As in 2 weeks. As in my final 2 weeks at Salvation Army. Yeah, you read that right: I m preparing to depart the SA – complete with honorable discharge (that's what she said) – in a mere two weeks. So consider this a formal 2 weeks notice for SA, Las Vegas, and the entire state of Nevada. Because I'm heading east, to ...
But your humble narrator is getting ahead of himself. Last installment I promised to recount a few stories concerning some of the characters at SA, so let's get to that. And remind me not to get out of here with telling you abut the big change in lifestyle heading my way. (But if you just can't wait, there's a clue if you follow this link.)
'Beatdown Town'
Around a month ago a fellow client and kitchen co-worker named Truck (not his real name) scored a job at Crater Lake national park in Oregon. It sounded like a great deal: Nice location, a managerial position in their lodge kitchen, and a chance to save up some money.
So a week before he's due to leave, Truck gets into a seemingly harmless argument with a guy in the SA kitchen. I witnessed the exchange between Truck (a 5'9, stocky black guy) and the other man (a younger white guy approximately the same height but far slighter of build). They got nose to nose with low, intense voices, neither of them willing to back down. At one point they actually went outside but onlookers broke up a potential fight in front of the cafe entrance.
Upon re-entering the cafe, they exchanged parting shots with the younger guy exiting. Truck was still visibly upset when the security people showed up to take statements (your humble narrator kept his mouth shut) although he tried to laugh the matter off. Apparently the younger guy wasn't supposed to be in the cafe in the first place. Taking statements is par for most arguments of this kind. Security people mainly go through the motions on this sort of thing because guys woof at each other all the time in SA and little ever comes of it.
I wasn't a witness to the next part of the story, so I can only tell you what was related to me by my roommate. (FYI accounts of the following differ markedly) According to my roommate
Hank, he was walking a few blocks from the SA campus near the St.Vincent/Catholic Charities complex. Truck suddenly ran up to him and said, “Hold this, man!” He gave Hank his cell phone, wallet and other small items. When Hank asked what was going on, Truck simply ran across the street.
The younger guy from the cafe argument was there. Hank shouted for Truck to come back, but he confronted the younger guy on the sidewalk. Shouting turned into shoving, and wild punches were thrown. Truck dove at the younger guy's legs, hoisted him by the knees and body-slammed him to the cement. Truck then used his knees to pin the guy's arms and sat on his chest. Truck proceeded to deliberately punch the guy repeatedly, connecting with solid, deliberate shots to the face. Supposedly, you could hear wet 'popping' noises as Truck's fists hammered into the guy's face.
All the while, many homeless people sat and either ignored the event or watched with detached interest. No doubt they see this sort of thing frequently. Hank ran over and managed to pull Truck away, returning his stuff and telling him to get lost as the sound of police sirens drew nearer. Truck seemed to be in a daze, mumbling, “Thanks, man, sorry. I had to do it, man ...” He walked off and Hank took a moment to look at the damage done.
The younger guy was barely conscious. His face was beaten to the consistency of raw meat. We would later learn that he suffered a shattered jaw, a fractured eye socket and cheek bone, and several other injuries severe enough to put him in intensive care. (For the record, he did survive.) But before Hank could get away, he was detained by St.Vincent security officers and eventually questioned by police.
Truck was ID'd by the guy and arrested later that night; I saw him led in handcuffs to the squad car. Hard to believe this was my co-worker and fellow student/client who was always so easy to get along with. He did have a temper, but I never thought him capable of such an action.
He would end up spending 24 days in jail (denied bond) because the guy didn't press charges and decided to move to Oregon. Most agreed that Truck dodged a bullet on that one; he could still be sitting in jail awaiting trial. His penance? Apparently no more than attending an 8-hour anger management class and he's paid his debt to society.
Truck did lose his national park gig but SA allowed him to return to the kitchen. He's presently searching again for work.
When I saw him he told me his version of the story: He was walking along when the younger guy and three friends tried to jump him. Truck “knocked the f**kin' shit out that asshole” (his words) and the other three fled. “But all them bitches know they best respect my ass. You feel me?”
