So, the conversation in the chapel library/psychology department went something like this:
Inmate C to other inmates (including me) who were watching shows on the different televisions.
Inmate C: "I'm trying to explain to medical on this cop-out about the pain in my neck, but I can't remember the right word...can you all help me?"
A brief discussion follows regarding exactly what she was trying to say.
Staff member whose office happens to be located in that room: "If you guys want to talk, go outside or back to your unit."
Inmates: Silence and looks passed around like....ummm...no one is really surprised that this particular staff member had nothing helpful to say...then shrugs and we each resume watching our various programs.
Inmate C: "Ummm..excuse me Ms. Staff Member...is there a dictionary in this library or could you please tell me how to spell the word...excruciating."
Staff member: "If you want to know how, go to the education department and they will teach you how to spell it."
Huh!?!
Yes, my friends that would be the love, patience and understanding that is oozing out of the psychology department here at Camp Marianna. You know...the people that hold the "Recovering from Trauma" workshop. The one with four book shelves of self-help books and videos.
Ok.....since my last post where I was discussing the amazing medical/health care here....no... don't get me wrong...for "prison" the dental team is really competent and some of the medical staff are too...actually the sad thing is ALL of them, including the "mental health team" would be great...if they just didn't have that....piss off ya botherin' me attitude!
You know the one that unfortunately too many people have.....that is more of a screw you and your cry for help.
I know...I know...
But Kelly...aren't you being a little melodramatic...well maybe I am and maybe I'm not...let's look at it this way.
As you've read from previous posts I'm here on a felony theft charge. I've often wondered(in the past...not recently because I believe there's some closure happening there) if John Alford and the various Board members at my former employer NOLA 180 aka Langston Hughes Academy had answered my requests/cries for help with the overwhelming situation that was thrust on me.....
would I be here in prison?
To be continued
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
T-minus 1788-1780
We're working on the shift schedule for work. Librarian 1 is under the belief that because I am new, I, Kelly, Librarian 3 should work every night...every night...Sunday to Saturday....every night...huh?......Why?
Because 2 years ago when she, Librarian 1, arrived at the University of Marianna....she had to.
So let's follow this train of thought shall we? If person 1 has to do something...whether it was fair or not...whether it was right or not...then everyone else who follows should too...especially me...because remember "I changed the library!"...yeah...sure....I'll do it...no problem....really...really?....really?
And of course Librarian 2 agreed with Librarian 1 because...wait for it....wait for it...she's afraid of her.
Huh!?!
Both of you take a big sniffily-whiffily because I am not....I repeat...I am NOT.....doing something that someone says to do just because they feel like dishing out illogical, unfair and just plain ignorant "rules."
Hello? That's what got me here in the first place!
Wait...I'm diverting from my regularly scheduled program for a station break.......
I was re-reading some of my blogs and man!...Can you say typo's!?! From now on I promise to both spell check and re-read my posts...lol....I is edu-ma-cated...and yup....Iz got my Bachelor's degree...oh yeah!
Now....back to our program children.
As a result of Librarian 1 refusing to work any library nights...we...meaning all 3 of the librarian's only get one day off per week.
Anyway... on to more interesting things.
There is an older lady in my dorm...We'll call her Joe. Who wasn't feeling well for about a week. She began stopping by medical daily and asking the nurse practitioner and/or one of the other nurses if they could give her a check up and let her know what was wrong. Each time she went her requests were ignored...the nursing staff told her to stop complaining and to stop trying to get an idle.
IDLE- bed restriction, where you don't go to work, or anything else....total bed rest.
This continued for about 2 weeks until finally she noticed what looked like a boil on her ass (look people...there was no "nice" way to say it) it was a large red lump. The other women in the unit began to get more and more concerned for her and began putting in cop-outs...
Cop-out - A request to the administration department of your choice.
...asking medical why they would not help her. No response. Finally, Joe began sending her cop-outs directly to the Doctor and then to Administration and finally to the Warden. At least a month and a half had passed since her first symptoms began and she 1st asked for help.
As a result what happened:
1. The boil burst...not cute or healthy in a shared restroom and bedroom situation.
2. She had to be taken to the hospital, where she stayed for 3 weeks to treat her Staph infection.
WTF ... really?
OK...more than a few issues here but here is my main one:
Answering some one's call for help...especially when it is your job.
To be continued...
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily and counting.
Because 2 years ago when she, Librarian 1, arrived at the University of Marianna....she had to.
So let's follow this train of thought shall we? If person 1 has to do something...whether it was fair or not...whether it was right or not...then everyone else who follows should too...especially me...because remember "I changed the library!"...yeah...sure....I'll do it...no problem....really...really?....really?
And of course Librarian 2 agreed with Librarian 1 because...wait for it....wait for it...she's afraid of her.
Huh!?!
Both of you take a big sniffily-whiffily because I am not....I repeat...I am NOT.....doing something that someone says to do just because they feel like dishing out illogical, unfair and just plain ignorant "rules."
Hello? That's what got me here in the first place!
Wait...I'm diverting from my regularly scheduled program for a station break.......
I was re-reading some of my blogs and man!...Can you say typo's!?! From now on I promise to both spell check and re-read my posts...lol....I is edu-ma-cated...and yup....Iz got my Bachelor's degree...oh yeah!
Now....back to our program children.
As a result of Librarian 1 refusing to work any library nights...we...meaning all 3 of the librarian's only get one day off per week.
Anyway... on to more interesting things.
There is an older lady in my dorm...We'll call her Joe. Who wasn't feeling well for about a week. She began stopping by medical daily and asking the nurse practitioner and/or one of the other nurses if they could give her a check up and let her know what was wrong. Each time she went her requests were ignored...the nursing staff told her to stop complaining and to stop trying to get an idle.
IDLE- bed restriction, where you don't go to work, or anything else....total bed rest.
This continued for about 2 weeks until finally she noticed what looked like a boil on her ass (look people...there was no "nice" way to say it) it was a large red lump. The other women in the unit began to get more and more concerned for her and began putting in cop-outs...
Cop-out - A request to the administration department of your choice.
...asking medical why they would not help her. No response. Finally, Joe began sending her cop-outs directly to the Doctor and then to Administration and finally to the Warden. At least a month and a half had passed since her first symptoms began and she 1st asked for help.
As a result what happened:
1. The boil burst...not cute or healthy in a shared restroom and bedroom situation.
2. She had to be taken to the hospital, where she stayed for 3 weeks to treat her Staph infection.
WTF ... really?
OK...more than a few issues here but here is my main one:
Answering some one's call for help...especially when it is your job.
To be continued...
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily and counting.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
T Minus1793-1789
Alright, so we now know that I chose option #2...and you're asking me,"Kelly! What happened!?!"
Well-
1. It took a day ( 3x 3 1/2 hour shifts) and a shift to finish.
2. The "usual suspects" i.e. regular library visitors, eagerly volunteered to help during their off shifts.
3. We have 2 huge boxes of duplicates to be sent to either the men's FCI across the street or to the women's low security in Tallahassee.
4. Most people have responded positively because the can see and find all of the books.
5. A few people have acted...learning impaired....ummm...dull in the mind.....ummm... look it up in Merriam-Webster under stupid because:
A. For the 1st shift from 7:30-10:30 am, although they could use the law library, print labels and emails and return books but not check anything out.
B. Nobody asked their (the renegade inmates) permission to make a change to the library....and of course this band of renegade was led by one of the long timers (read: 12 years and counting)...who visits the library often (read: has never stepped foot in there...ever...12 years)...who is still in the GED class and has yet to graduate(read: started the class in 1998 and has still not graduated and is VERY proud of that fact because...quote," I don't need no GED...my GED is my husband's social security check and my kids welfare check.")...ah....uh....oh...ok....huh?....ok and by the way she was mostly upset because she couldn't reach the Federal Criminal Code and Rules 2009 edition legal books...uh-huh.
6. The other two librarian's (we'll call them person 1 and person 2) responses then became:
A. Person 1 was upset because people liked when I did it (changed it around) but didn't like it 7 months ago when she did it...and now has an attitude with me (because I've been here all of 2 months and should have known through osmosis that this happened to her)
B. Person 2 was upset because Person 1 was upset....and that's her friend....yeah...ok...adults?...anyone?....anywhere?
And what was my response to all of this?
1. Mrs. Waldron (i.e.Boss lady)...Is this ok? Do you like it?...you do! Cool!
2. Everyone else: Suck it.
FAITH 51212
3miles daily weight 150 pounds
Well-
1. It took a day ( 3x 3 1/2 hour shifts) and a shift to finish.
2. The "usual suspects" i.e. regular library visitors, eagerly volunteered to help during their off shifts.
3. We have 2 huge boxes of duplicates to be sent to either the men's FCI across the street or to the women's low security in Tallahassee.
4. Most people have responded positively because the can see and find all of the books.
5. A few people have acted...learning impaired....ummm...dull in the mind.....ummm... look it up in Merriam-Webster under stupid because:
A. For the 1st shift from 7:30-10:30 am, although they could use the law library, print labels and emails and return books but not check anything out.
B. Nobody asked their (the renegade inmates) permission to make a change to the library....and of course this band of renegade was led by one of the long timers (read: 12 years and counting)...who visits the library often (read: has never stepped foot in there...ever...12 years)...who is still in the GED class and has yet to graduate(read: started the class in 1998 and has still not graduated and is VERY proud of that fact because...quote," I don't need no GED...my GED is my husband's social security check and my kids welfare check.")...ah....uh....oh...ok....huh?....ok and by the way she was mostly upset because she couldn't reach the Federal Criminal Code and Rules 2009 edition legal books...uh-huh.
6. The other two librarian's (we'll call them person 1 and person 2) responses then became:
A. Person 1 was upset because people liked when I did it (changed it around) but didn't like it 7 months ago when she did it...and now has an attitude with me (because I've been here all of 2 months and should have known through osmosis that this happened to her)
B. Person 2 was upset because Person 1 was upset....and that's her friend....yeah...ok...adults?...anyone?....anywhere?
And what was my response to all of this?
1. Mrs. Waldron (i.e.Boss lady)...Is this ok? Do you like it?...you do! Cool!
2. Everyone else: Suck it.
FAITH 51212
3miles daily weight 150 pounds
Friday, October 8, 2010
T-minus 1816 - 1815 Days
Continuation of letter on 1821 -1818 Days...
5.Not acknowledging that I wrote grants for and received over (i.e. did all the work so that money could be received.....i.e. corrected John Alford's mistakes) over $5,000,000 (that'd be million) including: MFP, PCSP, NCLB and IMH et.al.
