So I was trying to figure out what to write about yesterday to keep you all entertained. I realized there wasn’t much to be said for going to all of my classes again (sorry guys), I really didn’t feel like a political rant, and I was fresh out of funny… just when I thought about giving up and just finding some links, I got an IM. After I got that IM, I tried writing a post. The post sucked. I went back and edited it. It still sucked. So I saved it and I’m coming back to it now. I sincerely hope this one doesn’t suck, but no promises here.
So what was the IM about? Well, more CKI nonesense of cousre. It turns out that a CKI member, we’ll call her… umm… “XXX”… is trying to get a Sapphire Circle honorary for her advisor. These things are $1,000, and XXX sent $750 and a completed application to CKI. Some time later, the $750 check cleared XXX’s bank. When she called to check on the application, however, the kind people at the KI office told her that they don’t have a clue what she’s talking about. They’d never seen the app. Or the check. Basically they just had no idea what she was talking about. Even more strangely, when confronted about it, they suggested that XXX just send another check.
Send another check. Send another check. Another one? Are you kidding? Proof that the check was cashed? Nooo… just send us ANOTHER $750. Surely SHE doesn’t need it, right?
There are three ways to look at this situation. The first is a simple mistake. It could be a mistake on XXX’s part, a post office error of some sort, or an honest mistake at the office. The second is pure and unbridled stupidity. The least likely is malice.
What kind of mistakes could make this happen? Well, if (for whatever reason) the application managed to get sent to certain wrong departments the cogs could’ve just done the wrong thing with the check and discarded the extra forms. Or, it could’ve been correctly processed, but some kind of reporting error caused it not to be noticed. There are lots of options here, but they’re all a bit tenuous.
Then we have stupidity. Stupidity, like hydrogen, is prevalent at the CKI office. I don’t really have proove that point again. What kind of stupidity? Well… it’s somewhat related to the ‘honest mistake’ category, but really… if your job is to process checks, and you get one that has a whole bunch of documents with it that look nothing like the documents you usually get… don’t you think you should stop to consider what’s going on? Let’s also keep in mind that most corporations (like CKI) don’t just make a run to the bank and deposit a few checks. There are systems, processes, and other things to worry about when making a deposit. If these things were ignored, or if they don’t exist at all (which I sincerely doubt), that’s stupid.
To take a line from the Howard Dean playbook, the “most interesting” theory is one of malicious intent. The Sapphire Circle was for an individual that did a lot of standing up for UCKI, Manny, Amy, and I. It’s possible that someone in the office decided that it was time for a little payback. I really doubt anyone thought they could get away with stealing the money, but delaying the application such that it doesn’t get processed in time wouldn’t KILL anyone, would it?
The whole scenario is a bit fishy — but, at the very least, we can safely assume that the ginormous dues increase hasn’t done much to help their efficiency.
Update: Name removed because the source whined.
If Sapphire Circles are $1000, why did XXX send in $750? I know there is a pledge thing where you pay some now and promise to pay the rest later, I wonder if that got hosed up also. I would not be surprised to see the office send 3 Carthage Pullman\’s (at 250 apiece) instead. But asking for another check for 750 just shows how out of touch with reality the vast majority of that office is.
As far as payback — LaMissTenn decided to award me a Sapphire Circle to be given to me at the end of the fall trainer that I ran in October. The office swore up and down the award would be there in time to give to me. It did not arrive in time. And, itstead of having Sunday\’s date engraved, it had Friday\’s date engraved. That\’s the stuff that will drive you crazy!
My understanding is that she sent part and was sending the rest later. My issue is how they cashed a $750 check but \”know nothing about it.\”
You are right. Like I have said before, in the real world, staff people who are that incompetent lose their jobs. No business could ever be successful being run that badly. But in the world of the KI office, that sort of ineptitude seems to be encouraged!
Esp. when they\’ll fire someone like Strem, but keep someone like casey.
Isn\’t that the truth! But come on Pete…you know staff memebrs aren\’t allowed to speak their minds or have opinions that differ from the powers that be.
Their minds…? Wait a minute, surely I\’m missing something.
Oohhh… we could start an entire blog dedicated to bashing staff just on the issue of firing Strem and how that was the worst decision they have ever made. Don\’t get me started!!!
Okay…maybe not “their minds” but Strem wasn’t offered a position in the reorganization cause she saw where things really were and wasn’t afraid to say what was what
Hahaha… I\’ll host it, Bobby!
Kim: Amen to that.