Cindy Blogs the Sierra

Ok, I AM moving on. For Cindy Blog’s the Sierra I’ve seen the future, and it is virtual. It’s on the web. It’s no where, and everywhere.
I think I’m going to keep blogging, and I’m going to go back to go forward.

I have resurrected an old project of mine - my Forest Service Memoir.

In 2005, when I started this project, three things inspired me to give it a try and see what I could do; the Forest Service Centennial, the book “The Free Life of a Ranger, a Forest Service Memoir” by Archie Munchie and the hit movie: “The Notebook”. Simple people can have interesting stories. I’ve been blogging for the last three years to practice my writing skills, to inspire my friends and coworkers to take action, and to entertain. I’m going to take my blogs to my past and into my virtual Forest Service world of today.

It starts something like this:

I’m not the folksy Ranger of “Green Underpants.” Jack Ward Thomas in his book “Journals of a Forest Service Chief” didn’t write a chapter on “Drugs Sex and Rock and Roll.” When Archie Munchie wrote his ”Free Life of a Ranger: a Forest Service Memoir” there was no such thing as telecommuting, virtual positions, Wikipedia or blogs. I’m not your grandparent’s ‘Forestry Ranger.’ My family didn’t grow up in a little house on the prairie, or in a log cabin in the woods. My parents weren’t raised on a farm or in the country or even in rural America, and neither was I. I was born to military parents at a time that would become known as “The Baby Boom.” I am a Baby Boomer Ranger and there has never been a more dynamic generation of land stewards working in a such a dramatically changing environment; “Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

Starting on October 1, 2008, on my 50th birthday, I will revise “Cindy Blogs the Sierra” and I will start my new blog:

Baby Boomer Ranger - Life, Love, and Natural Resource Management in a Virtual Forest Service.

I will be posting some things to try them out. I have an outline for my Memoir and a few items include:

THE CALIFORNIA OUTBACK

LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY

TALKING CARE OF THE BABY TREES

AMONG THE GIANTS

THE BIG FIRES: YELLOWSTONE

PLANNER FOR A SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA

INHERITING THE WILDERNESS FROM A GOOD OL’ BOY

DEATH BY DOWNSIZING

THE BIG CREEK FIRE

THE SPECIAL TEAM

THE POWER OF HYDROELCTRIC PROJECTS

AN ENTERPRISING IDEA

THE CENTENNIAL ESSAYS

THE COMPUTERS THAT LEVELED THE FOREST

THE LINE OFFICERS - DRAWING THE LINE - OR KNOT

THE GUARD STATIONS, LIVING IN THE PAST

DRUGS, SEX, AND ROCK AND ROLL!

THE MILITIA ON CALL

CHANGING ROLES

GRADUATING FROM THE FOREST SERVICE

Will my memoir be published? There isn’t much of a market for books about government employees.
So, I doubt it.
But, that’s the beauty of blogging. I can write it, and you can read it - it’s on the web!
Living virtual is beautiful.

Tomorrow is my Going Away Party.
My party for leaving the Sierra National Forest.
And I am sad.

I keep thinking about divorce. I am very fortunate to not know first hand about divorce, and I hope that this is a close as I will ever get.
It is a friendly divorce, but papers are now final.

I also keep thinking about a bad joke. You know it, it goes like this:
A man goes to his doctor “Doctor, Doctor, it hurts when I hit my head against the wall!”
The Doctor tells the man, “then stop it…”
There comes a time to listen to one’s doctor.

And

“GOD, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference.”

Several of my friends should be very sick of hearing me say “I need to move on.”
I do, and I am.

“Is this what you want?” I was asked.
DAMN Right it is!

I ready to get back to managing the National Forests of this country.
I want to start a project and finish a project, and really know it starts and when it is done.
I want to make agreements, keep agreements and be held accountable for my agreements.
I will know what I am going to work on for that day, week, and month.
I am going to be on time and prepared.
I will be technically challenged to apply what I know and learn what I don’t know.
And if someone else doesn’t want to keep up their part of the agreement, I know my choices.
Stop, or move on. That is all there is.

My first week is developing contracts and arranging work as a Natural Resource Planner. I have a large, forest-wide plantation thinning/fuels reduction project on the Shasta-Trinity Forest. I will be working on a gas pipeline that goes across three National Forests in Southern Oregon, and I will be picking up a City of Los Angeles transmission line project across the Angeles National Forest. It feels great to do what I was trained in doing - planning large-scale, multi-forest, multi-agency, resource management projects! Caring for the Land and Serving People, that’s what I’m talking about.

What will become of “Cindy Blogs the Sierra?”
I have a plan.
After all, “I blog for good, not evil!”
There will be more to come.

I am writing this on my last Cindy Blogs the Sierra day. My last day as an employee of the Sierra National Forest.
Starting on Monday, June 23, 2008, I will be a Forest Service employee working virtually for an Enterprise Team. I am going to be a “Forestry Ranger” without a Forest. I will be part of AMSET; Adaptive Management Services Enterprise Team.

I now work for a new Forest Service, a Forest Service without trees.
I can’t just jump into a green rig and drive out to the field to “check-it-out.”
I won’t see my supervisor on my first day of work.

I won’t be ushered around to see the location of the mailroom, the restroom, the snack area or the back door.
I will be entirely responsible my own work space and find my own supplies and materials, my own files and my own time schedule.
I will not walk around the office and meet my fellow team members, because they don’t work here.
I am unfunded.
I do not supervise anyone, and
I start off with no projects, no management areas, no administrative responsibilities, no program oversight, no Program Work Plans and no targets.
I have no authority.

Here I am signing my last Cost Recovery Agreement as a Cost Reviewer for the Sierra National Forest.
And all those Special Use Permits… they will be dumped on some other GS-9.

Who would have imagined a Journey Level GS-12 460 Forester with the US Forest Service without a District, without a Forest or a Region?

But… this is a very, very good thing for me to do.

to be continued…. because now I need to get to work… Resource Management Work…

New, my book of photos for my upcoming photography exhibit

Water - Power - Folly

June 2 - 27, 2008 at Fresno City Hall.
It is self published with Blurb.

From Wikipedia, Self Publishing:

Self-publishing is the publishing of books and other media by the authors of those works, rather than by established, third-party publishers. Although it represents a small percentage of the publishing industry in terms of sales, it has been present in one form or another since the beginning of publishing and has seen an increase in activity with the advancement of publishing technology, including xerography, desktop publishing systems, print on demand, and the World Wide Web. Cultural phenomena such as the punk/DIY movement, the proliferation of media channels, and blogging have contributed to the advancement of self-publishing.