6. Having to apologize to the Department of Education for John Alford's and the Board's Finance Committee's ignorant and insulting emails that were sent to the Head of Education Finance and the staff that demanded funds for programs that John and the Board messed up.
7. Having to explain to John and his "Mental Health" Department led, of course, by his non-special education certified, assistant principal girlfriend, Mary Chastain, that it is the responsibility of the school to report the number of special education students to the Department of Education (DOE), so that the school could receive funding for mental health programs. Two words...dumb ass.
8. Having to drive to Baton Rouge, again, and apologize for Langston Hughes Academy's CEO's continued incompetence: Since neither the Principal (John Alford) nor the Assistant Principal/Head of the Mental Health department...John's girlfriend Mary, turned in the special education student count (for the entire year and they were working on a second year of non-compliance)...as a result according to the DOE, not only did LHA have no special education students, LHA was not eligible to receive ANY of the stimulus funding. Therefore, I (not John or any Board member) had to explain why LHA had an inept and unqualified Principal and Assistant Principal, to the DOE's Head of Education Finance.
9. Having to convince said DOE department head's to work with the DOE's legal department to change LHA's status of having no special education student's to having special education students (of which there were many) and allow LHA to have funding for not only the special education students but also for the mental health department. And yet again, having to apologize for yet another of John's insulting emails that demanded that they (the DOE)"just give us the money."
10. For taking the toilet out of the windowless staff bathroom in the 1st and 2nd grade building leaving the pipes sticking out and the sink in the wall, taking black floor mats out of the kindergarten room, taking said black mats and duct taping them to the walls of the bathroom and using that room to put children in who misbehave.
11. For lying to Judge Carl J. Barbier by stating that because I stole $673,000, I ALONE "dealt a serious blow to the charter school movement." Yes, that is directed to you John Alford and Michael Allweiss. FYI: A half truth is STILL a whole lie.
12. For you (LHA) to have the audacity of less than one week after you stand in a court of law and commit perjury (that'd be lying your asses off) calling my attorney and asking him to convince me to help you...ARE YOU SHITTING ME!?!
13. Finally for me even having to write this letter to a. get the real truth out and b. truly forgive your undeserving asses...simply because God forgave me.
There...it's out....that's not everything but that's enough for me to get off my chest and truly get LHA and everyone associated with that place out of my head. AMEN.
3 miles (daily) - and more aerobics classes than you can shake a stick at.
5.Not acknowledging that I wrote grants for and received over (i.e. did all the work so that money could be received.....i.e. corrected John Alford's mistakes) over $5,000,000 (that'd be million) including: MFP, PCSP, NCLB and IMH et.al.
6. Having to apologize to the Department of Education for John Alford's and the Board's Finance Committee's ignorant and insulting emails that were sent to the Head of Education Finance and the staff that demanded funds for programs that John and the Board messed up.
7. Having to explain to John and his "Mental Health" Department led, of course, by his non-special education certified, assistant principal girlfriend, Mary Chastain, that it is the responsibility of the school to report the number of special education students to the Department of Education (DOE), so that the school could receive funding for mental health programs. Two words...dumb ass.
8. Having to drive to Baton Rouge, again, and apologize for Langston Hughes Academy's CEO's continued incompetence: Since neither the Principal (John Alford) nor the Assistant Principal/Head of the Mental Health department...John's girlfriend Mary, turned in the special education student count (for the entire year and they were working on a second year of non-compliance)...as a result according to the DOE, not only did LHA have no special education students, LHA was not eligible to receive ANY of the stimulus funding. Therefore, I (not John or any Board member) had to explain why LHA had an inept and unqualified Principal and Assistant Principal, to the DOE's Head of Education Finance.
9. Having to convince said DOE department head's to work with the DOE's legal department to change LHA's status of having no special education student's to having special education students (of which there were many) and allow LHA to have funding for not only the special education students but also for the mental health department. And yet again, having to apologize for yet another of John's insulting emails that demanded that they (the DOE)"just give us the money."
10. For taking the toilet out of the windowless staff bathroom in the 1st and 2nd grade building leaving the pipes sticking out and the sink in the wall, taking black floor mats out of the kindergarten room, taking said black mats and duct taping them to the walls of the bathroom and using that room to put children in who misbehave.
11. For lying to Judge Carl J. Barbier by stating that because I stole $673,000, I ALONE "dealt a serious blow to the charter school movement." Yes, that is directed to you John Alford and Michael Allweiss. FYI: A half truth is STILL a whole lie.
12. For you (LHA) to have the audacity of less than one week after you stand in a court of law and commit perjury (that'd be lying your asses off) calling my attorney and asking him to convince me to help you...ARE YOU SHITTING ME!?!
13. Finally for me even having to write this letter to a. get the real truth out and b. truly forgive your undeserving asses...simply because God forgave me.
There...it's out....that's not everything but that's enough for me to get off my chest and truly get LHA and everyone associated with that place out of my head. AMEN.
3 miles (daily) - and more aerobics classes than you can shake a stick at.
T-minus 1814-1812
So I did a "Predict Your Own Outcome" list the other day...I may post it here....but I'll probably save it for myself.
Anyway...on to the writing!
These past couple of days have been crazy! I really don't have another word for it. I know there will be days where I am sad/mad/throwing a pity party but these few days were not it....lol.
I don't know if I mentioned this before but while I am here, I'm expected to have a job. Especially since the judge ordered that my restitution start "while you are incarcerated (make sure you read it in a deep booming male voice for the true effect)." Everyone here, except those with a medical excuses, works. There are several types of jobs available. Of course, the pay is REALLY low....I mean we make migrant workers look like millionaires...; but you have to make money in order to pay for things...and these are not Marshall's or Kmart prices.
I had decided that instead of working inside at a desk or in a warehouse for UNICOR, I wanted to be outside...in landscaping. Yes....yes...I know it crazy hot in the South but when I'm working outside, I lose track of everything and I am so relaxed. Anyways....there is a saying...there is your plan and then there is God's plan. One of the other ladies here REALLY wanted me to work at a desk with her in UNICORE, mostly because it pays the highest out of all of the jobs; I was resistant but agreed to at least take the typing test to get on the 4 month waiting list.
Meanwhile, I sent in a request form, through one of my roommies, to the supervisor of landscaping requesting to be put on that detail. Now mind you, all this time I am STILL an A & O (don't ask me what the acronym means) but basically it's the holding pattern you're in when you first come in. You attend different orientations, take out garbage, rake leaves and get NO pay.....oh....and there is A LOT of down time (read: I have read 6 books by this time). For me downtime = reading & writing. Therefore, the first people I met were the little old ladies who work in the library and the man who comes on the book bus from the public library.
As I am planning on working in landscaping and then possibly ADP, yes I passed the test, God decides something different, unexpected and way better. Remember in the earlier paragraph when I mentioned about reading and the library? Well, one afternoon the head little old library lady pulls me aside and offers me a job...as long as the Education Director, Mrs. Waldron, approves it.
Well ...how about that?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
FAITH 51212
3 miles (daily) - max intensity class (arms and abs) - boot camp class
weight:
8/3/2010 - 166.6
8/14/2010 - 163.6 - gotta love the it...I might write a new book called "The Prison Diet: Lose weight, Get Fit, Get Free!"
Anyway...on to the writing!
These past couple of days have been crazy! I really don't have another word for it. I know there will be days where I am sad/mad/throwing a pity party but these few days were not it....lol.
I don't know if I mentioned this before but while I am here, I'm expected to have a job. Especially since the judge ordered that my restitution start "while you are incarcerated (make sure you read it in a deep booming male voice for the true effect)." Everyone here, except those with a medical excuses, works. There are several types of jobs available. Of course, the pay is REALLY low....I mean we make migrant workers look like millionaires...; but you have to make money in order to pay for things...and these are not Marshall's or Kmart prices.
I had decided that instead of working inside at a desk or in a warehouse for UNICOR, I wanted to be outside...in landscaping. Yes....yes...I know it crazy hot in the South but when I'm working outside, I lose track of everything and I am so relaxed. Anyways....there is a saying...there is your plan and then there is God's plan. One of the other ladies here REALLY wanted me to work at a desk with her in UNICORE, mostly because it pays the highest out of all of the jobs; I was resistant but agreed to at least take the typing test to get on the 4 month waiting list.
Meanwhile, I sent in a request form, through one of my roommies, to the supervisor of landscaping requesting to be put on that detail. Now mind you, all this time I am STILL an A & O (don't ask me what the acronym means) but basically it's the holding pattern you're in when you first come in. You attend different orientations, take out garbage, rake leaves and get NO pay.....oh....and there is A LOT of down time (read: I have read 6 books by this time). For me downtime = reading & writing. Therefore, the first people I met were the little old ladies who work in the library and the man who comes on the book bus from the public library.
As I am planning on working in landscaping and then possibly ADP, yes I passed the test, God decides something different, unexpected and way better. Remember in the earlier paragraph when I mentioned about reading and the library? Well, one afternoon the head little old library lady pulls me aside and offers me a job...as long as the Education Director, Mrs. Waldron, approves it.
Well ...how about that?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
FAITH 51212
3 miles (daily) - max intensity class (arms and abs) - boot camp class
weight:
8/3/2010 - 166.6
8/14/2010 - 163.6 - gotta love the it...I might write a new book called "The Prison Diet: Lose weight, Get Fit, Get Free!"
T-minus 1806
What else have I seen since I've been here...Do you want the good, the bad and the ugly? Well...ok.
The Good:
Sabrina and Black went home yesterday and per custom they were clapped out, fudge and blankets were made and the soul train line dance ensued and yes, to both of your questions 1. I boogied my way down the line 2. Right behind me...seriously offbeat....were the two guards...laughing all the way down to the sound of us "inmates" cheering them on.
The Bad:
As an A&O it is our "job" to take out the garbage. It's around the front of the building and a little off to the side....I like doing it because we get to leave campus grounds. Anyway back to the story....it's the weekend and that means visitation time. Visitor's park out front and come into the administration building. There is no fence and technically, nothing to stop a visitor from walking around the building onto campus or for that matter to keep us from hiking down to the local McDonald's, for a burger and fries....and I don't mean by foot. We have designated drivers and people who work in landscaping and in the garage, all of whom have access and permission to use the BOP cars and trucks.
It is ALL about the Honor System (Yup,,,,,college and high school)
Back to the story, we A&O's were minding our own business, taking out the garbage, when at the side of the building the cart hit a bump and dumped some of the bags out. As we were picking it up and putting it back, one of the girls spots a brown bag in the bushes, grabs it and tosses it onto the pile...believing it's just more trash. One of the staffers happened to be walking by at that time, came over to help us and also spots the bag. He pulls it off the garbage pile and looks inside....what does he find...3 packs of Marlboro's. (Aside...this is a non-smoking facility....cigarettes are considered contraband....contraband in illegal) The staffer takes the bag inside and we don't see him again for the rest of the day.
