daily exhale

ASKO and Appliance Repair - bad examples of good customer service

We spent the extra for the GOOD ASKO dishwasher.  Problem is, it leaks when on the pots and pans setting.  This has been going on since we purchased. We skip the setting or put a container down to catch the water that leaks for various reasons.

We've had at least 4 repair calls, tech advisors talking to us and the dishwasher was deemed non-repairable. A month ago it was decided that they (ASKO) would replace it. Everyone agreed.  We've been WAITING, and WAITING, and WAITING.  We have to chase them. They seem to be suffering from Alzheimer's because we have to remind them there is an active case, that they have had all the notes they need from Appliance Repair. Yet, no one seems to be able to pull the trigger to replace our dishwasher.

After a month, 20 minutes on hold, it is now determined that their (ASKO) senior tech needs to come and evaluate. Meanwhile, we sitll have a leaky, EXPENSIVE dishwasher.

Pass the buck, play ingnorant, stall, delay. That seems to be how they have all been trained to give customer service. Perhaps they hope we will go away and get worn out and put up with having a $1500 dishwasher that has leaked from the beginning.  Don't bet on it ASKO.  I will promise to recommend to friends who ask which brand to buy for their next dishwasher, "Anything but ASKO, their customer service stinks!"

State of Florida ROBS 501c3 Org.

Did you know that if you have a 501c3 org with a chapter in Florida, you must pay tax on  the income that charity receives for the NATION to the state of FLORIDA?  You have to file separate returns for the state, but it's all based on the national numbers.

We have 3 chapters for Binky Patrol in Florida. Lovely women that have been VOLUNTEERING for 12+ years.  They make a ton of blankets and give them all away.

Because our organization received so many blankets last year as a NATION - even though we gave them all away, FLORIDA is TAXING US on the INCOME of the value of those blankets that were donated or made with donated materials and GIVEN AWAY to shelters, hopsitals across the country and in FLORIDA.

We are 100% volunteer.  Our accounting is a nightmare because of the fees and requirements of Florida.  A big chunk of our only cash donations as a national org has to go to the filings for Florida and filling out their forms.

For Binky Patrol, a $2 donation gives us enough batting to make a quilt for a teen. We rely on donated fabrics.  Florida is charging us $300 this year because we made so many blankets with donated fabric. They consider it income.  That's 150 kids and teens that won't get binkies.

This is what will kill grass roots organizations.  We will be forced to shut down in Florida, which would be sad becuase those chapters make over 1000 quilts in a year to GIVE AWAY to people in need in FLORIDA.

What do to, what to do?  Any suggestions?

Susan Finch, Founder

Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for Kids

Damaging teachers with tenure

I need to blow off some steam before I get nasty in the larger public forum.  We're part of the Beaverton K-12 School District.  We've had fabulous teachers at Raleigh Hills School.  Then there is this year.  I feel like all fabulous work done in the first three years by amazing teachers has been undone by one politically savvy teacher with tenure who knows how to work the system and must have friends in high places. 

Our daughter has been embarrassed, isolated, degraded in front of her classmates. The children in this woman's class are regularly in tears due to the treatment by this teacher and her methods.  Third grade is hard enough as girls choose sides, shun each other and embrace each other without warning.  But to have the teacher, the person you rely on for your anchor, decide to isolate you from the other students, this is a nail in the coffin of socialization. It emphasizes that something is wrong with the child and the others are right in shunning him or her because the teacher is supporting this notion.

When this is your method of addressing a situation along with having children put their heads on their desks regularly because you cannot bring about peace in the room any other way, it's time to retire.  Your methods are outdated, damaging and backwards.

So here is the problem; with budget cuts, teachers like this one are allowed to maintain their jobs.  They don't have to be graded or evaluated thanks to the union system in place.  Then, younger teachers, newer ones embracing newer technology, teaching techniques and styles are let go because they were last to join the fray.  They may be making progress with students through new methods, but they won't get to continue because dead wood like this one continue to take up oxygen in the school.  There are too many good and many great teachers who should be allowed to continue making headways reaching students that were formerly unreachable through old teaching methods. I can think of at least a dozen amazing teachers just at our school.

I loathe the Teachers' Unions.  The money and power behind them only damages our children, wastes money and doesn't make anyone accountable for their teaching skills or lack thereof.  It's criminal.  Most companies reward employees who excel and let go of the ones not contributing to the overall goals.  Why wouldn't teachers be held to the same accountability since they have our most valuable commodity - our children?  Shouldn't they be the most valuable asset in our world?  They deserve the same quality control as a car, set of golf clubs, a box of cereral, don't you think?