The key distinguishing characteristic of self-publishing is the absence of a traditional publisher. Instead the creator or creators fulfill this role, taking editorial control of the content, arranging for printing, marketing the material, and often distributing it, either directly to consumers or to retailers. Less often, the author prints the material, usually using a xerographic process or a computer printer. In some cases, books are printed on demand with no inventory kept. This places the bulk of the financial risk for the venture on the creators, with many self-publishers ultimately subsidizing it rather than making money from it.

Water - Power …

Southern California…

By Cynthia A. Whelan

Book Preview

My next self publish project will be “Cindy Blogs the Sierra” in print soon.

“If you seek what is honorable, what is good, what is the truth of your life, all other things you could not imagine come as a matter of course.

- Oprah Winfrey

Sometimes, I’m a terrible sarcastic cynic. But not this week.

Sometimes,
I need to believe that there are still doctors who want to heal people.
I need to believe that there are still Judges who want justice.
I need to believe that there are athletes who are in it for the competition, there are artists who want to fill the world with beauty, and there are some politicians who will defend our freedom.

This week, I believe that our leadership in the Forest Service is dedicated to “Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

Part of the reason I took the opportunity to visit the Chief’s Office was because I want our leadership to value public service, value the work on the ground, and value our mission. I need affirmation that someone understands some of the garbage we are facing, and someone is trying to make it work. I want to know that it looks as bad from the top, as it looks from the bottom. I need to know if we’re all in this together, and if we are going to move forward, we will do it together. And if our leadership isn’t with us little guys, I’d love to blog them right into the ground, throw darts at their photos, call them silly names; and I’d blog about their arrogance and their ignorance.

But I can’t. Not this week.

“If only I were Chief of the Forest Service!” Me and Gifford’s desk.

I’d like to modify a quote from Bill Clinton. My version goes like this:

There is nothing wrong with the Forest Service that cannot be cured by what is right with the Forest Service.

- Cynthia A. Whelan, the First Forest Service Blogger

This week, I learned how government should be.
I was not interrupted by someone’s ringing, buzzing or singing cell phone.
I was not put off, postponed or canceled because of a “higher priority emergency.”
I did not have to stare at the wall because someone was late and I had to wait.
I ate lunch at lunchtime, and conference calls started on time as scheduled and ended on time.
I was introduced at every new encounter, and I was included in every meeting and all discussions.
I was asked my opinion, and my reply was heard.
I saw flexibility, creativity, and optimism.
I saw how to move people forward, and how to get things done.
I saw that business is business.
I enjoyed a work environment of model respect and professionalism.

That’s the good news. Now - What’s wrong with ASC, our computers our daily bureaucratic grind? Before I left for Washington DC I had some questions that I wanted to have answered. It turns out, I’m satisfied with the answers.

The Albuquerque Service Center is a mess. A big mess, and those things you thought were lost, likely are lost. But someone is looking for it, someone is asking the questions, and someone is going to fix it. There is nothing finished and everything is changing. If you thought something was confusing, it is confusing. If you are frustrated, you are not alone. There is a Customer Service Group of Forest Service employees trying to ask the hard questions, and they are frustrated as we all are, trying to find the problems, and the solutions. Also know this, we are not going backwards. Business for the Forest Service is going to change, and not “back to the good ol’ days.” There is only one way and that way is to “find it and fix it.”

If you are convinced that EUSC stands for “You Suck,” you are correct. The End User Support Center, computer assistance to the field is unacceptable. I heard if from the Top End User himself. (Who in the world refers to another human being as an End User anyway?) There is good news in the works for us and our computers. With the conclusion of competitive sourcing, units may be looking at some flexibility to make local decisions on how we can get some real human-hands-on support. Who knows, we may be talking to The Geek Squad one day! But again, no going backwards. We will be centralized, but maybe not everything, everywhere, everyday, everyplace.

The Top End User - Hank Kashdan

Have you ever been told “it’s on the web,” only to be sent to a page that didn’t have a single link that helped direct you to something you need to get done? I hate it when that happens; jargon filled directions hidden in places no one can Google. Fool me once – and I’m not going back to that site again. The real deal is that most processes have changed, are changing, and will continue to change, and it can’t be put in one place. Websites need to be live in real time, and if your information is morphing even faster than technology, your instructions are going to look like an old DG. ( I know you remember Data General computers). But, hidden away, trying to herd cats, someone is writing, and re-writing, and testing and with some help, they may actually write the unthinkable and articulate how we do business. What if you had to write out instructions on how to buy a carton of milk? Do you tell someone how to start the car? Do you tell them they need a key to start the car? What if they don’t know what a key looks like? How much money should they take? Which size of milk and what percent? Then to top it off, do you also give instructions on the last question “paper or plastic?” This item too, I need to conclude with a strong dose of reality. It may be hard and confusing, but there is no going back. We will be getting instructions from websites, but they aren’t going to look like the garbage we have now.

I was wondering ‘who are these people who work in the WO?’ I was checking the directory and watching for people I had known ‘from the field.’ I found two. While visiting the Lands department, I stopped by to see Brent McBeth. Brent did an outstanding job helping the Sierra develop and write our communication Site Plans. Brent is professional, efficient, effective and technically proficient. While he was visiting the Sierra, Brent helped us finish a job that we could not have done on our own. I have a lot of respect for Brent and his work, and now he is providing leadership in the Washington Office. The second friendly forest level face in the WO was that of Kathy Gage. I thought for certain she had retired rather than centralize, and she almost did. When Kathy was on the Sierra she was organized, prompt, structured, accurate, direct and a valuable part of the Forest Leadership Team. I knew that she meant business, and she still does. I am glad to see that people I respect are now working in the Washington Office.

The Capitol as viewed from the Yates Building 5th floor.

You may be skeptical about my new found optimism. This is good, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet, including my blog. But this week, I am different from you because, I now have something that I can’t put in a blog, and I can’t give to you, and I can’t fully articulate. This week, I stood next to the people who are trying to cure our ills, and they are bleeding as green as we are. I looked in their eyes, and I heard their voices, and I saw their presence. I have seen the enemy and it is us. I have seen the solution and it is us. The ‘top’ is from the ‘field,’ and the field is moving up to the WO. Those-guys-who-are-making-us-do-all-that-stupid mandatory training are just as frustrated as we are, and they are trying to set things straight. Just as we are trying to do the right thing for the land and the people, and so are they.

I am indebted to everyone I met this week.

