Greetings All,
Sorry for being so lax with the blog--there's lots to do when you don't have much to do. Anyway, as the severance dwindles, the score remains
Job Market 1
bald, bearded guys 0
Some feelers, couple interviews, and many delays, but the odd freelance gig softens the blow. C'est la vie. Sorry I'll have to miss the pancake extravaganza: Karen, Matt, and I are heading to the Keys and the Everglades for some kayaking and general misbehaving. I'll be back next Thursday and it seems like we're overdue for some bowling action. Max, you in? Hope the holidays treated everyone well. Ciao.
72 comments:
The more things change . . . My newest copyediting project is a college EARTH SCIENCE text. So it's back to rocks, water, and air.
Happy New Year everyone. John Kennedy, could you post instructions on how to read comments and how to add a comment to the blog? I gave the address to a couple of old Vis Ed people but couldn't tell them how to read or post comments. If you post instructions, I'll pass them on. (Each time I go on, I have to experiment for a while to get to where the comments are and to figure out how to post.)
I had dinner with Christine Osbourne, Liz Ryan (remember her?) and Cindy Mooney over the holidays. It was fun. Christine is still in California and still working in print production. Liz left publishing after she left Vis Ed and went into public relations. She seems to be doing well career-wise.
Hope everyone is doing well.--Maureen Pancza
Happy New Year everyone. I hope the holidays were good to you, and I hope the new year will be even better to you.
Columbus HR finally emailed me last week to say they are going to ask Andy if he has any positions that match my skills. The next day, William wrote me to say Lorraine asked him for a recommendation for me, which he very graciously supplied. So that was last week, and still not a word. They are so obnoxious.
I had the most horrible interview ever last Thursday. The place was REA in Parsippany. I drove almost an hour to a warehouse park off 27, and inside was uglier than any warehouse I ever saw. The rugs were stained and torn; the walls were crubmling with holes that you were waiting for something to crawl out of; the furniture was all stained, torn, and mismatched; the people were all 60+, cranky, and frumpy. The one guy who was actually wearing a suit looked like he got it from the Salvation Army, because it was wrinkled, drab, and about 4 sizes too big for him. The execs I spoke to were polite, but they were cold and abrupt--even to each other--and I would rather starve than have to go there every morning. EW!
I had a couple of other interviews this week that are not in educational publishing but are pretty local and in pretty buildings with a good mix of people. One job has an editorial department that is about 75% male. And not one of them was named John. How weird is that?
Am I supposed to be bored with being home yet? I have only had a couple of days of being home all day, and all but one were attributed to illness. I am almost caught up on laundry, and I still have not even started my book proposal. I should probably get on that before I get hired somewhere. Too many old friends to catch up with and family to schlep out to see since I have the time.
I am not available for pancakes tomorrow (I volunteer on Saturdays at the animal shelter), but I will be there in spirit. Have a great breakfast.
Happy post-holidays, all! Sadly, I couldn't make the breakfast on Saturday, but I'm hoping for maybe one last bowling outing with you all sometime before Jan. 26, when I leave for Singapore. Can't believe that's less than three weeks away! I was looking forward to at least one good snowfall before heading to the equator, but it's not looking very promising...
Hi all,
The breakfast was great. It was good to see so many people from MHE.
I'm winding down with my work and stepping up my job search. Now I know what it's been like for everyone. I'm enjoying the extra time at home and getting a lot of things done. (No Painting yet) I will be a lot happier knowing I when have a job.
I finally remembered my username and password to write.
Good Night Lisa and Elissa!!!
Howdy comrades...Guild here. Pearson is quite excellent. The office morale is high, the books are good, and the coworkers are cool (even though none of them deliver me a daily jumpdrive full of prog rock and soul). It's great to finally edit a PE. The commute, however, makes me weep. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to get to work today. There's an awful lot of New Jersey between me and Upper Saddle River. I'm moving out of Plainsboro this week (Kennedy, your property value should rise shortly); I'll be staying with my sister for a few weeks until I figure out where I want to live. I'm considering the Bronx, Jersey City, or somewhere in Rockland county. I figure if I'm going to pay outrageous East Coast rent, I may as well have quick access to the city. Good luck with the job search, and in the words of Jimmy Smith, "Stay Loose!"
Hi there -
Jill just pointed out to me that this new '07 chain was created. Here's a copy of what I had posted to the '06 chain:
Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having a great start to 2007!
Finally, finally, finally I received my student teacher placement from Rider. It will be at in a second grade class at the Dutch Neck School. The great thing is that this is the school I requested, so I am psyched!
Does anyone have any inside scoop on the school, the principal, etc.? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!
greetings all.
Happy New Year again.
I am still workign in the place in Manasquan. Just got the Your doing a good job speach from the pres of the company so that made me feel good.
Yesturday at the gym I just started with a personal trainer once a week. Im looking to drop about 20lbs and 4-6 inches off the waist. Yesturday was the first day so it was just getting some core stuff taken care of nothing to easy. The trainer has promised me though that next week I will be working hard and ready to kill him by the end of the session. I can not wait.
I will be going across the big pond to visit the family in a month. Its my grandfather (and his twin's) 90th b-day so we are having a family get together.