A few hours later, the on duty guard calls all the A&O's to security and asks us if we knew anything about it...of course we say no...since we;d all been here for three weeks or less. The next morning four guards are in the administration building, which of course is odd and a red flag. The walk over to one of the dorms, disappear for 45 minutes and come out with a girl in handcuffs. She was balling crying and her blond hair was everywhere. They all hop into a white van and pull off. a few minutes later admin staffers come out of the dorms with two big boxes. I find out later that:
1. She was shipped to Tallahassee SHU unit...it's the Women's Maximum facility.
2. All of her good time credit was revoked.
3. She cannot go on anymore furloughs.
4. 6 months time was added to her sentence....she was scheduled to go home next summer.
5. Her Dad dropped off the smokes and now is facing federal charges (Providing contraband to an inmate is illegal and punishable by up to 5 years in prison)
The Ugly:
Yesterday they had a "shakedown" - that's where everyone exits the dorms and more guards than usual come through checking rooms. Although they are usually directed "shakedowns" where they only go to one or two dorms and visit specific rooms. Well, I knew something was wrong after I saw 5 girls being carted off to guess where TALLAHASSEE SHU!
Turns out the were using a cell phone (provided by one of their families)...so come on say it with me CONTRABAND! What do you think happened? In addition to the permanent stay in the SHU...Again...suppling federal inmates with what is considered CONTRABAND i.e. cell phones and cigarettes you get:
1. For cell phones an additional year added to you sentence.
2. Permanent removal from Camp status and on to Max status.
3. possible loss of both your Good Time Credit and Halfway House time
4. For the supplier - federal charges.
All for a phone call (which we can do anyway) and a smoke (which can kill you anyway).....my thoughts? I don't think so.
3 miles daily
FAITH 51212
The Good:
Sabrina and Black went home yesterday and per custom they were clapped out, fudge and blankets were made and the soul train line dance ensued and yes, to both of your questions 1. I boogied my way down the line 2. Right behind me...seriously offbeat....were the two guards...laughing all the way down to the sound of us "inmates" cheering them on.
The Bad:
As an A&O it is our "job" to take out the garbage. It's around the front of the building and a little off to the side....I like doing it because we get to leave campus grounds. Anyway back to the story....it's the weekend and that means visitation time. Visitor's park out front and come into the administration building. There is no fence and technically, nothing to stop a visitor from walking around the building onto campus or for that matter to keep us from hiking down to the local McDonald's, for a burger and fries....and I don't mean by foot. We have designated drivers and people who work in landscaping and in the garage, all of whom have access and permission to use the BOP cars and trucks.
It is ALL about the Honor System (Yup,,,,,college and high school)
Back to the story, we A&O's were minding our own business, taking out the garbage, when at the side of the building the cart hit a bump and dumped some of the bags out. As we were picking it up and putting it back, one of the girls spots a brown bag in the bushes, grabs it and tosses it onto the pile...believing it's just more trash. One of the staffers happened to be walking by at that time, came over to help us and also spots the bag. He pulls it off the garbage pile and looks inside....what does he find...3 packs of Marlboro's. (Aside...this is a non-smoking facility....cigarettes are considered contraband....contraband in illegal) The staffer takes the bag inside and we don't see him again for the rest of the day.
A few hours later, the on duty guard calls all the A&O's to security and asks us if we knew anything about it...of course we say no...since we;d all been here for three weeks or less. The next morning four guards are in the administration building, which of course is odd and a red flag. The walk over to one of the dorms, disappear for 45 minutes and come out with a girl in handcuffs. She was balling crying and her blond hair was everywhere. They all hop into a white van and pull off. a few minutes later admin staffers come out of the dorms with two big boxes. I find out later that:
1. She was shipped to Tallahassee SHU unit...it's the Women's Maximum facility.
2. All of her good time credit was revoked.
3. She cannot go on anymore furloughs.
4. 6 months time was added to her sentence....she was scheduled to go home next summer.
5. Her Dad dropped off the smokes and now is facing federal charges (Providing contraband to an inmate is illegal and punishable by up to 5 years in prison)
The Ugly:
Yesterday they had a "shakedown" - that's where everyone exits the dorms and more guards than usual come through checking rooms. Although they are usually directed "shakedowns" where they only go to one or two dorms and visit specific rooms. Well, I knew something was wrong after I saw 5 girls being carted off to guess where TALLAHASSEE SHU!
Turns out the were using a cell phone (provided by one of their families)...so come on say it with me CONTRABAND! What do you think happened? In addition to the permanent stay in the SHU...Again...suppling federal inmates with what is considered CONTRABAND i.e. cell phones and cigarettes you get:
1. For cell phones an additional year added to you sentence.
2. Permanent removal from Camp status and on to Max status.
3. possible loss of both your Good Time Credit and Halfway House time
4. For the supplier - federal charges.
All for a phone call (which we can do anyway) and a smoke (which can kill you anyway).....my thoughts? I don't think so.
3 miles daily
FAITH 51212
T-Minus 1810-1807
I had a chest x-ray done a few days ago (standard medical clearance procedure) and in order to do it, I had to go down the street to the men's facility (I'll tell you about that place later....wow...ummmmm....wow).
For those who don't know, I am in a Minimum Security Federal Prison. What does this mean?
1. There are no fences.
2. There is no controlled movement (that's what you see on T.V. when the inmates are walking in a line with guards watching them).
3. At any one time, the most I have seen have been 2 guards for 250+ inmates. (Except for the softball game against that Law firm.... even then they wore civilian clothes not uniforms...i.e. they were off duty and there just for the free sno-cones)
4. It looks like a small college campus from the outside.
5. The dorms look just like half-walled dorm rooms except clean (beds made up, a tv room with 3 tv's and a laundry/microwave room for each floor.
6. There's a cafeteria building...food reminds me of high school. People complain but I don't mind the minimum pork menu...still don't like cottage cheese or the Peanut butter and grape juice tasting pb&j.
7. A reading library (different building)...with a whole lot of fiction, access to a online law library, typewriter, magazines and newspapers.
8. Several classrooms for: daytime: GED and ESL classes; nighttime: Art and crochet classes.
9. A sports tv room - to have to request which game you want to watch so everyone has a chance to see their team.
10. A large multi-media/multi-purpose room used for classes, church services and weekend movies (I ake the am yoga class here 3x per week) - (So far I've seen, Eagle Eye, Fast and Furious, Invictus, 2012 and Alice in Wonderland)
11. A Chapel/Psychology Library/media room: It has 6 tv's each with a vcr/dvd combo attached (there are movies, church sermons, self-help tapes here for watching...it's first come first serve) It also holds the self-help library and all religious books: Bibles, Torah's, Koran's, etc. The Camp Psychologist has an office in this room...she is.....ummmm...different.
12. The administration room with the visitation room attached.
13. Medical offices
14. Dental offices
15. Commissary
16. Hair Salon - still hate having to sit under the hair dryer.
17. Exercise area that consists of:
Track, Racquet ball court, softball field, weight area, elliptical & bike machines (when they are working), beach volleyball area, a place to stretch
18. A Recreation office - where you can take out exercise tapes, rent pool table and racquet ball stuff and radios. You can also order arts and craft supplies from here.
19. There is what looks like a tree garden (haven't walked over there yet)
20. The ADP Offices
21. The UNICORE warehouse
22. And finally the veggie garden with a greenhouse (but you have to be in the horticulture program to go over there)
That's about it.
What I haven't seen since I've been here.
A. Handcuffs
B. Guns
C. Physical Fights
Ok...I'm tired...I'll finish the rest of my story tomorrow.
UPDATE: Mrs. Waldron asked me to teach some classes.
3 miles daily - Max intensity/Yoga class
FAITH 51212
For those who don't know, I am in a Minimum Security Federal Prison. What does this mean?
1. There are no fences.
2. There is no controlled movement (that's what you see on T.V. when the inmates are walking in a line with guards watching them).
3. At any one time, the most I have seen have been 2 guards for 250+ inmates. (Except for the softball game against that Law firm.... even then they wore civilian clothes not uniforms...i.e. they were off duty and there just for the free sno-cones)
4. It looks like a small college campus from the outside.
5. The dorms look just like half-walled dorm rooms except clean (beds made up, a tv room with 3 tv's and a laundry/microwave room for each floor.
6. There's a cafeteria building...food reminds me of high school. People complain but I don't mind the minimum pork menu...still don't like cottage cheese or the Peanut butter and grape juice tasting pb&j.
7. A reading library (different building)...with a whole lot of fiction, access to a online law library, typewriter, magazines and newspapers.
8. Several classrooms for: daytime: GED and ESL classes; nighttime: Art and crochet classes.
9. A sports tv room - to have to request which game you want to watch so everyone has a chance to see their team.
10. A large multi-media/multi-purpose room used for classes, church services and weekend movies (I ake the am yoga class here 3x per week) - (So far I've seen, Eagle Eye, Fast and Furious, Invictus, 2012 and Alice in Wonderland)
11. A Chapel/Psychology Library/media room: It has 6 tv's each with a vcr/dvd combo attached (there are movies, church sermons, self-help tapes here for watching...it's first come first serve) It also holds the self-help library and all religious books: Bibles, Torah's, Koran's, etc. The Camp Psychologist has an office in this room...she is.....ummmm...different.
12. The administration room with the visitation room attached.
13. Medical offices
14. Dental offices
15. Commissary
16. Hair Salon - still hate having to sit under the hair dryer.
17. Exercise area that consists of:
Track, Racquet ball court, softball field, weight area, elliptical & bike machines (when they are working), beach volleyball area, a place to stretch
18. A Recreation office - where you can take out exercise tapes, rent pool table and racquet ball stuff and radios. You can also order arts and craft supplies from here.
19. There is what looks like a tree garden (haven't walked over there yet)
20. The ADP Offices
21. The UNICORE warehouse
22. And finally the veggie garden with a greenhouse (but you have to be in the horticulture program to go over there)
That's about it.
What I haven't seen since I've been here.
A. Handcuffs
B. Guns
C. Physical Fights
Ok...I'm tired...I'll finish the rest of my story tomorrow.
UPDATE: Mrs. Waldron asked me to teach some classes.
3 miles daily - Max intensity/Yoga class
FAITH 51212
T-minus 1805
"Every time you meet a situation, though you think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it, you find that forever after you are freer than you were before." - Eleanor Roosevelt.