I know there are still people who are in their jobs for personal gain and just don’t care. I know there are people who will take the easy route instead of the right course. I know that not everyone is honest, or honorable, or professional, or live a life with integrity. But this week I’m willing to set that aside and be the Optimist. I believe that the Forest Service will fix its ills because I saw our leadership working just as hard as we are “Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

Next Sunday, I am off to Washington D.C. on a shadow assignment. I will be following Mr. Hank Kashdan, Deputy Chief for Business Operations, March 24-28. That too, I’m sure, will be fascinating. Ed Cole knows Hank and is very glad that I will have a chance to visit with Hank. I’m sure I’ll have something about it on my blog!

I’m already getting questions to ask Hank. “Ask him, why does everyone in California hate him?” Also “Ask Hank when is enough, enough?” “Find out when do we fix the mess we’re in?”
I’m not sure even I can be that forward, but if you have a question for me to check out with Hank, email me at cawhelan@comcast.net this next week. I may not use your question, but it might be blog worthy.

Here is an old press release from 2005. It is interesting what you can find with Google. (Have you Googled yourself lately? You should.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 2005 – USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today announced the selection of Hank Kashdan as deputy chief for operations. Hank is a public of the highest caliber with more than 32 years of service,” said Bosworth. “He is a great fit for this position because of his in-depth experience in administering our budget for the past several years as well as from the many different positions he has held in the field throughout his career.” Since 2000, Kashdan has directed the program and budget analysis staff in the business operations’ deputy area. He will replace Chris Pyon, who will retire from federal service at the end of the year. As deputy chief of business operations, Kashdan will oversee the following staffs: acquisition management; alternative dispute resolution; budget and finance; civil rights; communication; competitive sourcing; financial management; human resources management; information resources management; occupational safety and health; program and budget analysis; regulatory and management services; senior, youth and volunteer programs; and strategic planning and resource assessment. “I’m honored that Chief Bosworth has asked me to take on these duties and I look forward to meeting this new challenge in my career,” said Kashdan. “This is an important time for the Forest Service as it strives to implement major efficiencies in its administrative programs.” In 1973, Kashdan began his career as a survey technician doing land line and road surveys on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for the Kaibab National Forest (Arizona). He worked in a variety of positions in duty stations across the country, including as a ranger district administrative assistant, a timber sale-contracting officer, a forest administrative officer, and an assistant director in law enforcement. In 1993, he moved to Washington, DC, and spent two years detailed to the U.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations, Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee. Kashdan holds a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University (Arcata, Calf.).

Hank is responsible for all our favorites including the Albequreqe Service Center, human resources, internet technology, and finance!

If you have a question, ask “Cindy Blogs the Sierra.”

The Forest Service is in the bloggersphere, but only from inside. This official Forest Service blog can only be accessed from a Forest Service Server, and only with an eAuthentication password. It is an internal blog. I was going to check it, to write a blog about it, but I’ll have to read it at work, then write about it at home! From official to unofficial. Internal to external? If you can access this and see somthing blogable, let me know! These days, I’m rather busy at work, and seldom have time to read blogs, even my own!

—– Original Message —–

From: Hank Kashdan
Sent: 11/28/2007 06:40 AM
To: pdl wo ops amc all@FSNOTES; pdl wo ops deputy area@FSNOTES; pdl wo
Chief NLT@FSNOTES
Cc: Thiery Curtis; Donavan Albert
Subject: Welcome to the Forest Service Test of a Leadership BLOG

All,

As of this morning the Executive Leadership Team has entered the world of “blogging.” I want to thank the staff in the Office of Communications and Information Resource Management for their work in establishing the structure for blogging on the Forest Service intranet.

When we discussed this yesterday among the ELT, we admittedly were unsure how unleashing a “leadership blog” might work. Much of our being unsure is due to the fact that we really don’t know what is involved in being a “good blogger.” But what we do know is that we want to continually seek ways of staying in touch with Forest Service employees and providing a good venue for employees to visibly and easily dialog with each other on major topics.

So, through the link below (and the use of your e-authentication password), we invite you to get involved in helping leadership become familiar with blogging. This first blog simply provides the opportunity for employees to suggest how it might be used.

We have intentionally not made a big communication event out of kicking off this blog. We would simply like you to pass this link on and invite employees to participate. After a couple of weeks the ELT will assess how it has worked and “go from there.”

Thanks for giving this blog a look. Don’t hesitate to post your comments and thoughts.

http://apps.fs.usda.gov/roller/hank/

Hank Kashdan
Deputy Chief, Business Operations
Phone: 202-205-1707
Fax: 202-205-1181
Cell Phone: 703-851-8197

P.S. Blogs are meant for bragging. So just to brag, I still think I’m the first Forest Service blogger. You read it first, right here !

Have you ever kissed someone and they didn’t kiss you back?
Have you ever said “I love you,” only to be answered by a awkward, uncomfortable, sucking silence?
I have, and it was called: “Executive Leadership Program Developmental Assignment with the National Marine Fisheries Service.”

As a requirement of my participation in the USDA Executive Leadership Program I am required to complete a 60 day “Developmental Assignment.”

“An ELP developmental assignment is a special work experience where the participant has the opportunity to practice skills and learning’s in a new and different work environment.”

I saw this requirement as a real opportunity to ask some questions and maybe learn something new. Many times, I have wondered, did keep my career too narrow? Have I developed enough skills and abilities to work for private industry? Could I have done public service for another Federal Agency? How pigeon-holed am I? How specialized is my experience, and could I function in another work environment? Do I only have one place in the world? Is there only one employer willing to employ me? Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence?

My ELP developmental assignment was going to be the stuff worth blogging about… and it was, but not quite what I had imagined.

Through a fellow ELP student (and all around good guy), I followed up on an opportunity to work for National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA – Sacramento Area Office. How cool is that! I would be a stand-in Fish Biologist. In my experience, fish are way cool, especially the fish NMFS are responsible for: Chinook salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon, Threatened and Endangered anadromous fish. Anadromous fish hatch upstream, swim downstream to the ocean, hang out in the ocean and eat, then swim upstream to spawn and die. At a minimum I would learn how to say, and spell “anadromous.”

Then it got even cooler – I was to review current water storage options (a.k.a new dams) being considered in the state of California and provide that information to other NOAA staff, and also review current academic, State and Federal perspectives on climate change. Also, my assignment was to review NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) policy, regulations and procedures that may be concerned with the water storage options and issues.

All of the above were to be shared and discussed with the staff to get their perspective and opinions to formulate the Agency’s issues and concerns, or formulate an Agency position concerning the potential development of additional water storage in California.

Unfortunately, things turned from cool to cold, to frigid, then glacial.

