A Book Review: Henry and Rachel by Laurel Saville

If the entire book were as beautifully written and engaging as the first few chapters, this would have rated among the best books I have ever read; but, the story did not hold up for me.  And ultimately, I ended up flipping through the pages of the second half of the book just to get through it.

This historical novel is based in part upon the stories Laurel Saville heard about her maternal great-grand parents and some family letters.  The primary setting is Jamaica in the years just prior to and after WWI, the Jamaica in the waning years of English colonization dominated by class distinction and race discrimination.

The saga of Henry and Rachel is told through the eyes and narratives of those closest to them.  Unfortunately, I didn’t really like any of the characters. I believe the author wanted the reader to feel compassion or empathy for Rachel. But I found her a distant, bitter woman who made decisions that were unhealthy for her children, which resulted in their being completely dysfunctional.

Laurel Saville’s style of writing flows as if written by the loveliest fountain pen of old. In the first chapter in which Henry remarks upon  “the inexorable passing of the years that has turned me inexplicably into an old man” touched me in the depths of my soul.  I wish I could say I loved the book; but I didn’t. It was okay; but it didn’t make my heart sing after the 5^th chapter.

Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book to read through Bookbrowse.com. First Impressions. The title will be released by the publisher on October 15, 2013.

Recalling 9/11 Twelve Years Later and How We’ve Changed

Recalling 9/11 Twelve Years Later and How We’ve Changed

Despite our collective commitment to remember, commemorate, and keep fresh the events of that day, with each passing year the recollections of the attacks and aftermath, the raw feelings of shock, fear, terror and intentions to refuse to allow criminals to cause us to change our way of life, we have allowed our government to infiltrate our lives with the argument that giving up this small freedom will keep us safe.

In allowing the government responses to the 9/11 attacks to erode our civil liberties, we have let the terrorists win. That is something we as a people swore, in the days immediately following, to forswear. We Americans are resilient; but many bought into the safety argument.

I offer my favorite quote from Thomas Jefferson:

"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety. ...”

The government monitors our telephone calls, emails and text messages in the name of safety. NSA satellites can spy on any of us at any time as illustrated by coworkers watching one another for grins. We are forced to limit our liquids on airplanes in the interest of safety. We subject ourselves to long lines at airports, whole body scans, have to hand over to security personnel our bottles of perfume or shampoo, allow dogs to sniff our luggage at airports or rail stations, submit to searches of our bags at events on the National Mall or at any large event.

Yes, I remember where I was when I found out about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. I was at work in Columbia, Maryland on the road that circles the Columbia Mall. A coworker was on the phone to a friend with the White House secret service who reported the event.   We ran to the conference room where the office had a television that was tuned only to CBS.  We watched in amazement when the 2^nd plane hit and stayed glued to the news as the horror unfolded.  The attack at the Pentagon caused panic. Everything around us closed.

Everybody was numb. We vowed to remember, to feel, to stay true to our American ideals.  But many succumbed to fear and conceded it was okay to give up a civil liberty here and there for safety.  But that is a slippery slope. I am not willing to forgo any civil liberties for a false sense of security. There is no such thing as absolute safety.

Life involves risk. Most free people are willing to tolerate risk to retain civil liberties. I know I am. 

When Companies Remove Humanity from Human Resources

When Companies Remove Humanity from Human Resources

My brother and I have often mused that when we started our careers, companies utilized personnel departs that administered employee benefits, hired, disciplined and fired people.  That department morphed into what we know today as Human Resources or HR.   About the time bean counters began influencing strategic decisions rather than managers, many companies began treating employees as a business tool or an expendable fixture.

While I am fortunate that my employer treats me as a valued team member, I was reminded today that some large employers consider their human talent as akin to say, a Xerox machine.

This afternoon I saw a friend who had suffered a serious injury while at work that required several months of treatment and rehabilitation.  I was thrilled to see she had been able to return to work on light duty with restrictions. It is the goal of most workers compensation insurers to work with an injured employee to help them return to work in whatever capacity they are capable of handling until their physician releases them to full duty.

My friend, however, said that her employer was threatening discharge because she had not fully recovered and compared her to a piece of business equipment that broke down or was damaged, was sent to the repair facility, and returned still damaged and no longer useful. Wow! I find that horrifying! And my friend works in the health care industry!  This organization has truly taken the humanity out of HR.

I live in a right to work state and believe that employment should be “at will”.

