John R. Anderson:
CLASS OF 1970
Lancaster High SchoolClass of 1970
Lancaster, OH
Ohio University - Arts & SciencesClass of 1974
Athens, OH
John R.'s Story
College
I went to OU to get a degree so that I could enlist and go to OCS. Those plans fell through. I did graduate with a degree in English. (Surprisingly, I did not go into education.) While at Ohio University, I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service (volunteer) organization. This fraternity has three purposes: leadership development; friendhip; and volunteerism. Remember the times of 1970-74 and understand what a challenge it was to espouse those beliefs. I have remained active with that fraternity since graduation and have served on its national board for a few years.
I did go to the branch for a few quarters (the reality of economics come into play here) and did play on the branch tennis team.
Workplace
I began work in 1974 at what used to be known as the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services. It is now known at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services or ODJFS. Space precludes an honest assessment of the changes between the two.
As was the case with a number of my pee...Expand for more
rs, I started out as a part timer. The collective wisdom was that we would serve out our part time assignments, draw unemployment benefits, and find real jobs. I turned out that we all had real jobs as most of my peers are still with me in one way or another.
In the years I have been serving the public, I have been an entry level intake worker, a unit supervisor, an office manager, an Assistant Dept Chief; Chief of Technical Services (policy and statutory writing); Chief of the Benefits Dept (appeals/accounting/and anything else needing done). I have been blessed with great staff with numbers ranging from 10 to over 100 in my chain of command. All in all it has been a great time and really rewarding.
The real challenge through all the years is to not let the bureaucracy crush creativity and individuality and to always remember to treat adults like adults. My staff have won various awards and recognitions and really are proof positive that the stereotyped lazy government worker is a myth.
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Reunions
