mtmail.mtsu.edu

                                                                                  

PROFILE AND SKILLS

·         11+ years’ experience in the commercial/residential landscaping field

·         Independent worker and leader

·         High foreign language proficiency (fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian) 

·         High physical endurance

·         Proven work ethic

·         Creative, solutions-oriented team member

·         Strong verbal and written communication skills

·         Determined self-learner

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art     Gardener                                                 June ‘12 – Present

Maintain Japanese and Color Gardens, including planting, pruning, mowing, and hardscaping

 Support installation of outdoor art throughout gardens

Nashville Pet Products Center, LLC                         Sales Associate                                      Aug. ’11 – Present

 Provide exceptional customer service experience

Possess extensive knowledge of all products, tailoring recommendations to customer and pet needs

Outdoor Creative Design & Landscape, LLC                      Landscaper                               March ’10 – July ‘11

Managed and facilitated turf maintenance program, including mowing, chemical application, aeration, and over-seeding

 Experience in all facets of landscaping, including yard cleanups, bed preparation, mulching, plant identification, correct pruning techniques, hardscaping (retaining walls, drainage issues, rockscapes, etc.)

 Frequent interactions with clients, including answering questions, explaining projects and future maintenance requirements, and tailoring jobs to meet clients’ needs

The U                                      Delivery Driver/Prep Cook                                                         Feb. ’10 – March ‘10

 Prepped produce, meats, cheeses, and breads

 Cleanup duties, including dishwashing, trash removal, and bussing tables

Thumbs Up Telemarketing                 Customer Service Representative                                Sep. ’09 – Dec. ‘09

Performed cold calls for Citi Mortgage bi-weekly payment plan program and Lutheran Family and Children Services Collection Drive

University Gardens, LLC                  Landscaper/Crew Chief                                                    June ’02 – Aug. ‘09

Managed 6-person crews on job sites

Managed and facilitated turf program, including mowing, chemical application, aeration, and over-seeding

EDUCATION

Middle Tennessee State University – Murfreesboro, TN                                                            2012 – Present

International Organizational Leadership

Forest Park Community College – St. Louis, MO                                                                          2010 – 2011

General Studies, International Option

University City Senior High School – University City, MO                                                           2000 – 2004

ACADEMIC HONORS

             

• Forest Park Community College Dean’s List (Fall 2010, Spring 2011)
• Valedictorian – University City Senior High School (2004)