Private employers should have the right to decide whom works for them and employees should have the right to leave a job without ramifications. However, threatening to terminate an employee for failing to heal quickly enough from a work related injury that complies with an employer’s schedule is immoral. I’m not talking about a mom and pop business with 10 employees, but a large employer with a significant footprint in the community.  Apparently the bean counters are looking for a way to evade paying disability benefits.

I am no bleeding heart. But right is right. It is time to put some humanity back into HR decisions.

A Conundrum of County Historical Societies & Museums, Part II

A Conundrum of County Historical Societies & Museums, Part II

It is estimated there are more than 17,000 cultural institutions open to the public throughout the United States. These include non-profit organizations, government operated museums, and for profit businesses that collect, conserve, preserve and display items of cultural, historical, scientific, or artistic interests to the public, scholars, and researchers.

Those funded by governments, endowments, or businesses often are blessed with a coterie of conservators, preservationists, restorers, and curators with special knowledge and skills in a particular field. They have the knowledge to protect fragile items such as using cotton gloves to touch delicate fabrics or dimly lit environments to prevent colors from fading or to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity control for preservation.  

Sadly, there are many small museums operated by local historical societies that are funded only by dues paid by members or donations by visitors. These museums are open only because volunteers committed to their communities donate time.  The volunteers and, if fortunate, the nominally paid generalist curator, do not have the special knowledge needed to properly catalog all of the donations, identify what has particular value, label the donations properly, store what is not on display appropriately, prevent damage or deterioration, or have the skills necessary to raise additional funds for conservation and acquisition.

It is up to every citizen of his or her community to participate in preserving our collective heritage.  Many small museums have Civil War battle flags, historical costumes or photographs deteriorating, mislabeled firearms or uniforms, or beautiful paintings or musical instruments or Native American artifacts that are at risk because of lack of funds or knowledge or security systems or limiting exposure to UVs or documenting provenance.

From a recent personal experience, I can say unreservedly, that the most important factor for any small museum to consider is this: Don’t alienate your donors! Do not offend and alienate your volunteers who give time, money, knowledge, energy and physical labor to the cause.  Embrace those who discovery a new treasure. Thank those who volunteer to identify donations. Remember that community historical societies consist of community volunteers who care and are needed for survival.  It is a team effort.  Unfortunately, there is an historical society in Cass County, Indiana that has forgotten that.

A Conundrum of County Historical Societies & Museums, Part I

A Conundrum of County Historical Societies & Museums, Part I

My parents have served as volunteers for the Cass County Historical Society in Logansport, Indiana for decades. My dad, Richard Copeland, is an emeritus director and Cass County Historian. He and my mother have invested innumerable hours to the museum and the community.  They love Cass County and believe in service to their community.

Local museums are generally operated on a shoestring without the resources to hire curators, restoration specialists, historians, catalogers, preservationists, archivists, fundraisers, programs coordinators, or accountants. Many museums are fortunate to fund the salary of one general curator who must rely on the dedication, expertise, and generosity of volunteers to identify what has been donated, the provenance of any article that may have significance to the state, the country or historians of a particular discipline at large.  Even when an object of value is identified, the costs of appraisal and insurance can be prohibitive.

It is for these reasons that there should be no place for ego in these environments that require the close cooperation of paid staff and volunteers.

My dad, who had discovered a photograph that could be historically important, made arrangements in advance for my husband, who has some expertise in identifying firearms, 19^th Century menswear, and photographic images of the mid 19^th Century, to look at some images that had been in a cabinet drawer for an unknown number of years.  They were not cataloged; several had been donated in 1959.  My husband identified a few Daguerreotypes, which while not perhaps of significant value to a collector,  are certainly of historical interest because of the subject matter; however, these images need restoration or preservation by an expert because seals have been broken and there is a danger the images will disappear from exposure to light and air.  Because of my connection with the museum, I was prepared to make a donation towards the preservation of specific images. However, when my dad wanted to show the curator some interesting specimens, ego interfered; it was made clear we were not welcome despite the arrangements previously made; my father was embarrassed; and my husband and I have considered withdrawing our intended financial support.

This is the conundrum. Do we make decisions regarding preservation based upon the disregard for the years of my parents’ dedication? Or do we focus on our collective responsibility to the future and try to preserve something of value for the citizens of tomorrow? Hopefully, I will not allow my ego to decide.