Thank Goodness for Google and Resources We Can Rely On
Over the past few weeks, a great deal of my time has been taken with involvement in administration tasks. Now, I may not be the best communicator which is a bit sad when it comes to creating content. But, I know exactly what I’m doing with administration tasks.
Today, just before mid-day I received a rather softly worded complaint that some people had not received details I had sent in a mass mail-out. If that didn’t raise my blood pressure, it certainly raised my ‘hackles’.
After the care I take and ‘kid-glove’ attention to make sure everyone is kept informed of what they need to know, I receive a message saying ‘perhaps we need to look a systems’! I mean to say – what systems? I’m it, and no-one dare question me without good reason!
Now, that might sound slightly ostentatious. Still, it brought back memories of long ago when people of power used the typist to blame for their mistakes.
The First of Many
In my much younger years, when I was the only typist at a girls’ boarding school, blame was placed on my shoulders by the Chaplain of the school. At a large function held in a theatre where parents, friends and foe gathered for a special event, who was the cause of a missing item? Me, of course! In a crowded theatre, I was pinpointed by the Chaplain for a problem I had no part of. The detail I do not remember. But it was document related.
Following a Prize Giving Ceremony
Another event was an Annual Prize Giving where a Guest of the highest rank would be attending. The name of this guest was not of the English language. To ensure the Prize Giving programme was correctly laid out and words were spelled correctly, the Chairman of Board of Trustees made a special visit to the school office to read, and approve, the document before being printed.
No Way Could Anything Go Wrong!
With the Chairman having checked the document with a fine tooth comb, as one would expect, a perfect ceremony would take place.
The next morning I would be attending the ceremony, along with all staff members. I dressed appropriately for the event, as any typist would. I did not wear my suit of Armour!
Riot, Unrest, Mutiny. How Could I escape?
At the time of the ceremony, I didn’t know what was coming my way. When the ceremony finished, being someone of low esteem, I returned to the office. There was no mixing and mingling which suited me fine. Little did I know a storm was brewing.
When most guests, or maybe all, had the left the school, the office door opened and in walked the Chairman of the Board, accompanied by the Principal. And guess who was for it? The typist, of course!
But was it typist who approved the document to be printed? Of course not! The approval for printing was given by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
How could the Chairman not recognize that there was a spelling error in the name of the guest of the Highest Rank?
Memories Remain Forever
I have never forgotten those experiences.
Many years have passed. Technology has changed immensely, for which I am very thankful.
Should I make a mistake, I admit it. But I will not be blamed for something I have no control over such as sending mail-outs by email.
So, Mr Google to the Rescue
No longer do I require a coat of Armour. All I need is to take a screenshot of all email addresses the information was sent to. Then identify with a super Red Arrow the addresses of those complaining that they did not receive the information. And, follow that up by sending proof to the complainant.
Easy, eh ??? !!!
A Happy Ending to this Story
If nothing other than being riled, the upside of this story is: It got me into writing mode again. Something I seriously needed to do.
So maybe I’ll send a message of thanks into the atmosphere!
It is Said, There is a Reason for Everything
Before writing this post, I had many titles in my mind. How amazing that was. It just proves what a dose of strong motivation can do. It was something that got me going.
I hope you all having an enjoyable week.
With Best Wishes.
Recent Comments
28
Nice piece Valerie. Thanks for sharing and for making the most of technology to quell the mutinies.
We are Blessed.
Mark
Hi Mark, thanks so much for your kind message. I enjoyed receiving it.
Wishing you all the best :)
Valerie
You are right -- there is a reason for everything, even if we can't always see it at the time. So glad you got through all that and can now write what you want, and no one will be correcting you or sending messages that you got it all wrong.
Sometimes our negative experiences can end up being positive assistance.
Thanks so much, Fran for your message and kind words.
It's so true. I needed that experience. Although annoying as it was, it certainly has helped to move on. It feels good to be part of this community again.
Good Morning Valerie,
I am not into mail lists but I understand, when you have taken the utmost care, it is frustrating if it does not function properly.
Your memory from the past triggered a memory from my past. When my Mother would ask, Taetske have you done this? I would blush. I would blush independent of being guilty or not, very annoying.
I can still blush nowadays, not often as I am not often naughty.
Anyhow, I hope you could solve that hiccup with your mailing list.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Good Afternoon Taetske,
I enjoyed reading your comment. I'm sure you're not naughty these days.
I don't know that I blushed when asked by my mother if I had done what I expected to do. But I can still remember the guilt I felt if I hadn't obeyed her wishes or commands.
I don't know why I felt so guilty as she was a very kind mother. I imagine that was part of my personality as a child.
With best wishes _ Valerie
Thats a great story Valerie.
I have been used as a scape goat in employment a few times, It is a disappointment of man kind we told just to swallow.
It feels pretty good to throw this Wealthy Affiliate income in there face. :)
All the bestest Rob
Thanks, Rob for your kind words.
I'm sorry that you've had similar experiences. It's hard at the time but, no doubt, events such as those help to make us stronger in mind and maybe even in body.
Wishing you all the best :)
Thanks for sharing, Valerie
Keep up the good progress.
You are doing great.
Have a great week
Darren :)
My pleasure, Darren.
Thanks very much for your kind words. So very helpful.
You have a great week, too :)
Valerie, thanks for going down memory lane of the front office with the typist and the clanging noise of the typewriter.......
How did we even survive without Google? I begin to wonder!
Absolutely, Dada. Those years in an office were certainly rowdy. We do have so much to be grateful for with the wonderful technology of these modern times.
That was the preview of the real thing. WA journey, so keep writing and be the best one. O yes you can! believe yourself!
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Being a 'short lived' member of a boarding school, it has to be said, that going to the 'Admin' block was a scary prospect. There was an air of protocol and efficiency that one knew should not be questioned.
This particular 'incident' has indeed produced a silver lining. Thoroughly enjoyable time I had, reading of your exploits
You say it so beautifully, Twack. 'The air of protocol and efficiency...should not be questioned.' Absolutely agreed! And to think it took just one man to diminish me to almost nothing! How could he do such a thing!!
The amazing thing is that I was employed for 27 years at that school. It turned out that I loved being there in spite of those two upsets.
I'm pleased you enjoyed that true story. It is surprising what can be produced from the archives when the motivation is strong enough.
We have a lifetimes worth of experiences to draw from, just need that trigger sometimes.
So very true, Twack :)