Take note!

Here are a few things that need attention; mark in all your calendars (wall, phone, mind, etc etc)

Mandatory meeting of all MCT employees (FTEs, students, temps etc) on SATURDAY 19 September 2009. Time and location TBA. If unable to attend, you must contact Erin.

Also, Erin will meet with all of us at 8:30 am on Monday, 17 August at the barn. We will have a chance to speak with her. Have any questions for her ready at this time.

The department-wide (Parking, MCT, Res Life) plan for employee uniforms will go into effect this Fall semester. It involves a department or NAU shirt and black or khaki (tan) slacks. Black or tan jeans are OK, but not blue jeans. The rest of the dress standard established in the MCT Points of our Policy remain in effect. Points of our Policy booklets are available in the barn, see 63.

Newbie; plus sittin' around

Our new fellow employee this week is 106 (amazing, doesn't look a day over 30). He hails from Vermont by way of Tucson. From all of us at the barn, welcome!

Here I am slaving away on my knees in a hot sun practically feinting from odorific paint fumes ...... while everyone else watches! I tell ya! ...

Actually the pictures are reversed ... and I wasn't slaving ... and the sun wasn't that hot ... and there were no paint fumes ... and I wan't close to feinting. By the time the last picture above was taken, we had already finished painting. (sorry, couldn't resist lol) We had great help painting curbs with the assistance of 92 and 78 today, and 82 drove. Others also helped paint at various locations around campus. Great job, people!

Splish splash

We sure were busy!

Our transit came prepared. We were set up for the Cardinals fans. For awhile, anyway.

We knew there would be thousands. But it became, um, interesting, when every parking spot on South Campus filled. Then we had to scramble. Sure made the day go fast.

Now here's something you don't see everyday.

SBS lot improvements

Southbound drivers will experience a better ride through the SBS lot now that concrete has been poured next to the bus pad. Improved drainage will raise the safety level of the area as well. The construction area will re-open next week once the concrete has cured.

SBS and McConnell hit

CDL record

Our newest CDL acquisitor is 96. What set him apart from other candidates for the license?

• 7, and only 7, days start to finish, a record
  
• 100% perfection on Pre-trip
• 100% perfection on Skills Course
  

Nice job, 96.

96 likes flying and swimming. In this clip, those are combined. Included is his funny war wound. Shorts are black in front and grey in back.

Let them eat cupcakes

Marie is famous for the title blab, but 88 no less. There were a couple dozen of the sticky treats to enjoy at the barn today, courtesy of 88. It was after all her birthday. And someone made sure she couldn't get away with it quietly!

Afterwards, 84 and 88 popped tennis balls, very generously donated to us by Varsity Tennis, for later placement on poles we will be using to train on our Extreme Skillz course at the Dome. The soft balls on top of the poles help protect body damage in the insanely tight training exercises our bus drivers will be attempting in the days ahead!

HDX antecedent

This is an 1875 bus! According to Old Woodies, the

1875 'Obéissante' built by French steam pioneer Amedee Bollee, sat twelve, weighed 5 tons, consumed 50 kilos coal per hour and cruised at 30 km/h with a peak speed of 40 km/h. [emphasis in source]

And you say you feel old ...

Notice the leaf springs, which don't seem to have changed all that much over the decades, are located outside the wheels!

Hitched

This weekend fellow driver 84 and his lovely fiance exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony of matrimony.

The bride was accompanied down the aisle to be greeted by the groom.
The bride's daughter was integral to every part of the ceremony.

84 sings a heartfelt ballad to his wife-to-be. No dry eyes here.

Husband and wife. Congratulations!

The reception. It was a grand time! Thanks for letting me be a part of something so important in your lives.



... WITH THE WIND ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK ...

A good week

Announcements:

50 is asking all employees, student and FTE alike, who have not been in touch with her over the summer to contact her ASAP at 5031. 50 needs to get your status regarding availability and to prepare for the Fall Semester, which begins 24 August 2009.

Our training week begins the week before school starts, on Monday the 17th. All FTEs and as many student drivers as possible should be here for this.

FTEs and student CDL drivers who are contracted to drive on Saturday, 08 August, should show up to pre-trip their vehicles NO LATER THAN 6:00 am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The summer is beginning to draw to a close. This week, we worked hard and got a lot of things accomplished. More pullouts were painted, people trained, routes covered, candidates interviewed and Skillz plotted.

Everyone did a great job!

We obviously weren't going to pass up on our regular BBQs. And this was a good one, with burgers and dogs, grilled corn-on-the-cob, and frozen pops.

We made sure the coals got hot ... maybe a little too hot ...

... as our grill master disappears behind the smoke.

It was great to see several new drivers and guests mixed among the veterans at the BBQ.

And then an odd sort of Extreme Skill, perhaps to keep away the threatening rain, was performed ...

... to no avail ... but at least the rain was brief.

We wrapped things up with chair frisbee and more corn-on-the-cob.

Lumberjacks get CDLs

Four of our drivers recently attained their Commercial Driver's License. We want to recognize them and congratulation them all for a job well done!

Congratulations 99!

Way to go 88 and 83!

Nice job 87!

We wish you all safe driving, with the wind at your back!

Evolving

Changes are coming ... and they will affect us and our service.