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Post by Pro se on Jan 17, 2015 9:56:23 GMT -5
A couple of questions for the most recent ALJ class--the Funky class as I think of it. At your October graduation: Where was the ceremony held? Was there a keynote speaker from outside the agency? And, did they limit the number of guests you could invite to two? Thanks.
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Post by hamster on Jan 17, 2015 10:23:04 GMT -5
Our ceremony three years ago was in a gorgeous room with lots of marble, soaring ceilings, and impressive portraits, in a beautiful building across the street from the Capitol. Most memorable. Two guests per ALJ. In comparison, it looked like the last ceremony was in a dumpy, crowded little room somewhere else. I even heard that one of the new ALJs complained to the Deputy Commissioner, voicing it as "unacceptable." So, it's a crapshoot, I guess.
Best, Hamster
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Post by 71stretch on Jan 17, 2015 10:45:19 GMT -5
Graduation ceremony??? Sounds a little pointless to me. Either you are an ALJ or you are not. By holding a graduation ceremony, is ODAR implying that you are not a qualified to be an ALJ until you have completed the ODAR training course? Are you considered an "ALJ Trainee" until you receive your ODAR diploma? Holding a graduation ceremony sounds like another attempt to shift more control over the ALJ hiring process from OPM to SSA. Oh, good grief. It has nothing to do with the OPM/SSA relationship. As I understand it, they've been doing this for years, and it's been reported to be a nice ceremony, (though the location is evidently less impressive), a commemoration of completing the training. It has nothing to do with hiring qualifications. Sorry, but you aren't coming off well here with those comments. If the ceremony's not required attendance, i suppose you can stay away if you are so offended by the idea.
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Post by grassgreener on Jan 17, 2015 10:46:28 GMT -5
Our ceremony three years ago was in a gorgeous room with lots of marble, soaring ceilings, and impressive portraits, in a beautiful building across the street from the Capitol. Most memorable. Two guests per ALJ. In comparison, it looked like the last ceremony was in a dumpy, crowded little room somewhere else. I even heard that one of the new ALJs complained to the Deputy Commissioner, voicing it as "unacceptable." So, it's a crapshoot, I guess. Best, Hamster I think the gorgeous room days are over . . . My recent graduation was held in the same building that training was held in - it was on the first floor.
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Post by hamster on Jan 17, 2015 10:50:24 GMT -5
After the ALJ graduation, Leadership usually throws a Toga Party. You get your ODAR nickname--"Otter," "Flounder," whatever. It's really something. Then everybody goes on a road trip. It's even better than being in college. Oh, boy.
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Post by gary on Jan 17, 2015 11:12:25 GMT -5
It sounds like what they do in Federal court: The day the new Judge starts there's an official informal swearing in, usually by the Chief Judge in the Chief Judge's chambers with maybe the new Judge's spouse in attendance. Later there's an unofficial formal swearing in held in the ceremonial courtroom with lots of people in attendance.
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Post by anotherfed on Jan 17, 2015 11:13:09 GMT -5
I think the intention is nice, and not a control issue. Since most ALJs are sworn in by their Chiefs at new locations, their families can't always be there. The "graduation ceremony" is more of a formal swearing in that families can attend, with all pomp and circumstance. Doing it at the end of ODAR Training makes sense, in terms of efficiency for whoever the bigwig is. I've seen in other agencies where a new ALJ is informally sworn in by the chief ALJ in his or her office, and then later by the head of the agency in a special ceremony. At the non-ALJ level (aka the worker bees), any time a person starts at an agency, s/he is sworn in, even if the person is a current federal employee. So I don't think the SSA ceremony differs much from the practices at other agencies.
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Post by bartleby on Jan 17, 2015 16:16:43 GMT -5
Hamster, I am not sure if we graduated at the same time or not, but it sounds like it. IIRC, we were not supposed to mention the TOGA party or the secret handshake. I will probably always cherish the memory of the champaigne fountain and the jousting parties. Unfortunately we lost a few potentially good Judges due to more than the usual flesh wound, but ke sera sera. The day started uneventful enough with the blindfolds and the three hour bus trip to the Graduation site, but the armed guards were a nice touch. When we did our formation movements on Segways we were sharp. Oh, those were the days. Unfortunately before the great feast we had an earthquake and then a hurricane came into DC and we were trapped for hours trying to evacuate the great City. I wouldn't have missed it for the world...
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Post by badgerfan on Jan 17, 2015 18:16:00 GMT -5
So far the best thread I have read on this discussion forum!!! Too funny. If there are only 2 guests allowed, I guess that means one of the little badgerfans will be left to run wild in the building of the ceremony, or left talking the ear off of whatever poor security guard he/she is stuck with. Either way, I am betting it won't take someone long to come up with an extra ticket!
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Post by bartleby on Jan 17, 2015 22:28:25 GMT -5
Badgerfan, if it is small enough to sit on one's lap, you can usually bring it. I was able to get four of the kitties in, one on each leg of my two-legged guests. They enjoyed it up until the receiving line where one of them commenced scratching the podium and another one used the plant in the back of the room for a little potty break.. But by then I was a God in Robes and above reproach!!
