Construction and Continuity Update as of February 15, 2016

Change is happening all around VPR these days, from the transformation of the construction project, to the studios we are broadcasting from, to the conversations we are having around the building. There's something for everyone to get excited about. With that understanding, this week's blog kicks off with a change in the moving timeline!

Expected Move Period <-- Change!

We've been working with a plan that we would execute the interim move of getting everybody into the new construction during the period of March 15 - March 31. But we got some information last week from the construction team that made us reconsider those dates. To allow more time to work on the new kitchen, cafe and main lobby area, we are now working with a modified plan to execute the interim move during the period of March 15 - April 15th.

That gives an extra two weeks before we are occupying the new space, and probably means that the bulk of teams moving will not start until the week of March 21st. It was the general consensus on the Continuity Group that this new timeline makes a lot of sense and had the added bonus of lending a sense of relief to many who are cramming right now to get it all done on a tight timeline. As always, if you have any concerns about this change, please raise those with anybody on the Continuity Group so that we can address them right away.

See below for a graphic that shows our transition - WE are the pink - if you see pink, that means we have those parts of the building for the period shown.

 

You Asked Last Week

Q: Will people be moving their desk items personally or do they have to be boxed up for a mover?
A: We are generally expecting that most people will be carrying their desk items to their new desk. VPR is providing boxes (you can get them now outside of Robin and Brian D.'s office) to put your desk items into so that you can carry the box to your new desk. If you'd rather use a bag, feel free! There will also be carts and dollies available, as well. Also, as you're deciding what goes in the box (or bag) that you're taking, keep in mind that you will have a couple of days at least to be in your new desk area and decide if you want to go back to your old desk and take something you left behind.

Here is important information about moving your computer:
If you feel comfortable moving your computer and its accessories to your new desk, please do - that would help out tremendously. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, please let your manager know ASAP so that we can coordinate the necessary IT efforts early instead of on the fly. For people who don't feel comfortable moving their computers, we will have a staff person do that for you. People who have a laptop generally feel more comfortable than those who have a desktop. We are currently working to figure out an efficient process for getting everybody's monitors installed on the monitor arms that come with our new desks. General (not individual) instructions for setting up at your new desk will be provided closer to your move day - we have Move Coordinators to help with this!

Q: If I have back issues or other comfort concerns with the new chairs, will I be allowed to keep my current chair?
A: While we do want to ensure that the new facility is visually appealing, we will definitely work with folks who have a strong preference to keep their existing chair.

Q: Will there be a more visually appealing recycle container?
A: Yes.

Tech Tip of the Week

This week's topic is our ticket system. As we transition into the new building it is essential that we use the ticket system for key support services (e.g. network/engineering, facilities, digital, etc.).

If you have never heard of the ticket system, or if you'd like some closer training, please self-identify with a comment on the post below (or just let your manager know you need training).

Either way, here are some valuable pointers and quick facts about how it works. 

• CREATE A TICKET:
• Create a ticket by sending your email to one of the emails in the VPR Hot List and send to that email only, do not cc or bcc anyone else.
• A few moments after sending your ticket you will get an email back from the ticket system. Look for it and hold on to it, it's your passport back into your ticket.
• The Subject of that email you send is very important. When you create a ticket it's automatically assigned a Number and a Title.
• The subject line of the email you send becomes the Title of your ticket, so please make sure it makes sense to the recipient. For example, sending a ticket to digital with the subject "Audio not uploading to Post in Core Publisher" is better than "Please help!" or "Core Publisher problem"
• CONFIRMATION
• Right after submitting a ticket you'll receive an auto-confirmation email reply.
• In the subject of that confirmation email you'll see your ticket Number together with your ticket Title. For example "[vpr.net 12345] Audio not uploading to Post in Core Publisher". 
• Again, this is your passport back to your ticket, don't delete it.
• UPDATE YOUR TICKET, DON'T CREATE A NEW ONE:
• The team receiving your ticket will reply back to you via the tickets: they will come through as emails from the ticket system with the subject "[vpr.net 12345] Audio not uploading to Post in Core Publisher"
• If you want to update your ticket just pop open any of the emails from your ticket, click reply, type your reply, add attachments and send. Do not change the subject line of the email. 
• Again, Do Not Change the subject line of your confirmation email when replying back to the system. It's the contents of that subject line (specifically the [vpr.net 12345]) that connects your reply to your ticket. If you change the subject, you're likely to start a new separate ticket.
• FOLLOW UP
• The team that owns your ticket should reply with you until it's confirmed and closed.
• Don't forget, we're all people. The ticket system helps manage the requests, but if it's easier to discuss in person, send the ticket then follow up with humans.
• In most cases the ticket system is the easiest way for you to request support, and it's the easiest way for the support team to manage those requests. In an emergency, e.g. we're off the air, send the ticket but then follow up with colleagues on The Hot List.

For more (and very important) information on how to use our ticket system please check out the Clearspace page about it here (note this link is only available for VPR staff). Again, if you need more support, please say the word.

Shared Spaces Are Now Clear of Your Personal Items

ICYMI: If you have any personal items in any shared space (kitchen, bathroom, lobby, etc.), you should have collected it back to your possession by now. 

If you haven't done so, the kind souls who have signed up to pack and purge those areas can exercise their judgment and purge your things (into a garbage bin). So, if it's yours and you care about it enough to keep it, please go get it today.

The Trailer Really Is Coming

We are in a period right now where our meeting trailer hasn't yet arrived, and Vermont Edition is broadcasting out of the Performance Studio. Hang in there, this period is going to be over soon! To keep you (and me) in a state of anticipation, you can now book "The Trailer" as a space for your future meetings in Zimbra. Also, there is a good portion of the Performance Studio that is usable for smaller meetings, during hours that VTED is not using the room. We are closing in on a definite date for the trailer to be here and ready soon, and that will be announced via all-staff email.

Candy, Chips & Soda

As of Monday the vending machines are offline until we can get them moved into a safe and operational space that isn't in the way of the work being done in Master Control and Talk Studio. We're expecting that will be about a week. Stay strong!

Your Fun Visual for the Week

You can download an MP4 time-lapse video of our new building by clicking this link (note it is a 20+MB download): https://sites.google.com/site/radiotvjoe/Home/test%202-9-2016%20small.mp4?attredirects=0&d=1