RANTINGS BOOKS 1+2

2010-02-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

2009-12-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

ellen fox originally aired 12/18/08

2009-12-16T18:54:00.000-08:00

2009-12-16T17:24:00.001-08:00

2009-12-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL OLIVER LIBEL SITE

2009-12-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

Michael's Life Living with HIV/AIDS: December 13, 2009 Sunday Morning
By Michael Oliver
The weather has been freezing here in Portland all weekend. Friday night we did stay in. Made salad and a Cornish hen for dinner. Saturday, since it was so nice outside, we took a drive in the afternoon along the Willamette front in the 65 Cadillac ... Present I work for Trimet as a operator for the lightrail system. I live in Beaverton, Oregon. On January 7th, 2009 I was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. I hope my daily strengths and struggles will help you with yours. ...
Michael's Life Living with HIV/AIDS - http://gaysarethenextminority.blogspot.com/

GOOD STUFF IN HERE

2009-12-14T17:58:00.001-08:00

December 14, 2009

LITTLE ICE, PLENTY OF PRACTICE

The weekend of Dec. 11-13 was a good “dress rehearsal” for a snow and ice event. For example, smart preparation Friday night meant we started Saturday morning ready to deploy either a chained or an unchained bus fleet. Thank you to everyone who worked long hours and solved problems creatively this weekend. Thinking about your own readiness? Check out the “TriMet Never Closes” link on TriNET’s homepage. Wondering what TriMet’s doing differently this year? See “Changes to our approach” on the Operations homepage.

H1N1 VACCINE SUPPLY INCREASES; EVERYONE IN PRIORITY GROUP URGED TO GET VACCINATED

Until recently health care providers were focusing on the highest risk people in the vaccine priority group. Now supply is large enough that officials want to make sure everyone in the priority group – including healthy children – get the vaccine. To help ensure people can find vaccine, www.flu.oregon.gov has a vaccine locator that provides lists of clinics and pharmacies offering both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine. You can also call the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1.800.978.3040. The vaccine supply is increasing and soon state health officials expect to open up vaccinations for everyone. The priority groups being encouraged to get vaccinated right away includes:

pregnant women;

children and young people aged 6 months to 24 years

people aged 24-65 with underlying health conditions

people caring for infants 6 months and younger

health care, emergency, and frontline law enforcement workers

HELPERS AND SERVERS NEEDED FOR HOLIDAY DINNERS

Two hour shifts are available for the Holiday dinners at Powell, Center and Merlo. On the menu: turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls, beans, ambrosia salad and pie. Join the fun and share the joy of the holiday season!

Merlo – Thursday, December 17 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (contact Helen at 503.962.2071 to volunteer)

Center – Friday, December 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (contact Debi at 503.962.4963 to volunteer)

Powell – Friday, December 18 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (contact Ken at 503.962.3321 to volunteer)

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE ANSWERED

TriNET is home to an updated list of questions and answers about the new Free Fare Zone to possible changes to TriMet work areas related to work on Portland Milwaukie Light Rail. If you’d like to submit a question, go to the Q & A page on TriNET.

TIME TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

The Charitable Contribution Campaign ends this week. Don't miss out on the opportunity to help out some great organizations and to be eligible for the door prizes. Employees can make a one-time donation or make regular donations through payroll deductions, plus contributions are tax deductible. Details are available on TriNET or available at each TriMet facility. Return pledge sheets to Robin Rudiger/HR2, or call Robin at 503.962.5810 with questions.

DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT

January 2010 statements were sent to all employees’ internal mailstops last Friday. Please review your medical and dental plan elections. If you made changes to your covered dependents make sure they are listed on the confirmation statement. If you elected to participate in the Dependent Care Spending or the Medical Spending accounts, your first deduction will occur on January 20, 2010. Errors with your enrollment information or have questions? Please contact the benefits department by Friday, December 18 at 503.962.7625.

DID YOU MOVE THIS YEAR?

W-2s for 2009 will be issued in late January 2010. Please be sure to verify your address on your paycheck. If any changes need to be made, please submit the address change form to Payroll by December 31, 2009 to ensure your W-2 gets mailed to the correct address.

TRIMET U CLASSES

Click here for upcoming classes with openings.

Service Milestones

20 years: Kihunyu Njoroge, operator

15 years: Garth Attaway, Terrence Ledoux, Jonathan Mathews and Kathryn McMahon, operators

Retired

Randy Black, operator,

34 years of service

Congratulations

Frank Zaccone, December operator of the month

Cynthia Warren, mini-run operator of the quarter

Alan Bentley, rail operator of the quarter

DONT FORGET, TRIMET NEVER CLOSES-JUST ASK FRED

2009-12-14T17:55:00.000-08:00

by Fred Hansen, General Manager — last modified Dec 11, 2009 02:23 PM

During inclement weather, TriMet plays a critical role in keeping the region moving. Whether traveling to work, the doctor or the store, people turn to us to get where they need to go. To meet the needs of our region, we must deliver reliable service during inclement weather. It is important for each of us to come to work and support all efforts to deliver quality service.

