I hope everyone had a fun and safe
Memorial Day and I also hope that all of you got to thank someone who has
fought or is fighting for our freedom.
Week 3 I worked with administration
from Tuesday-Friday. Tuesday I attended
a SQUAD meeting in the headquarters training room which consisted of a biweekly
meeting with all the division chiefs about situations within the park and their
divisions in particular. The deputy superintendent Jennifer Flynn and I went to
lunch together and discussed everything that has been going on with me in the
park. She is very interested to know everything about the ProRanger program and
wants to hear about everything I do since she has known
about the program before it began. Jennifer was making me feel very welcomed
down here and offered her support on anything I needed help with. It felt very
relaxing knowing that I was going to have her looking out for me and guiding me
through my time in this program.
I worked with numerous people in
administration; I learned various things including how to apply for a job, make
a resume, and give people information at the information desk. Dawn Webster
talked to me about jobs and putting together a resume. Judy Kilby’s job description consists of new
employee orientation, uniforms, keys, checkout sheets, recording announcements
for job vacancies, and she is also the workman’s compensation coordinator. Sandy Bridges is the voucher and property
manager who pays all the utility bills and takes care of all the employees’
personal property such as laptops and vehicles.
Wednesday I worked with Dan Hurlbert
who is a Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist. We used Global
Positioning System (GPS) Technology to locate interpretive signs for input to a
GIS. With the information the results will be used to make maps showing the
conditions of the signs that are maintained by the Interpretation and Education
divisions and to also have the inventory for future reference. We worked on
bulletin boards, double sided bulletin boards, trailheads, and waysides.
I enjoyed working with Dan and I am
happy to say that he and I will be working together again on Thursday and
hopefully a little more throughout the summer. I know that my help was
beneficial to him because it helps to have four hands rather than two. I feel
good that I am able to at least continue to finish some of what Dan and I
started. We are not anywhere near done, but I have faith that we will be by the
time I am finished here.
Thursday I worked with Solim Garcia
and Dave Neuman in the IT department.
They are in charge of over 250 computers/laptops within the park. Their job is difficult and stressful because
of their business overload. They have been a big help to me in the computer
department and thanks to them I can attend my online class with Dr. Irons
without any problems; everyone says that they could not live without them.
Thursday afternoon I worked with
Patressa Kearns. We worked on back country camping permits. Shenandoah National
Park has 196,000 acres of backcountry. The park also has 500 miles of trails to
explore. Backcountry camping allows you to witness firsthand the beauty of
Shenandoah's wildlife. They have all different information on backcountry
camping on the website. This was interesting to me because I wondered where the
backcountry permits came from that people had with them prior to coming to the
park. You can also issue your own back country camping permits when you get to
the park. In my opinion I would rather know where I am going to stay beforehand
so I could plan my trip accordingly and not spur of the moment but everyone is
different and some people prefer to be spontaneous.
Friday I worked with Sarah
Willoughby and Annmarie Campbell; they taught me about budgeting within the
park. They both monitor the money that is given to Shenandoah National Park by
the government. In the beginning of the year they estimate how much money each
division is going to spend and at the end of every month they match up the
actual spending with the estimated spending.
They also take care of charge cards and review travel vouchers. I also
met with Cary Price, who is a Contract Specialist and works
in the Major Acquisition Buying Office (MABO). She informed me that anything ordered
over $3,000 within the park has to go through her division. These purchase
requests need someone that works in MABO to sign off on them and in order to do
that every two years the MABO employees are required to take contracting
classes.
Friday afternoon administration had
pizza for me and Patressa baked me a cake in the shape of a heart because I am
from the city of brotherly love. We all talked and got along and had a great
week together. At the end of the day I spoke with Solim about everything that I
did during the week and about my career in general; he answered any questions
that I had and helped me a lot. I know if I ever need anything I can go to
administration and they will be more than happy to help me. I loved working
with them; they are really a great group of individuals.
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