The Sacramento sucker is not an andronomous fish.

My first lesson was in the value of face time. Everyone was AOK with a virtual assignment where I would meet with staff in Sacramento, return to write and do research at my desk, then return to Sacramento. Sort of like those migrating fish… Twice, I went to the Sacramento office and found no one, and I mean no one, there during regular business hours. I will not work another virtual job. I need to see who I am working with.

My second lesson was in making appointments. I re-learned the value of making appointments and keeping them. But, I didn’t make enough appointments. I needed to schedule out the whole 60 days in advance, because I soon found that I could end up waiting weeks before someone was available. Lots of appointments are needed to work with with NOAA/NMFS staff.

The next lesson is hard to describe, maybe because I didn’t learn how to deal with it. What do you do when you need substance and all you get is… nothing? I sent draft documents for review and people either read them and had no comment, or made editorial scratch marks. Maybe I didn’t understand just how independent I was supposed to be? So I stepped it up, sent out more drafts and started making phone calls. I became worried when people in the office wouldn’t make eye contact with me. Maybe “Have you read it yet?” was now tattooed on my forehead? Maybe I was now coming on too strong? I asked four people for help finding a Biological Opinion for green sturgeon and each referred me to someone else, and the last person wasn’t in the office. I eventually found two very nice BO’s for sturgeon on their server using the Microsoft search document function. You can do a lot with Google and Microsoft as your only friends.

I was warned in advance, “Be careful, they’re a bunch of overworked introverts,” my mentor told me. I’m used to overworked staff, and I’m used to introverts, but not like this!

Yesterday, I finished. Actually, I stopped. After getting up at 0500, and driving three hours to Sacramento, I went to pick up any comments, take a photograph of the staff, and incorporate any remaining comments, but there was nothing on my desk. There were no messages. My supervisor was gone, and there was nothing for me to do. After three weeks of asking for comments on my draft document, not one comment, not one response. The cool project was moving slower than a glacier before global warming! I decided I was done; so done, I didn’t even want to take their photo. I departed the office leaving my binder of materials and my NOAA badge in my supervisor’s office.

Can you tell that I’m a bit bitter? Yes, but despite circumstances, I still think it was one of the coolest projects I have been allowed to work on, and I learned a very big lesson.

Several times over the last three weeks, I looked down, hoping to see my ruby red slippers. “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home,” and I would click my heels three times.

This Developmental Assignment has reminded me about the value of long-term relationships and the value of finding a niche, of knowing your home. This March, my husband and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. There is a reason why we are still married after 25 years. When I kiss him, we kiss together. When I say “I love you,” he says “I love you, too.” Long-term relationships are long-term because they are the result of a good decision about the right fit.

This April, I will have 28 years working for the Forest Service and I’m looking forward. I had a opportunity to jump the fence and see just how green is that grass on the other side? I’m glad that while jumping that fence I tripped, and my jeans ripped on a nail, and I got a bloody nose. I had an opportunity to look at another corporate culture, another work environment, another part of the world, and some one else’s job. I know why I work for the Forest Service, because it is a good decision and the right fit for both of us.

Indeed, I know why the Chinook salmon swim up stream!
Now, that’s cool.

Sleep has been called temporary death, but there’s so much that goes on during that time of repose. Your brain is more active while you’re asleep than when watching television, and that’s even when you don’t walk or talk in your sleep. No wonder You can lose sleep over things. While visiting that other world one might walk, talk, grind teeth, and sometimes dream.

When I woke up the other night, I remembered my dream, and I knew what it was about.

I am in a low-security detention center. Not quite a prison, but really really close. Noticing how nice everyone was dressed, I was glad that I too was dressed for the occasion. I was resolved that it was ok to be here to pay my dues, but I really wanted to make some friends so I could get out early. “I can be friendly” so I started out to shake hands and introduce myself. Everyone looked at me like I was speaking another language, and did not understand. “Darn it.” I thought I could get out sooner than this…”

My developmental detail with NOAA or the National Marine Fisheries Service is just half over. Last week I went to the office on Monday to attend a Staff Meeting and then returned again on Friday to pick up some reading material, see who was around and do an interview with the “Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources Division.”

It was a good week. Monday I drove and Friday I took the Amtrak. I like taking the train to work.
There were sunny skies on my NOAA computer.

I was thinking that things weren’t too bad, but I became a bit concerned after listening to the Monday staff meeting. There was talk about some people feeling overworked, and if you think assignments aren’t evenly distributed… and who to talk to if you aren’t happy.

When the round-robin came to me I thanked everyone for their patience and asked if I could take a photo of the group. “Yes, what a good idea…” Individual conversations broke out and then… everyone moved on and adjourned and left the room and went to their individual cubicles or left the office.

All I could surmise was that I didn’t spell out the words “PHOTO - NOW,” and pull out my camera and start flashing. What part wasn’t clear? All I can figure is that I need to make an appointment for even the simplest of things, like take a photo.

It’s not just the photo thing, but in order to ask a question, I need an appointment. To get comments, I need an appointment. And every time I do catch someone in the office to ask a question I get “Now why do you need that?” or “What is that for?” or “I guess you could do that…” and it is almost always accompanied by that blank look “Que?” “Por que?” “No hablo englesia.” and off they scurry out of the office.

Consider these photos. This is a the view the fish biologists look at when they are in the office. Possibly what I didn’t understand while awake, I understood in my sleep? Cells. Prison cells?
What happens to a biologist when you lock them up in a high rise cement and glass building?

OK, I’m not being fair. (Blogging isn’t about being fair.) After all, I only really know two of their words: Biological Assessment and Biological Opinion. Perhaps there was more to their talk than I could possibly understand. Maybe their words were really code words for planning their escape! Words like:

Threat Assessments
Recovery Strategies
Independent populations
Habitat Restoration
Recovery Actions
Predation Threats
Salinity Control Gates
POD Workshop
Emergency Levee work
Independent Science Board
And
Spring Run Program…

What if - they are the ones that are threatened? What if they are the ones that wish to run, to be independent, to be in control, to recover?

Maybe I’ll try harder to make some friends, or maybe I’ll just plan to join in their break out of prison! Maybe my next blog could be about “The Great NOAA Escape!”
Right now, I’ll try not to lose sleep over it.

Actual candid photo of NOAA fisheries biologist.

I’m three weeks into my detail and I have a few observations.

