Re: testing

[Lynn Whiting]

Just checking to see if I'm using the correct method to communicate.  If so, I'd like to tell Ron I tried to go to his site but got the message the page can't be displayed.  Darn.  At any rate, I hope to participate more in the future.  Thanks for the TIFA help so far :-)  Lynn

[Susan Fenner]

Hi Lynn ~ I think that part of the url was not included in the link. Try this:

http://www.startcenter.org/

Susan

On Sep 7, 2007, at 8:52 PM, Lynn Whiting wrote:

Just checking to see if I'm using the correct method to communicate. If so, I'd like to tell Ron I tried to go to his site but got the message the page can't be displayed. Darn. At any rate, I hope to participate more in the future. Thanks for the TIFA help so far :-) Lynn

Susan Fenner

Vice Chair

TIFA Board of Directors

[Lynn Whiting]

Thanks, Susan, I got the Start Center site this time with your help.  What a great organization!  Thanks a bunch.

[Joan DeLuca]

I think that nothing but positive results will come out of this new relationship!
jdl

[Louise Elzner]

Hi to All....just want to pass on some information that some might find of interest in regard to vending machines at the McConnell Unit, Beeville.

 

As most of you might already know, the Tx unit vending machines come under the Texas Commission for the Blind, and not TDCJ.  Since I am usually at the McConnell unit almost all Saturday's, I tend to keep an eye on how well, or not, the vending machines in the visitation area operate.  I have found myself very frustrated most week-ends because of problems with the machines, both the sandwich machines and soda machines.  The other junk food vending machines are usually in better operating condition, thank goodness!  

 

Yesterday I arrived at noon-time and already the three sandwich machines were not operating.  Taking people's money (sandwiches are $2.30 and $3.50), not dispensing product and also not returning money.  I have found the sandwich machines to be inoperable on most Saturday's by noon-time.  There are 4 soda machines at McConnell, three inside, one out on the patio.  There are usually at least 3 machines down and sometimes all four.  One especially is a real problem.  Takes money, doesn't give money back and won't dispense sodas.  (I have also been dispensed a product other than shown on the machine label for the past two weeks).

 

I hear everyone grumbling and becoming angry over the machines and loss of money.  So I am constantly reminding people to take down the number of the vendor and call in the problems they encounter and request a refund of  lost money.  Unfortunately, everyone likes to gripe but hardly anyone seems willing to go to the trouble of calling in.  I know several people do follow-up, but most don't.  My husband and I do call the vendor to let him know about the problems.

 

No exception this week.  I lost money in the soda machine myself.  My husband, Robert, called in the problems with the machines from yesterday.  A Mr Ken Ballard has the vending machines at the McConnell Unit.....he is in Victoria.  He is also blind.  He called my husband a short while ago to let him know about the  problem with the sandwich machines.  He says that he will go in on Fridays to fill the machines and they are all operating when he leaves.  When he goes in to refill machines Sat. evening, for Sunday visitation, he is finding the machines unplugged.  He says the only people who have access to the visitation room are the guards and he claims that for some reason they are unplugging the machines.  (Actually, the SSI's or inmates who clean the visitation area also have access to that area).  He says what is happening, at least at McConnell, is that when he goes back in on Sat. evening, he is finding the machines disconnected.  Consequently, once the machine has been disconnected and the food is left to sit and warm overnight, he has no choice but to remove all of the food products and trash them.....as being non-refrigerated could contaminate and spoil the food products.  He has informed us that he will be calling the warden at the unit tomorrow to tell him about what has been happening.

 

When these sandwich machines are unplugged and left to sit like that for a period of time, it takes a special key to turn the units back on and this is done inside the machine.  Just plugging them back in will not re-start the machines.  And of course Mr. Ballard is the only person with this special key. And yes, it is a blind person who fills the vending machines.  Mr Ballard does have a helper, who is not blind, with him.  I am assuming this must be the same at most of the Tx units.

 

My apologies for this being so long.  I just want to point out, however, that unless people do take the time and initiative to call about problems they encounter, nothing will ever be done about them.  This might seem like an unimportant subject to some, but to me (and to most visitors and certainly the inmates) this is important.  It is one of the few amenities that both visitors and inmates alike can share as they visit.  As we all know, visitation in the Texas prisons doesn't come without travel, our time and energy and often-times our frustrations so I like to think even something as small as vending machines can make our visits with our loved ones just a little more pleasant and enjoyable.

 

Hopefully, TifaTalk can provide us all with a means to share information from the various units and on all subjects that pertain to both families and their loved ones.  Communication is so important to better understanding.

