I am told I have the gift of the gab, the ability to converse with anyone and almost under water. Also tend to have good organisational skills, things must look neat and tidy, this drove my previous boss crazy as he liked to have lots of paper on his desk and I preferred to stand over him and sort through it so it remained tidy... he loved it when I went on holidays!

I'm hearing you. Two years ago I organised the Christmas party asking for RSVP's for catering purposes. I had 55 replies of yes, ordered for an extra 10 catering for those I knew would most likely show and those Bossie invited on the day prior to the event and had 80 odd people show up. Of course the food did not spread this far as it was a spit roast buffet and some of those who RSVP'd ended up not having a meal, including me! What a disaster....

Last year I advised staff an RSVP was required in order for them to receive a ticket to the event that would double as a lucky door prize. No ticket meant you had to wait until last... a hard line but it worked! Of course there is always one and one person decided whilst I was out cooking the BBQ in the heat of the day to sneak in and help herself to the unopened food and then sneak away with her plate whilst everyone else was mingling and having a few drinks. I was not impressed and publicly announced this! Not proper I suppose but at that point I was too hot and flustered to care. Everyone promptly displayed their tickets and a good day was had by all.

I've also noticed people leave their RSVP's to the very last minute.. like the day before a function. Why oh Why???

This is inspiring... congratulations!

Who knows where the day goes sometimes? I seem to spend most of them answering questions from staff and students that is when I'm not opening the office doors so they can come in even though all staff have a code to enter it seems to be difficult for them to type it in even when times are extremely busy. This is in addition to seasonal projects, minutes, diaries, travel  blah, blah, blah!

I think that is a fatal flaw in the email system once they are sent that is it! Glad to hear someone else has had a similar experience

I have never lived down this one - I am Secretary to our Faculty Board Committee, that is made up of external judges, barristers etc. In my first year of employment I had received an invite to watch the Sydney Mardi Gras from a hotel balcony and over email was organising this Saturday night party night with two of my girlfriends. None of us had ever been and were quite looking forward to it. Amidst one of the emails finalising details I was interrupted and asked the composition of the Board. I looked it up in my address book an accidently clicked the "To" box. My weekend email went to all of the Board membership and I began receiving responses via email and telephone asking if people could join us. I nearly died of embarrassment, particularly when one Judge's associate called and said that was the best laugh the Judge had had all morning. I quickly sent a retraction!

Edited by mbajjada on 29/03/04 01:58 AM.