[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

1854.0. "How to get plaque to the right person?" by TIGEMS::ARNOLD (Walk softly, carry a megawatt laser) Thu Apr 16 1992 12:35

    In interoffice mail today, I received a beautiful plaque, given for my
    "outstanding accomplishments in AI", etc, etc.  No note enclosed, no
    return address, just the plaque.
    
    Problem: even though it was addressed to "me", it's not mine.  I
    believe it was meant for "John Arnold" (who I understand recently got
    TSFO'd or something?), not "Jon Arnold".  We didn't even work in the
    same facility, city, or state -- don't you think the senders of this
    thing would want to ensure that it got to the right person??
    
    Checked with my Personnel rep -- nothing they can do, no suggestions to
    offer.  Suggestions as to how to get this thing to the right person? 
    (Even though it would look great in my office, if I just put some
    masking tape over that extra "H".....)
    
    Jon
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1854.1ICS::CROUCHJim Crouch 223-1372Thu Apr 16 1992 12:415
    No solution but this sure is another indication of what is wrong
    with DEC. If we can't do this right....
    
    Jim C.
    
1854.2MSBCS::CONNELLI _really_ need my pants today...Thu Apr 16 1992 13:099
1854.316BITS::DELBALSOI (spade) my (dog face)Thu Apr 16 1992 14:076
re: .0

I believe I may start a folder on such occurrences. They're almost starting
to become humorous.

-Jack
1854.4HOO78C::ANDERSONIt's Hallmark's `buy a card' day!Thu Apr 16 1992 14:193
    You could also change the spelling of your name to John.

    Jamie.
1854.5sometimes I wonder whose job I'm doing :-)CVG::THOMPSONDCU Board of Directors CandidateThu Apr 16 1992 14:237
	I remember getting an International Air Travel card made out to 
	A Thompson a few years ago. It took me a while to find the right
	person but I did. One would have thought that they'd be more careful
	with things like that that mean money. But if things like that get
	messed up it's not so surprising that things like plaques do as well.

			Alfred
1854.6"What's a few letters here & there?"NEMAIL::GLASSThu Apr 16 1992 14:389
    Hi,
    Sounds like it went through my favorite service organization, the U.S.
    Postal Service.
    If it did, they would say "Well it is for Jon even though someone added
    another letter". 
    They recently sent me a personal letter to the SHR facility.  Makes
    sense!  I live in Shrewsbury and Digital has a facility there(don't ask
    how they connected me to DEC!).
    
1854.8MANTHN::EDDReal programs in DCL? .NOT.!Thu Apr 16 1992 16:025
    If the intended John Arnold is the one who recently left DEC in
    Cambridge for a position with another company I can provide you
    with his Internet address,,,
    
    Edd
1854.9COMICS::BELLHear the softly spoken magic spellThu Apr 16 1992 17:129
  
  In these cost-cutting times, how is it that Digital can go and buy
  a "beautiful plaque" for someone's "outstanding accomplishments" in
  Artificial Insemination ?
  
  For that matter, how is it that the award wasn't given to our trusty
  set of VPs, as I hear that they're the biggest bunch of ... oh ...
  *that* AI ?  
  
1854.10SQM::MACDONALDThu Apr 16 1992 17:5712
    
    Re: .7
    
    > I know a guy here who received his 5 year(?) service award.
    > His name is Jim and the certificate read "Jum".  They told
    > him that he would not be able to get a corrected one.
    
    Please, tell me that you're joking.  This didn't really happen?
    
    Steve
    
    
1854.11Answer on Certificate ProblemICS::WALDRONThu Apr 16 1992 18:3510
    In my experience, they will correct mis-spelled certificates for you,
    but they will not put your nickname on it, unless this is how Digital
    Central Records has you listed.  
    
    You might want to tell your friend Jim/Jum to see his PSA, and they can
    do the correct paperwork for him and help him get a new certificate.
    
    HTH, 
    
    Tara
1854.12NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Thu Apr 16 1992 19:271
Or he could change his name to Jum.
1854.13Its true, folksCSLALL::HENDERSONIt's a big ol' goofy worldThu Apr 16 1992 20:5237


RE:                     <<< Note 1854.10 by SQM::MACDONALD >>>

    
   > Re: .7
    
   > > I know a guy here who received his 5 year(?) service award.
   > > His name is Jim and the certificate read "Jum".  They told
   > > him that he would not be able to get a corrected one.
    
   > Please, tell me that you're joking.  This didn't really happen?
    
    

   Well, I don't usually write in hear, but seeing Marv's note, and Steve's
   caused me to jump in...

