Current State Of Affairs

[Foxtale]

I'd like to see that too, if at all possible. (I was asleep during the Day meeting.)

[Foxtale]

In response to K's mass-email, the McMurdo-All mailing list also received the following emails:

FROM: GG
Subj: RE:

Obviously you don't get the fact that we are in a re-compete, and everybody knew that the NSF was On-Ice doing inspections. You put everybody's long-term employment in jeopardy in a poor economic climate and I, though I've never met you, am glad that you were let go. I prefer to have responsible adults as co-workers!! Not to mention that being able to work on Antarctica is a privilege that you didn't seem to appreciate. I'm glad you had a good time.

FROM: IT&C Director
SUBJ:

TO ALL: while I am sure there are many opinions on this subject, be advised that using the USAP E-mail system to express them is not the appropriate medium for such discussions.  Please refrain from any future 'Reply All' communications on this topic.

Director, Information Technology and Communications
RaytheonTechnical Services Company, LLC
WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE

One person, who e-mailed GG directly (what's up with all these alliterative names?), learned that she is a new hire in the Denver IT department.  She apologized for sending the e-mail, explaining that she comes from a "different corporate culture" than we do. 

(While I personally had no idea that "the NSF was on-Ice doing inspections," it's always been my understanding that unauthorized e-mailing of McMurdo-All - which goes not only to every participant in the program, but various NSF officials in Washington, military officers, etc. - is a fireable offense. Far more fireable than "Jello wrestling" anyway.) 

[Nick]

From comments at The Stuff.co.nz concerning the guy fired by Raytheon for jello wrestling:

"That's just ridiculous. I'm sure that in an isolated environment like Antartica, these kind of things are pretty critical to maintaining moral and mental health.

Someday one of these people will snap and kill half the base. Then the Ratheon managers might think that Jello wrestling is ok."

#2 Posted by Ian Muir — 06:31 AM | Saturday , 07 February 2009


"Oh no...your employer is forcing you to act like a professional person. We feel so sorry for you. Nice to know someone (your managers) are doing their job."

#7 Posted by Dave — 11:45 AM | Saturday , 07 February 2009

"This is seriously lame. I studied with people who were on postgrad field research assignments down in Antarctica and heard how monotonous things can get and the need to keep things interesting and make your own fun.

Raytheon need to lighten up and let people let off steam, otherwise it is going to become a pretty grim place to work and it will be increasingly hard to attract talented staff and researchers."

#9 Posted by james — 12:39 PM | Saturday , 07 February 2009


"Umm, what? You commenters are missing the point. This is taxpayer money they are wasting down there. Taxpayers aren't interested in paying these scientists to have a party, these NSFers are treating it like a paid vacation. Most taxpayers probably don't want them studying Anarctica anyway. If the NSFers don't like the rules, don't go on the government dole and pretend you're studying ice. I think we've figured out how ice works. If your research is valuable and likely to have an interesting discovery, find a private group to fund it. Employee's at the NSF are already in way too much trouble with all the porn they are watching at work."

#20 Posted by scott clark — 07:31 AM | Tuesday , 10 February 2009

[Sheriff]

...station management called an urgent all-hands meeting and, as I understand it, wagged the corporate finger at everyone for our collective moral failure...

Anyone got video of this meeting?

Oh yeah, there's at least one full length video.  There is talk of doing some creative editing and making a movie on what not to do if you are in management.  Might be coming soon to a youtube near you... 

The plan is to put the entire video on youtube (in sections of course) when the person that has the video is off the ice so that it will not be uploaded with a USAP-owned computer.  It should be coming soon.

[Sheriff]

No one was hurt, as far as I know, though K did show up a couple of days later with a broken foot.  The broken foot came two days later at a seperate event. 

He may have pulled the whole thing off, too, were it not for a yearly visit by the US Office of the Inspector General.  No confirmation on titles, but it was K's supervisor (not senior) and NSF reps. 

K, apparently believing no one would need to enter the garage [no one calls it the garage] supply warehouse on Sunday morning, did not completely clean up after the jello(TM)-wrestling event on Saturday night (Thou shall not operate heavy machinery after imbibing). 