 

 

 

 

[Joan DeLuca]

Louise is so right that most of us simply complain to each other and never to anyone who can make changes.  She is also correct in that these machines are run by people who are legally blind and are under the auspices of the Texas Commission for the Blind.  The same is true of the cafeterias in state buildings.  This has been the case for some time.  Obviously, the legally blind individual cannot get to the units or anywhere else without a sighted driver.  My son's father in law previously operated a state cafeteria and now has the contract for some of the unit machines (not at McConnell). 
Louise is also quite correct about the way the machines are filled and operated.  The "special key" does sound annoying, but obviously this prevents anyone from unplugging and plugging in the machines at any time; one would never know if the food was safe.  I also suspect that some of the guards and inmates with access to the visitation rooms find it very amusing to unplug the machines....There is no reason for the vendor to make the machines inoperable--he or she makes no money if the machines don't work. 
I don't think the issue of vending machines is a minor one.  My brother-in-law looks forward to the chocolate candy and soft drinks that I purchase when I visit with him and it gives him a little connection with the things that people in the "free world" take for granted.
jdl

[kareng...@airmail.net]

I agree with all that has been said regarding the vending machines. I
go to the Huntsville Unit everyother Sunday and rarely are all the
machines working. I have written the ombudsman for the Huntsville
Unit and shortly there after all the machines were working, and
stocked. My husband also looks forward to the snacks and it helps to
make me feel I am doing somethings to help him feel better to buy them
for him. I have not noticed any phone numbers to call the vendors
directly, but I will keep my eyes open for them on my next visit. I
did know that the machines were run by outside vendors but I was
unaware that is was people who are legally blind and under the
auspices of the Texas Commission for the Blind, thanks for the
information.

> > better understanding.- Hide quoted text -
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[Louise Elzner]

Nancy Jones is the overall person in charge of the contracts/vending machine
stuff for TDCJ. Though she will normally refer callers to the supervisors
for the various vendors at the units. I doubt that the Ombudsmans office
can do much about the vending machines, since they do come under the control

of the Texas Commission for the Blind.

There were no telephone numbers on the machines for McConnell until recently
either. He had only his mailing address on them, not a phone number. When
my husband brought this to the attention of Mr. Ballard's supervisor (based
in San Antonio), the supervisor stated that the vendor's telephone number is
also supposed to be on the machines. And the telephone number was posted on
all vending machines at McConnell the same week it was brought to the
supervisor's attention. I don't know if all vendor's for TDCJ are required
to post numbers....whether this is like depending on the units/regions or if
it might be a requirement of the Texas Comm. for the Blind. But to me, it
makes more sense to have a phone number posted for refunds, complaints, etc.
than a mailing address. Most people are not going to bother writing in for
refunds and paying out additional postage money.

By the way, my husband also makes it a point to call Mr. Ballard once
problems have been rectified to let him know that we appreciate it when he
takes care of any problems that do arise. And to thank him when services
are operating efficiently/correctly as I am sure people are appreciative of
kudos too.

[Dumb...@aol.com]

Hi! Thank you for this very important information. My loved one is at the Eastham Unit in Lovelady and every time I visit we experience problems with the vending machines. I will make sure I do contact the vendor from now on and request a refund. My question is where do you get a paper and pencil to write down the information since you are not allowed to bring those items with you to a visit. The guards are always very rude and uncaring and no help when you tell them the vending machine ate your money. Yes it can be very frustrating when you have traveled so long and sit and wait for a visit and can't even get a drink.

Thank you!   Doris

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[Joan DeLuca]

I'm going to send an e-mail to the ombudsman's office right now asking if the names and phone numbers of the various contract vendors for the units couldn't be available somewhere; I think we'd be willing to put it on our website if we could get it.
jdl

[Dumb...@aol.com]

That would be great if the info could be posted on the website.

[Louise Elzner]

Joan, Great idea if we could post it on the site as you have suggested.

As to the question Doris asked.  At the McConnell Unit you can almost always ask to borrow a pen from the guards at the assignment (of tables, etc.) desk to write the vending number down with.  As for paper, if they don't have a scrap to give you, a piece of toilet paper could work, or even the back side of a candy wrapper.  It is too bad that the guards are grouchy at Eastham.  Overall, I think most of the guards at McConnell are quite decent.

Now at McConnell the seat assignment booth/desk  has a sign taped to the top explaining that the guards/TDCJ do not have anything to do with the vending machines. 

And at one time at McConnell, someone there had even typed up and copied little strips of paper with the vendor's phone number on it to pass out to people.  Actually, I've thought about doing this myself and asking permission for the guards to post it on the visitation desk, either inside the visitation area or even out on the check-in counter-top where the Tifa brochures and other printed matter is. 

Oh well, just passing around ideas I guess.

 

----- Original Message -----

[Joan DeLuca]

I'm sure the guards get really tired of being pestered about the vending machines.  Perhaps if we continue to complain to (and compliment!) the vendors, more machines will be kept in good repair, everyone will be satisfied, and the vendors will make more money....
jdl