Once upon a time, a land not far from here, existed a highly regarded facility for relaxation and recreation. Nestled in the heart of Minneapolis' Western Suburbs sits Shady Oak Beach, a place I've held in my heart since I took my first gulp of lake water some 18 years ago. As I became a more proficient swimmer, I graduated to the big dock. By the time I was 15 the beach was a daily activity.
Then there came the day when I realized I could get paid to look out over this paradise. After completing my lifeguard certification, I promptly turned in my employment application. Never receiving a return phone call, I was forced to fall back on the guard chairs at the local YMCA pool. However, I was persistent with my badgering and a year later I was granted a spot on the guard staff at the Greatest Place on Earth.
Nervous at first, I was a timid and unapproachable lifeguard. Slowly I came out of my shell and began to bond with my coworkers and built great relationships with our patrons. After three years of dedicated service, I had acquired some seniority. I had had my ups and downs but I felt I had become a formidable lifesaver and someone respected by my coworkers. When the position of Lifeguard Coordinator became available, I jumped for it.
On wednesday night in the spring I got a call from the Minnetonka Assistant Facilities Manager, asking for an interview. I agreed to go in for a meeting at 10 am the following Saturday. When that mornign came around I got up early, put on my best button-up and drove out to lovely Minnetonka.
I met with the Manager, small talk for a while: discussed her new baby, how he was doing, the weather and the like... Then we went into the "Burwell Room" to conduct the interview. I sat down looked up and then saw these words come out of her mouth:
"I'm sorry, but we cannot offer you a sop on our staff this year."
HUH?!?! My mind was in shock. The conversation that followed went a little like this:
Me: Why not?
Her: There is apparently a video on Youtube with you in it.
Me: Okay...
Her: Are you aware of this?
Me: I think I am in a few videos on youtube, actually.
Her: In this video, it shows you and a few staff members drinking what looks to be alcohol on the job.
(For those of you interested, that would be this video)
Me: Okay. Why do you think it was alcohol?
Her: Well I don't know what it was.
Me: So why are you assuming it was alcohol.
Her: I have no way of knowing what it was.
Me: Well, since I AM in the video, let me tell you. It was water.
Her: You guys seem to be drinking it in a suggestive manner.
Me: We were having a water chugging contest. (Seems dumb, but an awfully good way to pass the time and stay hydrated)
Her: But I have no way of knowing what was in that cup. It looks like you were drinking alcohol.
Me: I just told you it was water. I think it looks like we were having a water chugging contest. (But need be, I'm positive I could chug 16 oz. of straight vodka no problem.)
Clearly this was going nowhere. She continued to tell me that every scene in that movie was incriminating. I suppose this would be the unrecognizable individuals jumping out of trees and the perfectly executed acrobatics performed off the high dive.
Throughout the following weeks I tried to follow up with the powers that be, the Director of Recreation Services for the City of Minnetonka. In my meeting with him, I learned that he felt that he was absolutely dumbfounded by the lack of judgment we possessed in the process of putting this on the internet. Apparently it was a mistake to even consider these actions. Even thinking about videotaping them should have been out of the question and putting it up "on this new website called Youtubes" was the last straw. Make your own decisions. Weather or not just appearing in the video, drinking water and minding one's own business is reason enough to lose a position on the staff at Shady Oak.
Now I want to make it very clear as it was made to me. The individuals involved in this predicament were not fired. We were just not allowed to return to the positions we had held for numerous summers and were best qualified for.
To sum it up, these heathens took something i loved and ripped it to shreds. It forced me to continue on with employment in a field much related to my future career. Perhaps, in the end I would have chosen that path but looking back, I would have rather had that been my decision. So I just wanted to say thanks, Minnetonka. I could go on and on about the numerous ways you have screwed over your employees without a second glance but I think I'll just save it for another day.
I leave our readers with this piece of advice: In the event that you ever manage a bunch of teenagers working at a recreation facility, perhaps consider something other than a Winnie the Pooh jumper when you plan to discipline them and want to appear intimidating. Just a thought.
Throughout the following weeks I tried to follow up with the powers that be, the Director of Recreation Services for the City of Minnetonka. In my meeting with him, I learned that he felt that he was absolutely dumbfounded by the lack of judgment we possessed in the process of putting this on the internet. Apparently it was a mistake to even consider these actions. Even thinking about videotaping them should have been out of the question and putting it up "on this new website called Youtubes" was the last straw. Make your own decisions. Weather or not just appearing in the video, drinking water and minding one's own business is reason enough to lose a position on the staff at Shady Oak.
Now I want to make it very clear as it was made to me. The individuals involved in this predicament were not fired. We were just not allowed to return to the positions we had held for numerous summers and were best qualified for.
To sum it up, these heathens took something i loved and ripped it to shreds. It forced me to continue on with employment in a field much related to my future career. Perhaps, in the end I would have chosen that path but looking back, I would have rather had that been my decision. So I just wanted to say thanks, Minnetonka. I could go on and on about the numerous ways you have screwed over your employees without a second glance but I think I'll just save it for another day.
I leave our readers with this piece of advice: In the event that you ever manage a bunch of teenagers working at a recreation facility, perhaps consider something other than a Winnie the Pooh jumper when you plan to discipline them and want to appear intimidating. Just a thought.
3 comments:
Working at SOB has been going down hill fast since 1999.
Is that Graham in the video?
Why didn't she just tell you up front that they couldn't offer you a job? Save you the trip out there...
That tree jumping looks pretty crazy.
Also, who is this author? This so-called "Art Vandelay"? You've posted on my blog several times, and although I assume I know you from SOB, I haven't figured out who you are yet. Help me Art Vandelay, you're my only hope.
Post a Comment