Okay. Obviously, that conflicts with the version told to me by my roommate. Hank also had to tell his story to Vegas Metro detectives; he said it was like an episode of “Law & Order” (insert favorite franchise here) where he was taken to a small room and his statement was recorded. Hank was also summoned to attend Truck's court date although he never had to take the stand.
Many clients on the SA campus actually sided with Truck, supporting his actions regardless of which version of the story they believed. Some clients tried to make it a racial issue and another case of injustice for the black man. All I can say is that both parties were at fault (imo). There was no reason for the argument(s) to reach the level it did. As is often the case, the cause was something small. Here, the events stemmed from Truck telling the guy to take only one sausage for breakfast. The guy then threw a sausage link at Truck and it was on. All that grief over a sausage. Somewhere in porcine heaven, a piggie must be squealing with satisfaction.
Truck is apparently none the worse for wear. In fact he seems to be enjoying something of a celebrity status since returning from jail, telling his tale of woe to friends who listen raptly. I worked with him earlier today serving the homeless breakfast and he's pretty much the same as before: Pushy, somewhat bossy at times, occasionally annoying. As usual, I pretend not to hear him and stay focused on what I'm doing. Truck is one of those guys I like overall, just not as a co-worker. Whatever. I'll keep the peace for two more weeks and resist any urge to throw sausage links at the guy.
Now, about that new j-o-b ... Ah, but it seems I've taken too long telling you about Truck. Guess I'll have to wait til the next installment. No, let's get it out of the way before you burst from frustration. Your humble narrator has scored a gig at a small resort located in the southwestern US. Ever hear of the Grand Canyon? Yup, that's how I roll. Go big or go home is what I say.
Anyway, I'll be working in one of the lodges or restaurants there basically as a food server. Fine with me because it doesn't involve cooking and it's a tipped position. Best, it fulfills my obligation to SA's culinary program so they won't sic the debt collectors from hell upon me. And I must admit the prospect of some new scenery appeals to me. So we'll see what develops. But for all intents and purposes the GC gig is a done deal.
Next time: Eh. We'll figure something out. For now, that's a wrap!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
HINJFCA The Big 3-0
Wow, it's been a few weeks since my last posting. I had meant to relate how the job search process works at Salvation Army, so without further ado ...
After finishing the Essential Employment Skills course (or graduating the culinary course in my case) the client is considered in Phase 2 of the Vocational Program. This means going out into the 'real world' and basically applying for jobs. Clients are discouraged to make contacts through the old fashioned method of "Hi, are you guys hiring?" or "Yo dude, got any applications?" or some such.
Rather, clients are urged to make contact via means of talking to the boss directly (in my case, the chef) by means of introducing yourself as an honest guy offering an honest days work in return for an honest paycheck -- honestly.
In Phase 2 the client's work week is reduced to 24 hours (3 days) in order to facilitate their job search. Clients are expected to make five applications or efforts each week. Each effort is to be recorded on a sheet provided by SA which notes the employer's name, address, phone #, etc. Clients must also keep a diary of sorts that records all pertinent information as well. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action such as loss of weekly gratuity ($15 in my case); or in the case of repeated non-compliance, expulsion from the program. I've seen a number of people let go through this manner. With 4 days off, the temptation can be too much for some people to simply f**k off. SA understandably doesn't want to keep clients around who simply want to hang out on their dime.
Of those five efforts, one can be an online search or application. Ironic, because so many businesses today will only accept applications over the Internet. I expect that number will increase in the coming years I'm told that the time limit for finding a job is 3 months max. That figure seems to vary according to the client involved. I know several people who have hung around 4-6 months before they found work (part-time at that). Others have gotten the boot within 2 months. Then again, they might have been causing trouble I didn't know about.
(If you commit various violations like using excessive profanity or being too aggressive to staff or fellow clients you're subject to being 'written up'. Write ups are usually initiated by staff or security, but clients can write up fellow clients as well. The latter case is given low priority since the violation reported is often something on the order of "X didn't say hi to me this morning", or "X never paid me back the $5 they borrowed", and so on.) Too many write ups from the staff can result in expulsion. Again, the tolerance and punishment for certain violations varies from client to client.)