T-minus 1804-1801
So, I had my first team today. Team, is when you sit with the camp counselor, program administrator and sometimes the warden, and they review your PSI (all of the information gathered on you during pre-trial). I have to admit, when I saw the they say my projected release date is of 12/9/2014, my heart stopped. Then the weirdest thing happened, I relaxed...I don't know why but immediately afterward, I started thinking about the doe I saw this morning.
I was walking the track, as usual, it was about 5:30 in the morning and the sun was just about to rise. Out of the trees jumps this doe. She/He takes two jumps toward me, I stop and stare, she/he stops and stares back at me, then turns around and hops back into the trees. Theresa (another inmate) was coming up behind me and was surprised saying,"What was that?" I said it was a baby deer. We both said "Wow!" at the same time....lol.
3 miles (daily) - Max endurance
FAITH 51212
I was walking the track, as usual, it was about 5:30 in the morning and the sun was just about to rise. Out of the trees jumps this doe. She/He takes two jumps toward me, I stop and stare, she/he stops and stares back at me, then turns around and hops back into the trees. Theresa (another inmate) was coming up behind me and was surprised saying,"What was that?" I said it was a baby deer. We both said "Wow!" at the same time....lol.
3 miles (daily) - Max endurance
FAITH 51212
T-minus 1800-1797
Happy Birthday to me....lol....I was a good/hard day...I've been having alot of those lately....lol. but I will talk about that at a later date.
Every weekend we have 2 movies shown on the main screen in the multi purpose room and on the middle tv in each of the dorms tv rooms. Last weekend, it was 2012 and some other movie that I can't remember and this past weekend: Alice in Wonderland and Invictus. I watched Alice on the small screen in the dorm but decided to catch Invictus on the big screen. A couple of my co-inmates and I brought our pepsi's and popcorn....one of them even put Sazon seasoning on her's (the popcorn I mean) ....can you say EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
As the movie began I thought," Ok...I suppose a little history is necessary for the people who don't know about apartied. I think if you were expecting some kind of action or a relatively quick moving plot of a big budget drama....you'd be disappointed but I thought it was well written. Apparently that was not the general consensus because about 45 minutes in maybe a third of the audience remained....wow.....to say,"Well, look where I am." would be look easy of a dismissal. There are Master's and PhD's here but I suppose not everyone is into this type of drama....oh well.
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily
Every weekend we have 2 movies shown on the main screen in the multi purpose room and on the middle tv in each of the dorms tv rooms. Last weekend, it was 2012 and some other movie that I can't remember and this past weekend: Alice in Wonderland and Invictus. I watched Alice on the small screen in the dorm but decided to catch Invictus on the big screen. A couple of my co-inmates and I brought our pepsi's and popcorn....one of them even put Sazon seasoning on her's (the popcorn I mean) ....can you say EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
As the movie began I thought," Ok...I suppose a little history is necessary for the people who don't know about apartied. I think if you were expecting some kind of action or a relatively quick moving plot of a big budget drama....you'd be disappointed but I thought it was well written. Apparently that was not the general consensus because about 45 minutes in maybe a third of the audience remained....wow.....to say,"Well, look where I am." would be look easy of a dismissal. There are Master's and PhD's here but I suppose not everyone is into this type of drama....oh well.
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily
T-minus 1796-1794
Dear Diary,
It's been way too long since I've written to you. These past weeks have been a plethora of busyness. Let's see...I started my job at the library...talked with both of the current librarians to find out why the shelves were so full that it was difficult to restock them with the both the returned books and the new donations.
The answers it turns out were very simple:
1. There were alot of duplicate and triplicate books.
2. There were books lying on their sides, behind the books in front.
3. Some shelves were taken up with GED classroom books.
So.....hmmmm.....what to do? Ooooh....ooooh...I know! Let's all play a little game I like to call: Guess What Happens Next!
Choose options 1, 2 or 3.
1. Did Kelly say f$!k these people, I'm not working this out. They need to fix there own dang books for .12 an hour!
2. Did Kelly say,"Well guys, maybe we should:
A. Get rid of (i.e. box up and send over to the FCI.....not throw away....because it is government property) the least popular duplicates.
B. Ask the GED teachers if they can keep their classroom texts in each of the 3 GED classrooms and also ask them if they want the extra Atlas', dictionaries' and High School: History of_________(fill in the blank with the historical person of your choice)
C. See how much more space we have to put out ALL of the books....keeping them in alphabetical order like they already were....thus saving us (the librarians) more headaches of trying to stick another book on an already stuffed shelf.
3. Did Kelly say, "Oh...ok.", shrug her shoulders with a clueless look on her face, continue reading her latest Danielle Steele romance novel while thinking, "F$!k these people, I'm not working this out even if it would make my job easier. They need to fix their own s%#t for .12 an hour!"
So? What do you think happened? 1? 2? 3?
Although my brain screamed....do 1 AND 3...do 1 AND 3!My heart won out and thinking,"Well, we ALL have to use the library...just because we're in prison....we don't have to BE....IN PRISON."
And this saying will stick with me and haunt me for the rest of my life.
To Be Continued...
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily
It's been way too long since I've written to you. These past weeks have been a plethora of busyness. Let's see...I started my job at the library...talked with both of the current librarians to find out why the shelves were so full that it was difficult to restock them with the both the returned books and the new donations.
The answers it turns out were very simple:
1. There were alot of duplicate and triplicate books.
2. There were books lying on their sides, behind the books in front.
3. Some shelves were taken up with GED classroom books.
So.....hmmmm.....what to do? Ooooh....ooooh...I know! Let's all play a little game I like to call: Guess What Happens Next!
Choose options 1, 2 or 3.
1. Did Kelly say f$!k these people, I'm not working this out. They need to fix there own dang books for .12 an hour!
2. Did Kelly say,"Well guys, maybe we should:
A. Get rid of (i.e. box up and send over to the FCI.....not throw away....because it is government property) the least popular duplicates.
B. Ask the GED teachers if they can keep their classroom texts in each of the 3 GED classrooms and also ask them if they want the extra Atlas', dictionaries' and High School: History of_________(fill in the blank with the historical person of your choice)
C. See how much more space we have to put out ALL of the books....keeping them in alphabetical order like they already were....thus saving us (the librarians) more headaches of trying to stick another book on an already stuffed shelf.
3. Did Kelly say, "Oh...ok.", shrug her shoulders with a clueless look on her face, continue reading her latest Danielle Steele romance novel while thinking, "F$!k these people, I'm not working this out even if it would make my job easier. They need to fix their own s%#t for .12 an hour!"
So? What do you think happened? 1? 2? 3?
Although my brain screamed....do 1 AND 3...do 1 AND 3!My heart won out and thinking,"Well, we ALL have to use the library...just because we're in prison....we don't have to BE....IN PRISON."
And this saying will stick with me and haunt me for the rest of my life.
To Be Continued...
FAITH 51212
3 miles daily
Monday, August 16, 2010
T-minus 1817 days
I am very sad. I found out yesterday that the Federal Government put a lien on my house. Yes...yes...I know it's just a thing but dang it! I felt like LHA and their Cronies were yet again trying to take as much as they could from me. First the lying in court stating:
1. That I refuse to purchase textbooks and supplies for the students.
A. The Devil's a Lie
B. John Alford, my boss, was the only person who could make that type of final decision.
C. What I didn't agree with spending was on anything that was NOT listed in the BOARD APPROVED BUDGET.
2. That this was not the first time that I had committed a crime.
A. Seriously...bold faced lie.
B. When Michael Allweiss came up with that statement I was wondering what crack he'd been smoking that day. It was
a blanket statement with no basis in fact and no proof to back it up.
3. That I dealt a devastating blow to the New Orleans Charter School System.
A. Really? Little old me? All by myself? Again.....Lie
B. Question....what was devastating? The $673,000 that I took, the over $5,000,000 (that's be million) worth of
funding that I brought in or that I made the Board and CEO look bad and like they were sleeping on the job?
4. Andrew Sullivan's statement that, " We were friends."
A. Lie...period.
To this I say...Langston Hughes Academy, your Cronies and Judge Carl J.Barbier....you must read Psalm 41. That is a gift to all of us.
The funny thing is as I lay in my bed frustrated at the situation, prayerful of a way through this issue....my roommates came in. I used to be a super private person, someone who didn't talk to many (maybe my sisters), if anyone about things that I was thinking about or going through. I got out of bed and asked them both to sit down. I said to them," I don't know what to do." and I told them what was on my mind.
Their responses ranged from telling me about their experiences with the same exact issue and recommending that I speak with the camp counselor about it, because he deals with this issue often to recommending that I speak to a real estate attorney that they know well and who happens to be here as well.
Then I talked to my family about it.
Wow God....well ok....talk about a prompt response, I really needed that.
3 miles (daily) - two days of pilates exercises.
FAITH
1. That I refuse to purchase textbooks and supplies for the students.
A. The Devil's a Lie
B. John Alford, my boss, was the only person who could make that type of final decision.
C. What I didn't agree with spending was on anything that was NOT listed in the BOARD APPROVED BUDGET.
2. That this was not the first time that I had committed a crime.
A. Seriously...bold faced lie.
B. When Michael Allweiss came up with that statement I was wondering what crack he'd been smoking that day. It was
a blanket statement with no basis in fact and no proof to back it up.
3. That I dealt a devastating blow to the New Orleans Charter School System.
A. Really? Little old me? All by myself? Again.....Lie
B. Question....what was devastating? The $673,000 that I took, the over $5,000,000 (that's be million) worth of
funding that I brought in or that I made the Board and CEO look bad and like they were sleeping on the job?
4. Andrew Sullivan's statement that, " We were friends."
A. Lie...period.
To this I say...Langston Hughes Academy, your Cronies and Judge Carl J.Barbier....you must read Psalm 41. That is a gift to all of us.
The funny thing is as I lay in my bed frustrated at the situation, prayerful of a way through this issue....my roommates came in. I used to be a super private person, someone who didn't talk to many (maybe my sisters), if anyone about things that I was thinking about or going through. I got out of bed and asked them both to sit down. I said to them," I don't know what to do." and I told them what was on my mind.
Their responses ranged from telling me about their experiences with the same exact issue and recommending that I speak with the camp counselor about it, because he deals with this issue often to recommending that I speak to a real estate attorney that they know well and who happens to be here as well.
Then I talked to my family about it.
Wow God....well ok....talk about a prompt response, I really needed that.
3 miles (daily) - two days of pilates exercises.
