MONDAY: Virtual Conference is launched! It is so cool with commercials, music, my picture. Doesn't get any better than that. Registrations are pouring in at the last minute so our potential loss is possibly heading into the black.(Yay). First program today was on Ethics and Implicit Bias. We present professional development leadership or specialized topics the day before the conference starts most years. Takes care of the milling crowd that shows up a day early for the conference and gives them something to do besides drink and carouse.
A couple of awesome phrases from Ercell Charles' talk: The 11th Commandment; Psycological Safety; Courageous Conversations; tying Implicit Bias to marinating a steak. He even compared holding leadership accountable similar to the role of wedding attendants who witness the vows and hold the B&G accountable to what they agreed to. Who knew?
The steak comment got everybody's juices (pardon the pun) flowing as we filled the Chat window with how apt a comparison that was. We are all marinated in the juices of our upbringing, families, surroundings, schools, etc. Good start to the conference and tomorrow is the real test with 50 programs presented simultaneously, exhibitors panting for visitors and networking/gossip rooms everywhere. Fingers crossed.
In the news. A police officer accidently shoots a black man to death in Minnesota as she "mixed up her taser with her gun"....in the midst of a trial holding a Minnesota police officer accountable for the death of another black man. Any officer who doesn't know their taser handle from a gun trigger probably could not find her rear with both hands. In other news, Biden appoints a bi-partisan (sort of) committee to review Supreme Court practices, rules, tenure, hmmmm. UPDATE: Commission already getting pushback...
TUESDAY; Well the day was just as hectic as the first day of the live conference usually presents. Only difference is that I'm viewing it from a "window" in my living room. But with all the navigating around the website and live conversations with vendors and other attendees it was quite entertaining. Also for the first time in years I was able to attend classes! I'm usually tied up with other duties during the conference and can't always partake in the wisdom being offered.
DIGRESS: When I worked for the City, I literally had to take the two days on vacation to keep from being hassled throughout the conference. Of course that didn't work as I still had a pager, phone, and constant messaging to call in for one silly thing after another. Apparently I was that vital to the operation (not). One time during a pre-scheduled medical appointment my boss was frantically trying to get in touch with me. When I called back in (after getting dressed) I was told City Hall had to be evacuated due to a gas leak and where the "H" was I? Well I didn't cause the gas leak; I wasn't going to fix the gas leak; everyone got out safely; the building did not blow up and, I do believe the Mayor had plenty of folks around to hold his proverbial hand so there you go. As I relayed pieces of that to the boss (not literally of course) the fury was instanteous while understanding and sense of humor nil. Going to MIOSHA was rather an occupational break as I was not on call 24/7 as I had been for 25 years and when a mess was discovered I got to point fingers and leave. LOL.
Conference headquarters was inundated with folks having problems trying to log in because (the digital company should have known this) most large companies (and small) and government have elaborate firewalls, VPNs (Virtual pin numbers), virtual guys with gun and shields, etc., trying to keep the bad dudes out. However it was also keeping conference goers off the site, nor were they receiving all the elaborate instructions being sent out constantly by Headquarters. Some resorted to using their own personal computers to gain access which led to their dilemma of having the work 'puter messages dinging at the same time as the conference. Hard to focus that way.
I made a point to visit all the exhibitors as did my Executive Board, where we either engaged with computer audio and visual or left a message on their CHAT. That part was easier as there were only 55 booths compared to the 400 we have at a live event. One gentleman promoted a BYOB "virtual cocktail" hour both days. Hilarious as we "attendees" held up our various glasses of booze, wine, lemonade, whatever. I got major kudos for the spiffy pilsner glass I displayed along with some Killians.
Some thoughts from Tuesday sessions. "I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but I rub against some really good ones". "Safety pros spend too much time focusing on injury and illness rates (after the fact) rather than assessing risk/severity which is the only true measurement." (i.e., the plane crash may be rare but exceedingly serious-no shitski) "There is not straight line between action and accident." (mine) "Results of not assessing risk costs people, equipment and processes in magement speak." Love this one - "think of employees as a carbon based machine when addressing ergonomics".
