Busy dedication
Communication
This has happened twice, and I didn’t like it the first time either
This has happened twice, and I didn’t like it the first time either.
Several years ago, toward the end of a lunch period, there was a threat called into the school that resulted in the entire 1500 student/staff population’s immediate exit from the building. We were instructed to go to the football stadium. It was a bright, sunny day and we sat in the stadium until dismissal, about two hours later.
It was a mess as parents started coming to pick up students, but all the computer equipment with identification and information on students/parents was in the vacated building. A lot was learned for future.
I’m bald. I have a collection of hats I used for outside rehearsals. I didn’t have a hat for this event and my head burned moderately significantly. It went from embarrassingly red to sore and finally to flaking. I wasn’t happy about any of it. I posted on my personal social media site, something like this:
When they find out who did this, I hope they affix that person to the flag pole in the front yard and give us all an opportunity to walk by and expressure our displeasure.
The next day I was called to an admin office where I was mildly scolded with,
We all feel like what you said — but you can’t say that.
He was right. I deleted my post and that was the end of it…..except for wondering who saw fit to copy my post and take it to the office. Was it a teacher? I don’t know for sure, but I wasn’t happy about who it was, and glad I never found out.
Then, this week…
…I get a letter from the City
“It was recently brought to the department’s attention that you upgraded your electrical panelboard without first obtaining an electrical permit.”
When we hired a contractor to install a new HVAC system, he reported that he had trouble getting our 1950’s vintage “pushmatic” breaker box to engage and recommended we consider replacing it. I brushed it off as an “upsell”, but two days later, our neighbor’s house was completely totalled (on the inside) when their breaker box malfunctioned.
I immediately contacted my HVAC contractor to ask him to go ahead and replace my breaker box. He sent an electrician. I was happy with the results and posted them.
I want to do the right thing. I worked with my contractor, the city, the city’s inspector and another contractor to make everything legal, correct and safe with the City.
My frustration….
…is with people who need to “turn me in” instead of communicating with me directly.
Rant over.
This has happened twice, and I didn’t like it the first time either Read More »
Throw Back Thursday
This is David’s entrance from his hs production of The Wiz. Once he gets fully lubricated, he adds choreography (his own) to the song. Video is under 4 minutes. Enjoy.
Throw Back Thursday Read More »
10 Tips for Business and Education Professionals
By John Gardner
Social Media post
“I’m fairly certain that you’re the only high school band director in this part of the state that actually responds to e-mails from the public.”
Response
Thanks. I try to respond to most emails quickly. Comes from decades in the BUSINESS world. No matter what business you are in, including the business of education, answering email is basic courtesy-101.
From a business perspective
As a business owner, I am generally responding to a variety of email
– VENDORS. (Educational equivalent = Administrators). You NEED vendors and their cooperation and quick responses can ensure that you continue to get the products, services and support needed. A vendor can cut you off (fire you) and force you to look elsewhere for an opportunity to generate income.
– CUSTOMERS. (Educational equivalent = Students/Parents). You NEED customers to survive in business. An unhappy customer takes his/her business elsewhere. A disgruntled student gossips or quits band. A Parent withdraws support, pulls the child out of the program or contacts an administrator to complain.
– BUSINESS OWNERS. (Educational equivalent = Band Directors). Sometimes businesses who compete can also collaborate. For example, in the fundraising business, I will respond to a request from a competitor who needs some brochures that the vendor is temporarily out of, but I have on hand. And then, when one of my vendors is backordered on a product, I will ask a competitor if I can purchase some of their stock. A Band Director should always respond quickly to another Band Director.
QUICK & EASY EMAIL TIPS
…
10 Tips for Business and Education Professionals Read More »
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
With all the current controversy in women’s sports (which I have been posting about…..), this showcases that in music, it is not about male vs female, it is about excellence. This girl is incredible with the number of different instruments/parts she is playing. and the tune…. well, you’ll get it. (Kudos to my son for sharing this video).
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Read More »
You can’t say that
Accounts of recent separations of news personalities from their employers remind me of a time my boss told me,
“You can’t say that.”
Years ago, on a hot sunny mid-day, our high school was evacuated over a threat. One of my thoughts at the time was wondering what was going through the minds of those stopped in traffic as 1500+ students, teachers, and staff crossed the state highway en masse. After accounting for all the students who left class, we sat in the football stadium bleachers until the end of the school day when busses and parents picked up students from the stadium rather than the high school. The congestion and confusion on that side street was significant.
The afternoon was especially stressful to those who had to work through the safety protocols to ensure students left only with a legal guardian. How do you call the school when the school is evacuated? How and to whom are calls forwarded? And what about student records with parent/guardian names and information in an area without computers and connections? How do they sign out from a remote location? Parents were frustrated as everyone was trying to do the right thing in a setting we had never before experienced. I should note that the communication and information issues of that day were addressed.
My uncovered bald head was significantly sunburned in those nearly three hours. By the time I got home, my head hurt and I was angry, especially after learning all that was the result of one student’s prank. I made an ill-advised comment on personal social media that punishment should include affixing the offender to the schoolyard flag pole and allowing all who spent those 2-3 hours in the stadium sun file by to express thoughts of the experience.
I should not have said that and I deleted the post, but not before someone shared it with the building boss, who called me to his office the next day. With a copy of my post in his hand, he not-quite laughingly said that, although he might feel the same way, “you can’t say that”.
I wasn’t fired.
You can’t say that Read More »
Virginia Beach Music Festival and the 3rd Floor Balcony
The Virginia Beach Music Festival was a multi-day event that included competitions in Marching, Concert, Parade, Jazz, and Inspection.
Normally a band year has multiple seasons. Summer and Fall are mostly Marching Band. Some competitions included an inspection element, which included standing at attention for about 15 minutes while someone went through with white gloves and inspected selected instruments and uniforms. Marching season transitions into Concert Band — and Jazz Band starts up. Late Spring and early Summer is parade season.
To prepare for Virginia Beach, all that had to be going on simultaneously.
During school, the concert band would rehearse. Jazz Band was after school and evenings were a combination of marching, parade and inspection practice.
The campus had a long driveway that we used, but would often go through a couple of the neighborhood blocks. Inspections involved Copenhaver’s paddle. We would stand at attention and he would walk in front of us, stopping to stare and to grab and check instruments. If anything was wrong, he’d say, “That’s one”, which meant he would get you with the paddle when he got behind you, which could be several minutes later. And if you moved when he whacked you, guess what. Right. I never got the paddle.
The first time Holmes participated in 1969, (my Freshman year) Holmes was Grand Champion. We returned in 1970 as “Honor Band” for the event.
Director Copenhaver was from Virginia and our two Greyhound busses stoped at a park near his hometown for a community-provided picnic. I remember one of the busses got stuck crossing a small creek.
Two memorable events at the hotel we used. First, was one evening during the week when Mr. Copenhaver was in the parking lot and looked up at many of us on the balconies and said,
“They know we’re here.”
Other than when actually winning an event, it was the happiest I recall him looking and sounding.
The other was an evening when a group of seniors came knocking on our door. I was in a room with three other freshmen boys. They were there for “initiation”, which normally included some combination of ice down the underwear with shaving cream there and everywhere else — and then locked out of the room.
The four of us (I think we all four), went over the balcony. The floors were close enough together that we could go from floor to floor…. Until we could jump to the ground.
I can’t believe I did that.
But I never experienced “initiation”. And I never did that to anyone else.
Virginia Beach Music Festival and the 3rd Floor Balcony Read More »
Time for some Friend List Spring Cleaning
I can handle civil disagreement, especially when it is something I said. If you think I’m wrong, tell me. That’s what friends do. If you think I went too far, tell me. I can (and did – just a couple days ago) apologize and edit or delete something I said that caused unintended ill will. We can still be friends.There are people I like, respect, admire (even love) … who have different views than I do in religion, politics, socially, even gender and sexual preference areas. I can still be your friend. Can you still be mine?
You can even be sarcastic in disagreeing with me, but know that I am a sarcasm master and not afraid to use it.
But there are some extremes that cross lines I cannot accept. If you want to be my friend, be careful with labels and name-calling, especially toward ME on MY page. And be careful liking (or even loving) hurtful, attacking name-calling comments.
I seldom look at my FB Friend List in years, but it has become necessary — so I’ve done some Spring Cleaning. Along the way I found:
* Deleted accounts still on my list.
* No communication in years (decades even).
* People I can’t remember at all. Probably my fault.
* Multiple accounts. One friend had 5 and I was friends with two of him.
* One of my brothers has two accounts…..double-friended.
* Hatefully anti-Christian…(I can handle friendly disagreement) and am friends with non-Christians…. I won’t attack you personally and I cannot allow you to attack my most core beliefs.
* Hatefully Political. NO politician (or political party) is as perfect as Jesus, evil as Hitler, right OR wrong 100% of the time.
