WHAT'S WITH THE HOLIDAY SCRIP DRAWING????

12/21/09

I was in Etc. Consignment a week or so ago (quite by chance - I wasn't signed up for the drawing) when Sharon Scoblic's name was drawn. Ironically, one of her sisters was in Etc. at the time, so I imagine we could haul her in as a witness. Three minutes elapsed and the DJ announced no winner, and that was the end of it. I was in the store for probably 15 more minutes after that announcement.

You can imagine my amazement at seeing Sharon's photo in the Ortonville Independent that following Monday, announcing she had won! I'm being told that hospital/clinic employees are "exempt" from having to be present at a participating businesses because of their jobs. Unless she has been demoted, she is still the manager of the business office at the hospital and can go to lunch any time she wants to. Perhaps she should go when the drawings are being held!

Was that new rule published somewhere? Did I miss reading a line about a change in policy? Would someone forward me a copy of that? And, if that is a new rule, then who made it?

I know hospital/clinic staff are considered essential personnel. However, life is unjust sometimes. I have had many jobs where I couldn't just take off to be present for similar fun things, and that's just the way it was. I think allowing hospital/clinic staff to not only not have to be present but apparently just be at work and not even phone in is ridiculously unjust to everyone who goes downtown to be present for the drawings. It's also unjust to our senior citizens (and I mean those even older than I am!) who risk life and limb over ice and snow to be present for the drawings.

I kinda think part of the original logic of being present for the drawings was the hope that while waiting for the drawing you might accidentally do some shopping, thus contributing to Ortonville's economy!

Here's my view on this unjust winning. I'm going to register every week next year, but I'm going to be working at home. My presence here is essential - to me, to Charlie, to my dog and to my cats. Also to Tubbs if they stop by with softener salt, or if the mailman has a package that won't fit in my mailbox. I am also essential here at home because I can't be counted on remembering my cell phone all the time, so I should really stick around home in case someone wants to call me. It's also essential I stay home during the drawing because I subscribe to five newspapers, numerous periodicals and can't get enough cable HLN or MSNBC. Well, I think I have just essentialled m'self t'death.

Nuf said?

I find this post offensive in the fact that the writer feels the need to name the person they are referring to in their rant about the "unjustness" of the policies of the Christmas Scrip Drawings.

Mary Jo - did you not previously work at the hospital and were "let go"? Maybe this post is not only about the scrip drawing - are you harboring resentment toward the hospital/clinic and this is just a convenient way to drag them through the mud?

I just think you could have written your post with more consideration and discretion to any and all involved. Here is a tip for next time you feel the need to vent online or in any written manner - once you have written what you want to say, take a minute to sit back and really look at what you have written. Sometimes just taking a second look at the words might make you realize maybe you are sounding harsh and judgmental, and that you may want to reconsider sending what you have written.

Tuesday, 12/22/09

Hi, Sickofit!

First, I am signing my name to my posts, unlike you, because I have the guts to put my name on what I write about. Obviously you don't, and that's your privilege.

Here's a point for ya - I was not "let go" from my job at the hospital. I gave notice because I quit my job. You can believe what you want, but you're wrong, wrong, wrong.

And, why is it okay to put politicians' names, names of athletic directors, ad infinitum, in a post but not a person who "won" the holiday scrip?

Make up your mind. I don't think it goes both ways except to you. If you disagree with me, that's fine, but that's your opinion. You're welcome to it. I stand by mine.

Hello Mary Jo,

Thank you for letting me know I was wrong about the reason you no longer worked at the hospital - I'm sure you know how gossip can be spread in a small town. I apologize for the mistake.

As for the drawing - I guess you are right, everyone has their opinions, and we will just have to respect each other's opinions and leave it at that.

Glad to see you two patched things up. Now back to the subject. There are many people who put great store in the drawing and look forward to it. I don't recall any special instructions. The rules should be made plain from the beginning. The script drawing is run by the Ortonville Independent and the Chamber isn't it?

Mary Jo, you said

Quote :

I'm being told that hospital/clinic employees are "exempt" from having to be present at a participating businesses because of their jobs.

Is that the position of the people running the drawing? Did they say that?

I held off discussing this subject further till after Christmas. I do think it bears some reflection now. There are several points that could be made here. In the first place both the newspaper and the chamber are "private" businesses. They can make any rules they want to. That is their privilege. However some may believe that whatever rules they make should be available for all so that everyone has a fair chance.

No where in the rules that were made public did they state anything other than the winner had to be present in a store and have someone at the store call them. Even the person wasn't allowed to call. It had to be a call from the store.

If this is true and indeed the call wasn't made then it brings into question the credibility of the whole community. What does it say about integrity? How does this reflect on a community? Does it smack of favoritism?

Didn't the newspaper report that the winner had registered at Blair Johnson CPA's office and was "present" at OAHS. Two points come to mind here. In the first place some professionals believe in client confidentiality. In other words Doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc are considered by some as private business and would not want everyone to know who they saw. How would it look if it was a doctors office or lawyers office. Oh, John Doe signed up for the script drawing at Frank Law firm. Gosh, now everyone knows that John Doe was in to see an attorney. Wonder what's going on between John and Mary Doe? Are they having trouble.......Now rumors get started.

That is why professional business might consider not having their clients names announced over the radio.

The second point was that the winner is said to be "present" at OAHS. What does that mean? A lot of people were present at the retail stores. If OAHS is one of the participating stores then why didn't they call in?

I am in agreement with Mary Jo on all people being equal. I do not believe anyone is more important than anyone else. I believe the waitress is as important at the teacher, the garbage man just as important as the doctor, the gas station attendant just as important as the attorney and the mother at home with her small children just as important as the mayor.

Here are the rules:




The Holiday script was being run by the Chamber and the Newspaper. A cozy club that one has to question how they do business. As I said they can make any rules they want but some may think that they sure should inform people of the rules they make instead of giving the appearance of making the rules as they go.