After 5 years of running the members-only coffee mess at work, we turned over the reins to one of the young bucks in the office to manage the affairs some 7-8 months ago. The mess is made up of dues-paying members but non-members can enjoy the jo by anteing up on a per cup basis.
Relieved of our burden, we check in with the mess manager every once in a while to see how things are coming along. It seems that a rise in coffee prices plus some suspected free-loading from non-members and out-of-town visitors has caused a little bit of a budget squeeze.
To effect better enforcement of payment by these “one-offers” another colleague went on-line to do some research and found sites devoted to running coffee messes. One of the suggestions that was made was to post a picture at the coffee maker of a set of eyes that would appear to be looking back at the viewer to better impose a feeling of guilt. 
Also, it was suggested that a transparent container or cup be used for the contributions rather than an opaque one. Final suggestion that is being implemented is posting at the mess itself, a roster of the dues-paying members of the mess to personalize the membership aspect of the mess to outsiders.
We’ll keep you posted as to how all this psycho-herding works out. Funny how smoothly things ran in the past with some good ol’ fashioned threats of physical violence. Oh well…kids…
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Too much Messin' around
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5 comments:
When I ran the mess, the problem was people stealing from the payment jar.
Yikes. Was that shoreside or aboard ship?
Say what you will about the Merchant Marine (and many have) but my time both sailing with and working with Merchies, theft was never really an issue, petty change or otherwise.
Shoreside.
I'm torn between the civvie and the former drug dealer in the shop being the thief.
By the time I hit ship, I cleaned it out daily.
In boot camp, we had six (SIX!!!) teeth thingies for adjusting teeth (It's late, I can't remeber the word) stolen.
These are nasty things only of use to the one they're formed for.
My plan is working great, I am in a coffee mess of one. If I don't swing by the commissary or Starbucks and bring it in, no coffee, but no stolen coin either.
B-Daddy
Foxie, I figured as much. Hate to say it but there is that time-worn and ironic "honor among theives" behavior while afloat that doesn't seem to make landfall when mixing with civvies.
B-Daddy, its a shame because I thought my bulk-buying and physical intimidation enforcement techniques which resulted in a $2/month fare was a winning combination.
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