School started up for me again this week. I am taking a class called introduction to business systems. I downloaded the first chapter of the book and it is called "Introducing the computer". At this point I am thinking is there anyway to pass out of this class. However I think im in it for the long hall. IT is actually good its going to be an easy class for me. I will not have to worry about it to much when i go to england.
I hope everyone is else is doing well. My server just beeped at me so I have to go take care of it.
Seeya
Simon
Well, Friday was the last day for Val and me. It was very strange. As I was leaving, the work crew was ripping doors off the the outer offices. It was surreal. I am really glad to be out of there; but those creeps could have waited one more day before they started ripping the place apart. But then again, just a couple of weeks ago I got a letter from HR to be sure to congratulate Fran on her anniversary date with the company.
Today I received 12 copies of the National book. One is mine since I had to send mine to William in Ohio, and I have requests from Anita, Josh, Cindy, Elissa, Susan, and Marcel for copies. I'm pretty sure that Jean wants one but the others are up for grabs. Let me know if you are still interested and whether anyone else would still like to receive a copy.
Happy New Year everyone. Still unemployed here. I had 2 really great interviews last week but have not yet heard back. Either job would be great so I have my fingers crossed for at least one of them to respond. I hope everyone is doing well with their search.
-Kennedy, let me know about the next bowling adventure.
-Barbara, I still would love a copy of the national book. Thanks.
Peace to all.
-JL
Well, I finally discovered the 2007 blog and caught up with everyone. I haven't been totally out of touch since I talk to Fran and Barbara all the time. It's not the same as having offices next to each other, but we are adjusting. Fran and I only live 5 minutes apart and today we visited Noelle. The new baby, Daphne Rose, is just beautiful and good natured (like her mother), and the twins are beyond adorable and soooo good! I have been slowly catching up on house projects, paper work that has piled up, and enjoying leisure time that I have not had since I don't remember when. For the moment, I am in no rush to break the spell of calm in my life. I don't miss my Treo at all!! When is the next bowling date? I'll sip wine and cheer you all on.
Hey Troops,
The next meeting of the UBL (Unemployed Bowlers League) will convene at 5:00 p.m. sharp on Wednesday, January 24 at Colonial Lanes in Lawrenceville. What can I say, Simon wanted a home game. The lanes are on Business Route 1, on the left as you travel south, across from the Lawrenceville Shopping Center. I'll try to put up a map later today. I'll also send out an e-mail at some point to alert those who are blog-challenged.
That's cutting it close (next-to-last day of movers, two days before flight), but I'll be there! Hope to see you all then.
I'll be at the bowling lanes to cheer everyone on. See you all then.
Hi guys...still early enough in the year to wish you all a Happy New Year....no news on the job front...just "networking" per Lee Hecht Harrison's guidelines and sending resumes out to the cyberplanet...weird...my $13 computer desk and $13 printer stand from Staples fit nicely into the corner of our upstairs middle room...my new work space reminds me of my first work area at the ole VisEd...I sat in Joe Z's old spot in editorial along with three other people and mounds of page proofs, slides and transparencies...so I guess I'm back to my roots.
Wishing us all the best with "the job search" in 2007...
Anita
Greetings all,
I hope to be at the bowling. Weather I can lift a bowling ball after my personal trainer today will be a different story.
As to the rumor that my mother is moving. This is not true. I am moving out but she is not going anywhere.
Simon
Paula, thanks for the tip...I would go for comedian, probably stand-up....remember, I said that you would do well in that field?
I can't believe these job postings..if I want to remain in production management, I'll need to learn InDesign, Web Design, and a gazillion other skills that are a requirement for these jobs...and they only require 2 or 3 years experience...if I had only known that I could have learned all this stuff and more in a couple of years...dog grooming is looking better each day!
Well, my extension with MH has ended. However Kelly has offered me yet another assignment in the building so I guess we'll see. It's better than nothing. I registered with Aquent (still waiting to hear). I registered with Randstad (still waiting). And tomorrow I have to Woodbridge for an interview and register with the Creative Group. I wonder how long they'll make me wait. On a positive note, I got a townhouse in Princeton. I move there in 2 weeks. Fireplace and everything. Finally no more roomates.
Interesting...on that note, I just moved into a townhouse, too!
Mine comes with backward switches (all the ones here use down for "on"), a stove with Celsius temperatures (I can't convert units, so I've already scorched a couple of things), and four extra couches we can't make the landlord get rid of...
Still, can't beat the location (85 miles north of the equator) in Feburary. If you're anywhere near Singapore, we'd love to host you! Hope all is well in NJ.
Jenn, so good to hear from you..our landlord installed all the light switches in our house "Singapore style"...we finally fixed them after we bought our house...wishing you all the very best in your new journey....
Hi everyone. Brunswick's work on Georgia Science has expanded greatly. We got the project management for the PE, TE, and ancillaries, and we did the initial editorial analysis on the Test Prep. Looks like we're gonna get all that for Maryland too (at least we hope so). Plus, we're going to be writing all the "Closer Look" spreads. Anyway, so far so good. Our little team is up to 9 members. I need to thank Jean and Fran for all their advice and encouragement. VisEd lives!