My first impression was that the National Marine Fish people are very neat. The office was almost stark with no big piles of paper, no personal clutter, no junk on the floor. There were actually clear working space surfaces. I’m not talking about public space, people had a clean and clear personal working space. I had to ask a few people ‘where is your stuff?’ They didn’t understand the question. “You know, the loads of papers that need to be recycled, the flood of files, the stacks of reports, the deluge of draft documents, the oodles of agendas, the mounds of meaningless memos, the conglomeration of clutter, the tons of trash, the desktop debris, the heaps of crap that no one wants to deal with?”

I learned that I was accustomed to living in bureaucratic paper squalor. I like going to the NOAA office. It is clean.

Before I arrived at the Sacramento office, I received a phone call from their IT Specialist. Yes, a living, breathing, human being named Shawn Martin and he was going to set up my computer account. First their IT person is a real person, and second, he called me. Wow. I took a photo of him because he’s real and he was right there, sitting at MY desk, setting up my account, my passwords, my access to the server and wanting to know if I had any questions! Woe. First, the place is clean then someone wants to help me with my computer. This is a photo of Shawn. No Photoshop touch up here. Real photo, real computer guy at my desk and his name is Shawn. ( End User Support Center what the hell does that mean?)
He must have thought something was up when I had to breath into a paper bag to stop myself from fainting from hyperventilation. I asked Shawn (I used his name) so, what do you do here? And we had a conversation about the electronic file system, the printers in the office and how he likes his job.

I like NOAA. They are living human beings.

What I’m not sure about is what do they do? There are several desks that look like someone uses it (albeit neatly,) but I haven’t had the chance to meet them. There are a lot of staff that “telework.” That means work at home. Some have long commutes, some have health and family considerations and some work for other offices like Arcata and Santa Rosa. Of the twenty-six names on the phone list, thirteen list either an alternate cellular phone or a telework phone number. Staff either are there, or they aren’t. I left notes on the desks of a couple of people, and they didn’t give me a call. Nothing different there, other than they list a phone number where they can be reached. They admit that they won’t be in the office daily.

I’m not sure I like having a virtual position, but it appears that I with my once-a-week schedule fit in just fine. I need to make appointments if I expect to talk with someone, but that’s ok. It means that I need to know what I want to discuss, who I need to discuss it with and have a plan for when. I can learn how to do that.

In my conversations and exploration of who does what, it appears that they manage a lot fewer projects. Some seem to have maybe one or two projects, not the five million that we juggle on a regular basis. I met someone who’s only responsibility is to work with Caltrans’ consultations; sort of a Caltrans Coordinator. When Caltrans has a project, he is their contact. The agency focus is much narrower, and so is their workload. I think I could stand to have so few projects that I could count them on my fingers.

When it comes to my project, well, that is a bit fuzzy. “We need this paper that talks about… not sure what format to use… not sure exactly what to cover, or what you need to do…but I’m sure whatever you do will be so much more than what we currently have.” My project instructions are a bit fuzzy, a bit nebulous, a bit vague.

Now that is something I do understand! I can work with that.

This is the start my fourth year of “Cindy Blogs the Sierra.” To start off 2008 I have a comparison project. I have never worked for any other part of the government. All I know is the Forest Service. when I signed up for the Executative Leadership Program, I decided that my 60 day developmental assignment would have to be for another agency, or another governmental entity. A detail with the Forest Service would be more of the same.

It took me a while to get my nerves up, but after some hesitation, I will be on a 60 day developmental assignment to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which is under the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. It is part of my training, Leadership Development Plan, for the Executive Leadership Program. My detail is virtual, based in Sacramento, but I will do some traveling and some work at my desk.

I have a great project. I will be working with NMFS fisheries biologists to develop a NOAA position paper on the Governor’s Storage Initiative with consideration given to the California Department of Water resources recent conclusions about climate change and changes to water availability in California. Something about new dams and global warming. Cool… no, no, no… Hot!

While on detail, I will be checking my FS email, but I won’t be accepting any new appointments until after March 10. I will also continue my work with the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew and the Chawanakee Land Exchange. Most of my other projects will be on hold, or so I hope.

In addition to Cindy Blogs the Sierra, I just launched a new photography website using my mac. I was going to go with a commercial site, until I saw how easy it was to set up a website on my mac. I love my mac.

Here is a link.

Cynthia A Whelan

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, but I was disappointed when someone said they couldn’t see one of the photos I posted on my blog. My mac website looks a bit canned, because it is, but it works for my second website.

I hope you like my new website. It too, contains a blog and you can subscribe to receive an email when I update or make changes.

November was a busy month for me. I’ve been wanting to post this blog for a couple of weeks, but I have been running, running, running…
Sometimes I have to choose my priorities, and blogging, well, sometimes it needs to wait.

This post is what I wrote for my speech for the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew dinner. I appreciate their interest in making the time, to take the time to sit in one room, together and take that moment to look at each other and just be together.

Here is my message to our volunteers and a few photos.

I am very proud to be here tonight. I am also very excited because I get to personally thank you.

Not only do I get to thank you, but I get to thank you from several different perspectives. Like many of you, I have several roles that I play, and I stand in front of you today not as one person, but as three.

Tonight I would like to thank you wearing three different hats, and I have them here with me.

The first person to thank you tonight is Cindy Whelan the Public Servant/Government Employee. This is the role most that is most familiar to you. Cindy Whelan Assistant Lands Officer for the Sierra National Forest and Partnership Coordinator.

The second person to thank you tonight is Cindy Whelan a fellow volunteer – not a volunteer for the Forest Service, because that is my day job, but I have volunteered other jobs because I have decided were important to me and my family

And the third Cindy Whelan that would like to thank you is Cindy Whelan a fellow citizen of the United States of America. A citizen concerned about our public lands, the health of our National Forests and the future of our environment, and our county.

I will start with the role that provided me with the opportunity to stand here; Cindy Whelan the Public Servant.

This is a good start because these are very challenging times for government employees. There are so many changes; I really can’t even begin to understand them myself. Change is occurring in the Forest Service so fast we really can’t keep up.

Many of the changes are very confusing and very challenging, but one of the most exciting changes is the change that is going to involve you. We are seeing a dramatic change in our approach to public involvement and our approach to volunteers and partnerships.

The Forest Service has been changing during my whole career. I would like to tell you about the Forest Service that I started working for. About 20 years ago to a Forest Service that was strong in timer management, big in commodity production and big in the belief that we government employees were responsible for taking care of the public interest. Not just taking care of the interest but guarding and defining it. We thought that we really new what was needed by the public and we knew what needed to be done with and on the land. We were charged with the public interest and by golly, we were the only ones who knew how to do the right thing. And people for a large part entrusted the government to taker of things and fix it if it wasn’t right.