TriMet has several information tools and support materials in place to help employees get to work under tough conditions and provide quality service.

Weather forecasts – When we receive forecasts of weather conditions that may affect service, information will be sent via email, posted in the facilities and on TriNET to give employees time to make any necessary arrangements.

Service Emergency Information Line – 503-962-6222 – In event of inclement weather or another potential service disruption, employees can call the Service Emergency Information Line to hear a recorded message.

Employee support at the facilities – We have air mattresses for employees to use if they wish to remain on site rather than travel home during the event. We also have non-perishable foods and coffee at each facility.

Service Emergency alternate duty – We have identified alternate duty assignments for non-union, non-service delivery staff who are not serving as Ride Guides, but would like to help during an event. Duties range from answering phone calls to making coffee for employees who come in from the field. For more information about these opportunities or to sign up, visit http://trinet.trimet.org/cms/departments/organization-development/inclement-weather-information/service-emergency-alternate-duty.

Winter preparedness tips – The Winter Preparedness information on TriNET, located at http://trinet.trimet.org/cms/departments/organization-development/inclement-weather-information/winter-weather-tips, lists ways employees can prepare for inclement weather.

Ride Guides: This year, we will again deploy Ride Guides to enhance our customer service presence on the street. To volunteer and receive Ride Guide training, visit TriNET at http://trinet.trimet.org/cms/departments/customer-service/ride-guide.

Our goal during any challenging event is to get our riders where they need to go in the safest, quickest, most comfortable way possible. We need everyone at work and pitching in to make this happen.

Thank you.

2009-12-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

LETTER FROM LYLE-PAGE 1
LETTER FROM LYLE-PAGE 2

PEOPLE

2009-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

On the Move

John Sturdavant, from journey mechanic to LRV assistant supervisor

Service Milestones

35 years: Paul Sharp, rail supervisor
20 years: Dan Caufield, director operations planning and development
10 years: Tobbi Countryman, Jeff Grimes, Deborah Moyle, Jeannine Simonsen and Anita Underwood, operators
1 year: David Hupperich, marketing associate; Sydeny Nguyen, program scheduling engineer; Janet Portillo, customer service specialist; and Denise Woodward, communication specialist

Retired

David Bennett, rail operator,

10 years of service

Tom Gonzales, journey mechanic,13 years of service

Garald Ottoboni, track maintainer,34 years of service

Michael Wilson, journey mechanic30 years of service

FEARLESS FRED HANSEN SAYS

2009-11-30T20:12:00.001-08:00

TriMet offers a critical service in a very complex environment. More than 300,000 times a day, someone boards a TriMet bus or train. In the vast majority of cases, they have a good customer service experience and complete their trip without incident. But, as recent unfortunate events have reminded us, sometimes the customer’s experience isn’t what we’d like it to be.

I know that each of you has to balance multiple demands from internal and external customers—not just the people who ride the system, but also coworkers, managers, the public and other stakeholders. As always, I trust you to rise to that challenge with compassion and professionalism. Sometimes it’s as simple as imagining yourself in the other person’s shoes. When there’s a delay, most of us like to be thanked for our patience. When we’re concerned about safety, we need to know that our concerns are being taken seriously. When we give feedback, we expect and value a timely response.

We are a customer service organization that goes the extra mile. I know for a fact that there are numerous examples of employees who “do the right thing” countless times throughout the day. Often, it takes almost no extra time or special skill to let the other person know that you understand what they’re going through.

Yet when something goes wrong, we can run the risk of losing sight of the reason we’re all here —the customer. Today, I am asking each of you to think about how your decisions and actions each day can renew your commitment to customer safety and customer service. With this focus, there is no doubt we can not only meet, but exceed our customers’ expectations.

Thank you.

2009-11-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

BUS DRIVERS HAVING FUN

2009-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

2009-11-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

GETTING OUT

2009-11-27T01:08:00.000-08:00

Employee Spotlight

Service Milestone1 year: Patricia Benson, Mark Brittell, Jose Cabrera Jr., Dennis Feaver, Stephen Feeback, David Goates, Steve Johnson, James Mendez and Bob Reaves, mini-run operatorsRetiredRobert Benesh, operator,18 years of serviceWilliam Cahill, journey mechanic,24 years of serviceMichael Dodge, journey mechanic,30 years of serviceMike Grove, maintenance manager,38 years of serviceRobert Hiestand, journey mechanic,32 years of serviceMichael Heisler, operator, 11 years of serviceFloyd Hodel, assistant supervisor bus maintenance, 38 years of serviceBarbara Missildine, operator,11 years of serviceTimothy Plein, operator, 13 years of serviceTom Rowberg, operator, 19 years of servicTheodore Whitney, journey mechanic,36 years of service

2009-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

2009-11-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

they need 2 cut bak

2009-11-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

they need 2 cut bak svc on this line...15 min svc&i havnt even carried 20 people ye

2009-11-23T23:09:00.000-08:00

2009-11-23T00:09:00.000-08:00

2009-11-21T22:23:00.000-08:00

2009-11-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

2009-11-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

2009-11-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

2009-11-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

KID LEFT BEHIND, TRIMET GETS BLAMED

MY DRIVES

2009-11-20T00:24:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 12

NOVEMBER 11

NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 6

NOVEMBER 10

2009-11-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

MAX PLATFORM ACTION

2009-11-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

BANTA GOING BYE BYE?