Hi all. Just to let you know how things go when severance ends . . . No package of information comes before severance runs out. HRSC (888-843-4772/6) can tell you when your last day of severance is. MH does NOT have to notify Hewitt or the COBRA company of our existence until after last day of severance. So pension and COBRA paperwork does not get done beforehand. We're in a kind of limbo until them. Even though I was entitled to start my pension on 2/1/07, it's not on record to begin. If anyone has had a different experience, please let us know.
Linda
Hi Everyone,
The "Employee Frequently asked Questions" that we received on 9/26 addressed Retiree Medical coverage on P.8 and Retirement benefits in general on p.9. Each time I read it, I seem to find some new kernal of information. Based on the number of phone calls I had to make to clarify many different benefit issues before we finally closed down, I would suggest that anyone who has questions or concerns should call the HRSC (1-888-843-4772) asap, and it pays to call a couple of times to make sure that you are getting 100% of the facts.
This blog is great and I am keeping up with everyone and happy to see the connections continuing even as we all pursue different things. Dick and Celia are in South America and due to return on Saturday. I get exhausted just thinking about all of the traveling they've been doing. Although in this current deep freeze, South America is probably a good place to be. Stay warm everyone.
Hi guys,
Thank you Marcel for directing me here from that neverending 2006 thread.
A fair amount has happened with me in the last couple of months. I accepted a job at Amadeus Press, a small performing-arts publisher up in Pompton Plains, NJ. (I'm commuting from my parents' house in Morristown and going back to Princeton on the weekends.)However, I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay there. I just interviewed at the Atlantic Monthly in Washington, DC, and they said they'd get back to me sometime this week. Realistically, if I had to bet money on it, I'd bet against me getting the job. (I wish I'd said some things differently in the interview.)
I can't stop thinking about the whole thing and being anxious about what will happen. I'm trying to put it out of my mind and to deal with the likelihood that I won't get the job, but it's really hard to avoid checking my cell phone and e-mail every 2 minutes. And of course I can't vent to anyone at my current job! Any good thoughts/prayers would be great, though I think they've probably made their decision by now.
Congrats to all who've gotten jobs, and best of luck to those still looking. -- Jessica B.
I have finally decided to leave my career of full-time interviewing for a more lucrative venture. After about 40 actaul face-to-face interviews, I have recieved and accepted my first and only offer. I will be moving to Miami in three weeks to be a developmental editor for an ESL textbook publisher. It is a rather large international company in the Spanish-speaking countries of the world and they are looking to expand their niche in the American market. They currently have one team of primarily native Spanish speaking editors working on Spanish language and ESL textbooks. In 2008, they are looking to separate the two disciplines and move the native Spanish speakers to the Spanish language editing and they have hired me so that my vast knowledge of standards and curriculum and classroom activities can drive the new ESL division of the company...sounds good on paper, but we will have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, these 8 degree mornings are not making the move to Miami seem like such a bad idea. I have a court date of 22 Feb to finally be divorced, and I have been emailling my long-lost mother since the day we left MH. Weird how so many things happen at once. I have lots of family in the Ft. Lauderdale area, and the grandfather says when he wants me he will summon me with an airline ticket. I would say it sounds like a good plan, but it is the only plan, so that doesn't really count. A job in Miami is better than no job here, right?
Thank you, Fran and Jean, for the nice things you told them about me. I hope I live up to them.
Good luck to everyone with all the snow I hear will be coming this way...remember it almost always snows here on my birthday (10 March). Speaking fof birthdays, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS JENNIFER!!!
In going through my old email, I found this link. Very interesting to see how everyone is doing.
As for me, I'm re-reading the Davinci Code for the second time. It really makes you think about things, you know?
Congrats to Tobey. Nice wedding pictures. Looks like a good time was had by all!
We're working on the TE B printing for South Carolina. Or, I should say, the new people are working on it. We hired 7 Assistant Editors in January. (Only one of them has resigned so far.) What a great opportunity for them to learn the ins and outs of our program...
Not to beat a dead horse, but it would have been nice to have Jill around to answer the new hires' questions. They're all nice people, but it's very annoying to have to answer their questions. (I wonder if this is how John felt about me. Hmmm...) Hope you enjoy Florida, Jill.
I hope to catch up with Marcel. Looks like GGS is going to do our Maryland customization, which means that Marcel et al. will be doing it in all likelihood.
We'll probably do an Ohio Customization in house. In the meantime, there are TOCs to create and various sundry tasks.
The word sundry reminds me of laundry. They have a laundromat half a mile from my house that sells BEER! A pint for $1.30! Columbus, OH!
Another project we're working on is a book called "Technology: A Closer Look." It's essentially a freebie for folks in NY, NJ, PA and IL whose technology standards aren't met by National Science. These are strong words, but true: It's the funniest book we've ever done. No kidding. Imagine a book that suggests flying lawnmowers will revolutionize society, prosthetic limbs are currently being attached to cocker spaniels, and the steam engine was one of the greatest technological inventions of the 20th century (along with the computer, of course).
I got it in 2Rs so there really wasn't much that could be done.
Well, enough shop talk. There's business to be done.
It's an exciting time to be alive.
William
Greetings all from England...
The weather is cold and wet (well this is England). Although it is warmer than it is over there.
