It's been a problem from the get go. I have been going every night since I joined. Starting Friday the 19th there have been real issues Sunday I sent an email. Here is what I wrote in my Sparkpeople blog:
his is a copy and paste of it
Hi,
I am a new masterkey member of the Y and for the most part I am enjoying it but I really have to question why you have rules for things like the 19 and older locker rooms or which way to go on the track or 12 and over on the fitness equipment if they are never enforced.
I have been to the Southtowns branch of the Y most evenings since I joined and there have been several issues that need addressing.
One is that on Friday March 19th, 2001 2010 there was a toddler aged child upstairs in the Wellness Center ( I think that's what you call it) running in between the machines,,, I saw one woman fall because she was trying to avoid the kid. This is dangerous to everyone involved. I have no issue with children of reasonable age using the machines if they are able to do so safely- this chils was not able to do that and his/her parents were not watching them so that they were safe.
On Saturday March 20th, 2010 I saw several young children brought into the Woman's - 19 and over change room, one of whom, a young boy, made several disconcerting comments to me about private areas of my body while he was there. His mother did nothing to stop this. Staff was made aware of him yet did not make his mother take him to the family dresing room. I should be able to be in the dressing room with out harrassment because someone decided that they don't have to follow rules. ( Would you like it if an opposite sex child assked you about your body while you did not even have underware on? and made comments about areas normally covered by said underware?)
Today, Sunday March 21st 2010. I was enjoying a brisk walk around the track when someone brought her infant in a stroller on to the track, going the wrong way and taking up two lanes at a time as she crossed to one of the areas designed to give runners a break ( you know the parts that are not part of the lane but where you can pull off and rest without distrupting others) I had to stop completely because she took her time getting there and with the stroller she literally used two lanes at time and she did not even join the flow of traffic she went opposite to where we were going and I had no choice other than to stop or hit her or the kid. Not safe or fair to those using the track for what it's meant for. When I complained to the staff about it they said "sometimes we allow that." So why are the rules even in place? I had thought that they were there for the safety of all concerned but if they are broken anytime someone decides they don't have to follow them...why have them in the first place.
I do hope you'll address these concerns, as I find the Y an nice place to work out, I just would like it to be a bit safer for all concerned.
Thank you,
Mynamehere.
What I did not put in was that there were kids taking video of folks working out on their cell phones, who would not stop when asked. That's an annoyance but not really a safety issue. I can deal with annoyances I think safety issues come first and yes I think an opposite sexed child asking really personal questions about folks bodies is a safety issue in this day and age. It's just far too easy for someone to get accused of something horrid for no reason. I don't know if I'll be told to leave the Y because of this but something needs to change.
Today's Post is:
I got this note yesterday from the Executive Director Of the Southtowns Branch
Dear XX
Thanks for taking the time to follow up on your concerns and
frustrations with our YMCA. I left phone a message with your
sister-in-law earlier today and hope that she can articulate our
discussion to you. Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish
to personally discuss the situations listed below.
As I stated to her, I am disappointed and frustrated with your
experiences as well and know that we are capable of doing better. I
will be working with our staff to remind them of the importance of
member concerns and how each of these situations could have been
corrected and/ or avoided.
Best Regards,
XXX
So with High hopes of being able to use the 19+ lockerroom in peace I went tonight. I should never have believed that He'd do anything about it.
I worked out walked into the 19+ dressing room to find a mother daughter team who looked like they were undressing....the kids shirt was sweated through. I reminded them that this was not the Family Dressing room and the mother made the comment that she had just told the kid that someone would feel that way and that "It's ok, We'reOk' and I walked out saying "I am not" and went to the front desk. Told the young man there who said we'll get someone to take care of it for you. and then they took their time to go find someone...the girl put on her sweat shirt checked a file, and then went to look at something else and while this was going on the mother cameout and confronted me with "It's unfortunate that you feel this way" I replied that "It's unfortunate that some parents think they don't have to follow rules." and she said to the staff "it's ok it was us. let her make her complaint and I will tell them it's ok, that it's us and it' will be ok."
I told the staff that I wanted a manager and was told they are all in a meeting and I replied that I was told by XXX that if I had an issue again to have a manager called and they would be there in 20 min and she replied that they were all in a meeting. She pulled someone else out of the office who appeared to be just another worker and she tried her best to placate me. I told her that I had just heard from XXX on this same issue because Saturday I was asked by a child why I "Had hair down there" by a young boy in there. So now 24 hours after I hear that XXX is going to address the issue of kids in that dressing I have another there? And this time it's STAFF flaunting the rules.