But I believe that we have gradually seen a impressive change slowly working through the country. This millennium is different. People are not expecting the government to be caretaker and sole proprietor of the public trust. “Trust me, I work for the government,” doesn’t cut it at all any more. People are more and more beholding the expectation that they are to be included in public policy and the management of public lands, public interest. Being heard isn’t enough. Now it is time to participate.

We see it in the news every day. Distrust for government oversight of security contractors. Distrust of government regulation of importing toys and food; and distrust of the management of our public resources. America does not trust anyone who says “Trust me.”

Even though I am a government employee, I am very excited bout this change. I see us changing from a representative democracy, to a more participatory democracy. Instead of hiring someone go do the right thing, we are now going to be there together, learning from each other what needs to be done, evaluating the consequences, and participating in the planning, the decision making and the implementation of public policy. You are not longer only voting in the voting booth, you are now voting with your time, interest, and donations.

America is taking back its responsibility for democracy and the management of public lands. And you are the epitome of that change – and it is good.

So, as a government employee I want to thank you for showing up, and volunteering and participating in what I see as a new democratic approach to government.

The second Cindy, that wants to thank you, let me put on my volunteer hat… I too volunteer. I am very busy with my job, my family and my personal interests. But I try very hard to exercise one of our great freedoms of choice. In America we are so fortunate that we can choose where we live, we can choose where we work, and we can choose what we spend our time on. We can choose to support our local church, our kid’s soccer team, or our community service organization. Do you realize how beautiful it is to have the social, economical, and political culture that allows us the ability to choose how we spend our time? To spend our time with the things that don’t pay us in money, or food, but pay us in a spiritual and social satisfaction? You know all too well that there are places in this world where people aren’t safe enough to spent time on building trail. There are places in this world were there isn’t enough food for families to enjoy a child’s sporting event. There are places in this world where picking up the trash from the bad guys would mean getting shot by the bad guys. But we are safe enough, and well fed, and healthy enough to volunteer our time for our environment.

So I want to thank you as a fellow volunteer all for making this country a place where I too can volunteer my time for my family and community. We are very fortunate.

The third hat that I am wearing tonight is the hat of a fellow citizen. I love our public land and clean water and an environment filled with fish and fowl. But shucks, I can’t do it all. I have tried, but I just can’t. So I need you to help, to spend time to do what I can not. I can’t pick up the trash, and clear the trail and remove the noxious weeds – all by myself. But I can if I do it with you. We can do all those things we dream of. Clean air, clear water and a beautiful treasure of public land. We can gather as citizens, combine our vision, combine our effort and combine our love, to protect our common interests. To protect this country and more than ever to protect our precious world ecosystem.

So I want to thank you as a citizen of this country and a citizen of our world for taking the time and making the effort to volunteer for the Sierra National Forest.

I also want to let you know how much I look forward to our future together. I with all three of my hats, I am very encouraged by our small actions and our ability to make big changes. Last year was a milestone for volunteers on the Sierra National Forest, but is was nothing like what we will see next year. Last year was wonderful and we are off and running to a great relationship – we have a lot of work ahead of us wearing all our hats!

Thank you for this chance to share with you this evening.

Sometimes, unlike the movies, you don’t recognize “THE END” has arrived.
Sometimes there is no ceremony, no declaration, no divorce, no handshake, not even a wave good-by.

Every year, the Lands and Minerals Officers would gather to discuss the latest budget, review changes in policy, maybe learn about a new process, and have a chance to network. It was a chance to see what is happening out there on other Forests. But, it may be no more. Will the Lands and Minerals staff meet in 2008?

This month John De La Torre sent a message out to Region 5 Directors giving instructions on how to manage Regional travel and meetings.

“In the RF’s FY 2008 Regional Office Budget decision letters of August 30
and October 1 addressed meetings and the need for RF approval of all FY
2008 meetings. The October 1 letter stated:

Travel and Meetings, Conferences or Retreats Approval Changes –
1. The Regional Forester Team will need to review and approve all travel
to the Pacific Islands and Hawaii and all foreign travel.
2. Meetings, Conferences and Retreats: Staffs will need to need to
submit a request (attached) to the Regional Forester Team for any meetings
or conferences or retreats planned during FY 2008. Any meeting,
conference or retreat needs to have this request submitted and approved
prior to finalizing plans for the meeting. The request will need to
include a cost analysis to support the selection of sites for meetings,
conferences and retreats. Approval of sites that are not the lowest cost
will need to be justified and approved by the RF Team.”

I appreciate having a chance to visit with other Lands Staff to see how their projects are going and what changes they are facing. Last year I attended, and in my spirit of positive photography, I gathered everyone together for an attempt at a group photo. People begrudgingly lined up along the poorly lit stairwell and I grabbed a few shots of the group.

Could this be the last photo, of the last gathering, of the Pacific Southwest Region Lands and Minerals staff? Will reorganization, I’m sorry - “Transformation” change this tradition? How do you do a cost analysis to support a meeting where people get to catch up with current policy and projects? How do you place a dollar amount on knowing that you’re not alone, that others too wonder “How in the world are we going to get anything done, if THAT is our policy direction?” This may have been a historic moment with no anthem, no “Fanfare for the Common Man,” no announcement, no memo, no recognition, no closing prayer, no applause.

These days, I find myself frequently singing along with Joni Mitchell
“Don’t is always go to show
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?”

Big Yellow Taxi

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot.
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

They took all the trees and put ‘em in a tree museum,
And then they charged all the people twenty-five bucks just to see ‘em.
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT now.
Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please?
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Late last night I heard the screen door slam,
And a big yellow taxi carried off my old man.
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Last week, by the golden glow of the quaking aspen, the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew (HSVTC), Southern California Edison (SCE), Sierra National Forest (FS) and Mono Native Americans gathered for three days to get dirty for the future health of Jackass Meadow.

Decades ago, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) allowed SCE to divert water from Tombstone creek for hydroelectric power. High in the San Joaquin River watershed, that diversion changed the flow of water and a hidden partner of the Native American plant gathers - the flow of sand to Jackass Meadow. This change in sand changed the dynamics of the plants used in basket making.

Sandy soil grows long, strong sedge rhizomes (underground stems) needed for Native American basket making. Basketmakers harvest sedge rhizomes (“white root”) by carefully digging and cutting long strands and leaving the parent plants in place. Thus harvesting is also tending, and sedge beds improve over time by virtue of this thinning of plants and loosening of soil.

Transformation is again in the works for Jackass Meadow. Through a Collaborative Settlement Agreement, SCE has decided to remove the diversion above the meadow, restore the water regime, and work with the Forest Service and native people to restore the meadow vigor and the availability of basket materials.

