[Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory
Joe Sontag
suncat0 at gmail.com
Thu Dec 6 16:38:43 UTC 2012
----- Original Message -----
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List"
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 11:14
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory
>I agree. Garbage in and garbage out.
>
> The point is that these folks are raiding funds meant for the Older Blind
> program, or at least attempting to do so with this so-called fix.
>
> Regardless I agree with all you and Joeand Dave are saying here.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Terry Eagle" <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 11:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment
> inventory
>
>
>> What good is any system, new or existing, if it is not used or utilized,
>> and
>> competent professionals know how to utilize the data it produces for
>> accuracy and accountability? Is that not a point the report of the state
>> auditors were making from their BEP audit? The solution is not to dump
>> more money into a system that is capable of doing that which is needed
>> from
>> it. The solution is to have copetent users of the system, and require
>> optimal use of the established system, and demonstrate accountability
>> from
>> the system users. Isn't that what is needed with existing system 7 and
>> the
>> BEP telephony systems?
>>
>> Even back in the dark age era of computer punch-cards, we learned
>> "garbage
>> in, garbage out". Hello administration management and decision-makers,
>> this
>> is not a new and innovative idea!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
>> harcz Comcast
>> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 10:30 AM
>> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment
>> inventory
>>
>> From the November 2 2012 MI SILC Public Hearing on the State Plan for
>> Independent Living:
>> (Ed Rodgers:)
>> : One of the things I discovered my first week on the job after meeting
>> with Jaye and Val and some other folks was that our present data
>> collection
>> system really doesn't interact with RSA, with independent living, with
>> MRS
>> and that we really need to bring our data tracking system and our
>> information from that system into at least the 20th century if not the
>> 21st.
>>
>> So part of that money will be used to start that program. I have just
>> taken
>>
>> on a DEPI by the name of Mike Pemble, a veteran and he will be on board
>> and
>> in charge of the budget process as well as our data collection system,
>> our
>> HR function, and he is a genius at getting grants and finding money in
>> Washington. I don't know how he does it, but hopefully we will be able
>> to
>> pretty much fund most of this through a grant program. But we need to
>> start. So that is why that is in the plan. There is also some monies I
>> recall, Val, for a second pilot program. Do you want me to describe that
>> briefly?
>>
>>>> Valarie: Yes, we did discuss it. I did not include it in the
>>>> amendments
>>
>>>> due to the fact that I ran out of time to get the information on a
>>>> comparable project that is being done by western Michigan University,
>>>> so
>>>> I left it out. I'm sorry.
>>
>>>> Ed: That is okay, we will deal with it later. Thank you.
>>
>>>> Va
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>
>> To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'"
>> <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 9:11 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment
>> inventory
>>
>>
>>> Terry,
>>>
>>> Your comments are exactly on target. What you say is all so true even
>>> though BEP management makes excuses for everything they do or don't do.
>>> Sometimes we just shake our heads and shutter in disbelief. How could
>>> any
>>> State administration allow such bias, incompident and dishonest people
>>> to
>>> continue to hold positions in state government. We also must be
>>> reminded
>>> that your comments just highlight the tip of the iceberg. Much, much
>>> more
>>> has been part of the destruction of the BEP and no one is sure if it can
>>> be
>>> saved. It is despicable that such a valuable source of employment for
>>> the
>>> blind is being destroyed, but we know of the cause and we know we must
>>> continue to stand for the operators and their chance at success.
>>>
>>> Dave Robinson
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> Terry
>>> Eagle
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 8:48 AM
>>> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory
>>>
>>> Is this any surprise to anyone? It can be summarized easily as the
>>> symptom
>>> is fraud and cover-up, and the cause is total incompetence. The student
>>> inventory-takers, promotional agents, and BEP and BS4BP management are
>>> incompetent, as they obviously and clearly know little or nothing about
>>> business, and food service and vending best practices.
>>>
>>> As pointed out John McEntee was driven out, along with Fred Wurtzel.
>>> And
>>> let us not forget the firing of David Robinson, who actually attempted
>>> to
>>> do
>>> that which the state auditors report is lacking: support to operators.
