Project-Related Emails

"Right now I have just been waiting for the group leaders who met with Pat Bando to tell us what was going on. We really need to develop some sort of format for how we are attacking this project, and if there is already one established, everyone needs to know what that is. Maybe we should delegate a few minutes of class time to discuss what is going on (or rather what isn't but should be). Otherwise we will have to rely on our group leaders to meet and have them be like department heads for the organization relaying information to each of the groups. if anyone else has any ideas, this is something that we should discuss and the listserv is a good place to do that because everyone can be heard."

- "cafe nights" instead of point drives

- a class in Culinary Arts whose students would intern at BCDS

-incentives like getting first shot at football tickets

"The 2 main reasons why students don't want to work for BCDS is 1)the pay is bad 2)it is perceived as being an "uncool" place to work. Thus, BCDS needs to change its drabby image and make it funner environment to work. "

"Also, BCDS should perhaps put more of a recruiting effort towards the incoming freshmen who really don't know the culture of BC yet, and try to trick them into working for BCDS by making it look glamorous. "

[NOTE: many of these items were later used in the final presentation, but not credited to FUSION]

"Excuse me, but Dinh, it seems like talking to you is like talking to a wall, it goes in one ear and out the other...If Dinh showed up to the meeting on time on Friday or e-mailed me a response stating she couldn't like the other group members did, maybe she would have understood the point of everything we are doing. I am just sick of Dinh criticising what we are doing even though both Pat Bando and Prof. Borgatti both felt that filling the needs of student employment to dining services is a genuine need of dining services and a valuable project. Prof. Borgatti said it was more than enough to pinpoint that problem, and Pat Bando also said that It was the Problem she most wanted solved, actually, it was the only problem she kept mentioning throughout our meeting on a consistent basis."

Lenny also says "As far as student response.....I have at various times sent out e-mails for suggestions, and less than 10% of the class has cared to answer. You are all adults and understand that we are all going to be graded significally on this, if you don't want to contribute to the project......don't whine about it later, because the questions i've sent out are the biggest way you could contribute at this point in time."

"I am coming out of this project a smarter person on more constructive ways to handle projects of this magnitude and one of things that I've learned is not to make my personal feelings about a person, blind me from seeing the usefulness of their ideas, which is what I PERSONALLY (uderstand what this word means, it is my perspective on what I saw and even if it is not exactly what happened, it is a constructive thought I have gained and will remember for the future) think happened with Nhatha and SOME (this word means not all) of the other group leaders.

To monique he says "i'm assuming you didn't actually participate in the collection of these surveys, because they were separated by non-employee and current/former employee groupings already... if you wanted to create a manager questionnaire of some kind and collect data on that, i'm sure it would be VERY beneficial to the project..."

To Mike M. he says: "I thought I was alone in this, but after talking with 7, yes 7, other class members from three different groups who also did not know, i ask you all... honestly... who the hell is Mike Moore?"

He thanks everyone who will be working on the analysis this weekend. And thanks sam for volunteering to help Josh.

"Sam- I think we have that part covered. I don't think this has been brought up yet in class butI'm going to do a powerpoint demonstration with the help of Heather and then we are going to make up some slides as well. Thanks for the input and for not blaming the leaders for this whole project."

You are a smart girl, but that's where it ends. You have no inter-personal skills. You are egotistical. The leaders of the groups came together and decided on a course of action, and in every political forum, majority rules, especially when you are the only one with the difference. NOT FAIR? so why didn't you go out and prove your "theories" and present them to us? No one can argue with hard facts, but you continue to exemplify to me and your classmates how immature you are in dealing in a GROUP setting.

You have been the most uncooperative person i've EVER met. I listened to all your suggestions, but you always cut me off in mid-sentence. You show up late to group meetings, then expect to come in and change everything we sat around and talked about for an hour???? WHO ARE YOU TO DO THAT?

