Conference taveng::bagels

    Cripes, this event also!
    
    David

    The following answers some questions for those in SWS and SWAS.
    
    
    
    
          <<< SHALOT::USR$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EXCELLENCE_AWARDS.NOTE;1 >>>
                    -< Software Services Excellence Awards >-
================================================================================
Note 32.1                        Rabbi on Cruise                          1 of 3
BUFFER::FLEISCHMANN                                  23 lines  17-NOV-1988 14:10
                         -< correction/clarification >-
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    Excellence Award dates do not conflict with Yom Kippur, but do conflict
    with Rosh Hashanah (Sept.30[/Oct.1]).
    
    The following alternatives are available to those people for which
    this presents a problem.
    
    	1. If being on the ship during Rosh Hashanah is not a problem,
    but traveling after sundown on the 29th is, we will make the following
    arrangements:
    
    		A. There will be a Rabbi on board 9/30-10/2.
    
    		B. We will assist those wishing to arrive in Miami on
    		   9/29 before sundown, by helping with airline/hotel
    		   reservations. Cost of lodging/meals will be a personal
    		   expense to be paid by employee.
    
    	2. For those who wish to remain with their families and local
    synagogue for this holiday, We will arrange air transportation to
    meet the cruise in St. Thomas on 10/2.
    
    
    
    

    Unfortunately this goes on year after year.
    
    Year after year they schedule important things on Rosh Hashana.
    
    Year after year they schedule work arounds for the Jews to recover
    from the things they scheduled on Rosh Hashana.

    Year after year we get a memo from an Executive VP appologizing
    for accidentally scheduling these things on Rosh Hashana, promising
    that this will not happen year after year again.
    
    Which ever Jewish Bagel Reader gets to be an Executive VP first,
    please schedule important business meetings on Chistmas each year. 

    As usual, Digital has neglected it's own idea of "valuing differences".
    
    Not only have they scheduled this event on a Jewish Holiday, but
    on the most holy holiday that we as Jews observe.
    
    My manager just handed me a copy of the original memo that Tom
    Fleischmann originally sent out on 19-APR.  Per the memo, Excellence
    Awards must be held between Oct 1 - Nov 1.  Ok, that's fine, but
    Tom's addendum to those dates is "for a variety of reasons," which
    he never detailed.
    
    He goes on to say that "We must insure no other major Digital events
    is concurrent with the program and we must find free space on the
    calendars of desirable hotels in desirable locations (we seldom
    get our first choice even when we book 3 years out)."  He continues
    later with "The event was originally scheduled for later in the
    month but due to unforeseen circumstances, had to be rescheduled.
    At that time our options were severely limited and required that
    we schedule the cruise for the current dates."

    Does this mean that a volume of over 1000 persons for a week doesn't
    make a dent in the plans of any hotel/ship/locale we may contact.
    
    My personal opinion is that DEC doesn't care enough to send any
    of the best, US.  This has happened too often in the recent past
    to be tolerated.  Though not nearly as religious as I should/could
    be, The High Holidays are just that.  I spend that time in shul.
    I can not see me spending the first 2 days of the cruise (assuming
    I win...HA) in some makeshift shul on board.
    
    Mark

    Unfortunately, this has gone on too often and, unfortunately will
    continue to go on.  It is easy to get hotels/boats/planes on those
    days because no other major corporation would schedule such large
    events on these days because they do not want to offend their Jewish
    employees.  It appears that DIGITAL is more concerned with the cost
    than with its employees!
   

    re .5: Slightly OTT, me thinks.

The Q.E. II has a permanent shul on board ship.

Now if DEC engages the "right" ship...

Dave

    I just took a look at the SHALOT::EXCELLENCE_AWARDS Notes and the only
    mention of this issue was the Tom Fleishman memo (posted in an earlier
    response to this base note) in response to a "isn't that on the Jewish
    holidays?" type of question.  I can't believe there were not any notes
    of protest, especially in view of last year's DECworld problem and the
    corporation's promise to be more sensitive in the future -- or was
    that promise restricted to DECworld?
    
    I'm filing my protest now, and I urge you to do it as well.
    
    /Ed 8^(

    With apologies to Tom Fleischmann (mispelled in note 689.8), my note of
    protest in the Excellence Awards conference.  Has anyone else spoken
    up?  I hope so.
    
    /Ed
    
          <<< SHALOT::USR$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EXCELLENCE_AWARDS.NOTE;1 >>>
                    -< Software Services Excellence Awards >-
================================================================================
Note 32.4                        Rabbi on Cruise                          4 of 4
HJUXB::ADLER "Ed Adler @UNX / UNXA::ADLER"           22 lines   2-MAY-1989 13:33
             -< Maybe there are protests elsewhere.  Here's mine. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Oh no! Not again!  I thought we were done with this after
          DECworld last year.  For Digital to schedule an important
          event during this holy time is an insult to Jews everywhere
          and a discredit to Digital's "Valuing Differences" program. 

          The "alternative" presented of having a Rabbi on board is
          insensitive to those who would observe these high holy days
          (not holidays) -- the period from Rosh Hashana through Yom
          Kippur is known as the "Ten Days of Repentance."  It doesn't
	  say much for the Rabbi, either.

          It has been speculated (in another conference) that the
          reason cruise ships, hotels, conference facilities, etc. are
          available during this time is precisely that most companies
          will not schedule such gatherings then, out of deference to
          their Jewish employees.  And that Digital, in an effort to
          control costs, contracts for these more readily available
          facilities at (presumably) lower rates than would be in
          effect at other times.  Given recent history, (DECworld,
	  DECathalon, SWS Excellence Awards), it makes one wonder.

	  /Ed

    Sigh.
    
    October is the *most* popular month for conventions, conferences,
    and things of that ilk.  Why doesn't Digital know this?  It's in
    every convention-running magazine there is.  Reserving space *only*
    three years out is a very risky business (even for dead times like
    February and Labor Day).  <Repeat second and third sentences.>
    
    							Ann B.

    I have an idea.  Instead of complaining about what Digital did in
    scheduling yet another event that conflicts with our holy days,
    why don't we notify those people who are responsible for scheduling
    major events as to the significance of the holy days, when they
    occur for the next five years and perhaps the name of a local
    knowledgeable contact that they could talk to if they have questions.
    
    Specifically, if anyone can provide me with the names of those to
    contact along with the dates of Rosh Hashonah, Yom Kippur and Pesach
    for the next 5 years as well as the name of a Rabbi in the greater
    Boston area, I would draft a letter containing that information
    and forward it to the appropriate people.
    
    In this way, instead of just "qvetching", we will have provided
    Digital management with the information needed so this shouldn't
    happen accidently again.
    
    If anyone can think of another way of distributing this information
    to the apporpriate management, those suggestions would be welcomed
    as well.
    
    Milt
    

    
    HERE ARE THE DATES:
    
    			1989	1990	 1991	 1992	   1993
    Rosh Hashana     9/30-10/1 9/20-21  9/9-10	9/28-29	   9/16-17

    Yom Kippur		10/9	9/29	 9/18	  10/7	    9/25

Regards,
    
    
Eli        
    

    re: .12  Thanks
    
    How about including Pesach since that can also cause problems?
    
    Anyone know who would be appropriate to inform?
    
    Milt
    

    HERE ARE THE DATES:
    
    			1989	1990	 1991	 1992	   1993
    Pesach      	 N/A   4/10-18  3/30-4/7 4/18-26   4/6-14         

    Rosh Hashana     9/30-10/1 9/20-21  9/9-10	9/28-29	   9/16-17

    Yom Kippur		10/9	9/29	 9/18	  10/7	    9/25

   The UOJCA publishes a leaflet listing Jewish holidays for the next 20 years
   or so.  It's aimed at educating businesses and schools regarding time off
   for holidays.

   UOJCA
   45 W. 36 St
   New York, NY 10018
   (212) 563-4000

The hdate/hcal computer programs could be used to generate a list
automatically.  The files are in the toolshed, or I could mail you
the sources.  (You may need to do minor surgury to make them work,
but the price is right.)

Martin.

    I have an IBM-PC program that does that.  It is also posted on CSCMAS::.

    How about suggestions of who to notify in Digital?
    

    How about sending the dates up through the ranks of Personnel with
    an explanation of the problem

    Better still, send your letter to Harvey Weiss, who sits on the
    Affirmative Action Board of Directors, and was involved with the
    DECworld problem.  Remember that the AABoD sponsors "Valuing
    Differences".

    How about both ways?  The more organizations who understand the
    issue, the easier it will be to address in the future.

	Attached - Tom Fleischmann's response from the EXCELLENCE_AWARDS
    conference.  It would be interesting to know just what the
    "unforseen and inalterable circumstances" were that led to
    the change in dates.
    
        <<< SHALOT::$1$DUA18:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EXCELLENCE_AWARDS.NOTE;1 >>>
                    -< Software Services Excellence Awards >-
================================================================================
Note 32.7                        Rabbi on Cruise                          7 of 7
EVENT::FLEISCHMANN                                   34 lines  23-MAY-1989 09:34
                               -< re:.-1,-2,-3 >-
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    re:32.4
    
    Contrary to 'speculation', the Jewish Holy days do not have an effect
    on the occupancy rates of the hotels, ships, and locations usually
    selected for events such as Excellence Awards. This class of hotel and
    location generally enjoys a 95-98% occupancy rate for the entire Sept-Oct
    time period. Digital, at least for the Excellence Awards, derives no benefit
    from scheduling during the Jewish Holy Day period. As has been
    previously stated, the event was originally scheduled for later in Oct.
    & during that scheduling the Jewish Holy Days were specifically
    avoided. Unforeseen and inalterable circumstances required the
    rescheduling of the event and our options were severely limited at the
    time. What has resulted is a very unfortunate circumstance which we are
    doing our best to make palatable.
    
    RE: 32.5
    
    Recognizing that for some, Rosh Hashanah is a time to spend with
    family, we are offering an option of flying into St. Thomas on Monday
    to meet the ship Tues. Morning.
    
    re: 32.6
    
    Thank you for providing the calendar of Jewish Holy days for the next
    few years. I assure you that we consider the occurrence of Holy days
    when scheduling Excellence Awards. As noted before scheduling of an
    event such as this is originally done 3 years out and even then we
    often don't get our first choice of dates. Our original schedule was
    later in Oct. When we have to reschedule 15-18 months out our choices
    are severely limited, as was the case this year. I assure you every
    effort will be made to avoid this in the future. 
    
    
                                             
    

    Well, at least DEC is consistent...
    
    The SWS Excellence awards for Europe and GIA are scheduled to begin
    on October 10. What this means is that they want everybody to travel
    on October 9 - just happens to be Yom Kippur.
    
    Mike