Don’t worry. If you see this post, you’re still good in my book. And if you don’t see it (perhaps someone tells you), don’t ASSUME because FB doesn’t automatically show everything to everybody — even your friends.
Time for some Friend List Spring Cleaning Read More »
Domain decisions
Domain decisions.
When it is time to renew your domain name, you might want to research options to get a better price.
I’ve experienced enough that I can see a pattern.
One of my clients, huntingtonbaptist.org, had a domain renewal coming due at and the price was going to be over $37. I contacted my current hosting provider and their price for every year, was under $17. So, I contacted the domain registrar and started the process to transfer the domain, which required gaining access to the client’s account. And THAT required updating some information and THAT required sending in utility bills, a photo id and more…. Okay, access gained. I started the process to unlock the domain and request an authorization code.
THEN….I get an offer to renew the domain for 1 year for $10. DONE!
Having learned that, when I got notice from that one of MY domains (virtualmusicoffice.com), that cost me $38.xx last year was up for renewal, I started the process to transfer. Suddenly my price drops to under $16.
“Burn me once…..”
So I continued the process to unlock, get auth code and start transfer process to my $17/yr host. DONE!
While I was in the transfer mood, I went to the registrar for qdpcorp.com and went ahead and transferred it to my current host.
Conclusion / Recommendations:
- Service providers involved included: Tucows, Network Solutions, Hostcentric, Register, and iPage.
- The initial price is only for those who auto renew. The LOWER price is for those who might leave.
- If you have a domain up for renewal, instead of automatically renewing, call to START the process to transfer it to get the super-duper 1-year-only discount price. [Then be sure to do that again next year].If you don’t know how to do that, proceed to step #2.
- HIRE ME!
ps If you don’t know the underlined/italicized terms above;
domain registrar
transfer the domain
unlock the domain
authorization code
then….
I complimented her smile and stepped into creepy
I complimented her smile and stepped into creepy and wokeness.
As a [former] teacher of teens, I understand the careful lines teachers (and students) should observe, especially in the area of commenting on how someone looks. When I was a new teacher and only 3-4 years older than some of the students in my classes, that was even more sensitive. Less so in my last 16yr stint prior to retirement. I have used, what I always intended to be harmless but effective compliments when I would talk about someone’s “smile”. There are many of my former students who could tell you I’ve complimented or commented in that way. No one, not a single student or any parent has ever, EVER said they felt something I had said to or about them or their student was inappropriate or unprofessional.
I did cause a mild murmur in a concert audience once when I said,
“Parents, I want you to know that I love, admire and respect your students.”
That came up in a subsequent admin evaluation, but nothing was written down and the only caution was to, “be careful”.
I have multiple writings about those topics. Here are two:
Is it ever okay for a teacher to LOVE students?
10 ways to earn students’ respect and trust
…but that is not the focus of THIS post.
I was moved by the above video. Such a brave girl to escape under threat of death from North Korea. I was angered that there were some students who bullied her because of her speech difficulties (she came here knowing almost zero English). But then, also warmed and encouraged by the way she described most American friends have reacted to and accepted her.
I posted a comment:
Note that there were over 400 thumbs up and zero thumbs down. Also note the heart/love from the video create. So, SHE certainly understood my compliment and was not offended by it.
There were mainly two types of negative replies:
“Looks like we found a creeper in the comments.” (4 likes)
“It’s creepy. Sorry, but it is. You can think it but writing it is weird.” (2 likes)
But there were many more defenders than attackers. I did learn what OP means. Haha….and that I am one.
I asked my Facebook friends to tell me what they thought and said in advance I would use what they said:
[Spouse] used to greet people with hello beautiful! at the [business]. Some ladies were so surprised and acted like no one had ever said that to them before and every lady should hear she’s beautiful! Let’s normalize being nice and paying compliments.Not creepy at all.
I say it’s a sad state of affairs when an innocent comment like that is considered offensive. I mean you didn’t ask her to friend request her!It’s not like you asked her out on a date or what her measurements are. Sometimes people need to chill and this is one of those times.I’ve been in similar boats. I’ve learned to never comment on physical appearance unless asked or I have a close relationship with them. I instead comment on non physical things. Like personality or voice ot whatever. Creepy vs sweet is all about perception. It has nothing to do with intent. Some people read it as some “old” guy being creepy and some thought it was sweet. I think how we perceive that is often based on our own experiences. Because of that, I work harder to be aware of what people may find creepy and just avoid it. Especially in the current social climate.
I complimented her smile and stepped into creepy Read More »