FAITH
T-minus - 1821- 1818 Days
There is a person here by the name of CoCo (or at least that's how I think you spell it). Anyway, she's scheduled to be released tomorrow (Tuesday). This morning as I was ironing my shirts, I stopped what I was doing and went by her room to ask her a simple question: What are 3 things that you wish you'd known when you first got here? Her response:
1. Ignore the children....people always believe that they have all of the answers, when actually as human beings we know nothing.
2. Take this time to learn something new...this will probably be one of the few opportunities when you can.
3. Use this time for you. It is all about you. The people at your sentencing, on the opposing side, didn't realize they were handing you a great opportunity. If you want to change your hairstyle...do it...there's no one here that you want/need to impress. If you want to finally get in shape, this is your chance.
The funny thing is these are all things that I was thinking before and right as I got here. So, I suppose nothing has really changed in that respect.
I'm walking the track this morning having my morning convo with God, trying to get 2 miles in before aerobics class and I start thinking about Langston Hughes Academy.
I figure this month, August my birthday month, should be about releasing resentment. I truly belive that releasing resentment, much like forgiveness, is something you do for yourself and not for anyone else.
I think these next blogs will mention LHA more than a few times, as I attempt to purge them FULLY from my system and my future. Writing it down, for me at least, is one way of releasing, forgiving, letting go and making room in my head/heart for something great.
So here goes (oh and this will not always be politically correct, because I am being true to myself):
Dear Langston Hughes Academy-
I am releasing my resentment to you for:
1. Having an incompetent CEO/Founder
2. Me having to drive the 2 hours to Baton Rouge, to the Department of Education (DOE) in July 2008, with 445 student applications so that the 60 new and 7 continuing employees could get paid.
3. CEO/Founder John Alford's ignorance in not knowing that those needed to me turned in much earlier so that HIS employees could get paid.
4. This be ing the first of many times that I had to ask employees of the Department of Education to please do a favor for me on behalf of LHA because the CEO just didn't know any better.
Letter to be continued....
3 miles (each day) - one Maximum Intensity class (Ab Focus)
1. Ignore the children....people always believe that they have all of the answers, when actually as human beings we know nothing.
2. Take this time to learn something new...this will probably be one of the few opportunities when you can.
3. Use this time for you. It is all about you. The people at your sentencing, on the opposing side, didn't realize they were handing you a great opportunity. If you want to change your hairstyle...do it...there's no one here that you want/need to impress. If you want to finally get in shape, this is your chance.
The funny thing is these are all things that I was thinking before and right as I got here. So, I suppose nothing has really changed in that respect.
I'm walking the track this morning having my morning convo with God, trying to get 2 miles in before aerobics class and I start thinking about Langston Hughes Academy.
I figure this month, August my birthday month, should be about releasing resentment. I truly belive that releasing resentment, much like forgiveness, is something you do for yourself and not for anyone else.
I think these next blogs will mention LHA more than a few times, as I attempt to purge them FULLY from my system and my future. Writing it down, for me at least, is one way of releasing, forgiving, letting go and making room in my head/heart for something great.
So here goes (oh and this will not always be politically correct, because I am being true to myself):
Dear Langston Hughes Academy-
I am releasing my resentment to you for:
1. Having an incompetent CEO/Founder
2. Me having to drive the 2 hours to Baton Rouge, to the Department of Education (DOE) in July 2008, with 445 student applications so that the 60 new and 7 continuing employees could get paid.
3. CEO/Founder John Alford's ignorance in not knowing that those needed to me turned in much earlier so that HIS employees could get paid.
4. This be ing the first of many times that I had to ask employees of the Department of Education to please do a favor for me on behalf of LHA because the CEO just didn't know any better.
Letter to be continued....
3 miles (each day) - one Maximum Intensity class (Ab Focus)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Day 2 (t-minus 1824) and Say 3 (t-minus1825)
At 6:15am I left the hotel where my family was still sleeping. I knew I needed to actually see the facility, that I would be calling home for the next 5 years of my life, alone...first. I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe a repeat of the classic scenes from OZ or any of the Law & Order shows....or...God-forbid 5 years of Orleans Parish Prison Women's Ward in Southwhite.
Should I be glad that what I have actually experienced is more like....hmmm...how would I describe the past three days?
1. No fences but lots of out-of-bound signs.
2. Food that tastes like what I ate in high-school.
3. A college dorm room but with one roomie my age(with kleptomania issues) and the other 20 years older(with resentment issues).
4. The realization that...damn...there are alot of people from New Orleans here.
5. New York City is not the only place where there are alot of people in a small space, where everyone recognizes it and tries to make the best of it.
6. The primary concern of Federal employees is keeping their job....i.e. not doing anything to mess that up.
7. Secret deodorant is just as expensive in Prison (at the commissary) as it is at CVS.
8. Asics tennis shoes are always cheaper at Marshall's. (Which is why I shopped there frequently)
9. Crocheted blankets are actually cute.
Do I have any outside issues/concerns?
Right now no. Maybe that will change later.
6 miles - 10 girlie push-up - 30 crunches
Should I be glad that what I have actually experienced is more like....hmmm...how would I describe the past three days?
1. No fences but lots of out-of-bound signs.
2. Food that tastes like what I ate in high-school.
3. A college dorm room but with one roomie my age(with kleptomania issues) and the other 20 years older(with resentment issues).
4. The realization that...damn...there are alot of people from New Orleans here.
5. New York City is not the only place where there are alot of people in a small space, where everyone recognizes it and tries to make the best of it.
6. The primary concern of Federal employees is keeping their job....i.e. not doing anything to mess that up.
7. Secret deodorant is just as expensive in Prison (at the commissary) as it is at CVS.
8. Asics tennis shoes are always cheaper at Marshall's. (Which is why I shopped there frequently)
9. Crocheted blankets are actually cute.
Do I have any outside issues/concerns?
Right now no. Maybe that will change later.
6 miles - 10 girlie push-up - 30 crunches
Blog Day 1 or 1825 days...
1825 days. That's 60 months or 5 years. What could someone do in that time?
1. Graduate college?
2. Pay off a car note.
I think that that is long enough to get more than a whole lot completed. Well, I suppose I'm going to find out, since that was what I was sentenced to....1825 days.
1. Graduate college?
2. Pay off a car note.
I think that that is long enough to get more than a whole lot completed. Well, I suppose I'm going to find out, since that was what I was sentenced to....1825 days.
T-minus 1822 Days
Have you ever noticed that the same people who say, when they first meet you,"Oh, if I am ever rude or mean un-necessarily, I will immediately apologize!" Are the same people, who when they are mean or rude un-necessarily, feel completely justified in their meanness or rudeness...too funny.
I am beginning to think that this place, for me at least, will be a study/education in relationships, from a distance. You see I am one of those people who are very black in white when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Either you're my friend or you're not.
I think that this place has a lot of gray areas. It has a way of impersonalizing everything. The employee are polite, to a point. I suppose they have to be, since everything here is so transitory. The other inmates on the other hand.... They are a really interesting topic. They are what you would expect at a regular job/ on a college campus. Most, however, are overweight. This is fascinating because there is a track/gym, everything you would need to get fit or at least stay healthy.
Anyway...what's the saying...Big Minds...big things....small minds...small people.
so let's talk about me...lol...I am:
38 years old and newly on blood pressure medication
45 ponds overweight...and dropping slowly
semi-fluent in French
have my Bachelor's degree
started a non-profit afterschool program
completely muscularly inflexible
currently incarcerated but am not in prison
believe in God/Jesus
can be controlling
can be impatient
and thar's just the tip of the iceberg.
So...let's just wait and see how these things change over the next 1825 days.
3 miles - 10 girlie pushups - 30 crunchs
I am beginning to think that this place, for me at least, will be a study/education in relationships, from a distance. You see I am one of those people who are very black in white when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Either you're my friend or you're not.
I think that this place has a lot of gray areas. It has a way of impersonalizing everything. The employee are polite, to a point. I suppose they have to be, since everything here is so transitory. The other inmates on the other hand.... They are a really interesting topic. They are what you would expect at a regular job/ on a college campus. Most, however, are overweight. This is fascinating because there is a track/gym, everything you would need to get fit or at least stay healthy.
Anyway...what's the saying...Big Minds...big things....small minds...small people.
so let's talk about me...lol...I am:
38 years old and newly on blood pressure medication
45 ponds overweight...and dropping slowly
semi-fluent in French
have my Bachelor's degree
started a non-profit afterschool program
completely muscularly inflexible
currently incarcerated but am not in prison
believe in God/Jesus
can be controlling
can be impatient
and thar's just the tip of the iceberg.
So...let's just wait and see how these things change over the next 1825 days.
3 miles - 10 girlie pushups - 30 crunchs
T-minus 1823 Days
So, I read this today:
You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you,
but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart,
your mind, your stomach (lol) because
you do not just live in a world
but a world lives in you. - Frederick Buechner
All I could think after I read that was ...dang. That is so true.
3 miles
You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you,
but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart,
your mind, your stomach (lol) because
you do not just live in a world
but a world lives in you. - Frederick Buechner
All I could think after I read that was ...dang. That is so true.
3 miles
Monday, August 2, 2010
Does a Board and CEO really have any responsibility.....
For their Organizations well being?
In the Sentencing Report LHA told the court that I alone had SOLE responsibility for all of the school's finance's. And of course they believed that.....Really?
I was hired as the Business and Human Resource Manager not the Finance Manager. However, I was not solely responsible for the financial records/management of the organization. My responsibly was to work with the School Leader/CEO/Principal and Board Finance Committee (made up of the Board Chair and two Licensed CPA’s).
I believe the question is, how was I able to conceal my crime? To answer this, I believe, we must look at the financial responsibilities of all three parties.
In effective non-profit organizations it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors and Finance Committee for using resources to achieve the organizations objectives. They have to pay careful attention to financial affairs. They also have to make sure that senior managers take financial management seriously. Good financial management starts with the board. They are the final authority. They are supposed to focus on overseeing the organization, this includes:
1. Making sure that funds are used to help beneficiaries effectively;
2. Making sure that the organization has enough funding;
3. Making sure that the organization has effective senior management;
4. Making sure that the organization operates within the law;
5. Making sure that the board can handle its responsibilities effectively.
School Leader/CEO/Principal also has important financial management responsibilities because they are employed to use resources to achieve organizations goals.
They focus on actively running the organization:
1. Making sure that resources are used effectively;
2. Matching resources and activities;
3. Supporting staff / managers;
4. Ensuring that finance staff and program staff work together;
My responsibility as the Business and HR Manager was to help the Principal/CEO and Board Finance Committee meet their financial management responsibilities by:
1. Actively supporting the organization’s values and culture;
2. Setting up and running financial systems;
3. Helping employees and managers understand financial management issues;
4. Supporting relationships with partner organizations;
5. Supporting audits and meeting legal requirements.
I hope you understand that I am in no way pushing off my responsibility for my crime. I understand what I did was make a very poor decision…and in the end that is what really matters. I am, however, hoping to clarify my level of responsibility with the Langston Hughes Organization.