Flight was 5 1/2 hours. Good flight. slept for about 3/4 of it.
Now just chilling.. catching up on some home work for my class.
Hope everyone is well over there.
May post more later if i get the chance.
Simon
Happy V-Day to All,
Our peerless leader has asked me to put the following two job offerings up here. They are from a friend of Celia Lidz and are at Bedford/St. Martin's Press in NYC. Here's the first:
Production Manager
Principal Duties
• Manages the Production Department staff (currently consisting of 3 Senior Production Supervisors, 2 Production Supervisors, 1 Production Associate, and 2 Production Assistants) in the production and manufacturing processes from manuscript through bound book for first printing titles
• Responsible for budgeting and maintaining budget; scheduling; buying and coordinating the composition, scanning and digital art adjustment and proofs, printing, and binding for all the Bedford/St. Martin’s titles—approximately 100 student editions and 80 ancillaries per year (from 1/c to 4/c).
• Develops and updates all the forms used in the Production Department (e.g., status cards, schedules, purchase orders, form letters)
• Trains new supervisors
• Constant troubleshooting
Tasks
• Attends transmittal meetings to provide/acquire production data affecting the production process of a title
• Coordinates all the updates from Production and Project Editorial of the monthly New Product Report to keep management abreast of current status of all the titles in production.
• Guides the staff with the more complicated projects
• In constant communication with staff and suppliers
• Answers the many and varied queries from the various departments regarding text/cover design, art, composition, printing, and binding, disk downloading, problem PDF/Quark files.
• Holds bi-weekly meetings with senior supervisors and weekly meetings with the newer supervisors to review the status of their titles.
• Reviews text designs, cover mechanicals/proofs, manuscripts, art programs, print/bind and cover orders, estimates (approval-to-publish, final, and closeouts), text’s final PDF proofs, first batches of rough or dummy pages and pages for complicated 4/c titles, digital blues for NY titles, f & g’s and advance copies. This varies based on experience of production person handling the project.
• Constantly troubleshoots problems that may affect schedule, cost, and/or quality.
• Keeps abreast of new production and manufacturing processes through constant communication with suppliers and plant trips.
• Updates all the forms and procedures that the production department uses.
Education and Experience
• College degree
• Minimum ten (10) years on-the-job experience in book production and manufacturing for a college book publisher
• Good management skills
• Excellent knowledge of composition, text/cover printing, binding, scanning, digital art adjustment. Good math skills required for cost estimating and reviewing cost estimates.
• Must be familiar with IBM and Mac computers and with programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel, Quark, and PhotoShop
• Must be able to multi-task, be detailed minded, organized, and work in a fast-paced environment
Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Constantly troubleshoots problems that affect cost, quality, and/or schedule
• Go on press approvals for 4/c titles when needed
• Assigns projects to production staff, chooses compositors, art prep, printers/binders not under contract
• Evaluates current suppliers and investigate new suppliers to minimize cost and maximize quality and service.
• Hires and trains production staff.
And here's the second:
Position Title: Production Supervisor, New Media
Reports to: Director Production/Manufacturing and Managing Editor
POSITION SUMMARY:
The New Media Production Supervisor manages the production process for all Bedford/St. Martin’s web and electronic projects that require in-house production work and tracks projects done by outside vendors. The New Media Production supervisor oversees the work done on a project after it leaves development’s hands, including copyediting, keyboarding, design, proofreading, QA (both editorial and technical), and manufacturing.
The New Media Production Supervisor manages this work for a variety of product lines, including book-specific Web sites, content offerings for course management tools (e.g., WebCT ePacks), presentation manager CD-ROMs,and computerized test banks for electronic media. Non template Web sites and all Web based individual products will be added.
The Supervisor manages and schedules both in-house Web design and production efforts and outside vendors to ensure quality and timely delivery of Bedford/St. Martin’s Web products.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Oversee, coordinate, and review multimedia (primarily Web) production from start to finish, working closely with Producers, New Media Editors, Development Editors, Project Editors, Production Editors, and outside sources.
2. Develop and maintain schedules for key project milestones (from design through content delivery and integration, quality assurance, product release) on wide variety of electronic products (e.g., book-specific Web sites, content for course management tools like WebCT and Blackboard, e-book conversions). Revise and update schedules as necessary. Maintain hardcopy and electronic project files and schedules.
3. Assign, schedule, and manage work of in-house and freelance production staff (including programmers, html coders, designers, copyeditors, and proofreaders) as well as that of vendors. Evaluate and hire freelance personnel as required.
4. Track all projects, liaisoning with designers, editors, producers, programmers, quality assurance personnel, and manufacturing to ensure timely delivery of quality product. Meet regularly with editors and production staff to review concerns, schedules, priorities, and other information on currently active and future projects.
5. With input from editors, producers, quality assurance personnel, and outside vendors establish procedures, processes, standards, and formats for multimedia development efforts.