There are ways to take action. I guess I'm on my way to another side cause.

Review of "Visiting Mr. Green" by Jeff Baron

Key Productions Director Troy Lakey made a great decision to produce Jeff Baron's, "Visiting Mr. Green."  He also had the good sense to cast it perfectly with George "Doc" Fosgate as Mr. Green and Benjamin Farmer as Ross.

The plot of the play is this, 86 year old widower, Mr. Green is almost hit by a car driven by young corporate executive Ross Gardiner. Found guilty of reckless driving, Ross is ordered to spend the next six months making weekly visits to Mr Green. What starts off as a comedy about two people who resent being in the same room together develops into a gripping and poignant drama, as family secrets are revealed and old wounds are opened.

After hearing what this play was about, I needed to see it.  The venue was an interesting and appealing space at The Santuary @ Sandy Plaza - a repurposed Salvation Army church.  Acoustics were fantastic.  It's  great venue for meetings, special events and productions.

Lakey took the roll of narrator for this drama, sometimes comedy.  The comedic side came from the way the audience was able to relate to various exchanges, points of view and characteristics of the endearing, Mr. Green.  The audience burst out laughing, chuckled, winced and cried at all the right parts. It was a languid rollercoaster of emotions that we all hated to see end.  Just one more scene, perhaps two, please, don't end this relationship with "fade to black."

Benjamin Farmer was so convincing in the roll, passionate, compassionate and a bit of a standoffish prodigal son. His underlying gentleness came through from the beginning and stayed with us throughout the reveals in the various acts.

George Fosgate brings a true gift to this production.  The transformation of seeing him walk in from off stage and settle into his roll of a man 15 years his senior was exciting and startling.  He carried us through a convincing roll of an aging, lonely, widower. 

This production and its actors deserve a larger venue and more elaborate sets.  They don't need it, but they truly deserve it for what they both brought to these rolls.

Thank you, Troy Lakey for choosing to produce, "Visiting Mr. Green."  I'm grateful to have seen this production with these actors and such a comfortable venue.

That Man in Santa Ana Saved My Life, I Assume.

As we were reminiscing last night with my niece and her friend, I was reminded of the time I was determined to move out of my parent's home at the age of 18.  Almost seems unheard of today with so many adult children living with their parents until they are in their mid-twenties or even early-thirties or moving back in with their entire families; but that's another rant another day.  I was actually quite happy living at home until I realized some strong prejudices my father had against some of my friends.  I was appalled and decided at that moment I needed to be out from under the roof of someone who was so bigoted.  That was truly the only reason.  My parents were very good to me, treated me with respect, kindness and love.

I think they were a bit baffled that I would take the stance of escape rather than not have my friends over for a barbecue. The search began. Initially I was going to move out with a friend, Hymie.  He was a big guy, like a Teddy bear and a bouncer at local clubs.  He was just my friend and he wanted to get out.  I thought it was smart because we got along and I would be safe anywhere I was with Hymie.  Life got in the way and Hymie had to help his brother who suddenly found himself at the front end of a shotgun wedding to the impending mother of his child.  So much for Hymie's move-out fund.  I was on my own and no less determined.

Price was the issue. I hadn't been taught about "location, location, location" and just went by price and how close it was to my parents. I didn't want to be far from them, nor my job.  There I was in Downtown Santa Ana looking for an address around 1st and Walnut and that vicinity. I finally came upon the driveway between a horseshoe arrangement of grayed apartments.  The manager's was the first on the right by the street.  In 1984 I looked a lot different than I do now; I was at dancing weight, big... smile and full of naivete. The manager all but leaped from his chair to come out through the already opened door.  He was almost angry - like my father gets. 

I introduced myself and he started shaking his head.  He told me that I didn't want to live there. I told him I needed to move out and this was in my range.  He showed me some of the less than charming, or clean apartments that left a chill up my spine.  He also said the only way he would rent to me is if I called my father and had him come to look at the apartments.  I'm still not completely understanding, so I used his CORDED phone to call my dad.  He came down within a half hour and introduced himself. They both walked off briefly and then came back to explain WHY I was not allowed to rent there.  My dad and I both left to go back home. I was disappointed but began to look at that immediate area with new eyes.  Ahhhhh. Not a great place if you were not on the night shift with regular customers.