Believe it or not, some clients cheat(!) when it comes to their job search efforts. (Not your humble narrator, of course.) Some clients will simply search out businesses online or from the Yellow Pages, and fill in the pertinent info from that source. A contact name can often be found on a website or with a short phone call too find the name of the manager in charge of hiring. (This is not intended as a guide for cheating SA, btw; it's just stuff that happens) The caseworkers claim that all contact info is verified but I've never heard of that happening. But the staff is overworked as it is without having to chase down their clients' job leads.
I myself have been concentrating on fast food restaurants. This is mostly because there's a chance of a quicker hire and opportunity for advancement. Unfortunately, Mickey D's, Burger King, et al tend to hire only on a part-time basis with the idea of proving yourself worthy of full-time hours. Don't like the practice but I understand the logic. One manager told me he has any number of people come in and get the training, then bolt after a couple of paychecks never to be heard from. This is often done by teenagers saving up for a car downpayment or video game/electronic gear. Junkies/alcoholics and other substance abusers are also perpetrators here; they'll get clean long enough to get the job, then leave when they have enough cash for a couple of fixes.
To further update to progress of various former classmates and fellow clients: One guy recently got a gig with a small Italian restaurant, while another (the guy who shouts/sings "It's your love, Lord!") landed a job with the Cheesecake Factory. No word on if they allow Gospel singing on the job. But if this guy gave thanks whenever he evacuated his bowels, he must have really rejoiced when he got this job. Another guy got a job with a VFW outpost -- this after he took off for a weekend without telling anyone (including SA staff) and reportedly got so high he was detected by radar. He was found out, but allowed to stay when most other clients would have been dismissed for the same violation. (This is an example of the varying punishment/tolerance I cited earlier.)
Another fellow got booted from SA because he could no longer afford the rent. After you find a job, you're transitioned into Phase 3. This means you're a client in name only and no longer required to show up for roll call, turn in time sheets, or adhere to any other such rules. However, once you have an income you are required to pay rent to SA. It's not bad, usually around 30% of the gross. But the arrangement makes some clients think twice (it has me). While you are moved to a two-man dorm room and granted freedom from many client strictures, you still live under SA's roof. That means no drugs or alcohol, no fraternization with the opposite sex -- or the same sex for that matter -- and no excessive noise, profanity, etc.
SA sets up a savings account for the client and automatically deducts 30% off the top. The rest of the money goes to things like a bus pass, food, clothing and other essentials (rent comprises 30% of the amount left over from these deductions). In effect, the client must surrender their paycheck to SA, who doles it out according to this arrangement. It's not a bad thing, but many don't like the idea of signing over their money to SA. Still, it seems to have worked out well for many clients who have gone on to lead stable lives. Then there are guys like the aforementioned who may never get the message. This guy got three paychecks and blew (pun intended) all the money on lap dances. When he was short on rent, SA showed him the door. Can you blame them?
The strangest and perhaps most tragic story of a client literally losing it all involves an ex-classmate and friend who did something many of us found unbelievable. But to find out what that act involved, you'll have to tune in for the next installment ...
Late shout out to Marvel's The Avengers for shattering box office records across the globe. You humble narrator knew it all along, of course. SPOILER ALERT: The shadowy character was Thanos. Always wanted to do that!
In Phase 2 the client's work week is reduced to 24 hours (3 days) in order to facilitate their job search. Clients are expected to make five applications or efforts each week. Each effort is to be recorded on a sheet provided by SA which notes the employer's name, address, phone #, etc. Clients must also keep a diary of sorts that records all pertinent information as well. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action such as loss of weekly gratuity ($15 in my case); or in the case of repeated non-compliance, expulsion from the program. I've seen a number of people let go through this manner. With 4 days off, the temptation can be too much for some people to simply f**k off. SA understandably doesn't want to keep clients around who simply want to hang out on their dime.
