[Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] What is really up with the BEP equipment inventory

Thu Dec 6 16:38:29 UTC 2012

----- 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
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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