So, You Want A Summer Job?

The Time Is NOW To Start Looking

Hey "Dad," do you think I should get a summer job?
You are young... you've only got a few years of carefree youth left... Why do you want to get a job? OK, OK, I get it... you really neeeeeed a job!  Every teen has a different reason for wanting or needing a job.  Here's just few that I have heard over the years:

1.  To keep from being bored.
2.  To keep from getting into trouble.
3.  My father said I have to get a job or I am in trouble.
4.  I need money to buy a car or pay insurance.
5.  I want to travel during spring break next year.
6.  Just need to get out of the house.
7.  Get experience.
8.  Learn responsibility.
9.  Make money, make friends, make fun.

When should I start to look for a job?
This is the BEST time to start looking for a summer job, because employers are starting to hire, the college kids aren't home yet, and an organized youth who is thinking ahead is an attractive gamble for an employer who wants to hire someone who shows a sense of responsibility and reliability.

Where do I start?
First thing, if you are 14 to 16 years old, make sure you have your working papers in order.  Your school counselor can help you finish this task.  Your parents will need to sign to give their approval. Then talk to your parents about their friends, to see if they can help you get your foot in the door for consideration.  You can also ask your DeMolay Advisors for a recommendation, and a personal reference.

Where should I look for a job?
The easiest thing to do is to look close to home, so you don't have a transportation problem.  There are plenty of opportunities for baby-sitting, lawn care, computer assistance, housework, minor painting and maintenance jobs, etc. in your own neighborhood.  Employers want reliable employees, and that means getting to work on time, every day, no excuses.  If you rely on a parent or a sibling for transportation and the car breaks down, it doesn't matter to the employer.  They want you to be there, no matter if you have to walk two hours to get there.  If you have reliable transportation, you can spread out your search. There you will have a chance to get into the camps, pools, retail stores, movie theaters, theme parks, sports and entertainment centers, and service industries like hotels and restaurants.

How can I get a job when I have no experience?
You have to sell yourself to an employer. She has to know that you are going to be worth her time and training effort.  Employers know that entry-level teens aren't looking for a career-- just a job.  You have to show confidence in yourself, good manners, a clean appearance, and a happy demeanor.  If you put together a resume, list anything you have done in the past year that shows achievement, ambition, persistence, caring, strength, good academic skills, a commitment to teamwork, and a customer-service perspective.  A word to the wise-- don't list an email address that is rude or offensive or suggestive.  AmericanTerrorist@hotmail.com is not a good advertisement for your character. Get a "professional" email address, or don't provide one.  Be sure you proof-read it, and have someone else read it, too, to make sure it makes sense!

What kind of job can I expect to get?
If this is your first job, don't expect to find something full-time.  You will have to show that you can handle part-time work to earn the chance for full-time hours.  First jobs are not very glamorous, often dirty and seldom fun.  But how you perform at the simplest and least desirable tasks often tells an employer what he can expect out of you in a higher-paying, more responsible position.  The point is-- if you take a job, do your best work all the time, because you are setting a behavioral pattern for yourself as well as showing what you are capable of.

Will I have to go to an interview?
Of course you will need to interview, so that the employer can get a sense of how you will do in the job he has in mind for you. You need to be personable and engaging... enthusiastic about the job, even if you know you will spend the day dumping trash cans. You don't need to dress up, just dress neat, be clean and well-groomed, and make eye contact when answering questions. If you have unusual tattoos, piercings, or strange hair color or cut, you need to cover them up or make them look "normal."  Remember that employers are looking for kids who will be reliable and available.  Don't go in with the idea that you will be able to set your schedule, or take off a lot of time for a family vacation, or for football or band camp, or whatever else you may be involved in.  You can ask, but if the answer is no, accept it and assure them that it will not be an issue for you.  By the way, before you walk into the business, turn your phone off.  Do not let anything distract you from giving the potential employer your full attention.

How can I be sure of keeping a job?
Be on time. Dress appropriately. Unless you are working a landscaping or construction or trash-removal job, take a shower before you go to work.  LISTEN to the boss. Follow instuctions.  Obey the rules. Don't goof off on the job.  If you are scheduled for 4 hours, give the boss 4 solid work hours. Demonstrate that you WANT to be there, and that you enjoy the work. Represent the company well by the way you act, think, speak, and dress, and ALWAYS be kind to fellow employees, and pleasant, even when dealing with difficult customers (who are always right!)

Any more advice, "Dad?"
A first job is a great learning experience, and will show you how mature you are, and how much adversity you can handle.  It will also provide you with opportunities to work with people who can give you a good reference for future jobs and perhaps even college admission applications. With a little cash in your pocket, and some money saved in the bank, you'll feel that much closer to being an adult and being able to make your own way in the world.  Got get it!

