Kyle,
My comments were not directed at you personally. I just feel that the time is long overdue that we not keep
accepting these "very restrictive" rules (not just hiring practices) and stand up and do something.
Otherwise, as we see by this discussion, good people leave the system completely or simply give up and
accept the "rules", thereby enabling a system that remains essentially impotent to facilitate
change and innovation. As an Ecologist, I'm sure that you can see the pattern of self organization (creating
conditions for ones own success) fueled by a lack of diversity, good thinking, etc. that allows these
"rules" to remain. From my knowledge, broken systems only correct themselves through strong
leadership...or crisis. We have at least some control over our leadership.
They can fire one person, but it would be hard to ignore a large group of past
and present federal employees. From my experience, people in these agencies
are, for the most part, hard working and good people (yourself included I'm
sure). Some are very good friends of mine, and they all have great ideas for
improving things (not just hiring practices)...the thing they lack is
organization...and as they get older, the will to fight.
P.S. I am a practical, but cynical old bastard and believe that if you can
think it, then it is possible. So, if any of you younger folks ever decide to
stand up and fight, I'll be right there with you. I have tried for years and
have even been black listed by certain people in both Academia and the
Agencies. I work for a non-profit now (they have their faults too, but appear
a little more open minded). I recently spent some time in Tibet, Africa, and
China and believe me there are people in the world who need help...but this
will not happen unless we stand up against broken systems...not broken parts,
but broken systems.
For now, I'm with Ms. Cox and will enjoy time with my son and try to teach him
the value of standing up to bullies disguised as weak managers, policy makers,
and politicians
Jon McCloskey, Ph.D.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:23:49 +0000
What a great discussion! I won't try to defend federal hiring practices here,
but I will try to defend myself. I certainly would not have gone to the effort
of posting this on Ecolog if I had someone lined up to fill it. I posted this
announcement because I wanted to widely advertise this position given that is
unfortunately only open for 10 days. Our new hiring rules are very restrictive,
and I wanted to ensure we had the best pool of candidates possible given these
constraints. Although many people on Ecolog may not be eligible for this
position, I took the risk of posting it in case there were folks out there I
hadn't been able to reach through other channels.
I may be a fair-haired, pencil-pushing clone, but I sincerely want to recruit
the best possible person for this position!
Sincerely, Kyle Merriam
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of jon mccloskey
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 4:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist
To Whom it May Concern,
I rarely respond to these futile discussion, but felt the need this time.
These type of practices have been going on for at least 20 years (my first job
was in 1992)...and we wonder why the system remains impotent. Filling
positions with clones that think exactly like their predecessors is not likely
to result in change or innovation...people talk about systems thinking, but few
really understand it.
I feel sorry for the poor souls who will, no doubt, spend considerable time and
effort in the application process. I guess it keeps the pencil pushers
employed.
Remember, follow the incentives. The money comes from the tax payers, these
are NOT entrepreneurial efforts and are largely self serving.
Good Luck,
Jon McCloskey, Ph.D.
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:34:31 -0400
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist
To: [email protected]
Dear Wayne, although I am not a federal employee I have watched
federal hiring practices and seen ads like this before that have
nothing to do with "fair-haired boys" or girls. What they have
everything to do with is getting people on board before drastic budget
cuts occur so that you don't automatically lose funding by having
money sitting around for an unfilled position. cheers, g2
On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 12:32 AM, Wayne Tyson<[email protected]> wrote:
Hmmmm--I'd be willing to bet there's a fair-haired boy or girl
waiting in the wings and that it would be a waste of time to apply.
I hope I'm wrong, but really, TEN days? Read the advertisement
carefully. It will be interesting to see who is hired . . .
WT
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kyle Merriam"
<[email protected]>
To:<[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 3:39 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist
The USDA Forest Service Sierra Cascade Province, comprised of the
Modoc, Lassen, and Plumas National Forests in northeastern
California, is currently advertising a one-year detail position for
a GS-11 Associate Ecologist ($57,408.00 - $74,628.00 per year).
This position is a temporary promotion/detail for one year, which
may be extended for up to five years and/or be made permanent
without further competition. This position is open to current Career
and Career-Conditional status Forest Service employees.
This vacancy will be open for 10 days, beginning on 8/16/2011 and
closing on 8/26/2011. More information about the position and how to
apply is posted on www.usajobs.gov. Find the announcement by
searching for Ecologist in Quincy, CA and by checking "all jobs,
public and status" on the right of the results screen.
--
Gary D. Grossman, PhD
Professor of Animal Ecology
Warnell School of Forestry& Natural Resources University of Georgia
Athens, GA, USA 30602
Research& teaching web site -
http://grossman.myweb.uga.edu/<http://www.arches.uga.edu/%7Egrossman>
Board of Editors - Animal Biodiversity and Conservation Editorial
Board - Freshwater Biology Editorial Board - Ecology Freshwater Fish
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