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Show f ACTION LINEEXT. 77000 Explain designated driver program recently went to the Noncommissioned Officers' to have a few drinks with my friends. When club the closed, I felt I had too much alcohol in my sysdrive and so I asked the manager if I could get to tem me home. I was told I could but I drive someone to be would referred to Social Actions on Monday morning if 1 did. 1 didn't accept the ride and walked home instead. I feel it is ludicrous that someone who is responsible enough to ask for a ride should be penalized. Why does the club sponsor such a program if, by participating in it, people axe punished? 1 feel this program is detrimental to the Air Force's current standard on drinking and driving. QI Thank you for addressing the designated driver At subject, as there does appear to be some confusion and most definitely some misunderstanding. The designated driver program is sponsored by the base Social Actions Office and supported by Security Police and the clubs. Social Actions maintains and provides a list of individuals who have volunteered to provide an service when requested by the patron oi the duty manager. There is no repercussion for using the program. This is an excellent program which has met with a great deal of success since its inception more than seven years ago. I would encourage our valued club members to use this program whenever the needs arises. You will not be criticized or punished for your participation in the proM on-bas- e gram. Phone linos tied up been having a problem trying to get the line. I've been trying all day to get I through and continue to get a busy signal. I realize this is an extremely busy office, but I was wondering if they could possibly update their phone system to allow more callers to get through. Ql've You're right, the Health Benefits Office is ex-- r tremely busy. But installing more phone lines than there are people to answer them only results in people being put on hold for excessive amounts of time. To help solve this problem, a new telephone system. Info Link, has been ordered to improve access and answer basic CHAMPUS questions. The Info Link system will allow callers to select from a menu various CHAMPUS-relatetopics. With the capability of up to 40 calls at one time, many commonly asked questions can be answered without the caller having to talk to a health benefits adviser. Callers whose questions are not answered by the Info Link system will be routed to the Health Benefits M ACTION LINE is your opportunity to mke Hill AFB a better place to live, v ork and play. When you call Ext. 77000, or send on LOGDIS or OrfkeVision to ID "ACTION," your comments will be recorded and stalled through the agency responsible for action. Tlease give vour supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with vou in answer-inquestions and solving problems before calling " t .""'Mil"-'., Moj. Ogden Abusive language offensive letter was issued on abusive and offensive policy all have a that basically said that QA work in to an environment that right respects our we per- sonal dignity. Sometimes that's not happening, even with our supervisors. What recourse do people have when they are intimidated or otherwise treated without respect to personal dignity? Who do they turn to and where can they go to get help without jeopardizing their jobs? A Your point is well made and is in line with my let-ter, Abusive and Offensive Language Policy, Nov. 9, 1990. I assure you that I am committed to holding supervisors and managers personally responsible for ensuring a fair and respectable working environment. They are not to engage in harassing behavior nor allow it to take place in their work areas. With varying backgrounds, experience and personal standards of employees, some statements or actions acceptable to one person may be very offensive to another. Thus, in private, you may want to tell the person causing the problem that hisher expressions are offensive and upsetting to you. Every employee has the right to bring such matters as offensive language to the attention of hisher immediate supervisor unless the matter concerns the relationships with or actions by that supervisor, in which case the matter may be presented to the second level or higher supervisor. Air Force regulation prohibits supervisors and managers from taking, or threatening to take, any act of reprisal against an employee for exercising such right. Therefore, you may turn to your supervisor or higher level management with the knowledge that reprisal for doing so is prohibited. If you have concerns about this approach, contact Employee Relations at Ext. 77205, or Equal Employment Opportunity Office at Ext. 74856. 4 A Security police will patrol the area around the soc-- " cer field and cite all those not parked in designated parking areas. Can gate be opened earlier? Would it be possible to open the Southwest Gate at 5:30 or 5:45 a.m. now that were working the compressed work schedule? It's really inconvenient to have to travel an eitra five miles to enter at the West Gate. Q J G2 r Thompson Jr. commander ALC Recently I underwent oral surgery and although the word dentist often strikes fear in the bravest of men, my experience was quite the opposite and entirely pleasant. My sincere thanks to Dr. Scott Dixon and his assistant, SrA. Stephanie Whittenbach; Dr. William Davis and his assistant, Karen Creigas; and Jerry Malm. They were at all times and in all ways professional, friendly, courteous and considerate of my needs. I felt a sincere desire from each of them to do the best possible job for me and I am more than pleased with the results. I don't believe I could have received better dental care anywhere. My heartfelt thanks to each of these individuals. Thank you for your calL You can be assured that our dental clinic staff was pleased to receive such thanks. to compliment an employee who works in your motor pool. She is a driver and her name is Brenda Abeyta. She is always very courteous and goes out of her way to give good service. She really presents a very good image for the motor pool. In these days of Total Quality Management, I think that's really important and she should be recognized. She may not have ever taken any TQM classes, but she sure knows how to give the customer good service. Thank you. I wish Thank you very much for taking the time to let us know how much you appreciate the service provided to you by Ms. Abeyta. She has been commended for a job well done and appropriate annotations have been made in her file. We take pride in the services we provide to the personnel here at Hill and are proud of our employees. Total Quality Management is of the utmost importance during these times of constant cutbacks, and it gives me great pleasure to hear positive feedback from our customers for performances such as Brenda's. Once again, thank you for your compliments. flip-typ- sign at gate to install a e e Would it be possible stop sign Gate? is rather the Southwest It annoying to by have to stop there when there is no other traffic coming from the right or the left from the West Gate. Q The low volume of traffic at the Southwest Gate, even during rush hours, does not warrant opening r the gate a earlier. I recognize there is some infor convenience you to use the West Gate; however, I must consider the security police operation as they commence with shift change during the 5:30 a.m. time frame. This is a busy time period for them; they must attend roll call, inspect equipment, receive special briefings for the date and conduct post rotation, all while conducting business. I appreciate your recommendation, but we must keep the existing hours at the Southwest Gate. M Gtn. DoU W. Kudos Install and something going are always cars parked on the track. Could they either make it a no parking area or just post a sign saying don't park on the track, because it gets pretty hazardous when you have to run off the track? d Office. I'm constantly having problems jogger on the track uhen there a soccer game Ql'mi or on at the soccer fitld because there is ACTION LINE. This will LINE. 11 H.!l?op T.mei Keep cars off the track I g help me better serve our interests through ACTION June 21. 