His supervisor, who was accompanying the OIG inspector, entered the building, saw half-empty beer bottles and cans everywhere amongst the jello(TM) flingings.  He was not pleased.  I did not hear any mentions of beer bottles or cans being left in the building at any time this event was mentioned by the aforementioned Supervisor although he did mention the mattresses.  He was not happy, but that should not be made into something more than it was.  He knew that he would have to write-up K and that he would probably have to ding his bonus.  Mind you, not because he was pissed, but because he knew that his bosses would require that.  He was certainly not upset enough to go to HR over it or fire K.[/font][/color]

In a wider view, many people in the program feel that a lot of new upper managers are arrogant and unappreciative of their efforts and their often long commitments to the USAP.  At the all hands meeting, DD referred repeatedly to the "installation."  This shows how far removed he is from the people he is managing.  We call it "the community."

[deadbilly]

Seems as though the best thing you can do is wait it out in hopes that the next contractor won't be nearly as backwards.  It's that, or the place will be full of first-timers who haven't got any idea how it used to be, and will gladly be led around like sheep.

I wonder though. With Brez heading up the ITT rebid effort (last I checked), it may be a bleak future for fun. We all know how much he cares about contractors and their morale...

[BREZ]

deadbilly,

You are wrong on both counts!

BREZ

[deadbilly]

very glad to know!

[Slyppt]

can i nominate [SP] for Base Manager?   

[Nick]

Someone recorded and transcribed the All-Hands meeting that was called in response to the Jello-Wrestling incident that resulted in at least one employee termination. 

Here is the entire transcription (Word .doc).

The only changes I've made to the document are to remove some of the names, and to put text that is not by the main speaker in bold, for easier reading. 

[Nick]

"(Questioner): I guess I’m still a little unclear. A few minutes ago, you said you didn’t make the rules, and then you said, “you’ll know when something’s right or wrong.” But in the crowd today, I guess about 90% don’t see anything inappropriate about Jello wrestling. (Applause) If the community doesn’t think it’s inappropriate, how are we supposed to know whether something is allowed or not?

Area Director:  You’ve just got to submit the form. And you’ll find out whether it is or not."

Regarding this, it might be fun for someone to collect a bunch of jello-wrestling videos off youtube and hold a "Jello-Wrestling Movie Night" in one of the lounges or bars.  If the event is deemed "inappropriate" when you submit the form, send it to me and I'll post it.

[DavidinBellingham]

I am commenting here as an outsider, as someone who has never been to Antarctica:
This seems like something of a Catch-22 situation.  You are required to follow rules, on jeopardy of termination, yet the rules are not stated.  Jello wrestling had taken place before and was tolerated, or resulted in a lesser consequence than termination, but now (with out a clear, stated change in policy) results in termination.
I can understand that administration can't possibly create a specific policy for every permutation of human behavior.  However, I do think that a general policy about recreational activities could be created.  I am thinking that the policy could be based on the number of participants (ex: more than ten), or the use of facilities (activities in certain areas MUST have a permit), or aspects of the event (alcohol will be consumed, etc.). 
I envision a system where the application process is quick and simple, and inclusive.  Want to do a Jello wresting event?  OK, but you have to pay for the materials used (jello), you have to have a person there that is sober and making sure that the event is as safe as possible (hopefully less broken feet this way), and that the facility must be cleaned and ready for use by a certain time (noon the next day). 
At the very least a system like this would allow administration to avoid embarrassment, would hopefully allow people to blow off steam while maintaining some safety.  As well, I think if you are throwing an event that is off the books you have the preknowledge that you may be taking a risk in breaking the rules.
So I say: Jello Party, great: you guys pay for the Jello, have a sober person on hand who is in charge of safety, have the place clean by noon the next day.
Obviously no one wants VIPs walking into the aftermath of a Jello party.  This seems to me to be the best way to prevent it, by being aware of the event and either postponing it or making sure it is cleaned up toute de suite.

Just an observation from somebody with absolutely no stake in the proceedings,
David

[Mount Terror]

I envision a system where the application process is quick and simple, and inclusive. 

You sound like a very reasonable individual, but the minute there is an "application process" to make your own fun on your own time, you will eventually lose that fun down the road.  It doesn't matter if there's a very thoughtful process, or responsible managers on watch.  Eventually the "application process" will be the most important thing.  Then the thoughtful process and responsible managers will leave for better-paying jobs, leaving behind a mere regulation to be followed by mean-spirited idiots.