I have been asked several times how was it possible that I concealed my crime for such a long period of time. Here is the answer.
Although I know it was wrong, I was able to conceal my crime because my CEO and Board Finance Committee Members placed their jobs responsibilities on me. In other words, they did not do their jobs and expected me to compensate . After I was let go by the organization for not having the financial skills necessary to do my job adequately (see letter of termination) it only took the auditors a week to find out what I had done and they found out by looking at the bank statements. There was no deep searching necessary to see what had happened.
Fyi...I truly regret that I allowed my frustrations and inability to handle the pressure of doing the jobs of three people, to get the best of me. I wish I had used a different coping skill rather than gambling as a way of making the world and the demands that were placed on me stop…if only for a few hours.
In the Sentencing Report LHA told the court that I alone had SOLE responsibility for all of the school's finance's. And of course they believed that.....Really?
I was hired as the Business and Human Resource Manager not the Finance Manager. However, I was not solely responsible for the financial records/management of the organization. My responsibly was to work with the School Leader/CEO/Principal and Board Finance Committee (made up of the Board Chair and two Licensed CPA’s).
I believe the question is, how was I able to conceal my crime? To answer this, I believe, we must look at the financial responsibilities of all three parties.
In effective non-profit organizations it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors and Finance Committee for using resources to achieve the organizations objectives. They have to pay careful attention to financial affairs. They also have to make sure that senior managers take financial management seriously. Good financial management starts with the board. They are the final authority. They are supposed to focus on overseeing the organization, this includes:
1. Making sure that funds are used to help beneficiaries effectively;
2. Making sure that the organization has enough funding;
3. Making sure that the organization has effective senior management;
4. Making sure that the organization operates within the law;
5. Making sure that the board can handle its responsibilities effectively.
School Leader/CEO/Principal also has important financial management responsibilities because they are employed to use resources to achieve organizations goals.
They focus on actively running the organization:
1. Making sure that resources are used effectively;
2. Matching resources and activities;
3. Supporting staff / managers;
4. Ensuring that finance staff and program staff work together;
My responsibility as the Business and HR Manager was to help the Principal/CEO and Board Finance Committee meet their financial management responsibilities by:
1. Actively supporting the organization’s values and culture;
2. Setting up and running financial systems;
3. Helping employees and managers understand financial management issues;
4. Supporting relationships with partner organizations;
5. Supporting audits and meeting legal requirements.
I hope you understand that I am in no way pushing off my responsibility for my crime. I understand what I did was make a very poor decision…and in the end that is what really matters. I am, however, hoping to clarify my level of responsibility with the Langston Hughes Organization.
I have been asked several times how was it possible that I concealed my crime for such a long period of time. Here is the answer.
Although I know it was wrong, I was able to conceal my crime because my CEO and Board Finance Committee Members placed their jobs responsibilities on me. In other words, they did not do their jobs and expected me to compensate . After I was let go by the organization for not having the financial skills necessary to do my job adequately (see letter of termination) it only took the auditors a week to find out what I had done and they found out by looking at the bank statements. There was no deep searching necessary to see what had happened.
Fyi...I truly regret that I allowed my frustrations and inability to handle the pressure of doing the jobs of three people, to get the best of me. I wish I had used a different coping skill rather than gambling as a way of making the world and the demands that were placed on me stop…if only for a few hours.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Ok...this one's for the little people...
There are a whole lot of ways I could have seen this coming. All of the “warning signs” were there. Warning sign’s? Why do people call them that? If they really and truly were warning signs, shouldn’t there have been a big red stop light or stop sign or at least a yellow blinking light popping up over my head if that was the case? Maybe when people say warning signs they mean that little nudging ach you get in your stomach when you know you are making a bad …scratch that…..poor decision.
So what were my warning signs? Was it the fact that I felt nauseous every work day morning when I thought about having to go into that building? Was it the fact that I created an iPod playlist that I had to listen to in the car before I got out that began with Get Up by Amel Larrieux and ended with Groove Thing by Heat Wave? No, those are too simple. Maybe it was the doubled increased dosage of my anti-depression medication or the 20 pounds of fat that I added onto my body. Perhaps it was the acne breakouts at the age of 38 or the fact that my hair started falling out? Yea. Yea, I think that those could be considered great warning signs.
But I suppose that doesn’t matter now. All that matters is the present and the future, because I can’t do anything about the past. My future is 60 months in a federal prison. 60 months for theft from an organization receiving federal funds. Statute 666, I swear I am not making that one up. It really is 666. Wow, I knew that charter school was evil. So I know what you’re thinking. What kind of person steals from a school?
Oh the children….the poor children. To answer your question it would be one of two kinds of people. The first person steals because they can. The children have nothing to do with it. They steal because they want a new car, house, boat, etc. They steal because they don’t care and the money is there and they go through great lengths to hide it. Also, it usually involves so sort of bribery with someone else for personal gain.
The second type steals because they are tired and don’t know how to handled whatever issue is causing them serious stress. Yea….yea… I know what you’re thinking…that’s bullshit! People don’t steal as a coping mechanism. Well…yes they do. Just like some people drink as a way of coping. Some people smoke to relive stress. Some people compulsive shop. Are you getting it now?
Well, it my case I gambled. I gambled as a way to cope with the situation I found myself in. I stole the money as a way to fund the gambling in order to try to cope with the situation I found myself in. I did not try to hiding the money that I stole. There were no other co-thievers. There was no bribery. I did not go out and by a car or a boat or a house. During the time that I took the money I went on two trips, each costing under $600. Both paid for by my $70k a year salary.
So no, I didn’t spend the money I stole on personal shit. I took it to any one of four casino’s and sat down at a slot machine.
I know the question that is burning in your mind. How much did you take? I stole about $660k over the course of one year.
Ok, so pick your jaw up off the floor and keep reading. I am going to take a wild guess and assume that you are reading this because you are both curious and strangely fascinated to know how one person could have done this. I think I know the questions that are popping up in your mind.
Are you kidding? Did you really take that much money? Did you really spend it all at the casino’s? Non-profit organizations have boards and finance committees, how could they have not known? Did your boss know? How did you do it? Etc. etc. Well before we get into that, let me make one thing crystal clear.
There is, was and never will be any excuse for taking something that does not belong to you. Period. I do not condone what I did. I make no excuses for it. And just so we are clear, the definition of an excuse is: to justify.
I am not doing that.
I am explaining both the series of events and set of circumstances that both led to and triggered my response. I am explaining. The definition of an explanation is to clarify and to make account for.
That is what I am doing.
Am I remorseful that I stole the money? Yes I am.
So what is the bottom line? The bottom line is this. I brought a non-profit organization over $5 million dollars worth of funding.
From that $5 million dollars I stole $660k. So the question then becomes…why?
Why would I get millions of dollars in funding for an organization and then turn around and take some of it? I did it because at first, because I was mad, I didn’t know what else to do and then, I got caught up in an addiction that I could not control until I was forcibly yanked out of it.
I mean seriously, how many people out there in the world would be relieved to be sitting on the top bunk in South White - Orleans Parish Jail. I have asked my therapist if that was normal. To be relieved that I didn’t have to work at that place any more. To prefer being in jail than having to step foot on that campus. Yea, I know…weird.
I wasn’t surprised by what happened after my arrest, indictment and sentencing. Not as surprised as everyone around me, at least. I mean I knew exactly the type of people that I had worked for and everyone else (my friends and family) was in the dark. Well, everyone who did not work there or wasn’t dating a co-worker or boss there or had worked with the board’s finance committee or who wasn’t purely looking to cover their own ass in a paper napkin of: I didn’t know anything was wrong! I didn’t know what was happening! I just didn’t know!
Gotta love the ass coverers of the world. Cover your ass…. get a guaranteed administration job at the school for the 2010-2011 school year even though you have no administrative experience. Cover your ass ….get “fired” but still receive $22k from the organization if you play ball like a good boy. Maybe that’s my problem. I wasn’t willing to be a good soldier for the school, especially if what is really going on is detrimental to the students and your administration and board are trying to hide it from the parents. Ah! There’s the key. If the parents knew the truth what would they say? What would they do? And who knows the real truth of it all?
Well, when I was younger my mother told me,” Kelly…there are always 3 truths in every situation...your truth, their truth and the complete truth.” Well, here is my truth.
Part One is about how I ended up in federal prison for taking funds from an organization receiving federal funds…or Statute 666.
We’ll just have to see what happens in Parts Two and Three.
I suppose we should start at the beginning. To make a long story short....I have a lawyer. No.... not in the "Oooohhhh! You’re a super important person! Cool!" kind of way. It's more like the, "Damn, woman ...what did you do?!" kind of way. Well, anyway he told me that I needed to write down everything that happened to me beginning June 1, 2008 until November 16, 2009.
Let me first say that no names have been changed to protect the innocent or guilty. And if anyone who was involved reads this and is shocked.....well.....Bite Me!
My lawyer also told me to try to be as un-emotional in my repeating of facts as possible. And for that I say...well.. I'm a woman....I'll try not to be too emotional....really....I will.
I suppose I should blame it all on Stephanie Allweiss.
It all began in early June of 2008...wait that's not true it actually began in December of 2007. That is when I went for an interview at Tulane University's Human Resource Department. That was the day I met Stephanie Allweiss. She was a very nice person...at least that's what I believe until I'm proven wrong. She had the best of intentions...anyway. I interviewed for a position within her department but I didn't get it. They wanted someone with a J.D. not just a B.A.
So, to sooth my unemployed and broke brow I went to St. Thomas to meet up with some old friends of mine. I was at the Miami airport when I received her, Stephanie's, phone call telling me I hadn't gotten the job, however, she knew of a school that was looking for a Business Manager. She told me that the one they currently had was leaving and they would need to replace her at the end of the school year. She asked if I would be interested in working at a school. Frankly, I wasn't but my wallet was housing several moths and my bank account was in the single digit arena and balancing on the precipice of negative. So I said sure...pass on my resume.
Well, I returned to New Orleans a week later and had an email from John Alford, CEO and Principal of NOLA 180/Langston Hughes Academy Charter School requesting that I forward my resume directly to him. I did so and we traded a few more polite emails before we finally spoke on the phone. That conversation was nice, everything seemed alright. When I asked why the current Business Manager, Melanie Flot, was leaving he told me that she was unhappy where she was and wanted to try something different but other than that everything was great.....yeah warning sign numero uno.
