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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

...to drop.

Everything that could go wrong, did. Registration took forever. The plenary was delayed, and then overfull. We ran out of nametags, bags, programs, lanyards, materials, lunch tickets, paper, and pens. The copier and the printer both broke multiple times, and a bloody operation restored the copier to its previous dubious health. There was no vegetarian food at lunch, the lines were so long we had to push the program back, too few of the helpers showed and did not do their job, and instead of taking the respective presentations to their respective sessions, they…didn’t. And because the one individual who ended up trying to do all the sessions couldn´t ask for help—the walkie talkies didn’t work—somehow the message ended up being transferred through two other people that I was supposed to explain to the facilitators why they couldn’t start,, for reasons I myself didn’t know. Shoot. Me. Now.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hard to believe today could be worse then yesterday. My goodness, there is a lot to learn here, if you survive the week to learn it. How can this much go so wrong?

Anonymous said...

In the crucible - let's hope (for the organization's sake) there's a debriefing after this is all over.

I was on an Airbase that Failed an Operational Rediness Inspection - ORI. The base commander was on a plane the next day, his career ruined - the only thing he was there to assure - failed. But, six months later, with a new leader, we passed with flying colors. Taught me what difference a real leader makes. And, past a certain point, in the debriefing, the issue is not so much about culpability but about planning, foresight, and organization.... haveing been in a catastrophe will prepare you to see the signs coming next time...

JAGMKIX