The first big collaborative project took place in conjunction with the 2007 Public Lands Day. Hard working volunteers pushed wheelbarrows of sand at the direction of Native people. Willow bushes were trimmed to provide new shoots for basket making, and a split log fence was replaced to keep horses from disturbing the area.

“It was hard work and a good, educational project” says Mike Ketscher, Sierra National Forest employee and liaison to the HSVTC. The volunteers, SCE, the Forest, and the Mono people all came together and showed that collaboration is not only possible, it is constructive, productive, and fun!

Envision, Empower, And Succeed! That was the motto for the 20th annual Central Valley Women’s Conference held on September 18, 2007 at the Fresno Convention Center. In the Community Corner was yours truly, the Sierra National Forest with a booth and twelve attendees handing out Smokey the Bear buttons, antenna balls, magnets, note pads and pamphlets. But it wasn’t all about Smokey. Our display booth also contained the same photos and message the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew used at Big Hat Days, and we were all proudly handing out the HSVTC’s brochure to many of the over 4,000 attendees. I was glad to attend to share our display, our message, and encourage women to check out volunteer opportunities to get out, get evolved, and get together with the Sierra National Forest and the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew.

Francine Ward “The Jury is Still Out on Your Story”
It’s the moments we’ll remember, not the stuff.
Moments equal stories.
Revisit your stories because sometimes our stories control us.
You don’t need to live in your story.
What has been keeping you stuck?
Get real about your story.
Know it, before you change it. Talk about it to be free.
Change the details about how that story looks.
No matter what you are given, you can create a masterpiece.
Take your “dog case” and pay attention to the details and do the work that needs to be done.
Be creative and turn the facts around.
Ask for help and do something, because “the Jury is still out on your Story!”

Mimi Donaldson – Do not waste your energy on stress!
Stress in an internal response to an external event.
Some people have a formal relationship with time and space and some people have a casual relationship with time and space – the other will drive you crazy if you let it.
Don’t speak if you have a ‘tone’ in your attitude.
What you really are facing is your worry, anger, and resentment when your stress gets triggered.
People are not used to kindness; take the time to let someone else rush through.
Take your time, take a breath and think about what do you really want?
Adapt, alter the situation and openly discuss your stressful situation with someone.

Linda Smith – Don’t be a constipated lizard!
We have choices and attitude is 100% of what we are.
Don’t seat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.
Don’t let others determine who you are.
Have an “Attitude of Altitude” because you have choices.
There is never a reason NOT to feel joy and there is always something to laugh about.
Fix your mind-body connection.

Goldie Hawn – Make your choices daily. Isn’t it fun to not know where you are going?
Habituate good thoughts to change.

Liz Goodgold – You are never going to be like everybody else, so be true to yourself!

“Behind every good woman, is herself.” CEO Table Mountain

Early last year, my supervisor encouraged me to consider and apply for the USDA Graduate School. I haven’t attended a big leadership class in a while (10 years) so it sounded like a good thing to do.

“The Executive Leadership Program is an intensive nine-month developmental program designed to develop future public service leaders by providing assessment, experiential learning and individual development opportunities.”

What the heck, sounds like fun.

I and one other R5 Forest Service employee, Terry Froli from the Lassen NF, were accepted to attend the Center for Leadership and Management’s Executive Leadership Program - ELP. Last week we attended our orientation session in Baltimore, Maryland. The class is about 300 attendees, and we are broken into working groups of ten.

This was the first time I had introduced myself as “US Department of Agriculture.” Not only was I considered with a whole pack of other government employees, but this group did not look like your standard Forest Service crowd (old and white). This group is better example of workforce diversity.

I would like you to meet my new friends of the ELP - MVP’s (Executive Leadership Program - Most Valuable Players).

Katherine (Kat) Grahm
Passport Specialist & Academic Liaison,
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Quote: “Go Red Sox!”

Gus Shanine
Transportation Manager, US Department of Transportation,
Federal Highway Administration
Atlanta, Georgia
Quote: “Everyone has a right to his or her opinion.”

Cheryl Avent
Logistics Management, Naval Air Systems Command
Patuxent River, Maryland
Quote: “Grey is not a sign of getting older,
it’s a sign of getting wiser!”

Howard Brown
Fishery Biologist
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
Sacramento, California
Quote: “North to the Future!”

Michelle Armstrong
Department of Education
Washington, DC
Quote: “Ten minds are better than one.”

Lee Anne Kramer
Project Manager, U.S. General Services Administration,
GSA Public Buildings Service
Kansas City, Missouri
Quote: “Interesting Fact: I love to scuba dive!!!”

Jeffery Brown
Deputy Director, Marine Corps Community Services,
Pruchasing & contracting Branch
Okinawa, Japan
Quote: “One can not achieve excellence alone.”

Kimberly (Kim) Huges
Chief, Executive Secretariat Branch, USDA,
Farm Service Agency, Office of External Affairs
Washington, DC
Quote: “You too can be a travel agent!”

Daren Magness
Federal Aviation Association,
Hardware Manager
Washington, DC
Quote: “Hell, Yeah!”

And Me
Cynthia Whelan
Assistant Lands Officer, Sierra National Forest
Clovis, California
Quote: “No matter where you go, there you are!”

I think we are one hell of a group of outspoken, pragmatic extraverts wanting to get down to business. In three (3) hours we were able to develop and decide on:

Team Name
Team Motto
Team Colors
Team Icon
Team Shirt
Team Cheer

Team Song: MVP Team (…sung to the tune of YMCA… “It’s fun to lead with the MVP Team”)
Team Leadership Schedule for the Nine Month Program
Role of Team Lead
Role of Facilitator
Team Charter
Team Mission Statement
List of Shared Values
Team Profile
Operating Requirements
Potential Pitfalls
Guiding Principles
Team Structure
Team Decision Making
List of topics suggested for Team Project
A synopsis of ELT progress and processes during the week
Ways the team will support each other’s individual growth
Team communication strategies
Team Points of Contact
And Team Action Items

Several “Teams” that I have been on couldn’t accomplish that in three years, let alone any timeframe that could be measured in hours. I am impressed with our flexibility and willingness to get along to get a task done. I like moving quick and running with fast people. This team is smart and efficient.

Our Team Charter

“The ELP-MVP project team will consist of all team members as assigned to team #20 by the USDA Graduate School Executive Leadership Program for the 2007/2008 class. The LEP-MVP team members, will to the fullest extent their abilities, work both individually and together to meet all of the requirements described in the 2007/2008 project handbook. All representatives of the LEP-MVPs are expected to participate equally, and therefore, will have equal representation on the project team.”

