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.
