Wouldn’t it be great if we could use that list to get suggestions for improvements from all employees? With content analysis by whomever volunteers, or perhaps the FS would give us a grant? Or we could sub to one of the Keystones…
Here’s Andy’s response:
Mason & Chad,
As you may know, FSEEE has the FS employee database on one of our non-governmental servers. Not every employee — about 35,000 — but most. We obtained these data using 100% legal means. We used no government equipment in doing so.
Using this database, we email a complimentary copy of our quarterly newsletter to FS employees. Any employee who wishes is welcome to unsubscribe. Few have done so. Here’s a screenshot of our last newsletter mailing. I suspect these open and click-through rates exceed the Chief’s typical emails to all employees. (I tell you these facts only to demonstrate the apparent usefulness of our communications with FS employees).
Imagine that others enjoyed the same ability to communicate directly with their governmental civil servants. A command-and-control authoritarian bureaucracy would blanch at the prospect. On the other hand, an open organization with nothing to fear would welcome it.
If more people felt connected to our government and its workers, maybe federal employees wouldn’t be the endangered species they’ll become on January 20.
Sincerely,
Andy Stahl
Executive Director
Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics
PS: There is nothing more off-putting to the public than to call (800) 832-1355, which the FS lists on its web pages as its contact phone. That phone number goes to a USDA call center whose operators have never heard of the Forest Service.
(I tell you these facts only to demonstrate the apparent usefulness of our communications with FS employees).