6. Request/review estimates from various sources.
7. Maintain CD master and sample product libraries..
REQUIREMENTS
College textbook new media production experience. Strong project management skills required, preferably some in book production. Knowledge of Web development process and tools.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Marcel for directing me to this new blog. I was wondering where everyone went! It was fun catching up. Jenn, I think you should post some pics of your new home. It is just crazy to think that you are so far away. Hope all is going well there. Jill, I admire your perseverance in looking for a job. Good luck in Miami! Me, I have hooked up with the Creative Group and they placed me at MetLife "designing" insurance forms. Cant get more boring than this but the money is surprisingly good so Ill stick it out for awhile. I have and interview with Princeton University on Tuesday.(Thanks Cindy!) They need a new physics professor....ok stop laughing...its a Production Design Coordinator. What ever that means Ill find out Tuesday! Sounds more fun than insurance forms. Otherwise just trying to get my kids settled in their choices for grad school and college and then Ill be free!! I hope everyone else is doing well and hopefully there is a get together in the near future. take care everyone!! :0)
Hi all,
Jenn and Simon, it was great to hear from you from overseas! Enjoy your travels and keep us posted. Just FYI Jenn: Lake Carnegie in Princeton has been frozen and open for skating, a rare occurrence that will give you an idea of the kind of weather you're missing. Congratulations, Jill, on your new position in Miami; the job and the move both sound exciting. Go for it! William, it's such a relief to know that you're keeping on eye on the Science program and contributing your humor and good sense. They're lucky to have you on board. And Laura, good luck with the PU interview; we're rooting for you!
I'm surviving so far in my new job, trying to learn the ropes without looking like a total fool, but it's just not the same without you guys. Miss you all; keep in touch. CG
"Retirement" Update
Here's what you have to look forward to:
1. My severance ended on January 31. Although I was eligible to begin my pension on Feb. 1, Hewitt had no record of my existence. The latest is that it will start on March 1, but as of last Friday, MGH had still not given Hewitt the amount, despite Hewitt's attempts to get it. It will be retroactive to 3/1.
2. 401K: I did receive the forms for withdrawal/transfer the end of last week.
3. COBRA: Election form came two weeks into Feb. Once that is returned, I will be billed. When payment is received. UHC will be informed of my election and THEN I will be able to submit claims. So this takes some time.
Best advice is to keep after the companies involved. I found people there to be helpful. It's MGH that holds up progress.
Hope all of you are well. I, too, miss the contact and connections with you all. Jill: best of luck to you.
woohoo....
Thanks for the update linda. I also have that to look forward to.
Did anyone have trouble getting W-2's for taxes. I still have not received mine from McGraw-hill. Were we supposed to do something to get this information.
Thanks for any help.
W2s were done electronically last year, so you have to go to theworknumber.com to print them.
W2s were done electronically last year, so you have to go to theworknumber.com to print them.
Hi All,
I received my W-2 at the end of Jan. Of course, I cannot make any sense out of it, so who knows if it is actually correct given that it was generated by MH. Linda, it sounds like you have spent a lot of time on the phone chasing down everything that is due to you. Thanks for sharing the journey with the rest of us who will most likely end up with endless phone calls, too. It's been good to read the blog and catch up with everyone. Jill, congrats and much fun in your new life in Miami. It's a crazy and fun place. I have friends who live in South Beach.
I've been reading a lot, babysitting for my little grandson(a tough job, but someone has to volunteer!), finally getting long-awaited projects done in my house, playing my violin, and thinking about what I might want to do next. On Wednesday I begin a 6-week course in grant writing at Bucks County Community College. Now I'll find out if I can sit in a classroom for 3 hours. I'm also reading "Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberts. It's very interesting and I recommend it to history buffs. Is it really nearly 3 months since we left MH? It seems so much longer.
5 months for me jean...:)
Thanks for the info Jill, I had forgotten about the online w-2. Time to see how much i owe the government. I am paying alot this time because of my consulting. Time to call the accountant.
As for what i am doing right now. School is going fairly well. I have to register for my next classes this week. I have no clue what i am taking so I will figure that out. I have started reading again for fun. I just finished book 6 of the Harry Potter series finally and started reading some R.A Salvatore books again. He is a fantasy author I used to read.
Job is going well. It is beginning to slow down a bit because i am almost done with the server upgrades i have been doing. I think they are going to have me start working on some other projects soon. They want to keep me around as long as they can.
I will be going for my citizenship this year at some point so I may get hired here full time once i get that.
Other than that life is going pretty well.
Hi all! Singapore is a bit overwhelming, so I've begun blogging (with pictures, Laura :-)) to keep track of it all. If you're curious, you can find it here. It's great to hear from everyone! Keep up the regular updates...
Hi Everyone. I just wanted to alert anyone that had a pension plan while with VEG that was merged with MGH when we were bought. Back in the beginning of January MGH started with a new company that was to merge our info electronically. In the process many of the accounts that needed VEG information did not transfer properly. I found this out when going to the MGH pension and retirement web site
http://resources.hewitt.com/mcgraw-hill/
After signing in I was unable to use the estimator, so I called the company at 1-866-477-6820. That was when I was told about the problem. I was assured that they will eventually review everyone's account and fix the problem but unless you personally check your account it may go unfixed for a while. They need to call MGH and get the information manually and update every account account that was affected. It will take approx. 48 hours to get you the updated information. You may want to take a few moments and check your account.
Hope everyone is well.