Franklin's Funds

Ben Franklin's 8 Lessons of Personal Finance, AND YOU!

by Dan Loughin

Chapter Advisor, Reading Chapter

As an amateur historian, I am in awe of those that came before us; the men and women that helped form our country.  One of these men was Benjamin Franklin, whom I’m sure you’ve heard of from the story with the kite and the key, the invention of bifocal glasses or the creator of Poor Richard's Almanac..

But there is more to Franklin than you know.  He not only was once Governor of Pennsylvania, but he also served as the first Ambassador to France, the first Ambassador to Sweden, and the first Postmaster General of the United States.  He was also an author, printer, political theorist, scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat.  He was a true everyman, that I’m sure could dunk a basketball or throw a 90 MPH fastball, had those sports been invented in the 1700’s.

As he was all of these things, he attained great wealth through his life, to the point where he was able to retire at the age of 42.  As the knowledgeable man he was, he released his 8 lessons of personal finance to the general public, so that all may know how he did it.  And I will share them with you now.  Please keep in mind that while these were written in the late 1700’s, they are timeless, and still hold their value.

1) Understand The True Value of Things
If you’re going to go into business for yourself, or you’d be happy working in fast food all of your life, you need to understand that everything has a true value and a perceived value.  The perceived value is quite easy to understand: it is what the average person would pay for something.  The true value, however, is much more difficult to understand.  I’m 30, and I still struggle with this on various different products and services.  Just because something is priced at $20, it does not mean that said item is actually valued at $20.  This is true of everything: from food to cars.  Once you understand the true value of these things, you life, and financial situation, will drastically improve.

2) Be Self-Sufficient
There are plenty of us, most of the residents of this great country in fact, that work for someone else, so this point was made not to encourage running your own business (but if you do, more power to you), but to not rely on anyone else for money.  Understandably, this is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, when you are 12.  But when you reach your 20’s, it starts to become unattractive to anyone to beg your parents for money.  By 30, it’s irresponsible.  By 40, you should be reevaluating your life if you are consistently begging people for money to pay for things for you.  Excluded from this, however, is if you live with your parents in your 20’s and 30’s and pay them rent.  You are not free-loading off of them, as you are paying them money.  This strictly means that you are financially independent of other people.

3) Invest in Yourself
Very simply, you are your best asset.  You make money for yourself.  You experience life for yourself.  Get educated, by either going to school or learning from people who have obtained proper knowledge.  Go to the doctor to keep yourself in healthy shape.  Eat right.  De-stress.  Whatever you need to do to make sure your primary asset is protected is the best investment you can make.

4) Surround Yourself with Friends Who Share Your Values
Plain and simple, make sure your friends are the same “kind” of people you are.  Figure out your personal values, and search out people who share them.  I’m not talking about political or religious values, however; people of differing opinions in religion and politics can help a person grow as an individual.  I’m talking about things like work ethic and family orientation.  If you work harder than anyone you know, and one of your friends is lazy and takes advantage of you, it’s probably best that you are not friends with them.

5) Don’t Compromise Your Integrity for Money
Webster’s defines integrity as “adherence to moral and ethical principles.”  In short, do sell what breaks your personal moral code, what you’ve told yourself you’d never, for an extra buck.  Not only will you feel like you cheated yourself and anyone close to you, but you most likely will kill any chance of much more vast wealth down the road.

6) Steady Diligence Is the Way to Wealth
You hear the rags to riches stories, the one in a million shot that a person hit the huge jackpot at the lottery, that the person took the long-shot bet on the superfecta at the Kentucky Derby, and won over $1 Million.  These are exactly what they sound like: once in a lifetime rarities that don’t happen to the average person.  Franklin was saying that if you work hard, save hard.  Don’t do things just to keep busy that won’t pay you (like 15 hours of video games on the weekend).  If you stay on top of your work and your spending, you will eventually have financial wealth.

7) Time Is Money
Everyone has heard this phrase before, but Franklin is the first one to be attributed to the saying.  Very simple, time is a finite resource.  We get no more or no less than we are given when we are born.  Money can grow, time cannot.  If you stay diligent with your work and saving early on, then you can cash in your time on the back half of your life, and do things that really matter to you.  Don’t let other people suck your time away.   You are protective of your money; why not your time as well?