I joined the Y because of the 19+ dressing rooms...If they are not going to be enforced - I want my money back.
I sent this in reply to the email I received from XXXX
Dear Mr XXX,
Interesting that I should hear from you on this. I went back to the Y today and worked out, went down to the 19+ dressing room only to find a mother and daughter in there. I reminded them that this is not the family dressing room and she said "It's ok, We're Ok" and I walked out saying "I am not." I am seriously uncomfortable with changing in from of strange children. Especially after Saturday's episode!
Walked out to the front desk asked them to do something and they took their time finding someone to go in...in the mean time the mother walked out and said "It's really unfortuante you feel this way. But she does not need to hear about it." I responded with "It's unfortunate that some parents don't have to follow the rules and if she can be there she can hear about it." ( Honest I said nothing but "I am not" ) and then she addressed the staff behind the desk "It's ok, let her make her complaint and I will tell them it was us....It's ok." As she was walking away she said again "It's really unfortunate that you feel this way."
What it's unfortunate that someone should think that kids don't belong in an adult area or that staff should follow the well posted rules?
I picked the Y to join because of the 19 and over dressing room... unfortunately it seems that it is not a reality. I am not sure I even want to remain a member since your staff feels that they have carte blanche to disregard rules at their whim.
I did ask for a manager and the young woman behind the desk told me "They are all in a meeting" and called over someone named Meagan ( sp?) who appeared to be just another staff member. Meagan said "I am sorry for your experiences and basically tried to placate me but it was very painfully obvious that they did not take the complain seriously. And yes, I did tell them that I had just heard from you about this same issue ( kids in the 19+ dressing room on Monday.).
IT should be noted that I have been a member two weeks and only used the 19+ dressing room twice and found that folks had kids in there both times. So I am fairly certain this goes on quite frequently, it is especially disheartening and disturbing that staff is so confident that nothing will change because they are staff.
Thank you,
XXXX
I am just so sick of this. I don't care if I have to stay a fat chick. I don't want to be ogled, stared at comment on and inspected at every damn turn because some parents are so fucking entitled that they don't have to follow their own companies damned rules.
I don't think I am going ever enjoy going to the Y again.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Enough's Enough
I applied for a transfer at work, to two different departments. One is accounting clerk, and the other is workroom supervisor. Both for the same reason. To be away from L. Other than L. I love the department I am in. I hate that she's as fucking coddled as she is. I also told J that if I have to stay I will be finding something else to do for my Phase I - I will not fight three battles at once. The only one worth it is the one that I had to get a doctor's note to end. I do NOT deal with video games. Ever - I am not risking my health for anyone's amusement. But I have been having a Battle Royal over this fact - fuck there are warnings inside the damn manual that people with certain medical conditions should not use these games...I have one of the conditions and I am not risking it. Then there is the whole "don't decorate the wall" thing and the L has to force herself into what was to be my phase I - too much fighting not enough work getting done. I am finished. I have had it and will not fight this. L wants to do the damned cafeteria in her image, I am not going to fight it. And if they allow her to steal another person's ideas for her bonus - they don't deserve my talents.
I told M Today that I had applied for these positions and he was shocked, I think I read that right. He kept screwing up what he wanted to say, but what it came down to was that he thought I would be a loss to the department. And apparently he likes working with me. That's good because out of everyone in the company, M's the one I respect the most. I'll miss working with him...he's fun to get to know.
I told M Today that I had applied for these positions and he was shocked, I think I read that right. He kept screwing up what he wanted to say, but what it came down to was that he thought I would be a loss to the department. And apparently he likes working with me. That's good because out of everyone in the company, M's the one I respect the most. I'll miss working with him...he's fun to get to know.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
New week - same as the last....at least as far as L is concerned
So L is at it again - or still. She wins this time tho'. She gets to steal my Phase I project and make it her own. I fucking resign from it.
She can't find two working brain cells to rub together to for an idea of her own - so she forced herself into mine and instead of being "Andi's Phase I" it's now supposed to be "Linda's and Andi's Phase I" and I am supposed to "help" HER decorate.
Sorry no. Just because she decided she has to be involved in someone else's project does not mean *I* need to help her get her bonus. It does not mean I need to do the vast majority of the work, donate my off time and my money and my talent to make what is now HER project work.
I feel so betrayed it's not funny. I worked damn hard on what I've already done. And for her to force her way into it is way wrong. If she's too stupid to figure out her own damned ideas, why does she get to steal my ideas and my work? Oh, right, she's L and the pampered, anointed one there....well the entitled whore can have the project but I will not lift one finger or even one cell to help her. Not one. Not even a whisper of an idea.
She can't find two working brain cells to rub together to for an idea of her own - so she forced herself into mine and instead of being "Andi's Phase I" it's now supposed to be "Linda's and Andi's Phase I" and I am supposed to "help" HER decorate.
Sorry no. Just because she decided she has to be involved in someone else's project does not mean *I* need to help her get her bonus. It does not mean I need to do the vast majority of the work, donate my off time and my money and my talent to make what is now HER project work.
I feel so betrayed it's not funny. I worked damn hard on what I've already done. And for her to force her way into it is way wrong. If she's too stupid to figure out her own damned ideas, why does she get to steal my ideas and my work? Oh, right, she's L and the pampered, anointed one there....well the entitled whore can have the project but I will not lift one finger or even one cell to help her. Not one. Not even a whisper of an idea.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Bad Week, Great Meal.
Bad Week, really bad week. We started and ended with suicide threats at work. One Monday one Friday and Lin between.
I've spoken of L before, she's just a bitch in sheep's clothing. A bit of recent background here. At work we are employing the "Nurtured Heart Approach" to help with participants behaviours. It does seem to be working. Incident reports are down 25% from last year.great they really seem to be liking this approach. More background. We are housed in an almost 100 year old school building. And it looks like something out of that time period. Old, rundown, institutional. I was trying to decorate the cafeteria - the biggest room in the building, save the gym- and the ugliest.
L wanted to "help" - she's as much help as your average 3 year old- and does not want to do any of the real work she wants to do the end of it, the visible stuff that takes less effort than rolling over in your bed on a lazy Saturday morning. It gives her the attention of having "done" it but she doesn't have to actually *DO* anything.
I've told her repeatedly that I decidedly do *NOT* want her help in anything...Wednesday she forced herself on me again while I was hanging things up. Now it took me a MONTH to find the pattern, make the pattern, cut out 95 flower power flowers and the centers, come up with a "theme statement", trace and cut those and so forth. So Wednesday when I was hanging them up Linda forced herself into it again, in front of participants, in front of other staff and I could do nothing but put with everyone telling her "how nice a job" WE did. I really wanted to scream "THERE IS NO *WE* ABOUT THIS *I* DID IT L IS JUST FORCING HERSELF IN WHERE SHE'S NOT WANTED" but that would be "unprofessional" ( but taking credit for something you put no effort into - isn't seen as unprofessional here). She's also trying to get me to take money from her,to cover the costs of the project, also so she can be seen as "helping" - I don't want her money. Or her help.
Not even sure why I don't want her help except that she doesn't want to really *DO* anything and I *DON'T* like her, in the least.
So I talked to J about it and told her how I felt and J said something about L needing to help and be nice and "It's teamwork" - it's NOT teamwork when one person does 99.9% of the work and one person forces herself into the most visible parts. Teamwork is when both parties do roughly equal portions of work. I told J that "It's not nice and it's not teamwork when you are forcing yourself somewhere, someone has made plain that you're not welcome - it's controlling." J resignedly said she'd talk to l again about forcing herself on me.
Now, I did tell L that if she wanted to decorate she could come up with her own ideas, do the work and decorate part of the wall or a bulletin board on her own and she said "but I can't come up with anything" and "you'll HAVE to help me" - uh NO I do not - you want to do something YOU do it, not I do all the damned work and you get the fucking credit for it. I made the offer several times when she complained,whined and insisted that she was "helping" me. She refused each time and then came out with, " I know what I want to do - I want to have the cross and the risen christ on opposite walls, it's what I believe, it's a free country and I should be able to have it there." [SO not appropriate in a place where we have Jews, Buddhists and Muslims as well as Christians. Where are the symbols of everyone else's religions? is SHE going to do those too, or just hers. IF you guessed she is only going to have the xtian ones you guessed correctly.] Then she looked at me and said "I can't do the drawings and stuff so you'll have to help me with those." Uh - No I am *NOT doing that at all. And because it's a free country NO ONE can make me help you force your religion on others.
On to Thursday and the first thing I get when I get in is a note from J saying "E does not want anything on the walls, hold on the decorating, we have to talk." Interesting and infuriating since I have done the decorate the wall thing 6 or 7 times in the past 15 months that I have been there and E has had no problem with it. E is second in command and I *would* have heard about it had she had issues before this. BUT E is also a friend of L.