>>> What is the real truth about Dave Robinson's firing? We see from public
>>> documents that it was for being behind six months in paperwork, yet it
>>> is
>>> now documented that at least one promotional agent is behind in
>>> paperwork
>>> processing for more than a year and still employed by BEP. And another
>>> Promotional agent is still employed with BEP after costing the program $
>>> 7000 dollars after failing to do paperwork to remove a vending machine
>>> from
>>> a closed and demolished rest area. This also was noted by the state
>>> auditor.
>>>
>>> And what was up when James Hull's relative was hired to do the BEP
>>> inventory, as reported in MCB Board minutes, and the inventory results
>>> were
>>> not to the liking of BEP management, as also reported to the Board. Did
>>> not
>>> the former BEP manager come under attack for hiring a relative to
>>> oversee
>>> the BEP wharehouse? Do you see a double standard in ethics, a hallmark
>>> of
>>> the Patrick Cannon administration?
>>>
>>> I guess it is all about management-by-selective-paperwork, and the
>>> selective
>>> results desired by management of LARA down to the promotional agents.
>>> Consider the most recent costly paperwork knee-jerk reaction to the
>>> auditor's finding about accountability for poor money management by BEP
>>> management. Now LARA management is happy to cost operators thousands
>>> annually in sales and profits, also costing the set-aside fund countless
>>> dollars annually, because of new paperwork requirements just to get
>>> equipment repaired. Here is a novel idea for the Snyder administration
>>> to
>>> save money and save jobs for blind persons: How about taking care of
>>> the
>>> cause of the problem, rather than just continuing to treat the symptoms:
>>> Move the incompetent management out of BEP, and hire competent
>>> business-oriented and knowledgable management. How is that for
>>> REINVENTING
>>> HOW MICHIGAN DOES BUSINESS, Mr. Governor? Perhaps that idea can also
>>> address and eliminate the administration's legislative agenda to move
>>> blind
>>> vendors from WORK-TO-WELFARE. Just maybe.
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Joe Sontag
>>> Subject: What's Really Up With the Equipment Inventory?
>>>
>>> Two reports received here within the past 72 hours have got me wondering
>>> if
>>> the new BEP equipment inventory has any chance of being satisfactory to
>>> anyone who really cares. One report comes from a highway vending
>>> operator,
>>> the other from a snack bar operator, but both have some striking
>>> similarities.
>>>
>>> Both operators say that they were never asked to open any vending
>>> machinesfor the inventory takers, a problem because manufacturer's
>>> serial
>>> numbers are often accessible only from inside the units, as well as the
>>> fact
>>> that additional items for the inventory may be housed in the cabinet of
>>> a
>>> vending machine, including but not limited to video and digital
>>> recording
>>> equipment used for site security purposes.
>>>
>>> The other common detail is that the inventory takers showed no interest
>>> in
>>> checking storage areas at the vending facilities, even though storage
>>> rooms
>>> often contain refrigeration, soft drink service and other items that may
>>> belong on the final inventory. The roadside operator was told that
>>> their
>>> presence was not required at the designated time for the inventory
>>> taker's
>>> visit. I well remember being asked by my PA for equipment
>>> identification
>>> details and opening all store rooms and all Agency-owned equipment for
>>> John
>>> McEntee, as he methodically documented the equipment at the Comstitution
>>> Hall facility while I ran it. In fact John's inventory was notable for
>>> its
>>> thoroughness in documenting what was present in the locations and for
>>> his
>>> documentation of equipment that the BEP had purchased but that could
>>> *Not
>>> be located, including various vending machines and several security
>>> systems
>>> for highway facilities. John was driven out of the BEP shortly before
>>> he
>>> would have completed his work on this project.
>>>
>>> What kind of accuracy and completeness are we likely to get under
>>> current
>>> conditions from two student interns with no experience in the Program
>>> and
>>> who are being paid at bargain rates? My guess is that we'll get what we
>>> paid for; and that's not likely to work very well for anybody,
>>> especially
>>> those who insist that BS for Blind Persons is doing everything right and
>>> should be held harmless.
>>>
>>> Joe Sontag
>>>
>>>
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