Continuity Update for May 16

All in all, it's just another....

The construction crew will be jackhammering through the brick wall between the cafe and the studio hallway this week! This is a moment we've all been curious about for a long time, ever since they first cut the brick many months ago.

And the 'moment' may last three days:

Timing:  9:06-11:30 a.m. and 1:06-3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Noise level:  high
Disruption likelihood:  high
Tickets:  free admission, standing room only
Snacks:  BYOPopcorn

Other construction news:

Demolition is transforming the 'old building' into something entirely new and different than what we experienced all those years inhabiting the place. Photos below!

- CD library shelves are gone!
- the kitchen is gone!
- the bathrooms are gone!
- gorgeous new windows are installed in the old membership office
- the brick is getting cleaned and tuckpointed*

* I learned about tuckpointing from a friend in Chicago who lived in a neighborhood of brick bungalows where residents really cared about that stuff. It was the kind of thing their neighbors would talk about, the way Vermonters talk about snowplowing or what to do with too much zucchini in August.

Recycling update:

Laurie has put two big trash cans in the Green Room - they are NOT for trash. Please note one is labeled "returnables" and one is labeled "recyclables." Use accordingly.


Get your etiquette fix here:
 
The workshop with Dan & Lizzie Post has been moved to Tuesday, May 31, but lest you be hankering for guidance on harmonious use of the new workspace, we have some interim Q & A for you. Staff have been leaving questions in the dropbox by the Admin copier (please keep leaving your questions there, by the way!). Some questions are truly etiquette-focused and we're saving those for the Posts. But other questions have more to do with day to-day use of the new space. Beth has provided answers to those questions:

The cafe is great and invites spontaneous conversations. However, can we have a private chat there?
We're so happy that you appreciate our awesome new cafe. Everyone should use their discretion when discussing various topics in open spaces. If you feel the need to have a private chat, the cafe is likely not the best place to do so. We suggest you use one of our many private rooms, or step outside for some fresh air (and maybe even a walking chat).

How do I approach a co-worker to get their attention if they are wearing headphones?
We suggest that you ask them (when they are not wearing headphones) how they prefer you get their attention when they are wearing them. Different people have different ways of communicating and responding to others, so it's best to not assume and just ask.

There's no private bathroom for employees right now?
Actually, we have kept the private bathroom at the north end of the long hall operational for a while as we renovate the rest of the older space and build new private bathrooms. Our plan is to minimize the time we are without any private bathrooms, if at all. (Editor's note: there is plastic sheeting covering the entrance to the long studio hallway, but you can still access the bathroom.)

Can we breastfeed in our open space?
Yes, anyone utilizing our building (employee or guest) is welcome to nurse in open or private spaces.

How can we keep the kitchen and appliances clean?
Thanks for asking! We're pretty proud our our new kitchen too. As Laurie recently addressed in an email to everyone at VPR, we all share in the responsibility to keep our new kitchen neat and tidy. Please wipe up your messes, do your own dishes (if the dishwasher is not available or appropriate for them), and be aware of drips and spills.

Some people's shoes make more noise on our cement floors than others and sometimes sound louder than intended. What do we do?
A) It's true that much of our space for foot traffic is cement or tile, so we should expect to hear the affects various people walking on these surfaces. At the same time, we encourage everyone to be mindful of this and use carpeted areas to walk around your coworkers when possible.

Activity in the lobby can sometimes be distracting. Can we keep the glass doors to the newsroom closed?
The design of the building invites interaction in many ways between connecting, open spaces. Our large glass doors were designed to be used on an exception basis, when we choose to secure our workspace when hosting a public event. If you need complete quiet to perform parts of your job, we encourage you to take us up on our offer to order noise cancelling headphones or work in one of our private or more quiet spaces when possible.


PHOTOS!

That coffee you spilled on the carpet two years ago? All good now. (photo credit: Victoria)

Chris' former office. All tchotchki were safely removed.

The Myers tote stands where the kitchen was, the left side of the 'wall' was the bathroom.

Music library? What music library?

Extremely large windows.

Brand new windows installed in the membership office.