Continuity Update for Nov 1

Dear friends,

We have to stop meeting like this. Really. Like, this is it. We'll still catch up now and then when there's news to share, but as of today the regular near-weekly blog posts are closing down. [sfx sad trombone]

But first!

You might be wondering, what about things that are almost-but-not-quite finished? And what about announcements related to changes around the building? And who will answer questions I have about ... stuff? The Continuity Group was formed to make sure VPR maintained business continuity (aha!) throughout construction. So technically, our group's work is over, even though a few last building details are still coming into place.

Going forward, we'll receive all-staff emails about key updates as needed. And, there are places you can go when you have requests for help. Not sure where to take your question? Have a guess at one of these internal email lists and trust that if you guessed poorly then your message will be forwarded to the right person:

facilities@vpr.net *
This will be your first stop for almost anything building related - from sticky doors to HVAC to cleaning products to 'Where do I find...?'

studio@vpr.net *
Anything related to studios, studio equipment, on air issues, and broadcast-related questions.

network@vpr.net *
Anything related IT, computers, connectivity, network, iPhone, Zimbra, printers.

frontoffice@vpr.net
This goes to a handful of people who are most likely to greet visitors; use this to forewarn the front desk when visitors are coming to VPR.

* Messages to these email addresses will generate a Request Tracker ticket. Learn more here! Learning is fun!

What about the big open spaces?

We're taking a pause to let everyone settle in and let the election pass before we revisit how the big spaces near Accounting and in the News Center will be used. (For instance, on election night itself, these spaces might useful around 1 a.m. to staff who need to fling themselves to the floor in a dramatic, 'Why me?! Why NOW?!' tantrum before pulling it back together to make deadline. I mean, it's just one of many possibilities. Of course, there's also the forbidden federal woods that we could run into screaming. That could work, too.)

There is a long piece of butcher paper in the newsroom where you can doodle your ideas for now, but we'll hold a proper brainstorming sometime after Nov 7.  Ideas might include rearranging who sits where, or some rearrangement of what furniture goes where. No changes will be made before Nov 30, but brainstorming and planning can get underway before then.

Neatniks, unite!

One issue that has crept into the Continuity Group's meetings on a regular basis is general tidiness in the building, especially common spaces. Or, to put a finer point on it, the lack of tidiness. I say it 'crept into' our discussions because we had to keep reminding ourselves, this is a bigger cultural issue for VPR, rather than a specific Continuity problem to crack.

In our final Continuity meeting last week, we again lamented the quandary of how to encourage ourselves and each other to be better caretakers of this space, without assigning park rangers with whistles to keep order. (I do fancy a ranger hat, though.) We all need to step up our attention to wiping down counters, neatening meeting rooms when we leave them, and resisting the urge to let clutter accumulate in neglected corners. We have no answers to this, just one last plea to remember that your surroundings are a shared space, and to please help create a neater, tidier culture.

But on the other hand....

It's not a party till something gets broken!

Reminder that THIS FRIDAY we celebrate! Get to the Cafe at 3:00 p.m. for the festivities. There will be merriment! Toasts will be given! Prizes awarded! Time capsules filled!

And special thanks goes to...

The list of folks who gave countless hours to keeping everything running these last 18 months is quite long. I dare not list everyone here for fear of leaving anyone out. But as your faithful correspondent I'd like to give special recognition to a few people whom I noticed really digging deep: Heather, Laurie, Brian, Joe, Todd, Mike and Frank -- you wired and rewired the whole the building, kept the lights on and the signal booming, kept the staff online and in action, and were constantly looking ahead at the next thing coming our way. THANK YOU.


Sincerely yours,
Patti (for the Continuity Group)