Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Lid is Back on the Can of Worms


My regular readers know that I was forced to withdraw recently from a fellowship that I was awarded last summer by a division of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California because I refused to wear a surgical mask during the seminars in lieu of a flu vaccination. I never received any formal note from the powers that be (or were, for that matter, since they have no power over me, now). I attributed that, initially, to all the holidays that coincided with the hoopla, but made inquiries, again this week along with a cheery Happy New Year to the powers that were.

I got an email stating very succinctly that my initial email, where I explained why I found it difficult to wear a mask in seminars where conversation and dialogue are paramount, and where I asked whether or not there could be exceptions, was my OFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL.

Oh.


And then I was told to send back my identification badge and bathroom key.

Oh.


The ultimate irony is that the fellowship was for a LEADERSHIP training course.

Yikes. I can honestly say that I totally didn't see that can of worms.
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16 comments:

  1. SandraJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Are you feeling as if you avoided a can of worms? Perhaps, inadvertently, you got lucky when you "withdrew". I think, maybe, yes.

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  2. Ms. MoonJanuary 4, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    Wait- this might go on your permanent record. That could be bad.
    (Jesus.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. whoJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Elizabeth, I think you are making a grave mistake. You should really reconsider as the chance for opportunity the same as this may never come again.

    you may very well later down the road regret that you did not torch that bridge when you had the chance. I know a lot of the parents are in the industry and you don't want anyone to take offense, so TORCH the bridge! blow it to smithereens! DO IT before this window of opportunity closes, or are you ascarid?

    ReplyDelete
  4. JenJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    So you stated your position, asked a question and they consider THAT your withdrawal. *speechless* I am with previous commentor on the torch thing! Jen

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  5. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Sounds like a big corporation to me. I'm all for lighting that torch too. And grab a pitchfork as well. Sheesh ...... (and bugger, shit, arse, shit, fuck, etc ..... Saw The King's Speech, hence all that cussin .... definitely off topic, but a Great Movie!)

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  6. erikaJanuary 4, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Probably the bathroom key is your biggest loss, the rest is theirs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. jeneva22January 4, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Let me just add my note of agreement with all who've posted so far. So sorry this turned into such a terrible experience. And you didn't even call any of them a Nazi--

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Yeah, that's total bullshit. I'm with the others...

    Torch it!

    Sorry, this happened. Totally sux.

    {{{hugs}}}

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  9. Tanya SavkoJanuary 4, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    A valid question was considered an official withdrawal!! I am floored!

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  10. Denise Emanuel ClemenJanuary 4, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    God, I'm just so sorry that this all happened. Incredible stupidity on their part. And their loss.

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  11. michelleJanuary 5, 2011 at 3:05 AM

    wow. I'm speechless. That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time.

    xoxoxo

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  12. UnknownJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    typical

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  13. SECRET PEPPER PERSON:January 5, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    I agree with Erika. The bathroom key being your biggest loss. This totally just pisses me off. People can not dictate your religious beliefs or medical beliefs or any personal beliefs. All because you wouldn't get a flu shot they turn you into a Michael Jackson or Howard Hughes look alike? I am seeing red. I cannot get over this lost opportunity because of a stinkin flu shot. Help me Jesus!

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  14. karioJanuary 6, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    I am so sad that this organization hasn't taken this opportunity as a learning point for them, instead choosing to bury their heads in the sand. I submit that a well-placed letter to the state ombudsperson or family advocate might be worth it - not as a torch but as a beacon of light.

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  15. BethanyJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    insanity.

    and you are already a leader.
    you can teach a class without the mask.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Carrie Wilson LinkJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Probably wasn't going to be a fit for a lot more reasons than that, if that's how it all began, and ended.

    ReplyDelete