In spite of this one experience in one part of Santa Ana, I think Santa Ana is a beautiful city. There are some wonderful neighborhoods filled with friendly, family-oriented neighbors. There are artist lofts near the city center, galleries, museums and fine restaurants.  I just happened to pick the low-rent, seedy, dangerous district, and it was not for me.

I ended up in the east side of Costa Mesa along what became the 55 freeway near Triangle Square in a studio apartment off the pool.  It cost more, but I never worried about coming home at night alone and had friends nearby.  I will always be grateful that the apartment manager in Santa Ana stepped in to protect me and to my dad for coming right down to keep me safe.

Let's talk trailers - travel trailer and motorhome interiors

Autos are constantly upgrades to include trends, techonology, etc. So why can't travel trailer and motorhome companies such as Fleetwood, Starcraft, Coachmen, Dutchman, Forest River, Weekend Warrior and the like realize that Aunt Ethel and Uncle Fred don't travel as much or camp as much as the rest of us. We'd like our home away from home to be lighter, more efficient and not feel like 1970.

What is with all of the wood cabinetry.   Why can't any of these folks partner with someone who is a pro at design efficiency and function like IKEA?  Light metals, transluscent plastics are far more efficent for space and weight than oak and pine fronts.  More blinds and fewer fru-fru valances and hideous fabrics that get caught in everything or tear off.  Keep it clean and easy to clean and maintain.

I'd rather buy a stripped down trailer and bring it to IKEA's kitchen magicians to have them fix it right.  Be careful, if you consider new ideas, you may end up with a more efficient vehicle, more appealing to those with some taste.  Take a hint from Airstream and their CDX designs.  Space is maximized and weight is more efficient.

Face the Sun - the Movie independent feature film by Sunflower Pictures

Face the Sun is an important new feature film that follows the lives of a young family dealing with breast cancer.

When photographer, and mother of two, Kathy Anderson first becomes aware of what seems to be an early symptom of the illness, the locum for her vacationing family physician reassures her that, "It's nothing more than a water cyst. You're much too young for it to be anything more serious." Not wanting to worry those closest to her, she hides the symptoms from both family and friends.

Never thought about beetle reproduction before.

We have lizards - anoles. They eat meal worms.  Worms turn into beetles.  I never thought about how baby meal worms are made. Insects aren't my thing.  But tonight the topic came up because two beetles were in the food dish of the male anole and were - as my son said  "doing something funny on top of each other."

Spring Break - nothing a couple of hired hands can't fix.

The anxiety we go through with each extended time off from school - Spring Break, Winter Break and the dreaded S U M M E R   V A C A T I O N.  I'm getting smarter, having done this for a few years.  I still have to work, but that doesn't mean I have to be it. I can hire someone to come here for the day and be "it."

Thank goodness for the sunshine and two wonderful sitters who come with their bags of tricks and ideas.  They have saved my week at $7 per hour.  The children have played, crafted, ventured to the park, had the pool out for the one warm day.  We're almost through the week. One more day to go.

Pulling back the reins on hobby - personal blogging to strangers.

Business blogging and writing aside, I'm noticing I'm blogging and writing more; but not for the world, not for strangers.  I'm writing for my friends.  As much fun as I've had social posting for the world as a creative outlet, it's really not for any purpose, other than sharing with my friends. 

Solution:  create a private blog for my friends and I to dump. This is not FB, this is very targeted to special groups of intimate friends that will only see it and it won't be in their news feed.  I'm finding more freedom and receiving more joy from the private comments and "conversation." It feels more like a visit.

My favorite is with a group of women from my school circle.  They see me weekly and check up on me, know my family and understand my humor.  This is fun.  They also pick me up on the days of sad or muddled posts.  I also enjoy visiting with the chapter leaders in my non-profit, Binky Patrol. These women have great hearts and a wry sense of humor that not everyone would get outside our organization.  We have our place to laugh, vent and support.

In the past, I've splatter blogged to express myself. It helped, but there is nothing to replace real relationships with real, live friends you can decide to meet with, give a hug, and share out loud laughter rather than emoticons, LOL's and the like.

Try it - get back to real people relationships. Put down the texting unless you're scheduling a brief visit, or pick up the phone once in a while. Don't lose the ability to communicate in person.  It's becoming a dying art.  When was the last time you blogged for your live friends?  Try it, it feels good.

Try it:

Free sites on Shutterfly.  I find the share sites are PERFECT for this application.  Quick journal entries, regular emailed recaps for the posts and photos. It's a great way to share photos in a community for printing, photo books, etc.  We have one for our brownie troop, one for my daughters class, one for "the moms" and others.  They are all private - members only can view and share the photos.