WEDNESDAY: Thoughts from today's conference. "There is no such thing as a trade secret in Safety". "Millenials are more apt to get real and believe loyalty does not pay off thus taking advantage of opportunities" (hence job hopping makes sense). A study from a few years ago with Michigan State U discovered that the most contributory factors in car crashes include looking for an object, passengers in the car and cell phones, in that order. I asked if they accounted for alcohol and drugs as contributing factors. The response was they extrapolated for alcohol (well-known stats), but drugs not so much. I need to send him my paper on Mary Jane and driving.
Also in the driving distractions program the speaker and myself were having a virtual chat about the program and why it wasn't starting remotely as scheduled. I got the media company and headquarters involved before I was informed we were 15 minutes early. OOPS. Said program began on time. However that wasn't the last of it. As we're listening to his pre-recorded talk his dogs start barking in the background. He apologizes in CHAT. Then, again in the recording, he fumbles putting up a slide and in the course of fixing it he very quietly says "oh J---- C----." Major OOPs. Of course he is mortified in CHAT and immediately apologizes for any offense saying "I thought I edited that out". He was forgiven, as he could have been praying for assistance we assumed when the moderator wrote in CHAT "well you just made that the most interesting presentation of the morning" Ah well. I immediately signed the presenter up to do a podcast with me.
Another session was on verbal diffusion by a well-known speaker (in our world) about recognizing signs of impending mayhem and mitigating or escaping said situation. We often fail to recognize when we are in danger. Dr. Wolf explained our internal alarm bell this way; "birds and animals don't stop and ask if they will look stupid or misinterpret circumstances, they just boogie".
Virtual cocktail party tonight had more attendees and I sported Oberon this time. We dissected the conference of course, but it was a mostly positive discussion. As some of the folks travel for work they were explaining the challenges of covid rules in Mexico, Canada and Europe. Based on a comment about hedges on the Canada side I contributed the "bon mot" of the evening by stating "so we have an iron fence along the Mexican border but only a hedge of bushes for Canada?" LOL
THURSDAY: Heard a news report about the alarming number of teachers retiring, quitting or just getting the Hades out of Dodge. Can we blame them? They have been offered as cannon fodder during Days of Pandemic by parents and administrators alike, yet they are not first in line for the vaccination nor have schools actually installed the needed ventilation required to keep an airborne respiratory virus away from people. Maybe if people were educated... by teachers... they would understand that.
The shooting of another young black man makes me ponder the gist of most westerns and/or cop shows. No matter what, they merely depict the frustration of law enforcement if the alleged criminal walks, runs, dodges or whatever. They DO NOT shoot them to death. We want to believe heroes always take the high road but that is not the case in real life apparently. How many stories with the good guy dropping his/her gun, backing off on a point blank shot, letting the criminal walk rather than harm another or kill in cold blood. "If they would just cooperate or follow orders" doesn't mean you get to DIE. The video of the soldier in Virginia, in uniform, being harassed, pepper sprayed, cuffed and threatened as he calmly asks for clarification is chilling. If the police want to play "war games" they should be trained like soldiers who do not indiscriminately shoot on a whim, but must show justification.
FRIDAY: Another day, another mass shooting. I don't know what we say anymore but we have to deal with it. He at least kindly saved us another trial by commiting suicide. Cruel, I know, but I have to wonder why he didn't start there. Hate and frustration are at epidemic proportions but mental health treatment in this country is abysmal. In Michigan, under the "great" Engler they decided they could save a lot of money not maintaining institutions, doctors, psychiatrists, other employees by closing the mental health hospitals and introducing Community Mental Health clinics. (Although a major number of these folks are in prisons). Quick note to better brains than mine, but did you really think a person with mental illness or drug and alcohol addiction is going to make an appointment and show up for his/her drugs and treatment. Right.