Furthermore, the ELP-MVPs, will, to the maximum extent practicable, and allowable by existing policy, statute, or law, integrate fun, a cooperative spirit, and enjoyable atmosphere, while carrying out all program-related activities and requirements

We had to turn in a synopsis of our Executive Leadership Team progress and processes during the week, and it look like this:

“Our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) came together as a team almost immediately. The team is made up of a variety of backgrounds, experiences, skills, abilities, and personalities. Each team member possesses a strong personality and is not shy about expressing their ideas and opinions. Even though these strong personalities exist, the team is able to come to quick decisions in order to move on to the next issue/topic. Each member is encouraged to openly express their ideas and opinions. We have developed a schedule where as each team member will serve as a Team Lead over the next nine months. We have been exposed to various tools that we may customize to fit our specific leadership styles that will allow us to develop our strengths and weaknesses.”

For my progress in the class, I wrote a few personal goals for the ELP.
1) Do everything required for the class.
2) Do it on time.
3) Do it well.
4) Do something that will last.
5) Do something personal.
6) Do something that changes our future.
7) Do it all while maintaining my real life and my current job.

So, what am I going to do?
Actually, I’m not sure, but I like that part about “integrating a fun, cooperative spirit!” (Did I mention how much I enjoyed taking the water taxi and wallowing in crab and beer?) As we come up with some of our products, and as I complete my six Senior Executive Service interviews, my three day job shadowing and my 60-day developmental assignment, I’ll be posing what I think about it on my blog. It should be most interesting!

When out photographing, it’s with a sense of play: no bounds are in sight, anything is possible, and the unexpected welcome.
- Chip Forelli

Last month, I climbed up one dam and down another. I ventured into the bowels of powerhouse buildings looking at turbines, gauges, and water sumps. I stood next to deafening generators, and later felt the soft cool spray from water spewing out from massive penstocks and valves.

“Rusty Edison”

Hydroelectric facilities are a serious industrial creation: concrete structures filled with large metal cylinders, valves, wires, chains, towers, levers, pumps, controls, tools, hoses, and pipes running this way and that, disappearing into cold damp walls. These are necessities to keep California supplied with electricity.

“Two Crane Valves”

But not every part the power production scene is solemn. For a change in perspective, I allowed myself to look beyond the generators and oil containment barriers of the powerhouses comprising Southern California Edison’s Big Creek Hydroelectric projects. I took a moment to absorb the colors, shapes, and visual amusements within this utilitarian scene. Aesthetics was not in the equation when these facilities were pieced together, but there within all that power, I found what is best described as fun. Bright colors, playful antics, graffiti, graphic designs, confusing viewpoints, and abstract peculiarities, were scattered around an otherwise engineered setting. I learned that even in power, there is folly.

“Power in a Fish Bowl” and
“The Governor is Maxed Out”

I took digital photos with a Nikon D70s, Nikor AF-S 18-200mm 3,5-5.0 DX VR zoom lens. Post processing was done on my iMac using iPhoto and commercially printed.

My portfolio of twenty photographs, “Power and Folly” is currently on display at the Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office.

“Counting Down and Up”

I think relates this to the Forest Servcie, but I’m not sure:

“I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own.”
Andy Warhol

and

“Land really is the best art. “
Andy Warhol

I don’t think Andy would have been very successful in the Forest Service, but he is one of my favorite artists.

What would you do if you decided to do something you didn’t really expect you would be able to do, but you did it?
And maybe, you might have even done it well, even thought you weren’t really sure what you were doing?

When I sent my portfolio to Fresno Arts Council last fall, I expected it to be my first in a series of rejection notices. “I can learn how to get rejected.” “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is a very valuable saying and I believe it. When you are self taught, you also need to make your own mistakes.

But they didn’t reject me. They were willing to give me a full 30 days in August of 2007 to publicly show - “exhibit” in a busy public building, a selection of photographs that I took and called ‘art’. Strangers would come and see what I thought was interesting. I would have an ‘artist’s reception’ to meet people who would come to see my ‘art.’

With some serious help from Dave Kohut (Forest Service Retiree), I carefully prepared 21 of my favorites from the Muir Trail Ranch, and learned how to make a professional looking piece of art. I love them and I think they are beautiful. My husband said “I hope you have a successful ArtHop.” But I didn’t know what that would be. What is success in the world of art? Hell if I know. I’ve been living for the last 27 years in the world of the Forest Service, and the likelihood of any similarities between the two worlds would be bizarre.

On the first Monday I took my collection, complete with little title cards and delivered them for hanging. A real live “Curator” met me at Fresno City Hall and said “That’s OK. You can go now. I’ll take your photos, do my magic, and hang them so they look beautiful.” And I left my 21 little children with this stranger to put them on display. I wouldn’t see them until my ‘artist’s reception.’

Next, I took of my Artist’s Hat and put on my Caterer’s Hat. Menu: little rolled sandwiches, veggies, cookies and wine. Cheap three-buck-a-bottle wine. I needed to learn how to give a friendly low cost reception, and it worked.

And strangers came to the Fresno City Hall to see my photographs.

“We’re just here for ArtHop. So… Are you the Artist?” “I just love these little cups. Where did you get them?”

Now, I had to ‘be the artist.’ People came to City Hall to ‘talk to the artist.’

“So, you have this thing with wood…”

“You know, they don’t look all that special up close, but from here they are beautiful.”

“Do you use a digital camera? I have a digital camera, but I don’t know how to use it.

“Are all of these from the same location? Where is that anyway?”

“I’ve never been to ArtHop before. What’s going on here?”

“Where is the Pan Valley exhibit?” (Upstairs. Take the elevator, over there, to the second floor.)

But the best thing of all was that my friends also came. I wish I had a photo of everyone who took the time to see me, and my art.

My hair stylist brought chips and dip and a desert. How many people get food from their hairdresser? Two whole families brought their children. Others brought family members or had to convince family that it would be OK if they were out for a few hours on a weeknight.

And my dear husband the Chemistry teacher (scientist not an artist) helped me set up and clean up after patiently listening to me stress out for the last ten months since we received my acceptance letter.

And everyone was so nice. Thank you all for just being there and being you.
I hope that wasn’t my 15 minutes of fame. There are too many people so proud of my accomplishment.

Now, what am I going to do when I do get rejected? Worse yet, what will I do next?

Thank you Jeanne, Nancy, Barbra, Dave, Retha, Kathy, Mary, Julie, Kim, Carla, Charlie, Cathy, Marty, Lilly, Philip, and Keith.