Meanwhile, on sunday night, when it was put on notice that there was an important meeting to go through all the information, everygroup was at least represented, again, W/O any members from fusion, or their so-called leader who feels that what she has to say is beyond the understanding capabilities of any male in the class. you are the only one in the class that feels they are better thatn anyone.

there are no favorites, and i'd like to thank monique, heather, allison, josh, laura and the others for coming and contributing. we made good progress, and i would also like to thank the rest of the class for being whinners without ever contributing.....GROW UP PEOPLE

(Note first use of borgatti without honorific)

"Overall, very impressive. I don't think that you guys will have a problem with the presentation aspect of the consulting project, although you might get a little tripped up ... during Q & A. "

"Are you presenting anything to Pat Brando that she didn't know before?

"When talking about student incentives, do you know what incentives they offer already? How pleased are students with those incentives? What new incentives are you suggesting."

many specific suggestions for presentation style

"First of all I would like to wish our presentors the best of luck, I think you guys ( and women) will do great. You make a good combination and I really mean this.

I know how you feel when you work very hard on a project and at the end (or near to the end) you hear criticism because I'm on programming for ALC (AHANA Leadership Council) and I have experienced the same thing. I can remember people saying "oh, overall it was a success BUT..." and the criticisms would just flow. I got really PISSED OFF because many don't know the shit our staff goes through to make our yearly programs a success. However, as I stand outside the core of this project and look at what we have done up to this point with the little time we had ( which would have been about the same quality of work even if we started a week eariler), I may think of little criticisms to make. But I want you to know that in no way were these meant to piss you off. In actuality, what was going through my head was "Oh, this is real GOOD, but maybe this would make it even better, and maybe they can work on this more if they have the time." And what largely drove mYself and maybe others to make little criticisms ( which I tried to put in the nicest terms possible because I know the frustration of putting together something this big and also handeling the responsibilities of being a student) is the competition we are facing with the other OB classes to be the best presentors with solid content material.

So I am speaking as someone who knows you will do your best, but the questions bought up in class, should not be taken as harsh or inconsiderate on your behalf ( if they were in the first place). In my opinion, the questions asked or the room for clarity suggested could be POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE JUDGES, OR THINGS THEY MAY FIND UNCLEAR ( really think about this because some of these judges were consultants themselves, like borgatti, and if we find something a little confusing, they will probably pick it up too). So just consider it practice. I would say that you handled answering some of those well and proved your point on things such as with the point drive issue.

Lenny, it was funny in class when you mentioned being so fustrated about two nights ago and thinking if anyone said anything wrong about the project how you were going to flip. I remember feeling the same way two weeks ago when I was in charge of a big program and just walking back and forth saying to myself "I'm never doing a fucking program again" because every one was getting on my fucking nerves asking me "where is this and where is that and when is this thing starting." I wanted to snap two fingers a make them disappear, but in the end the program was a total success and I believe you, Mark, Monica, and Heather will experence the same thing.

In the end you learn so much and come out a stronger person, and realize you were able to improve our first draft to the excellent final draft due to the criticisms or suggestions you hated hearing in the beginning. I know that Prof. B made a lot of suggestions in the end and you used those to improve, but suppose some of the questions or suggestions in class Thursday which came from fellow classmates, came from him, would you have had the same reaction? Maybe you would have due to all the damn stress you were under but its just something to think about.

I don't know where I'm trying to go with this long ass e-mail but one final point. Reflecting on this whole ordeal, I think I would volunteer myself to be incharge of putting on a program again, and when those criticisms come rushing in I'm going to hold my breath and take it all in and try to implement those suggestions for improvement. This is a hard thing to do and I know there will come a time when someone will PISS me off and I might flip ( because I realize no one is perfect) but I'll always try to hold in perspective the fact that they are trying to help me and are on my side because I've always felt this way about those who planned and did the majority of the project when making my suggestions. I hope my contribution helped.