   Yes it did really happen (the plaque is staring me in the face as I type)
   though the story is a bit different.  The award was for the group I 
   manage which received the organization's Outstanding Achievement and 
   Contribution Award for Q1.  By the time I got the plaque (with Jum as my
   first name) the manager who had nominated my group was on his way to 
   another job, and all the questions I asked about getting it fixed were 
   greeted with "I don't knows" and "Maybe purchasing can help" that I 
   decided to drop it.  More important to me that the people who work in 
   the group got *their* names spelled correctly.

   I look at it rather humorously now.




   Jum     
    

1854.14CSLALL::HENDERSONIt's a big ol' goofy worldThu Apr 16 1992 20:537

...and I usually don't spell "here" as "hear"



 Must be contagious
1854.15CREATV::QUODLINGKen, Me, and a cast of extras...Thu Apr 16 1992 21:467
    re .0
    
    That'll teach you to have a common surname. I never have this sort of
    problem...
    
    q
    
1854.16A commercial messageTIGEMS::ARNOLDWalk softly, carry a megawatt laserThu Apr 16 1992 23:375
    Not to disturb a rather entertaining rathole, but I contacted the
    fictitious John Arnold via internet (thanks Edd) and his plaque is now
    enroute to him.  Happy endings really do exist...sometimes...
    
    Jon
1854.17The hEAR of the Elephant.SANFAN::WHITEBIFri Apr 17 1992 04:046
    
    Re .14
    
    	Possibly our publicity is more effective than we think?
    
    					Bill
1854.18SQM::MACDONALDFri Apr 17 1992 18:2011
    
    Re: .13
    
    Thanks for the reply.  I'm really disappointed to hear that something
    like this really happened.  The mispelling itself pales next to the
    attitude that your wish to have your name spelled correctly isn't
    important enough to honor.  I hope our customers don't have
    experiences like this.
    
    Steve
    
1854.19CSLALL::HENDERSONIt's a big ol' goofy worldFri Apr 17 1992 20:0113
 Re -1

  I should also add that the individual who nominated my group was the most 
  supportive I have experienced since being in the group I'm in.  The group
  received more recognition, support (technologically and other) than it ever
  had..which is one of the reasons I don't take the misspelling all that 
  seriously.




 Jum
1854.20NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Mon Apr 20 1992 14:423
Jum:

I see you took my advice.
1854.21CSLALL::HENDERSONIt's a big ol' goofy worldMon Apr 20 1992 17:1518

RE:  <<< Note 1854.20 by NOTIME::SACKS "Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085" >>>

>Jum:

>I see you took my advice.



 Well, on the day I got the plaque folks started calling me that, so it sort
of stuck I guess.  And I'm sure it will be easier to change my birth certificate
and other related documents to my new name, than to get the plaque changed to
my real name :^)



Jum
1854.22HOO78C::ANDERSONGone? Strip search the kittens!Tue Apr 21 1992 09:246
    Well I got a survey about some software that I was supposed to have
    been using. Alas there is more that one Anderson working for the
    corporation. The one in question works in the USA, not Europe and has
    an initial of G not J. Still you can't have everything.

    Jamie.
1854.23He wasn't TFSOd or somethingGUESS::GOLDMANTue Apr 21 1992 13:499
    re: 0 "who I understand recently got TFSO'd or something"
    
    John Arnold left DEC of his own volition to work for another 
    computer company.  He was definitely not "TFSOd or something."
    I know he appreciates your efforts in locating him so he can
    receive his plaque.  I'm certain he'd also appreciate this
    clarification of the circumstances under which he left.
    
    E.
1854.24SMEGIT::ARNOLDWalk softly, carry a megawatt laserWed Apr 22 1992 00:2411
    re .23
    
    Sorry, no offense was intended by the comment "TFSO'd or something",
    hopefully no offense was taken.  Although I never met him, spoke to him
    on the phone but once, and don't even know what projects he was working
    on, I certainly wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors. 
    There's a lot of this TFSO disease going around these days, but I guess
    it goes to show that one shouldn't make false assumptions.
    
    Humbly,
    Jon
1854.25TFSO shouldn't be negative.DCC::HAGARTYEssen, Trinken und Shaggen...Wed Apr 22 1992 07:5410
1854.26no shame in TFSOUSCTR1::JHERNBERGThu Apr 23 1992 19:4016
    
    -.1
    
    	HEAR, HEAR, to that response.  No rathole intended but it's a 
    	REAL shame when the many good people who have been TFSO'd for
    	other than performance issues are made to feel or feel ashamed.
    
    	I know of someone who's entire group ceased to speak with him
    	after he was told to find another job or he would be TFSO'd.
    	In speaking to some of the group members I found out they were
    	embarressed and just glad it was him, not them.  Whatever, it
    	reinforced the feeling of self-responbility and shame.
    
    	Again...sorry for the rathole.