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Post by hamster on Jan 17, 2015 22:45:10 GMT -5
Hamster, I am not sure if we graduated at the same time or not, but it sounds like it. IIRC, we were not supposed to mention the TOGA party or the secret handshake. I will probably always cherish the memory of the champaigne fountain and the jousting parties. Unfortunately we lost a few potentially good Judges due to more than the usual flesh wound, but ke sera sera. The day started uneventful enough with the blindfolds and the three hour bus trip to the Graduation site, but the armed guards were a nice touch. When we did our formation movements on Segways we were sharp. Oh, those were the days. Unfortunately before the great feast we had an earthquake and then a hurricane came into DC and we were trapped for hours trying to evacuate the great City. I wouldn't have missed it for the world... Hi Bart. No, I believe I was one class after Philliesfan. We had a few casualties in our class, too, after the BASE jumping catastrophe that has now become part of ODAR lore. I can still hear that shrieking sometimes, when the moon is full and the air still. The ALJ hopefuls on this board have no idea about the adventures and perils that await them once they're sworn-in. I hope their courage doesn't flag when the chips are down. Best, Hamster
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Post by enduring on Jan 17, 2015 23:45:13 GMT -5
I am sure that many people, myself included, will not have family attend and will have extra tickets.
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Post by hilltopper on Jan 18, 2015 9:47:16 GMT -5
I am sure that many people, myself included, will not have family attend and will have extra tickets. Sometime near the end of the first week of training or the beginning of the second, they bring a blank list with the class roster and 2 spots next to your name for you to sign up for tickets. As enduring indicated, not everyone has family/friends come from across the country, so those who don't have family coming or only have one, are able to give an extra ticket to those who have the whole team coming. Be nice to your classmates and they will pen in your loved one's name in their ticket slot. Someone in our class tried to get the ceremony moved to one of those marbled halls hamster was talking about, and the idea was nixxed. So ours was in a multi-use room with 9' tall blue divider curtains forming a backdrop for the presentation area on the first floor. It would seem in this day of high scrutiny from Congress, we are being careful to ensure we are using the taxpayers' money wisely. Our Speaker was the head of the Appeals Council. She spoke well, but I was hoping for someone from Congress or maybe the Acting Commissioner. Oh, and they took the class picture. During the presentation itself, they take individual shots of each new ALJ receiving their certificate of appointment (dated the day you were sworn in back in your duty office). I had thought the individual shots would be sent to us or posted online, but the last class they posted on the CALJ's website was from 2009, so that appears to be another area where we are saving money. And when the picture arrived, the only one provided was the group shot - no individual shots. So make sure one of your guests has a camera and takes the shot, if you want a momento. They take the certificate back from you as you walk across the presentation area and promise to mail them to you so you won't have to pack them and risk mangling them in luggage. Sometimes they remember to put stiff cardboard backers in the bubble envelope so that the certificate won't get folded in half. And when they don't remember, they will send replacements. Sometimes they spell the name wrong on the appointment certificate or the program, (hey we're talking about GS-5's making these things). If they do get your name wrong, be professional remain calm and ask them to make sure they send you a certificate with the correct spelling of your name. The folks organizing the ceremony, are not the ones who typed in the names on the certificate. So, in short, graduation is a government civil ceremony run on a shoestring budget. Don't expect anything lavish - especially now-a-days. It is organized and run by good people who work hard but sometimes make mistakes. Relax and realize, that life in the agency and in federal service, is not like when you graduated from an Ivy League law school or received your undergraduate degree. The word that comes to mind is "minimalism." And that is a good thing, because we are, after all, stewards of the public trust. Relax. Go with the flow. Enjoy your time with your guests and the friends you made over the previous 4 weeks. But, it would be nice to get a copy of the individual presentation shots. ht
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Post by gary on Jan 18, 2015 10:14:04 GMT -5
So, ht, I take it your advice is to get arrested during training so one's stay in FC is at least memorialized by an individual mug shot.
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Post by anotherfed on Jan 18, 2015 11:20:32 GMT -5
I think that did happen. They called funkyodar to bail out the Tupelo Twosome. Cute mug shots -- matching Hawaiian shirts. I never did get the whole story of the underlying allegations. Anyone care to share?
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Post by dudeabides on Jan 18, 2015 11:28:35 GMT -5
To quote Wally from Dilbert:
"What is this "friends" thing I keep hearing about?"
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Post by gary on Jan 18, 2015 11:31:44 GMT -5
I think that did happen. They called funkyodar to bail out the Tupelo Twosome. Cute mug shots -- matching Hawaiian shirts. I never did get the whole story of the underlying allegations. Anyone care to share? I think part of their oath is: "What happens in FC stays in FC."
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Post by bartleby on Jan 18, 2015 13:02:42 GMT -5
I am trying out this avatar thing..
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Post by anotherfed on Jan 18, 2015 13:06:12 GMT -5
I am trying out this avatar thing.. Now that is a classic avatar photo. Well done!
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Post by Pixie on Jan 18, 2015 14:27:50 GMT -5
Yes, it looks just like him.
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