Jehoiada

(Take a breath, take a breath, take a breath)

I normally don’t talk like this, but when I do, it’s a lot of fun and having fun can often be for good.

Anyway, the ultimate goal and purpose of my assignment (as addressed previously) was to be responsible for raising a substantial amount of money for a nationally-known, charitable consortium.

“How substantial?” or “How much?”  I believe you may be asking.

Close to $3 million dollars.

Some of you wonderful readers may have your eyes open very wide right about now and others may be yawning, but I can assure that for me, undergoing a root canal while simultaneously having a rectal examination was less painful and invasive as this significant money-raisning undertaking turned out to be.

(Okay, I admit the rectal exam is nowhere near a fair comparison, so strike that one…)

I had to oversee and work with roughly 50 related agencies (all subordinate, so-to-speak, to “D.R.”), their representatives, staff and personnel to accomplish this collectively and we had 12 weeks to make this happen…16 weeks with a pre-programmed time extension if it was considered necessary.

I eventually learned that in previous years, the time extension was always necessary and always implemented.

Now you must remember that my assignment and overall task was ultimately to benefit charity, and that is always (believably and hopefully) for good.

First, during the preparation stage prior to the initial 12-week window of operations which would begin in October, I had to find out the personnel strength and position occupancy of the almost 50 participating activities for use in determining how much these groups would be assigned and expected to contribute in order to achieve the collective goal.  Fortunately, there was some historical giving information had been collected and maintained by a higher department which aided me greatly.

“D.R.” called this portion of my task a “data call.”  She had an accountant-type background and appeared to see everything in relation to numerical figures.

I have an American Army Infantryman’s background.  I tend to see most things like one who observes and surveys battlefields — I look for targets of opportunity and ways to defend people and their freedoms.

I began receiving the information I requested from the activities.  However, most of it came in very slowly within the specified time necessary to move forward.  Some of the almost 50 were very late, some challenged the request’s purpose and necessity, others stated they never got the request and some simply did not report at all.

“D.R.” began to show signs of impatience and impertinence during this undertaking.  She began to speak to me in a manner that I viewed as condescending, overbearing and insensitive.

Then, she assigned her “XO,” “C.H.” to ensure that Paul would make things happen in this assigment in a more expeditious and efficient manner.

Now, bear in mind that by the time this charitable-based giving program officially began in October 2007, “D.R.” and “C.H.” were firmly entrenched in their new digs.  Their power-bases had been established and their lives within the structure were good.

The permanent staff I introduced you to in the previous submission began to become accustomed to receiving weekly (and sometimes, daily) verbal doses of belittlement, degradation and incompetency implications from “C.H.,” especially during what she called her weekly “staff meetings.”

“What do I need you for if I have to do what you’re supposed to be doing?” she would berate them with.  “You people better learn how to do your jobs if you want to stay here.”

“M.J.B.” appeared to be targeted specifically as an under-performer and would cry several times a week as a result of this treatment.  “L.B.,” the consumate gentleman having and demonstrating an admirable quality of grace, would thank “C.H.” for her (”beat-down style”) rhetoric, and “T.R.” would quietly suffer it.

After all, remarks of this type were supposed to be for their good.

Shortly thereafter, these two delightful ladies asked me via a messgae relayed through “C.H.,” if I would like to work in my temporary capacity on a permanent basis.

For some strange reason, I wasn’t sure I wanted to…

TO BE CONTINUED

(I’ve always wanted to say that…)

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved 

Anyway, the new chief of staff or executive officer to the senior executive, came to work like she was the “new sheriff in town.” 

She began re-organizing things that were already organized, re-creating things that had been sufficiently created (and were being well-maintained) and proceeded to belittle, berate and demean the staff…folk that previously had been the epitome of professionalism and proficiency.

She even rearranged some office cabinets so the route that the staff and I had to use to come and go from the floor entrance to our work stations, was channelized to her specifications.

That happened until the safety personnel told her she had created a fire hazard by fixing it so that we only had one avenue by which to come in and go out.

The senior executive simply smiled as the new “necessary changes” were implemented by her “XO,” and said they were for our good.

Now, I must introduce you to these two delightful (I’m kidding) ladies.  I will use what may or may not be their initials when I refer to them.  Their names will be withheld to protect the guilty.  I shall call the senior executive, “D.R.” and her executive officer, “C.H.”

I would also like to introduce the staff.  Again I will use intials.  Their names must be withheld to protect the mis-treated.  The staff members are “T.R.,” “L.B.” and “M.J.B.”

Me, you know…I’m Paul.

As you can determine by the title, this is not a story (though very true, of course) that I will be able to tell in one writing. So make sure you check back because I guarantee you it will be interesting.

I know. 

I lived it for almost nine months.

And I can tell you it was really all for good.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

BTW, I’ve since moved from that place of worship and am sitting under a Pastor whose world-view is not only Biblical, but more accurately and authentically informed.

2. Following the devastation that resulted from Hurricane Katrina, I heard a popular Rapper say “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.” 

I almost became confused when I heard that because I was fully aware that the Chief had appointed and employed more Black people to cabinet positions and positions of national leadership than any President I could recall.

And here I was thinking I couldn’t understand Rappers because they “talked” too fast.  This one was talking slow and I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

3. I’m constantly hearing people calling the President dumb, an idiot and stupid.

Then I see these same people display their overwhelmingly impressive intelligence by using, then leaving public restrooms without washing their hands and demonstrating their lack of mastery of the English language.

The President is fluent in at least two languages.  Additionally, he has consistently surrounded himself with highly intelligent people during his presidency.

Is that what dumb, stupid idiots do?

Well, I could ride this train a whole lot further along down this track.  

However, I’m going to bring this engine into the station by simply saying that I sincerely believe when the history books are written about how President George W. Bush served his two terms as President of the United States, they’re ulitimately going to say (if they are truthful) that he stood firmly on what he believed was right, made the hard choices and carried out the tough decisions in spite of vehement opposition.

And ultimately, served this nation well.

Mr. President, let me say to you that I thank God for you.  You’ve held the line, stood your ground, been faithful and resolute in all your efforts, and you’ve served this country well…whether “some” could see it, realize it, or not.

And I humbly offer to you my personal, “Hail to the Chief!”

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved