Hourglass 09-17-05 .Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EEmployeemployee cconcernsoncerns HHighigh sschoolchool KKwajwaj ppetsets hhotlineotline aavailablevailable sstudentstudents vvisitisit iinn ggoodood hhandsands — PPageage 3 FFrancerance — PPageage 7 — PPageage 6 ((RepublicRepublic ooff tthehe MMarshallarshall IslandsIslands PresidentPresident KKessaiessai NNoteote vvisitsisits oonene ooff tthehe oouteruter iislands.slands. NNoteote iiss iinn hhisis ssecondecond ttermerm ooff ooffiffi cce.e. FForor mmoreore oonn tthehe MMarshallesearshallese government,government, sseeee PagePage 4.)4.) ((FileFile pphoto)hoto) Commentary Island volunteers are real ‘can-do’ folks By Mary Beth Clark Lollar and all her volunteers who work tirelessly in the Bargain Bazaar. What I agree with Karren Campbell and about all the coaches who volunteer her letter discussing that we have their time for all the sports on this lost our “Can-Do” attitude here. All island? one has to do is look at the Sensing There is the Ham Radio Club, the Committee minutes and read how Kwajalein Art Guild, the Filipino Club, concerns are being handled. the Hispanic Club, the Sport Fishing COL Stipe is right, there are many Club, the Yacht Club and all the lead- people who make things happen here ers in the Boy Scout and Girl Scout every day. They do their jobs well day in and day out which organizations, the PTO at the elementary school who is great, but the real true “Can Do” people on this island are work to make that school a better place and the School those volunteers who make this such a great place to live. Advisory Committee manned by volunteers who give up This list is many, and I could never name them all, but two nights a month for the schools on Kwajalein. there are a few outstanding volunteers who deserve some I know there are many other organizations that I didn’t sort of recognition. Lora Kendrick is one of these individu- mention here, but deserve to be recognized also. All these als. She is heavily involved in many community organiza- organizations improve our quality of life which helps us tions including swim team, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, CWF recruit and retain all those that do their jobs so well. They [Christian Women’s Fellowship], PTO and other organiza- also help take the burden off of Community Activities, tions on island. Bob Sholar and other members of the run- which saves dollars in these tight budget times. ning club provide great community activities. On April 9, 2004, over 400 “Can Do” people packed the What about Cris Lindborg and the Marshall Islands MP [multi-purpose] room to help a family on this island Center? Kwajalein would not be the same without the get through the toughest test they have ever faced. This Scuba Club. The Yokwe Yuk Women’s Club is an outstand- was the night of my daughter’s memorial service, and ing organization that is totally run by volunteers. LaVerne this was where that true “Can-Do” spirit came through. Arthur and her great group of women keep the MIC [Micro- Yes, the paid Can Do’ers may be harder to fi nd, but nesian Handicraft] Shop stocked and available for all of us those who truly care about Kwajalein are still here work- who are looking for Micronesian articles. Then there is Kate ing hard. To submit a letter to the editor: Keep letters to less than 300 words, and keep com ments to the issues. Letters must be signed. We will edit for Associated Press style and, if you exceed the word limit, Engagement news space. Limit one letter every 30 days. Send your letter to: The Hour glass Carl and Marianne Welch proudly P.O. Box 23, Local or announce the engagement of their [email protected]. daughter, Regina Marie Welch to smdc.army.mil. Landon Andrew Wheeler. Wheeler and Welch met in April of 2004 and knew they were just right for each other two weeks later. The Welch/Wheeler wed- The Kwajalein ding is tentatively planned to take place in the fall of 2006. Wheeler is the son of Hourglass Steve and Karen Wheeler. He was born and raised in Franklin, Mass. where he Commanding Offi cer...COL Beverly Stipe grew up with three brothers and two sis- Editor...............................Nell Drumheller ters. At the age of 18, Wheeler became Assistant Editor......................Mig Owens a fi refi ghter and has been working as a Graphics Designer....................Dan Adler contract fi refi ghter ever since. In 2001, Reporter............................Elizabeth Davie Wheeler was hired to work for the U.S. Circulation........................Will O'Connell Army Kwajalein Atoll Fire department The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry on Kwajalein. Welch was born in Jed- Landon Wheeler and Regina Welch Division, which liberated the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb dah, Saudi Arabia and has lived in nu- 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military merous states throughout her life. She two years ago, becoming a resident in personnel, federal employees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hourglass are not necessarily offi cial views of, is the third child in the Welch family December 2003. Welch is currently tak- or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Wednesdays and Saturdays in accordance and has four brothers and one sister. ing classes through the University of with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a network printer by Kwajalein Range Services editorial staff. Welch graduated from high school in Maryland and works as an accountant P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555 Phone: Autovon 254-3539; local 53539 Utah at the age of 16, and immediately for Kwajalein Range Services Finance Printed circulation: 2,000 started college. She moved to Kwajalein department. The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005 Employee Concerns Program 24-hour KRS hotline available By Elizabeth Davie The ECP maintains anonymity and confi dentiality to Reporter the extent possible. “The identity of an employee who raises a concern is protected upon a confi dentiality Kwajalein request of the employee. However, confi dentiality can- Range Services not be 100 percent assured. Under certain conditions, would like to re- such as safety, security, or legal requirements, the em- mind its employ- ployee may need to be identifi ed. In these instances, ees and subcon- the employee will be informed how and when his/her tractors that issues name will be used. It will be disclosed as little as pos- of concern can be sible under the circumstances. If confi dentiality is not called in to the KRS requested, employee names shall be used only when Employee Concerns necessary,” Chados explained. Program 24-hour hotline at According to Chados, KRS also receives some anony- 55577 or to the U.S. Army Kwajalein mous calls, which are more diffi cult to handle. “If an Atoll/Regan Test Site hotline at 51098. anonymous concern is raised, KRS cannot gather fol- “The purpose of the Employee Concerns Program low-up details from the caller, so there is no assurance is to provide a method for employees of KRS and its that all of the requisite information has been obtained subcontractors to raise issues to the attention of to conduct a thorough review. Further, while KRS ad- management about the company, including its opera- dresses each anonymous concern in an appropriate tions and its working conditions, and the living and manner, no follow-up information can be provided community conditions on Kwajalein, without fear of back to the person who raised the concern. All employ- reprimand, retaliation or duress,” Stacey Chados, KRS ees, regardless of whether their names are disclosed, internal auditor and ethics offi cer, said. are also protected from harassment or retaliation for Chados added that employees are encouraged to raising a concern, in accordance with KRS company bring concerns to their immediate supervisor or man- policy,” she said. ager. “This is the most direct way to address an issue The SPI for this program has been in place since May and see it resolved in the most expeditious and effi - of 2004. cient manner. However, if employees do not receive “An ethics program and the use of an ECP hotline satisfactory resolution of their concern from their su- can only be successful with the support of senior-level pervisor or manager, or if employees are not comfort- management. In addition, the ECP hotline can only be able bringing concerns to their supervisor or manager, successful if employees responsibly and timely report employees can contact the ECP,” she said. issues of concern,” Chados stated. Issues that are encouraged to be brought up in- She also said that an effective ECP hotline can help clude, but are not limited to safety, health, quality, promote safety, identify inappropriate behavior and security, environment, fraud, waste, abuse, corrup- reinforce KRS’ core values of consistently providing tion and harassment. Chados would like employees uncompromising integrity, honesty and fairness in its to keep in mind that the ECP is here to be sure the day-to-day business activities. “In this regard, the ECP company does things in a proper way. “This does not benefi ts the KRS organization, its employees and its always mean that employees who bring forth issues of customers.” concern will receive their most desired outcome,” she For more information on the ECP, call Chados at said. 50839. School Advisory Council to hold its first public meeting of school year By Mig Owens and the Logistics contractor to help interested in the educational pro- Assistant editor establish and promote standards of grams carried out by the Kwajalein educational services for both depen- Education System; both child and This year’s School Advisory Coun- dent children and adults residing on adult education, are the target au- cil will convene at 7 p.m., Wednes- USAKA.