Of those five efforts, one can be an online search or application. Ironic, because so many businesses today will only accept applications over the Internet. I expect that number will increase in the coming years I'm told that the time limit for finding a job is 3 months max. That figure seems to vary according to the client involved. I know several people who have hung around 4-6 months before they found work (part-time at that). Others have gotten the boot within 2 months. Then again, they might have been causing trouble I didn't know about.
(If you commit various violations like using excessive profanity or being too aggressive to staff or fellow clients you're subject to being 'written up'. Write ups are usually initiated by staff or security, but clients can write up fellow clients as well. The latter case is given low priority since the violation reported is often something on the order of "X didn't say hi to me this morning", or "X never paid me back the $5 they borrowed", and so on.) Too many write ups from the staff can result in expulsion. Again, the tolerance and punishment for certain violations varies from client to client.)
Believe it or not, some clients cheat(!) when it comes to their job search efforts. (Not your humble narrator, of course.) Some clients will simply search out businesses online or from the Yellow Pages, and fill in the pertinent info from that source. A contact name can often be found on a website or with a short phone call too find the name of the manager in charge of hiring. (This is not intended as a guide for cheating SA, btw; it's just stuff that happens) The caseworkers claim that all contact info is verified but I've never heard of that happening. But the staff is overworked as it is without having to chase down their clients' job leads.
I myself have been concentrating on fast food restaurants. This is mostly because there's a chance of a quicker hire and opportunity for advancement. Unfortunately, Mickey D's, Burger King, et al tend to hire only on a part-time basis with the idea of proving yourself worthy of full-time hours. Don't like the practice but I understand the logic. One manager told me he has any number of people come in and get the training, then bolt after a couple of paychecks never to be heard from. This is often done by teenagers saving up for a car downpayment or video game/electronic gear. Junkies/alcoholics and other substance abusers are also perpetrators here; they'll get clean long enough to get the job, then leave when they have enough cash for a couple of fixes.
To further update to progress of various former classmates and fellow clients: One guy recently got a gig with a small Italian restaurant, while another (the guy who shouts/sings "It's your love, Lord!") landed a job with the Cheesecake Factory. No word on if they allow Gospel singing on the job. But if this guy gave thanks whenever he evacuated his bowels, he must have really rejoiced when he got this job. Another guy got a job with a VFW outpost -- this after he took off for a weekend without telling anyone (including SA staff) and reportedly got so high he was detected by radar. He was found out, but allowed to stay when most other clients would have been dismissed for the same violation. (This is an example of the varying punishment/tolerance I cited earlier.)
Another fellow got booted from SA because he could no longer afford the rent. After you find a job, you're transitioned into Phase 3. This means you're a client in name only and no longer required to show up for roll call, turn in time sheets, or adhere to any other such rules. However, once you have an income you are required to pay rent to SA. It's not bad, usually around 30% of the gross. But the arrangement makes some clients think twice (it has me). While you are moved to a two-man dorm room and granted freedom from many client strictures, you still live under SA's roof. That means no drugs or alcohol, no fraternization with the opposite sex -- or the same sex for that matter -- and no excessive noise, profanity, etc.
SA sets up a savings account for the client and automatically deducts 30% off the top. The rest of the money goes to things like a bus pass, food, clothing and other essentials (rent comprises 30% of the amount left over from these deductions). In effect, the client must surrender their paycheck to SA, who doles it out according to this arrangement. It's not a bad thing, but many don't like the idea of signing over their money to SA. Still, it seems to have worked out well for many clients who have gone on to lead stable lives. Then there are guys like the aforementioned who may never get the message. This guy got three paychecks and blew (pun intended) all the money on lap dances. When he was short on rent, SA showed him the door. Can you blame them?
The strangest and perhaps most tragic story of a client literally losing it all involves an ex-classmate and friend who did something many of us found unbelievable. But to find out what that act involved, you'll have to tune in for the next installment ...
Late shout out to Marvel's The Avengers for shattering box office records across the globe. You humble narrator knew it all along, of course. SPOILER ALERT: The shadowy character was Thanos. Always wanted to do that!
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