Got you with my title right? Though this might appear controversial, many times after a group meeting the "actual" movers and shakers end up meeting afterward to make decisions or discuss controversial topics to form consensus. I say that to preface the "afterglow" I attended at a local brewery after a big meeting last week. A member chairing one of our Divisions brought up some very interesting and much-needed changes to her division at the group meeting. A few folks, pooed pooed (technical term) her ideas without a proper hearing-not an uncommon happening.
Fortunately for the lady with the great ideas she was invited to our post-gathering where we listened to, discussed and supported her position and will push it through at the next meeting. It was only after I looked around at who was casually invited to our social hour that I realized this is pretty typical of groups to assure continuity and progress. This same group of folks also perform a lot of outside support, handle issues and provides business and monetary support. The dynamics of this sub-group changes as people retire or move on, but our central role is historical perspective and mentoring promising volunteers. All done subtly and with due respect to the rest of the group. We can get away with it also because we are pretty much all past presidents and mostly older established farts.
Anyway we were discussing changing the name of the Division to better reflect how we wanted to restructure it. One of the most frequent questions loss control folks (insurance) and MIOSHA gets is "I was just anointed the safety person. What do I have to do?" And we wonder why accidents and injuries continue in the workplace? Considering that from a professional standpoint we are degreed individuals who are required to interpret standards (like an attorney); create classes and train (like a teacher); understand mechanics and engineering to a point to be able to suggest improvements or changes to equipment; interpret fire codes and chemical impacts; investigate system failures that led to an injury or accident and be able to communicate accurately (like a journalist); the question is a tad insulting.
Consequently the thought is to create a Division that focuses classes in the fundamentals for newly "anointed" safety folks. As we debated names for the Division the hands down winner was "Safety Virgins"! Yeh. I don't think we could get that one to fly but I bet we would get a lot of attendees.
CHANGING GEARS After a few days of doctors and meetings I was able to corral the grandson for some lake time. He is quite the conversationalist and we had an entertaining drive over. He does ask some thought-provoking questions that require an answer geared to an 11 year-old's understanding without scarring him for life. It is a fine line. Like it was not really necessary to explain the evils of atomic war that Japan was trying to symbolize with all the Godzilla movies. Grandpa suggested I take another tack. There is a reason Mother dubbed me "Sheilabeast" as in if you don't want to know the gritty truth don't ask the shebeast.
Upon arrival Joe had a hook in the water before I unloaded the car. Finding no live bait he used some artificial stuff. He then stalked a giant bluegill near the dock that he landed within a couple of casts. He wanted to put it into a bucket to show the older fishermen when they came in. But then he noticed a bunch of little fish attacking what turned out to be a nest his catch had been protecting. Being Joe he forgot about bragging rights and immediately released what we determined was the Mama fish. An epic battle ensued as she fought valiantly to save her eggs from an early demise. In relaying the story later Joe mentioned he sometimes questions what he's putting the worms through when he fishes. Love that boy.
Joe kept me in the loop when he and Grandpa went to the beach or went out on the fishing boat. I never know the status with the OH as he hates cell phones, and refuses to text, so he always takes the portable house phone (wireless) when he goes to the lake for a few days. Though it was nice not to have all those robot calls coming in last week. With Joe there I could keep track of the two of them as he would handle communications and fix Grandpa's phone when he got stuck.
PROGRESS? Our generation had a major learning curve with technology; our children had one foot in each world and the grandchildren know no other world. Just as my Grandmother lived from the dawn of flight through landing a man on the moon. Of course progress does not exist if you are a life time member of the Supremies who merrily pass and destroy laws based on 18th century thinking. I suppose they'd say it all went to hell when women got the vote....Peace out 💚 💙💛
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