Communication

Email 1:

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: Robert Dorsey

Good morning, We need to meet as a team as soon as possible. Protocol calls for us to meet at the Brown Trout Bay Courthouse. I've reserved room 224 for us. Some of you may have a long drive due to bridge outages and other problems, so let's start the meeting at noon. That should give everyone enough time to get here.

Thanks, Brad

Email 2:

Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: Robert Dorsey

Hi team, Brad, I know it's protocol for the team to meet at the courthouse, and normally I would be fine with that. But the commute could be up two hours for some of our team members because of detours. We need to be flexible. I suggest we move the meeting to a location that's less affected by the flooding, and/or we let people call into the meeting via Skype.

Thank you, Matthew

Re: Re: Meeting

From: Lisa Truman, Director of Dodd County Department of Public Health

To: Robert Dorsey

Matthew, I see your point about using Skype for the meeting. It's really challenging to get around, and I know some members of the team are coming in from quite a distance! But I do think in this case, we need to meet in person, even if that's a challenge. We need to work together efficiently as a team immediately, and there's no replacement for face-to-face communication. I would say that if someone absolutely cannot get to the meeting—which is a possibility, I realize—then perhaps they could Skype in as a last resort. I am kind of worried about Rodney, since he lives quite a ways away and may have detours in his path.

I do agree that we should look into having the meeting at a different location. What does everyone think? What location would it be most convenient for us to meet? Perhaps we could meet at someone's home, if necessary?

Warmly, Lisa

Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Rodney Saunders, Chief Engineer for Dodd County

To: Robert Dorsey

Aw, don't worry about me, Lisa. I've driven through worse disasters! I'll bring my shortwave radio along to help navigate detours.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: Robert Dorsey

Look, I'm fine if you all want to move the meeting back to 1:00 to make sure that everyone gets there. But we have to meet at the courthouse because that's protocol. There are all kinds of procedural problems if we meet in someone's home or at another unofficial location.

—Brad

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Melanie Cohen, Executive Director of Dodd County Transportation System

To: Robert Dorsey

Hi folks, I agree with Brad. We can't violate protocol by holding the meeting elsewhere. Let's keep Skype an option as a last resort in case someone absolutely cannot get there.

Thanks, Melanie

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Janice Keller, Brown Trout Bay Emergency Manager

To: Robert Dorsey

Hi team, It sounds like we really do need to meet at the courthouse, but I know it will be difficult for some people to get there because of bridge outages and detours. Would it help if we arranged carpools? That way we could reduce the number of drivers on the road, and if any of you in rural areas have four-wheel drive vehicles, that might help if there's rocky terrain to navigate. I agree that Skype sounds like a good option if we can't figure out a solution to get everyone to the courthouse—and yes, I think we should move the meeting back to 1:00.

—Janice

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: Robert Dorsey

Look, people, if you haven't noticed, there's a FLOOD out there!!! Why do you all keep talking about protocols? Do you really want more people out there on the roads than necessary when there's perfectly reliable technology that we can use to have a meeting remotely? Let's find a better place to have a meeting or LET'S DO IT REMOTELY!!! Have some flexibility, people!

—Matthew

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: Robert Dorsey

With all due respect, Matthew, this is an emergency. This isn't the time for flexibility. This is the time to follow public safety protocols.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: Robert Dorsey

Public safety protocols? We're not talking about the disposing of dangerous chemicals or something like that. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE TO HOLD THE MEETING!!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Sebastian Cardoza, Undersheriff of Dodd County

To: Robert Dorsey

I hate to add fuel to this debate, but it is really that important? Why can't we just meet where it's most convenient? I know there are protocols, but this isn't a normal situation.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: Robert Dorsey

Thank you, Sebastian. WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE!!!!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: Robert Dorsey

Matthew, why don't you use a few more capital letters and exclamation points? That will help the situation for sure.

Email 3:

Email String

From: Lisa Truman, Director of Dodd County Department of Public Health

To: Robert Dorsey

Oh dear. I told you I was afraid there were some strong personalities in this group that might conflict. Is there anything I can do to help?