1991 flip-typ- In the past there was a stop sign at the 4 intersection you described. The base traffic Council met and discussed the legalities of such a sign. Referencing the manual on uniform traffic control devices, they decided this type of sign was illegal and replaced it with a permanent sign that provides uniformity and assists police officers and traffic courts by providing continuity e on our roadways. A stop sign provides a good to the 30 mph area. I 40 area the from transition mph feel the minimal delay at the stop sign offers our pedestrians, especially the children frequenting the Youth Center, a greater margin of safety. flip-typ- e full-tim- half-hou- hallway a problem Smoke-fille- d and I have to walk through a hallway to get to the office where I can ban smoking on hospital grounds, hospitals Hill AFB ban can't why smoking around the buildings? Ql'm work. If a er non-smok- A The Hill AFB policy on smoking supports the find-ings of the surgeon general regarding the hazards of smoking. The policy provides that personnel must not smoke in facilities except in designated areas. are to be protected from sidestream or passive tobacco smoke, as it has been found harmful to their health. If you have questions or a problem with an existing smoking area, it should be discussed with your immediate supervisor. Management is responsible to ensure that smoking areas currently established are adequate and properly ventilated to ensure are not exposed to hazardous sidestream smoke. Normally, smoking is prohibited in common-us- e areas such as hallways, unless specifically designated as a smoking area. All employees are required to adhere to the existing smoking policy. Failure to comply with the policy subjects employees to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with existing regulations. This response does not specifically address your area, as you didn't identify the building and location. However, if you are unable to resolve the situation with your management or if you have further questions, please call the Labor Relations Staff, HRCEL, Ext. 76929. 4 Non-smoke- non-smoke- rs rs Recycling glass and plastic Concerning your article in Hilltop Times regarding the base promoting recycling, Bloom Recyclers in Ogden does in fact recycle glass and plastic. Q A The reference you made to receiving recyclable JF plastics and glass by the Bloom Recyclers in Ogden is correct as printed. The quote, as reported in the Hilltop Times, was not accurate in that the reference was to the purchasing of recyclable materials from collectors, such as the Hill AFB Recycle Center and Bloom Recyclers. The collection and turn-i- of plastics to these recycle centers is available to the public. One drop-of- f station is now in place on base just south of the Recycle Center, Bldg. 1248. It is from this point that industry is experiencing difficulties. No ready market is available for most of these materials once they are collected from the public. Moving these materials to production facilities in distant locations is costly and the market for them is very soft at the moment. This points up the need for consumers to patronize the recycled products market in order to complete the cycle of responsibility for making recycling truly work. The collection and turn-iof discarded materials is necessary, of the triad needed to make yet represents only the cycle complete and workable. Once new products made from recycled material are on the shelves, consumers must purchase and use them in order for the cycle to perpetuate itself and be successful. If you desire further information about our base recycling program, please contact Mr. Ray direct at the Base Recycle Center, Ext. 79007. n n one-thir- d 'RIF-in- g' Strong feelings over flag skilled workers 0 Since 80 percent of the jobs that come through Plant Services are electrical, how do they justify "RIF-ing- " the skilled electricians and keeping people who are not skilled and have very little training in the electrical trade? unfortunate that anyone here at Hill AFB has At been affected by the reduction in force. The fact that the budget is smaller requires us to do more with less. The multiskilled employee is a step in that direction. All have received extensive technical and safety training (formal and met production acceptance certification requirements, and completed training on control of hazardous energy (Lock OutTag Out). The program has been in use for a full year without incident. Benefits now A It's proven include Increased quality, decreased travel needs, enhanced ability to schedule and better resource utilization. The number of electricians, mechanics and pipefit- vers nas been reduced, providing a mure service.. tuBi-ciid-w- "- There was an article published about flags being left out continuously without regard to weather or iUumination. I am a very strong patriot; I believe in my country and its flag and it upsets me when I see the red, white and blue that has become brown, black and dingy because it has been left up through rainstorms, snowstorms and wind. The reason I joined the military was to protect and serve my country and try to pay back a little of what my country has given to me. I think this G is disgraceful, especially on an Air Force base. Can something be done about it? Please be responsible for pets 0 clean-u- p fi I, too, share and appreciate your concern about our flag which may not be displayed properly. I was hopeful the previous article in the Hilltop Times would stimulate the interest and concern of such individuals who aren't following proper flag protocol. Maybe your call will generate more interest. Plus, I've asked all commanders to continue to emphasize this subject at their commander's calls and staff meetings. A Could you please remind all housing residents who own pets of their responsibility as to care and after their pets? Pets in base housing are one of the biggest problems we have. In the spring newsletter, March 21, 1991, to all housing residents, the pet regulations were readdressed. If you have a problem with a particular resident's pet, I'd suggest calling the Housing Office or call Davis County Animal Control, at 77 for loose or stray animals. 544-835- 5, |