Late Thursday Jsph the behaviour guy comes past me - flings his arms out and tells me how beautiful and fantastic the walls look and could we do this, that and the other thing with it in the future. And I have to tell him that I am not sure there will be a next time because the note from E and Jsph wants to know what problem E is trying to solve with that ruling. I told him about the conflict with L over it and that I think it's that L is jealous and Jsph said "tough, one person's issues can't stop the rest of us." And that he wanted to be in the conversation about it - and emailed J about it.
So Friday they have the dept meeting and it was L's turn to go - I had to cover for her. First thing she does when she gets back is tell me "There were 4 issues we discussed and the biggest was your wall" I told her that it's a sore spot and to drop it...and she continued talking about it...and I repeated that it's a sore spot and that she needed to drop it...repeat three times. I finally got called away by C - who is E's equal and who had seen me telling L to drop it. C really didn't need help I think she just wanted to get me away from L.
Later J mentioned that they had a long meeting and I said yeah L said that there were 4 issues and my wall was the biggest...3 other folks sputtered, J just said "yeah it was part of it. And Jsph's really upset over it." I told that he said he was taking it as a personal affront and J confirmed that and said I should be too...I told her I was really upset and J said that I should not "give up that this is being fought." sigh. No good deed, right?
So the very last thing that happened Friday was the second suicide threat. Great way to end the week, on the same note it started.
When I got home I called Trish, and we made plans to go out. WE first went and I joined the Y and then we went to find dinner... we were driving up Hertle and found place called Tunisian Dinner" and we tried that since we had never had Tunisian food before. We had seen a review of it i nthe paper and thought it sounded like fun but the first time we tired it was closed...so this time we spotted it open..and we took the chance. Am I glad we did!!!
It's a two person operation, just the one man and his mom and it was fantastic. Some of you know how bloody spoiled I am when it comes to food...Mike's being a 4 star ( at least ) Chef and all. The food in this place was every bit as good as the Mike's - just a different presentation and atmosphere. We felt like the Chef had invited us into his kitchen and was hosting us rather than that he was a restaurateur trying to provide a service. He talked to us about the food, his country and bit of everything. When we inquired about what spices there were in stuff, he made the couscous for me with out the anise - because I am allergic to it. And the tea was to die for. Addictive. While we were eating dinner another family came in, and he remembered the wife from a few months ago, they ordered and he went about preparing it...he was bringing something out to them they were saying grace and he stopped, so that he would not interrupt, they noticed him and the husband told him it was ok, he told them "go ahead, Blessing God is a good thing, it's right." and silently waited for them to finish. It was a touching display of respect and kindness in a weary world. Something not often seen. The place was as good for the soul as the food was for the body...and so needed that day. I left feeling so much better. If you are here in Buffalo, go, please, you won't regret. It may well be the best part of your day.
I've spoken of L before, she's just a bitch in sheep's clothing. A bit of recent background here. At work we are employing the "Nurtured Heart Approach" to help with participants behaviours. It does seem to be working. Incident reports are down 25% from last year.great they really seem to be liking this approach. More background. We are housed in an almost 100 year old school building. And it looks like something out of that time period. Old, rundown, institutional. I was trying to decorate the cafeteria - the biggest room in the building, save the gym- and the ugliest.
L wanted to "help" - she's as much help as your average 3 year old- and does not want to do any of the real work she wants to do the end of it, the visible stuff that takes less effort than rolling over in your bed on a lazy Saturday morning. It gives her the attention of having "done" it but she doesn't have to actually *DO* anything.
I've told her repeatedly that I decidedly do *NOT* want her help in anything...Wednesday she forced herself on me again while I was hanging things up. Now it took me a MONTH to find the pattern, make the pattern, cut out 95 flower power flowers and the centers, come up with a "theme statement", trace and cut those and so forth. So Wednesday when I was hanging them up Linda forced herself into it again, in front of participants, in front of other staff and I could do nothing but put with everyone telling her "how nice a job" WE did. I really wanted to scream "THERE IS NO *WE* ABOUT THIS *I* DID IT L IS JUST FORCING HERSELF IN WHERE SHE'S NOT WANTED" but that would be "unprofessional" ( but taking credit for something you put no effort into - isn't seen as unprofessional here). She's also trying to get me to take money from her,to cover the costs of the project, also so she can be seen as "helping" - I don't want her money. Or her help.
Not even sure why I don't want her help except that she doesn't want to really *DO* anything and I *DON'T* like her, in the least.