Hi everyone. I just wanted to say I am totally enjoying Jenn's posts from Singapore. Jenn, you should collect these experiences and write a book! Michele and I are still working on the Georgia Science ancillaries. The vendor is Bill Smith Studios--remember them? Someone at Glencoe decided that instead of going to one of the 6 or 7 vendors who had already done the science customizations they should go to a vendor who has never done this work. Why doesn't that surprise me? Anyway, we are plugging along, going into New York one or two days a week. I finally started sending resumes out. (I sent 2 this week!) My baby graduates high school in June, so I will expand my geographic area then and step up my search as that date approaches. Hope everyone is well. I love checking in on this blog every now and then. Maureen P
So whens the next bowling outing? I missed the last one because I had to go sign a lease for my townhouse. But now that I'm in the area, I'm down. C'mon Kennedy hook it up. LOL.
Mack
Hi Everyone,
For those of you who have not had the pleasure of reading of Jenn's experiences in the far away worldof the Far East, you are missing some good writing and interesting anecdotes. Jenn, keep writing. There may be a book in your future.
Paula, congrats on the job and on all of the kids' progress. For many of us, the down time provided by MH is a really good thing and a path towards a saner life. Should we actually be thanking MH? Hmmm....
I am loving my time with little Nate, reading a whole bunch, actually enjoying a social life, and I've started a grant writing course at BCCC. Yes, I can actually sit still for 90 minutes (then I must have a stretch break, coffee, and check my cell phone messages), and then I can be attentive for another 45 minutes. At that point there is another 30 minutes and I am losing it. In any event, I am picking up some useful info about non-profits and learning that my proposal writing skills at VisEd are quite marketable.
Next on my reading list is Philip Roth's "Everyman" which I plan to pick up today. Oh, just to let everyone one, I have declared winter to be over. Spring is within reach. It's comin'.....
21st Annual New York Book Show
First Place for School Publishing Elementary Series: Science, California Edition, Pupil Edition, Teacher’s Edition and Kindergarten Flipchart.
Judges Comments: Interior was easy to navigate. Openers (full bleed and laminated) were stunning. Achieved the right balance between content and art. Cover to cover best overall package.
Marcel, that's great news! Thanks for letting us know.
Can you post a link to the information about it? My preliminary search yielded absolutely nothing, and this is just the sort of thing we might want to add to our resumes.
Hope all's well with y'all.
I have found a new VisEd--it's called Ethos Healthcare Communications and it's right in my backyard (Newtown). They are only 5 years old but are growing by leaps and bounds with 20+ employees now and more every day. I accepted a position there today as the Director of Operations and I will be doing what I love--helping program managers solve problems, creating budgets and doing forecasts, managing outside vendors, juggling HR and administrative tasks, and managing some people. I will be working very closely with the CFO (a dynamic woman who makes me think of my former manager) who is trying to do 3 or 4 people's jobs right now.
I wish I could say that I have loved every minute of this time off. I still miss our group and the work very much. So much, in fact, that I'm thrilled to say that Doriann also accepted a job at Ethos this week in a slightly different area. She and I won't be working closely together, but it sure will be great to have someone there that makes it feel almost like home (remember, there's no place like it).
I hope you are all finding your way.
Congradulations to Fran and Dorianne. I guess it is a good week for former Vis Ed employees. I landed a job in Princeton Junction. I will be doing the books for 3 Dialysis Clinics in NY. I interviewed on Friday and got a call on Monday to meet again on Wed. I was offered the bookkeeper position and I accepted. I met some of the workers and I feel at home with them. I start in a couple of weeks (profided my security check is clean). Now I can really enjoy my time off.
Jenn, love reading about your experiences.
Hello All,
I need to get my hands on a copy of the National Book which I'm sure are all gone by now. I need it to show samples of things I've worked on for a freelance editor gig. If I could even borrow a copy for a couple days that would be great. Please help.
Mack
Greetings from Miami! I hear that you did not have snow for my birthday this year...instead you had sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s. I can only assume that is because I am not there...I traded in snow pants and mittens for a bikini and a spot by the hotel pool. Not too bad a trade. The job is good and the people are fabulous. I am afraid my Spanish has not imporved as quickly as I had hoped. My understanding is better, but my speaking is still stunted. I am assured it will come in time.
In the meantime, I hope those wo found new places to hang their hats are happy in their new roles, and I hope those still deciding where to hang their hats find exactly what they hope for. Miss you all!
Wow, I checked this page after just a week or so off and couldn't believe how much good news had poured in! Congratulations to all who have found jobs and, more importantly, fulfilling work.
I have headed back to work a bit myself, with a freelance ESG edit of a TE component for Macmillan (through Brunswick, courtesy of Marcel and Fiona). Seems like things are much the same at MMH-NY.
Thanks for your kind words about the blog! Things continue to be very interesting here, so I'm glad it is an interesting read...
Hello, all. Any editors still seeking employment, please send me a resume at jkorot@santillanausa.com. We are working on an ESL program for K-5, and apparently the ancillary writer has resigned (followig two other editors who left just before I arrived). We are looking for elementary writers and/or editors to help us clean up after unprofessional persons who left bad work behind and forging ahead to meet unrealistic deadlines (PE, TE, and ancillaries F@P date of March 08). I mentioned that I know of some brilliant minds with educational experience waiting for something to keep them busy, and I have been asked to forward resumes. Let me know if you have some time and want some work! Of course, my boss would prefer if anyone was looking to relocate to Miami, but I convinced him to consider hiring freelancers as well.
