have you seen the self-defense umbrella?

[link]

cconsuela - can you introduce people? Over email. over the phone - or just even a note to the new person?

Having been there- and stayed "til I found somethng- even if you hated the job , it is demoralizing. and Matt will say it too. You may not be able to disengage, but you have to try. In the long run, it is better for your clients. Your clients don't have a lot of options so be fair to them

BTW - Matt is looking for your resume

Awake. Sneezing. Slept with windows open. Pretty sure there is more causation in there than just correlation.

I apply for a job there last night, and now the AD of the National Theatre is announcing his resignation. [link] I strike fear into people's hearts, I guess.

rainy and cold - nose is runny and my legs are sore.

very Monday of you, Wednesday.

You could market that superpower, Sue. Though, Hytner sounds like a talented and skillful leader. You could focus just on asshats.

We are looking at 89 degrees today, and there was a message this morning that there won't be any air conditioning until the end of April.

I am a delicate flower! I will be a puddle of goo!

Job ~ma for all.

For the hivemind, see if you can think of something we have not: My Big Boss is retiring in June after 30+ years here. He is one of 6 faculty members who are retiring, and there will be a dinner to honor them later this year, so the school will not contribute any $$ to a party beyond that. However, much of the staff in the library will not feel very comfortable going to that dinner with the faculty (and they may ask people to pay for the privilege) so we will definitely have a staff party for him in June. He is much beloved on the faculty, and a few faculty members have approached us to say that they would like to be invited to our more intimate gathering. These professors are great supporters of the library's mission.

However, my hackles are up because I can't see asking members of the staff here, who make considerably less money than faculty members, hosting them at a party.

If we only invite certain faculty members, that's sure to insult (unless we can follow the preschool rule of invite everyone, or demonstrably less than half).

If my household had two paychecks, I'd just pay for a significant amount of catering myself, but DH's contract is over.

I see only two real options: Tell the faculty to put up ($$) or shut up.

If everyone else who's invited to the party is paying for the party, definitely ask the faculty members to contribute.

I will get the word out to respond to any faculty requests for a party/dinner with the information that there is no budget for any such event.

If it is politically feasible to do so, I would find out if people will be expected to pay for the school sponsored dinner. If not, the staff should really just attend that.

If a party in June is going to happen regardless, I would keep it small and informal. If there is no budget for it, I would NOT pay for anything as staff and would absolutely let the faculty members know that funds will be needed.

stupid politics.

I know more than one retiring univ. staff who paid for their own party in order to have what they wanted.