"HOW CAN WE BUILD CHARACTER?"

The Character Council has developed a structure and plan to help Richmond become a Community of Character in the following ways:

BUILD awareness of the importance of good character and specific qualities through the media and special community events.

EMPHASIZE one character quality each month for everyone to develop. A working definition of that quality gives a common understanding and allows continual reinforcement throughout our community. The same quality is being emphasized in the home, at school and work, and through the media.

MAKE easy-to-use character materials available. Forty-nine character qualities and definitions are developed in Character First! Materials, which also correlate with the International Association of Character Cities. The Character Council encourages development and use of additional resources as needed. Choice of materials and how they are used is up to the participant.

TRAIN parents, government leaders, businessmen, churches, school teachers and officials, and other citizens in ways to implement a character emphasis directed to their needs.

ENCOURAGE everyone by praising and recognizing demonstrations of good character by our citizens. There are examples around us every day!

The following action steps can be used in any setting to help build character. You will think of more. Choose one that fits your circumstances and then begin! Start somewhere and build as you go!

·        Gain commitment of leaders (parents) to model good character in their own lives.

·        PRAISE OTHERS as you see them exemplify a character quality.

·        Hang character calendars in break rooms, entryways, bulletin boards, and other visible areas.

·        Subscribe to the Character First! monthly bulletins to help you understand the character quality of the month.

·        Provide a copy of  Achieving True Success to every family represented in your organization.

·        PRAISE OTHERS for character!  What you praise, you get more of!

·        Have people meet together to show the introductory video on the quality of the month.

·        Write up commendations for a specific example of showing good character.

·        Supply each department head (or every person) with a character bulletin.

·        PRAISE OTHERS for even small improvements in character!

·        Read character stories from nature and history to children (of all ages).  Some are available in Character First! bulletins, curriculum, and Character Sketches.

·        Check out the current quality and 5 “I will” applications on the public TV channel 6.

·        Carry the pocket folder with you to help you PRAISE OTHERS.

·        Write up a newspaper article about the current character quality and submit it for publication.

·        Use creativity in skits that show how to apply the character quality.

·        Encourage your supervisors and leaders to PRAISE OTHERS for character!

·        Hire those with good character; it will make all skills more effective.

·        Encourage children to make a poster of the character quality of the month!

·        Take advantage of character training opportunities in Richmond and through Character First!

·        PRAISE!  What you praise you get more of!

·        Write up the character quality and definition in your organization publications.

·        Add character information to your website.

·        Print the monthly quality on payroll checks.

·        Don’t forget to PRAISE your spouse and children for good character!

·        Adopt another organization, class, or business to help them emphasize character!

·        Subscribe to a character bulletin for a city or county official to thank him or her for serving.

·        Share an example of a character-related issue in your own life:  success or failure.

·        Every person appreciates PRAISE, but keep it truthful.

·        Correct using character qualities needing improvement.  Everyone can improve!

·        Share testimonies and other helpful information with the Character Council.

·        Send e-mails that highlight the character quality of the month and its application.

·        Have we mentioned how important PRAISE is?  Praise for character, not achievement.

·        Encourage other organizations/churches/businesses to be involved in the Community of Character Initiative.  Reinforce it throughout the community.

·        Sponsor a billboard to advertise that Richmond is a Community of Character.

·        Become an Endorsing Organization and send a representative to the Character Council.

·        PRAISE a policeman, a deputy, a mailman, your child’s teacher, a teenager, an elderly person, a child!

·        Hang a character quality poster where you and others can see it easily.

·        See your challenges in light of character building.

·        Recognize employee anniversaries with PRAISE for a character quality.

·        BE AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD CHARACTER TO EVERYONE!