Still trying to do my part and share...even though I am not able to share the beautiful weather, I can at least share the work, no?
Hi, y'all,
For those of you who remember Cheryl MacKenzie, it might be interesting to know that she was one of the major contributors to the recent investigation of the BP accident in Texas. Check out http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/22/business/bp.php.
How cool is that?
Hope all's well with all of you.
Tobey
South Carolina Science has just been adopted by the Greenville school district, the largest in the state. So far "we" have won 16 of the top 20 districts.
Hi Everyone,
I have returned from a lovely vacation in Paris and Geneva. All of the wonderful places are still there: the Musee D'Orsay, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Seine. The people seem so relaxed and don't exude the intensity that we do. Why are all those people sipping wine and eating pastry at 4:00 in the afternoon, seeminly without a care in the world? Who is working? The Europeans hold some secret of life that is so much more civilized than ours. Upon my return I was cooking up a storm for our Passover dinner. It was all exhausting, but a family success. Little Nate was adorable. Yes, I am still a doting Grandmama.
I am signed up to make the 5k walk for the Komen Foundation Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. This is my 14th year!! I am walking with some friends in a team called Rizzi's Racers. It is in memory of their mother and my friend, Barbara Maurizzio. If anyone wants to pledge on my behalf, you can send it directly to me (41 Sutphin Pines, Yardley, PA 19067), or log on to www.phillyraceforthe cure.org. Then click on "the race," and "Find a participant to support," and either "search for a participant" (Jean Elkin) or "Search for a team" (Rizzi's racers). If you have any questions, email me. Thanks for your support through all these years.
That's it for now. I don't think I'll be able to make the breakfast on Saturday. I have company from NY. However, I was thinking that we could start to plan a PubServ picnic for June in Washington Crossing. We could all bring different foods and our families and make a day of it. What does everyone think?
Happy Easter to all!
There are still those more bitter than we about losing one's job: Check out this news link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3022958
Sorry I couldn't make breakfast, and sorry to have to miss the proposed picnic at Washington's Crossing also. I am with you all in spirit.
In case anyone missed it, I posted a little while ago asking if anyone wants to make a little fast cash pitching in on the K-5 ESL program we are working on here in Miami. There isn't an editor among us who needs a little side work? Not even an editorial assistant who wants an opportunity to add another publisher to the resume? Imagine how terrific it would be if it were true, and everyone is gainfully employedand busy? I hope that is the case.
Talk soon!
jill
Hello to everyone. I am now happily situated as a night shift proofreader at Bristol Meyers Squibb. Thanks Anita. The hours and pay are great and the best part is I have the whole day to myself and since I have started working there, I no longer need an alarm clock. If anyone needs or hears of any freelance proofreading or production work, gimme a shout at johncmcevoy@msn.com rk to keep me busy. I hope everyone is doing well. Sorry I couldn't make the breakfast but I had to work my last Saturday at the Ad Agency. Finally I only have one job and weekends free. So I promise to make the next one. P.S. Anita and Max-your friend Pat is a great guy and I appreciate the effort. Miss you guys. -Mack
Hi, all.
So happy to have found this blog and to hear of your exploits. Belated congrats to Tobey--the wedding pix were great. All is well here; freelancing is paying the bills and I am still sane (sort of). I still do a ton of work for Wiley. I am also hand-holding for several self-published authors, which is lucrative, but often a pain (the ego factor is astronomical!). I'm still working with typesetters in India, which continues to be maddening, but is beyond my control.
Wishing everyone well and thinking of you all.--Kim
Hi Everyone,
Well spring finally has arrived. I've heard from some people about having a VisEd/PubServices family picnic on Saturday, June 16 at Washington Crossing Park on the NJ side. We could do June 17 if Sunday is a better day for everyone. Anyway, let me know via if you can join us and which date works better, or if you have no date preferences. Use my email or the blog. Thanks.
Jean
Hi Everyone,
This is a message about our picnic that I am hoping we will have in June in Washington Cross Park in NJ. Barbara realized that June 17 is Father's Day and probably won't be a good day for the VisEd/PubServices picnic. So, let's change the possible dates to Sunday, June 10, or Saturday, June 16. Please email me (jelkie@msn.com) or send a message vis this blog is you plan to attend, and indicate if one day is clearly preferable over the other. Next week, I'll leave a blog message with the date that most people have chosen. I think this will really be fun (bring the family, significant other, whatever!) Once we have a date, we'll form a small organizing committee (Michelle and Noelle have already volunteered) and everyone can sign up to bring something to eat, paper goods, or sports equipment. This is sounding more and more like something that Cynthia should be directing! Okay, everyone...RSVP!
Jean
Hi Everyone,
This message is from Dick and Celia via Jean. SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 for Dick and Celia's Vis Ed reunion party at their house. More details to come later from Dick himself.
P.S. This replaces the date that was discussed at our farewell party in Cranbury.back in November.
Jean
Spring greetings! We hope you ALL come to our house on December 1st for the first annual life-after-VisEd winter gathering-in.