8) The Accumulation of Money Is a Means to an End

I’m sure you’ve heard “money isn’t everything” or “money is the root of all evil” or “money doesn’t buy happiness.”  While true at the core, these sayings are flawed.  While money isn’t everything, if you value time as money, it becomes everything.  Money is not the root of all evil, greed is.  And while MORE money doesn’t buy happiness, you’ll  need money to live, and if you live correctly, you’ll be happy.  Take stock of what you want to do and how you want to do it before you start.  You don’t want to work in your 90’s out of necessity.  Use money to be able to retire as early as possible, and enjoy what life has to offer when you’re able to.

Key Man University Youth Director Chosen

Meet Mason Bryant 2015 Key Man Youth Director

The Directors of Key Man University are proud to announce a new addition to our staff. Brother Mason Bryant, the State Master Councilor-elect from Kentucky, is joining us as our 2015 KMU Youth Director.

Mason comes to us from River Cities Chapter in Westwood, KY. He is one of a number of candidates who applied for the position. All of our candidates were outstanding, making the decision a tough one. We were impressed with Mason’s interest in and dedication to DeMolay. He has already brought a few great ideas to the table, and we anticipate many more in the coming months.

Head over to the KMU Youth Director page on the PA DeMolay website to read more about him. In the coming weeks, we’ll be posting more information about the rest of our staff, so stay tuned!

Ancora Imparo!

Carlisle Chapter's Road to Success

How A New Old Chapter Was Returned to the Carlisle Community

by "Dad" Brett Otto, Advisory Council Chairman

Now that a few days have passed since receiving the Charter for Carlisle Chapter, it is good to look back at where we have been. 

I never dreamed in 2007, when 3 young men (Rob Otto, Ben Otto and Colton Swindler) traveled to the State Convention in York, PA to join GW chapter, that Carlisle Chapter would ever re-open. Back then, we traveled 45 minutes each way to Chambersburg to go to DeMolay. 

Along with the 3 DeMolay, "Dad" Brett Otto and "Moms" Kelley Otto and Cayle Otto Swindler joined the Advisory Council of GW Chapter. For years, we traveled back and forth between Carlisle and Chambersburg, many times taking 2 mini vans full of DeMolays. Over several years the "Carlisle Contingent" grew. 

The original 3 Carlisle DeMolay all became MCs of GW Chapter and Chevaliers. Others from GW DeMolay that became Carlisle DeMolays included, Anthony Kallhoff, Trenton Swindler and Brady Swindler. 

In 2011, some Masons from the Lodges in Carlisle, Cumberland Star Lodge #197 and St. John's Lodge #260 began talking about opening a DeMolay Chapter in Carlisle. After several meetings of members of both lodges and some of the GW advisors, it was decided to move ahead to open Carlisle DeMolay.

So began the process with DeMolay International. Both Carlisle Lodges agreed to be co-sponsors of the new DeMolay Chapter. In the spring of 2012, we received word that DeMolay International would be granting Letters Temporary for a Chapter in Carlisle. 

At the time, we still didn't have a name for the new chapter. The 7 members that transferred from GW DeMolay were given to task to choose a name for the new chapter. They found out that Carlisle had a DeMolay Chapter that closed in 1994. To honor that chapter, it was decided to keep the name, Carlisle DeMolay. 

Colton Swindler was chosen to act as our first Master Councilor, since he was a PMC from GW Chapter. During 2001, we held activities and continued to grow, reaching 15 members by the end of the year. 

Meeting this milestone, in December 2012, Carlisle DeMolay was officially presented our Letters Temporary at our very first installation of officers, when Mikel Baer (now "Dad" Baer Mike) was our first installed MC. 

Over the next few years, we continued to increase in membership. We participated in state sports tournaments, State Convention and Keyman Conference.

By the end of 2014, we had grown to 30 members in our Chapter. Having met that milestone, it was approved by DeMolay International to grant our chapter a Charter. 

On March 29th, the Charter was presented by our Executive Officer, "Dad" Tom Labagh at our Installation of Officers. We were so pleased to have so many visitors and guests in attendance. Although we knew the Charter was being presented, our EO surprised 3 Advisors by presenting them each with a Zerubbabel Key. 

This award is presented to individuals who are primarily responsible for opening a DeMolay Chapter. "Dad" Brett Otto, "Mom" Kelley Otto and "Mom" Cayle Swindler received Z-Keys. Speaking for the three, we are all deeply humbled and honored to receive this award. 

Over the years, we have worked with both GW and Carlisle Chapters. We have seen many DeMolay join, grow and mature, and become Senior DeMolays., which has been our true reward. Many of our DeMolays are now Lodge members and advisors. 

On behalf of Kelley, Cayle and myself, we want to thank all of the DeMolay, advisors, parents, Lodge brothers, State DeMolay officers, the Executive staff and others who have made the dream of Carlisle DeMolay come true. Thank you.