I met John on the school's temporary campus for my first interview. The school was on the third(top) floor in an old school building that had been damaged during Katrina. You see, after the hurricane, so many buildings had been destroyed, that many schools had to share facilities, electricity, phone lines (if they were lucky to have them) food services, etc. Well, this particular building housed two other schools, one on each of the three floors.
Remember now, at that time in 2008, we were not talking about alot of student overcrowding. The population of NOLA (New Orleans) was dramatically smaller than what it once was, therefore, not as many children. Therefore, housing three separate schools in one building is a space saving move.
As I walked into the building I thought to myself, "Ok....I can do this for a year or two.....just until I decide if I really want to stay in Louisiana or not." At that point in my life the only thing holding me in New Orleans was my two year old mortgage....and I love my house....everyone loves their first home....right?
I mounted the stairs I was greeted by John and what we will henceforth call the S.E.G......that's right....courtesy of a phase I learned from my mother (yup...she's old school and born and raised in the south) S.E.G. stands for Shit Eatin' Grin. Oh and by the way...Mr. Alford was a master of that smile....one that...unbeknownst to him, many of his employees mastered imitating to perfection.
John introduced himself and suggested that we find a classroom and sit down and talk. We conversed...it was the typical interview:
Tell me something about yourself
Why do you want to work here?
Why did you move to NOLA?
What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
yada...yada...yada.....Yes, I've worked in Human Resources, so I know the drill.
When that hurdle was completed to his satisfaction, he introduced me to some of the staff. Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Chen, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Martin, Ms. Angeline....of course Ms. Flot (current Business Manager) and finally Ms. Chastain (who...it turns out....and I did not find out until after I accepted the job on my first day of work...is his girlfriend....classy...truly classy).
Something to think about...out of the seven employees that he introduced me to that day...let's say six employees, because your girlfriend never counts...half of them quit by the end of the month.
At the end of all of the introductions he gave me a "writing test"...i.e. create a letter and a "How well do you know Microsoft Excel test?" ...i.e. create a spreadsheet test. Apparently I can write and I can add numbers across columns, because one week later I received both an email and a voicemail requesting that I "move forward with the final stage of the application process...and meet with some of the board members for breakfast.”
I met Micheal Allweiss, (Stephanie's husband, Board Chairman and a lawyer) and Harold Asher (a CPA) both were members of the Board's Finance Committee, at Betsy's Restaurant for breakfast the following week. During the meeting they asked the typical questions. Tell us about yourself, your work history, why did you move to NOLA...etc.
I asked them, why they were looking for a new Business Manager and what happened to the last one. They told me, with straight faces, that she (Melanie) had decided to leave but only because she wanted to try something different. Also, they said that the only problem/issue that they had with her was that she did not turn in the financial reports on time. It was due the first Thursday of every month.
I asked if there was anything else. They said no. We then began to discuss the fact that although I have worked in finance for a while, I was neither a CPA nor an Accountant. I was very clear in letting them know that while I was to begin an MBA program in the fall, I had no desire to earn either one of those certifications. They seemed to not have an issue with this because my federal education grant management experience was more important. So, they said.
I left the meeting feeling genuinely optimistic about the position and the company. I was offered the job four days later with a start date of July 1, 2008. I was told by John that Melanie would stay for the entire month of July to train me and help me get up to speed. If I had known then what I know now, I would have turned to job down and kept looking.
I started work that Tuesday morning. I could tell that something was going on but I wasn’t sure what. Melanie was the first person I saw. She shared an office with Deniria Angeline, the office manager.
Her desk was covered in stacks of paper that appeared to be in no particular order. There were 5 big binders of different colors behind her desk. As I glanced through them I noticed that although the papers were placed neatly inside there were no tabs separating the different sections. When I noticed two large metal gray filing cabinets behind her desk, I assumed this was where she kept her files. After looking through each of the cabinets and finding only more stacks of paper shoved in each drawer, empty boxes for pens and pencils, student’s homework folders and reams of white copy paper, I was confused.
I asked her where her vendor files were. She stated they were in one of the five binders. I must have still had the confused look on my face because she then proceeded to explain to me how John had insisted that she use the binder system as a way of file management. Have you ever seen those pictures of dogs and puppies where they have one ear completely straight up in the air and the other is folded in and their head is cocked to the side as if to say, “Huh?” Well, that would have been me.
The binder system? Huh? Ok, the binder system works but only if you keep up with it. The binder system works if everyone understands how it works, so that if you are out of the office for say… a weeks vacation, people are not stumbling through your shit trying to figure out what the hell you’ve done. Otherwise, use the hanger files in a file cabinet method. Everyone knows that one. And yes, I know ….warning sign number two.
After she briefly explained her binders system I asked her why she had so many stacks of un-binder-filed paper; on her desk, in her drawers, in top of shelves and in boxes around the room. She told me she just hadn’t gotten to those yet. But I shouldn’t worry we would work on those over the course of the month and by the way the school was moving to a new building, the modular campus on Trafalgar, next to the location of the actual building. And she and I would make sure that everything in the back office wise was moved.
When she and I went to lunch, we discussed a lot of things, mainly that John was dating Mary Chastain, that a lot of his teachers had an issue with their relationship and that they came to her to complain about it. Of course I didn’t know who she was but I found out that she was the schools recruitment manager. I firmly believe in a non-fraternization policy at work unless the couple is a) already married or b) it is not a boss/subordinate relationship that can affect other employees.
When I came into work the next morning I found out two thing 1) Melanie was no where to be found and 2) Mary Chastain was now the new Assistant Principal…… Warning sign number three.
Ok, where do I start with this Melanie or Mary?
Wow.
Wow with a capital W.
Alrighty then….Melanie.
Melanie took her vacation beginning July 2nd and ending July 31. Melanie completed nothing when she left. Melanie explained nothing when she left. Melanie left and took the only computer that housed all of the schools financial information on it with her.
Oh yes, you heard me correctly.
This non-profit organization had all of their financial information on only one computer, one laptop computer…and can I point something out that has been bothering me.
I have read in the oh-so-accurate New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper and heard from various Board members mouths that “I began stealing from the school as soon as” I got there. Really? Really? Really. I got there in July. I did not even have access to any company financials until mid-August.
So, would the common sense people of the world please explain to me how exactly I managed to “begin stealing from the school as soon as” I got there?
Oh…I know maybe it was because I took a signature card from Capital One Bank, signed it, then forged John Alford’s signature on it, then took it to the bank (by myself) and told them to add me as a signatory on the account…And they did.
Really? Really? Are you shitting me?
You know I wish I was making this story up but this is what Langston Hughes Academy’s Board told the Staff, Teachers and Parents in a classic C.Y.A. move…you’re going to see a lot of that from them.
Ok, a few thoughts on this:
1. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
2. LHA Board…ummm… one of your member’s is married to someone who is a Vice President at Capital One; maybe they should have cleared this one first.
3. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
4. It is not possible to walk into a bank and have your name added onto an account without one of the account holders with you.
5. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
6. It’s called taking responsibility for your part in this situation people……really.
7. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
But I digress. Moving along.
Melanie didn’t return anyone’s phone calls for weeks. Not mine, not John’s, Michael Allweiss’, Harold Asher’s…...no one’s.
So what were my warning signs? Was it the fact that I felt nauseous every work day morning when I thought about having to go into that building? Was it the fact that I created an iPod playlist that I had to listen to in the car before I got out that began with Get Up by Amel Larrieux and ended with Groove Thing by Heat Wave? No, those are too simple. Maybe it was the doubled increased dosage of my anti-depression medication or the 20 pounds of fat that I added onto my body. Perhaps it was the acne breakouts at the age of 38 or the fact that my hair started falling out? Yea. Yea, I think that those could be considered great warning signs.
But I suppose that doesn’t matter now. All that matters is the present and the future, because I can’t do anything about the past. My future is 60 months in a federal prison. 60 months for theft from an organization receiving federal funds. Statute 666, I swear I am not making that one up. It really is 666. Wow, I knew that charter school was evil. So I know what you’re thinking. What kind of person steals from a school?
Oh the children….the poor children. To answer your question it would be one of two kinds of people. The first person steals because they can. The children have nothing to do with it. They steal because they want a new car, house, boat, etc. They steal because they don’t care and the money is there and they go through great lengths to hide it. Also, it usually involves so sort of bribery with someone else for personal gain.
The second type steals because they are tired and don’t know how to handled whatever issue is causing them serious stress. Yea….yea… I know what you’re thinking…that’s bullshit! People don’t steal as a coping mechanism. Well…yes they do. Just like some people drink as a way of coping. Some people smoke to relive stress. Some people compulsive shop. Are you getting it now?
Well, it my case I gambled. I gambled as a way to cope with the situation I found myself in. I stole the money as a way to fund the gambling in order to try to cope with the situation I found myself in. I did not try to hiding the money that I stole. There were no other co-thievers. There was no bribery. I did not go out and by a car or a boat or a house. During the time that I took the money I went on two trips, each costing under $600. Both paid for by my $70k a year salary.
So no, I didn’t spend the money I stole on personal shit. I took it to any one of four casino’s and sat down at a slot machine.
I know the question that is burning in your mind. How much did you take? I stole about $660k over the course of one year.
Ok, so pick your jaw up off the floor and keep reading. I am going to take a wild guess and assume that you are reading this because you are both curious and strangely fascinated to know how one person could have done this. I think I know the questions that are popping up in your mind.
Are you kidding? Did you really take that much money? Did you really spend it all at the casino’s? Non-profit organizations have boards and finance committees, how could they have not known? Did your boss know? How did you do it? Etc. etc. Well before we get into that, let me make one thing crystal clear.
There is, was and never will be any excuse for taking something that does not belong to you. Period. I do not condone what I did. I make no excuses for it. And just so we are clear, the definition of an excuse is: to justify.
I am not doing that.
I am explaining both the series of events and set of circumstances that both led to and triggered my response. I am explaining. The definition of an explanation is to clarify and to make account for.
That is what I am doing.
Am I remorseful that I stole the money? Yes I am.
So what is the bottom line? The bottom line is this. I brought a non-profit organization over $5 million dollars worth of funding.
From that $5 million dollars I stole $660k. So the question then becomes…why?
Why would I get millions of dollars in funding for an organization and then turn around and take some of it? I did it because at first, because I was mad, I didn’t know what else to do and then, I got caught up in an addiction that I could not control until I was forcibly yanked out of it.