So I talked to J about it and told her how I felt and J said something about L needing to help and be nice and "It's teamwork" - it's NOT teamwork when one person does 99.9% of the work and one person forces herself into the most visible parts. Teamwork is when both parties do roughly equal portions of work. I told J that "It's not nice and it's not teamwork when you are forcing yourself somewhere, someone has made plain that you're not welcome - it's controlling." J resignedly said she'd talk to l again about forcing herself on me.
Now, I did tell L that if she wanted to decorate she could come up with her own ideas, do the work and decorate part of the wall or a bulletin board on her own and she said "but I can't come up with anything" and "you'll HAVE to help me" - uh NO I do not - you want to do something YOU do it, not I do all the damned work and you get the fucking credit for it. I made the offer several times when she complained,whined and insisted that she was "helping" me. She refused each time and then came out with, " I know what I want to do - I want to have the cross and the risen christ on opposite walls, it's what I believe, it's a free country and I should be able to have it there." [SO not appropriate in a place where we have Jews, Buddhists and Muslims as well as Christians. Where are the symbols of everyone else's religions? is SHE going to do those too, or just hers. IF you guessed she is only going to have the xtian ones you guessed correctly.] Then she looked at me and said "I can't do the drawings and stuff so you'll have to help me with those." Uh - No I am *NOT doing that at all. And because it's a free country NO ONE can make me help you force your religion on others.
On to Thursday and the first thing I get when I get in is a note from J saying "E does not want anything on the walls, hold on the decorating, we have to talk." Interesting and infuriating since I have done the decorate the wall thing 6 or 7 times in the past 15 months that I have been there and E has had no problem with it. E is second in command and I *would* have heard about it had she had issues before this. BUT E is also a friend of L.
Late Thursday Jsph the behaviour guy comes past me - flings his arms out and tells me how beautiful and fantastic the walls look and could we do this, that and the other thing with it in the future. And I have to tell him that I am not sure there will be a next time because the note from E and Jsph wants to know what problem E is trying to solve with that ruling. I told him about the conflict with L over it and that I think it's that L is jealous and Jsph said "tough, one person's issues can't stop the rest of us." And that he wanted to be in the conversation about it - and emailed J about it.
So Friday they have the dept meeting and it was L's turn to go - I had to cover for her. First thing she does when she gets back is tell me "There were 4 issues we discussed and the biggest was your wall" I told her that it's a sore spot and to drop it...and she continued talking about it...and I repeated that it's a sore spot and that she needed to drop it...repeat three times. I finally got called away by C - who is E's equal and who had seen me telling L to drop it. C really didn't need help I think she just wanted to get me away from L.
Later J mentioned that they had a long meeting and I said yeah L said that there were 4 issues and my wall was the biggest...3 other folks sputtered, J just said "yeah it was part of it. And Jsph's really upset over it." I told that he said he was taking it as a personal affront and J confirmed that and said I should be too...I told her I was really upset and J said that I should not "give up that this is being fought." sigh. No good deed, right?
So the very last thing that happened Friday was the second suicide threat. Great way to end the week, on the same note it started.
When I got home I called Trish, and we made plans to go out. WE first went and I joined the Y and then we went to find dinner... we were driving up Hertle and found place called Tunisian Dinner" and we tried that since we had never had Tunisian food before. We had seen a review of it i nthe paper and thought it sounded like fun but the first time we tired it was closed...so this time we spotted it open..and we took the chance. Am I glad we did!!!
It's a two person operation, just the one man and his mom and it was fantastic. Some of you know how bloody spoiled I am when it comes to food...Mike's being a 4 star ( at least ) Chef and all. The food in this place was every bit as good as the Mike's - just a different presentation and atmosphere. We felt like the Chef had invited us into his kitchen and was hosting us rather than that he was a restaurateur trying to provide a service. He talked to us about the food, his country and bit of everything. When we inquired about what spices there were in stuff, he made the couscous for me with out the anise - because I am allergic to it. And the tea was to die for. Addictive. While we were eating dinner another family came in, and he remembered the wife from a few months ago, they ordered and he went about preparing it...he was bringing something out to them they were saying grace and he stopped, so that he would not interrupt, they noticed him and the husband told him it was ok, he told them "go ahead, Blessing God is a good thing, it's right." and silently waited for them to finish. It was a touching display of respect and kindness in a weary world. Something not often seen. The place was as good for the soul as the food was for the body...and so needed that day. I left feeling so much better. If you are here in Buffalo, go, please, you won't regret. It may well be the best part of your day.
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