Sorry to have had to change the date, but we are going to a wedding in Washington on November 10th.
More to follow...
Congratulations to Mack (on the new job) and Kim (for keeping up with Wiley's craziness). Jean, thanks for finding a picnic date. Dick, thanks for the invite!
In the news here, I've changed jobs. Today was my first day in Prentice Hall's language arts department. Yes, I'm working with Mr. Guild again. Aside from the not-so-wonderful commute, I'm really glad to be there.
I hope that all's well with all of you.
Hi All,
I hope I'm on the current version of the blog. I haven't checked in since before our picnic at Washington Crossing Park. For those who were not there, it was a lot of fun and we hope we can do it next year. It was great catching up with everyone and just enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon of food and families and fun. Since the picnic I have been in North Carolina and Virginia for a week of vacation built around a wedding in the Outer Banks. On the way home, we stopped at Mt. Vernon, which I am embarrassed to say, I have never visited before. If you haven't been to George Washington's home, I recommend it highly. They've done a great job in reconstructing the mansion and depicting the lives of the owner as well as the slaves he held. Anyway, the "we" in my vacation is Marc Epstein to whom I have become engaged. Yes, I am getting married next Spring. I've just finished my first educational consulting project for a friend of mine and it went pretty well. I must admit that it requires a new self- discipline to work from home without creating or giving in to welcome (or unwelcome) distractions, and I do miss the daily interactions of our group. I hope everyone is having a good summer and let's keep in touch!
MAZEL TOV, JEAN!!! Congrats and best wishes!
Sorry I missed the picnic...Janette tells me it was a nice gig. I also hope everyone is having a great summer. Please do try to keep posting here...it is my only way to keep a foot in New Jersey.
Greetings from Miami!
That's great news, Jean. Congratulations.
In other news . . . Looks like someone wants to build a highrise or a mall or something on our old digs at PJ. Click for story:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18518033&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425695&rfi=6
Congratulations Jean!! I was sorry not to make the picnic but June was a crazy month for me. My daughter Allison graduated from Quinnipiac U and is already at Stony Brook U for her graduate studies. My son TJ graduated from HS and will be off to Stockton in the fall. That will be right around the time I expect my mommy melt down to happen!!! We just came back from a few days at the beach before we had to move Allison in so that was fun. I am still freelancing at MetLife and Laura Millan has joined me there so that is fun. The work however is uninspiring and my plan is to look for something more creative in the fall (after my meltdown of course!) I hope everyone is doing well and hope we can do another get together soon! And how about some more blogging!? Whats everyone up to?
Hi everyone. I am sorry I missed the picnic in June but my daughter graduated from high school that day. She will be off to Penn State in 3 more weeks. Then I will really have to start looking for a job. (Does anyone know of any openings?) I started working on a master's degree in instructional technology at Bloomsburg University in PA. It is a program that focuses on developing and producing learning materials for online delivery (as opposed to for print). Even though I haven't been on the blog in a long time, I think about everyone and am still getting used to a world in which there is no "Vis Ed." Hope to see everyone in the near future. Shouldn't someone organize a breakfast or something soon?--Maureen P
It appears the Pubserv blogspot is dying. I guess this posting is nothing more than my own personal therapy. The morose rumblings of a lesser protagonist in a Chekhov story.
Winter came and went in Columbus, OH. In the summer, it's not bad. My daughter Aila spent some time out here, including celebrating her seventh birthday. Both sets of grandparents were on hand. Good times.
At work, we're negotiating whether next happy hour should be Applebee's or a local favorite called "Hoggie's." Their motto is "Do it Hoggystyle." I'm not kidding. The debate continues tomorrow, right where it left off. Feelings will be hurt, inevitably. I will comfort the losers and shepherd them toward the light. Then we will eat wings and rejoice.
And the state fair is winding down, the butter sculpture melting...(it was a swiss cheese sculpture this year...with a fairy, you know--the fairy that makes the holes in the swiss cheese.)
Anywho...
So I hope your lives are filled less with intrigue than with contentment. More with butter sculptures that remain rigid and decidedly not frothy.
Keep up with the postings--they always make my day!
Hi Everyone,
I'm not so sure that I have any authority any more, but if I do, then I declare this blog still alive. It is certainly to be expected that, over time, we would all get busy with out new jobs, and our personal lives would go on at a pretty fast pace (except in Ohio!), but it is still heartening to check in now and again to hear from our friends and colleagues. So, keep blogging.
I've had an incredibly busy and fun-filled summer. I've completed a few publishing projects for a higher-ed friend of mine and plan to continue doing freelance/consulting work. Marc and I spent time in Avalon and LBI, as well as a week-end in Woodstock, NY (old hippies and tie-dye shirts)and a week-end in New London, CT visiting my cousin. The wedding plans are underway for May, 18, 2008. Marc has sold his house and I am about to put mine on the market. We are looking for a house that will be "ours." My little grandson, Nate, is 20 months old and simply has my heart. I babysit at least one day per week (hence, the flexibility of consulting) and we just have fun!
So, that's my update. I think that Dick is still planning to have a a party at his house the first week-end in December. So, let's hear from some of you who have been quiet for awhile.
Best,
Jean
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