On a happier, though that's debatable note, I had another encounter with Xfinity's chat line. My assigned representative (yes I've figured out the live person code word) was Danmark I kid you not; which is your first clue that just maybe they are not used to American names. Then he spends the first long missive asking how I am, how is my day going, are my loved ones doing well in the pandemic. Argghhh. After much wasted time spent in misunderstanding my questions as he is 3 messages behind all the time and the fact that he was trying to sell me a phone I gave up on trying to get a straight answer. I said have a nice day and disengaged. Well darned if good old Comcast didn't call me back immediately and we completed our entire business in 3 minutes. What is the procedure of getting to a live person and actually conducting our business? I am slowly learning the secrets. Heh Heh Heh.....
SATURDAY: Well it's finally come out that "he who shall not be named" campaign COLLUDED with Russia. So much for the fake and massive witch hunt. The go-between Manafort went to prison and got pardoned -big surprise as a reward for not throwing the big guy under the bus. Info handed over to a Russian agent included strategic plans of the campaign and information on voters, American voters in specific areas, just think about that. If that doesn't make one cringe, you're living in unicorn/rainbow land. However, where is the media coverage on this - I mean Major Coverage. This is scary stuff and is only going to get worse if no one is held accountable including the orange man. I had assumed, no hoped, that the non-partisan DOJ would finally review and release the whole Mueller non-redacted report, but maybe they're afraid of setting a precedent of prosecuting former Presidents. I believe there is no statute of limitations on a traitor. However that is an interesting thought. Should a President be held accountable for every illegal action during their administration? Did they make the decisions or are they privy (before or after) of illegal acts in the defense of the country, etc. Though 45's actions before, during and after his term go beyond anything ever seen before. Need to play this hand, but carefully.
Love this line I heard today "he's such a cockroach, who wouldn't want to step on him?" Seems apropos.
Fun story. The younger contingency (daughter and son-in-law) are gleefully putting together the playlist for the wedding next month and were requesting input. The OH immediately said "Patty Duke" to which I said "just ignore your father". I said to satisfy the oldsters we definitely need "We are Family", "Dancing Queen" and anything by Bon Jovi. Anyone who has attended our parties understands the list as we are known to "perform" these particular classics. I also added "Lady Like", "Speechless", "Uptown Funk" and "Opportunities" (I don't know why I dig that song even though I've read the lyrics). The B&G have requested country and polkas, so the musicale will be eclectic that's for sure. Son-in-law and I are debating Etta James's "At Last" for the procession into the wedding. Oh come on. It's a pretty song.
SUNDAY: Enjoy the sun. Rumor hath it that snow up to 4 inches may be just over that sunny horizon. What would Michigan be without an April snow storm? Tennessee. Which reminds me of a family member living there that is a combination of Calamity Jane and Joe Btfsplk from L'il Abner with the rain cloud over his head all the time. Every post contains a personal disaster. It's like they stalk problems and then are surprised when they successfully land them.
As a safety director I don't like to say some people are accident prone or clueless....but I had some challenges that were just one cliff-hanging moment away from a total catastrophe. The forestry worker who almost cut off his own leg while cutting "uphill" with a chain saw; the welder who managed to mismatch an air tool with an abrasive wheel and took out his own eye; the acrobats who would light off the boilers by running into the 20 foot tunnels with a six foot igniter as well as leaping from train car to train car taking coal samples (because it's faster); the genius who saw the propane line to the tank trailer start to ignite, told someone?? and punched out for the night leading to a rather spectacular fire; the question from a supervisor of why they can't run a gas-powered generator inside; insistence by more than a few that the rules did not apply to them or protection was for the other guy. Ah well. Sounds like my working life was a series of long boring lulls punctuated by moments of sheer mayhem and terror. Pretty much. I guess my personal motto from those days "often surprised, rarely duplicated..."
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