I mean seriously, how many people out there in the world would be relieved to be sitting on the top bunk in South White - Orleans Parish Jail. I have asked my therapist if that was normal. To be relieved that I didn’t have to work at that place any more. To prefer being in jail than having to step foot on that campus. Yea, I know…weird.
I wasn’t surprised by what happened after my arrest, indictment and sentencing. Not as surprised as everyone around me, at least. I mean I knew exactly the type of people that I had worked for and everyone else (my friends and family) was in the dark. Well, everyone who did not work there or wasn’t dating a co-worker or boss there or had worked with the board’s finance committee or who wasn’t purely looking to cover their own ass in a paper napkin of: I didn’t know anything was wrong! I didn’t know what was happening! I just didn’t know!
Gotta love the ass coverers of the world. Cover your ass…. get a guaranteed administration job at the school for the 2010-2011 school year even though you have no administrative experience. Cover your ass ….get “fired” but still receive $22k from the organization if you play ball like a good boy. Maybe that’s my problem. I wasn’t willing to be a good soldier for the school, especially if what is really going on is detrimental to the students and your administration and board are trying to hide it from the parents. Ah! There’s the key. If the parents knew the truth what would they say? What would they do? And who knows the real truth of it all?
Well, when I was younger my mother told me,” Kelly…there are always 3 truths in every situation...your truth, their truth and the complete truth.” Well, here is my truth.
Part One is about how I ended up in federal prison for taking funds from an organization receiving federal funds…or Statute 666.
We’ll just have to see what happens in Parts Two and Three.
I suppose we should start at the beginning. To make a long story short....I have a lawyer. No.... not in the "Oooohhhh! You’re a super important person! Cool!" kind of way. It's more like the, "Damn, woman ...what did you do?!" kind of way. Well, anyway he told me that I needed to write down everything that happened to me beginning June 1, 2008 until November 16, 2009.
Let me first say that no names have been changed to protect the innocent or guilty. And if anyone who was involved reads this and is shocked.....well.....Bite Me!
My lawyer also told me to try to be as un-emotional in my repeating of facts as possible. And for that I say...well.. I'm a woman....I'll try not to be too emotional....really....I will.
I suppose I should blame it all on Stephanie Allweiss.
It all began in early June of 2008...wait that's not true it actually began in December of 2007. That is when I went for an interview at Tulane University's Human Resource Department. That was the day I met Stephanie Allweiss. She was a very nice person...at least that's what I believe until I'm proven wrong. She had the best of intentions...anyway. I interviewed for a position within her department but I didn't get it. They wanted someone with a J.D. not just a B.A.
So, to sooth my unemployed and broke brow I went to St. Thomas to meet up with some old friends of mine. I was at the Miami airport when I received her, Stephanie's, phone call telling me I hadn't gotten the job, however, she knew of a school that was looking for a Business Manager. She told me that the one they currently had was leaving and they would need to replace her at the end of the school year. She asked if I would be interested in working at a school. Frankly, I wasn't but my wallet was housing several moths and my bank account was in the single digit arena and balancing on the precipice of negative. So I said sure...pass on my resume.
Well, I returned to New Orleans a week later and had an email from John Alford, CEO and Principal of NOLA 180/Langston Hughes Academy Charter School requesting that I forward my resume directly to him. I did so and we traded a few more polite emails before we finally spoke on the phone. That conversation was nice, everything seemed alright. When I asked why the current Business Manager, Melanie Flot, was leaving he told me that she was unhappy where she was and wanted to try something different but other than that everything was great.....yeah warning sign numero uno.
I met John on the school's temporary campus for my first interview. The school was on the third(top) floor in an old school building that had been damaged during Katrina. You see, after the hurricane, so many buildings had been destroyed, that many schools had to share facilities, electricity, phone lines (if they were lucky to have them) food services, etc. Well, this particular building housed two other schools, one on each of the three floors.
Remember now, at that time in 2008, we were not talking about alot of student overcrowding. The population of NOLA (New Orleans) was dramatically smaller than what it once was, therefore, not as many children. Therefore, housing three separate schools in one building is a space saving move.
As I walked into the building I thought to myself, "Ok....I can do this for a year or two.....just until I decide if I really want to stay in Louisiana or not." At that point in my life the only thing holding me in New Orleans was my two year old mortgage....and I love my house....everyone loves their first home....right?
I mounted the stairs I was greeted by John and what we will henceforth call the S.E.G......that's right....courtesy of a phase I learned from my mother (yup...she's old school and born and raised in the south) S.E.G. stands for Shit Eatin' Grin. Oh and by the way...Mr. Alford was a master of that smile....one that...unbeknownst to him, many of his employees mastered imitating to perfection.
John introduced himself and suggested that we find a classroom and sit down and talk. We conversed...it was the typical interview:
Tell me something about yourself
Why do you want to work here?
Why did you move to NOLA?
What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
yada...yada...yada.....Yes, I've worked in Human Resources, so I know the drill.
When that hurdle was completed to his satisfaction, he introduced me to some of the staff. Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Chen, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Martin, Ms. Angeline....of course Ms. Flot (current Business Manager) and finally Ms. Chastain (who...it turns out....and I did not find out until after I accepted the job on my first day of work...is his girlfriend....classy...truly classy).
Something to think about...out of the seven employees that he introduced me to that day...let's say six employees, because your girlfriend never counts...half of them quit by the end of the month.
At the end of all of the introductions he gave me a "writing test"...i.e. create a letter and a "How well do you know Microsoft Excel test?" ...i.e. create a spreadsheet test. Apparently I can write and I can add numbers across columns, because one week later I received both an email and a voicemail requesting that I "move forward with the final stage of the application process...and meet with some of the board members for breakfast.”
I met Micheal Allweiss, (Stephanie's husband, Board Chairman and a lawyer) and Harold Asher (a CPA) both were members of the Board's Finance Committee, at Betsy's Restaurant for breakfast the following week. During the meeting they asked the typical questions. Tell us about yourself, your work history, why did you move to NOLA...etc.
I asked them, why they were looking for a new Business Manager and what happened to the last one. They told me, with straight faces, that she (Melanie) had decided to leave but only because she wanted to try something different. Also, they said that the only problem/issue that they had with her was that she did not turn in the financial reports on time. It was due the first Thursday of every month.
I asked if there was anything else. They said no. We then began to discuss the fact that although I have worked in finance for a while, I was neither a CPA nor an Accountant. I was very clear in letting them know that while I was to begin an MBA program in the fall, I had no desire to earn either one of those certifications. They seemed to not have an issue with this because my federal education grant management experience was more important. So, they said.
I left the meeting feeling genuinely optimistic about the position and the company. I was offered the job four days later with a start date of July 1, 2008. I was told by John that Melanie would stay for the entire month of July to train me and help me get up to speed. If I had known then what I know now, I would have turned to job down and kept looking.
I started work that Tuesday morning. I could tell that something was going on but I wasn’t sure what. Melanie was the first person I saw. She shared an office with Deniria Angeline, the office manager.
Her desk was covered in stacks of paper that appeared to be in no particular order. There were 5 big binders of different colors behind her desk. As I glanced through them I noticed that although the papers were placed neatly inside there were no tabs separating the different sections. When I noticed two large metal gray filing cabinets behind her desk, I assumed this was where she kept her files. After looking through each of the cabinets and finding only more stacks of paper shoved in each drawer, empty boxes for pens and pencils, student’s homework folders and reams of white copy paper, I was confused.
I asked her where her vendor files were. She stated they were in one of the five binders. I must have still had the confused look on my face because she then proceeded to explain to me how John had insisted that she use the binder system as a way of file management. Have you ever seen those pictures of dogs and puppies where they have one ear completely straight up in the air and the other is folded in and their head is cocked to the side as if to say, “Huh?” Well, that would have been me.
The binder system? Huh? Ok, the binder system works but only if you keep up with it. The binder system works if everyone understands how it works, so that if you are out of the office for say… a weeks vacation, people are not stumbling through your shit trying to figure out what the hell you’ve done. Otherwise, use the hanger files in a file cabinet method. Everyone knows that one. And yes, I know ….warning sign number two.
After she briefly explained her binders system I asked her why she had so many stacks of un-binder-filed paper; on her desk, in her drawers, in top of shelves and in boxes around the room. She told me she just hadn’t gotten to those yet. But I shouldn’t worry we would work on those over the course of the month and by the way the school was moving to a new building, the modular campus on Trafalgar, next to the location of the actual building. And she and I would make sure that everything in the back office wise was moved.
When she and I went to lunch, we discussed a lot of things, mainly that John was dating Mary Chastain, that a lot of his teachers had an issue with their relationship and that they came to her to complain about it. Of course I didn’t know who she was but I found out that she was the schools recruitment manager. I firmly believe in a non-fraternization policy at work unless the couple is a) already married or b) it is not a boss/subordinate relationship that can affect other employees.
When I came into work the next morning I found out two thing 1) Melanie was no where to be found and 2) Mary Chastain was now the new Assistant Principal…… Warning sign number three.
Ok, where do I start with this Melanie or Mary?
Wow.
Wow with a capital W.
Alrighty then….Melanie.
Melanie took her vacation beginning July 2nd and ending July 31. Melanie completed nothing when she left. Melanie explained nothing when she left. Melanie left and took the only computer that housed all of the schools financial information on it with her.
Oh yes, you heard me correctly.
This non-profit organization had all of their financial information on only one computer, one laptop computer…and can I point something out that has been bothering me.
I have read in the oh-so-accurate New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper and heard from various Board members mouths that “I began stealing from the school as soon as” I got there. Really? Really? Really. I got there in July. I did not even have access to any company financials until mid-August.
So, would the common sense people of the world please explain to me how exactly I managed to “begin stealing from the school as soon as” I got there?
Oh…I know maybe it was because I took a signature card from Capital One Bank, signed it, then forged John Alford’s signature on it, then took it to the bank (by myself) and told them to add me as a signatory on the account…And they did.
Really? Really? Are you shitting me?
You know I wish I was making this story up but this is what Langston Hughes Academy’s Board told the Staff, Teachers and Parents in a classic C.Y.A. move…you’re going to see a lot of that from them.
Ok, a few thoughts on this:
1. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
2. LHA Board…ummm… one of your member’s is married to someone who is a Vice President at Capital One; maybe they should have cleared this one first.
3. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
4. It is not possible to walk into a bank and have your name added onto an account without one of the account holders with you.
5. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
6. It’s called taking responsibility for your part in this situation people……really.
7. That is the stupidest story I have ever heard.
But I digress. Moving along.
Melanie didn’t return anyone’s phone calls for weeks. Not mine, not John’s, Michael Allweiss’, Harold Asher’s…...no one’s.
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