2009-11-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

FWD: says May 2007. Also,

2009-11-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

FWD: says May 2007. Also, Twitter report: Train with mechanical problems at Merlo Rd/158th 3 hrs ago)

FWD: does? but yeah, says

2009-11-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

FWD: does? but yeah, says it's to head Valley Metro in Phoenix)

FWD: good 4 him...he serves

2009-11-19T20:54:00.000-08:00

FWD: good 4 him...he serves top job

2009-11-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

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FWD: Banta finalist for AZ

2009-11-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

FWD: Banta finalist for AZ transit job; also wanted to wanted to redo his dept 2 mos ago)

2009-11-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

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2009-11-19T16:29:00.000-08:00

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2009-11-19T00:48:00.000-08:00

AETHIEST ADS ON THE BUS

2009-11-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

2009-11-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

2009-11-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

PEGGY HANSON

2009-11-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

RIDING WITH STEVE

2009-11-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

Must #2

2009-11-18T01:29:00.000-08:00

Damn computers

Do I have to be serious or can I be silly.

I like silly better

2009-11-18T01:09:00.000-08:00

2009-11-18T01:06:00.000-08:00

AMTRACK RULES

2009-11-18T00:50:00.000-08:00

2009-11-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

2009-11-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

KHRIS ALEANDER PUTS ME ON PALS LIST!

STEVE TALKS ABOUT HIS NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

2009-11-17T15:35:00.000-08:00

STEVE FUNG ON BEING A BUS DRIVER

2009-11-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

BLUE LINE RIDERS ON TRIMET

2009-11-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

2009-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

ERIK HALSTEAD

UPDATE

2009-11-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

YELLOW JOURNALISM

2009-11-17T10:04:00.000-08:00

CALLED IN TO THE OFFICE

2009-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

KATU CONDUCTS WITCH HUNT

2009-11-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

JOE GETS ABUSED

2009-11-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

REMEMBERING WHEN THINGS WERE SIMPLER

2009-11-15T23:52:00.000-08:00

BILL LINGO IS LOSING HIS MIND IN AUSTRALIA

2009-11-15T23:29:00.000-08:00

THIS IS WHAT BILL IS DOING:

""Bill found a lonely Black Sheep on their farm. Oh no!

Bill was farming when a lonely Black Sheep wandered onto their farm in FarmVille. This poor sheep was abandoned because she's a bit different from other sheep. She feels very sad and needs a new home.""
==============================

Bill found some Premium White Mystery Eggs to share with their friends!

Bill was collecting eggs from their Chicken Coop and found these mysterious eggs...

HIT BY YELLOW LINE

2009-11-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

VIDEO

2009-11-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

Other errors on the Portland Mall
Misc buses and trains on the Portland Mall
Columbia County Rider's former Cherriots bus

MY DRIVE TO WORK 11/11/09

2009-11-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

MY DRIVE TO WORK 11/11/09 from al m on Vimeo.

KGW RUNS A DECENT STORY ON CELL PHONES --GOOD INTERVIEW WITH TRIMET SPOKESWOMAN BEKI WITT

2009-11-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

MAYBE MARY AND BEKKI SHOULD SWITCH JOBS!

2009-11-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

$166 Million, plus $700,000, plus $150,000

2009-11-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

TWEATS

2009-11-15T19:38:00.000-08:00

TWITTER
TWITTER
TWITTER
TWITTER
TWITTER

2009-11-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

2009-11-15T16:39:00.000-08:00

23RD AT BURNSIDE CLOSED

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THIS PIC WAS POSTED AT CENTER ST

2009-11-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

Basically someone in management (color printer) has posted pictures of a motorcycle smashing into a car and saying it was from a driver on a cell phone. A total lie.
The real story is here.
http://www.cmsnl.com/news/what-a-155-mph-motorcycle-crash-looks-like_news176.html

KATU IN BED WITH TRIMET MANAGMENT? I THINK SO!

2009-11-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

ALEX ANSARY

2009-11-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

SWINE FLU

ERIK HALSTEAD ON KATU

2009-11-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

"That is total KATU bullshit. The photos are CLEARLY taken when the bus isn't in motion. Ironically Shellie is seen IN HER VEHICLE talking on her cell phone, what the fuck is that about?

Meanwhile, Mary Fetsch has no problem hanging out bus Operators to dry (because that's typical TriMet attitude towards the bus system) instead of saying, "Well we are concerned about it - however the vehicle was clearly stopped, and the passengers were never in any danger.""