Friday, December 15, 2006

In praise of Donna

On Wednesday, there was an event in honor of Donna Martin, the Executive Assistant to the Office of the Board of Trustees. Everybody likes Donna. Plus, she’s terrific at her job.

I’ve been going to board meetings off-and-on for more than ten years, and she’s always been there, and she’s always left the impression of being a classy lady. Over the years, I’ve often had occasion to call her (for audio or video tapes, etc.), and she’s always been perfectly pleasant and professional.

Plus she’s kind of a babe.

Well, a friend of mine who was there told me that lots of people showed up to speak in praise of Donna. The friend said that administrators, trustees, classified employees, and faculty got up before the group to say a few words. Marcia was funny. Other people were too.

“Everyone spoke,” said my friend. “Everyone. Except for one person.”

“Guess who?” said the friend.

Back in August, we reported on that month’s meeting of the Board of Trustees. (See Goo review.) The issue that generated the most heat that night concerned Chancellor Raghu Mathur’s layoff or transfer of one of Donna’s coworkers, supposedly as a cost-cutting measure. (As you know, simultaneously, Mathur was angling bigtime for a raise plus $40K in unused vacation time.)

Evidently, in taking that action, Mathur employed his usual modus operandi, i.e., unilateralism, ruthlessness, insensitivity, etc. But, at that board meeting, his account of his action made it seem far otherwise.

Donna, who seldom speaks during board meetings, felt compelled to comment on the action concerning the coworker. “We were never consulted…The rug was pulled out from under us,” she said.

What, one wonders, could inspire the likes of Donna Martin to say something like that!?

In the course of the subsequent exchange, Mathur referred to a phone call between he and Donna. His account of the exchange portrayed a sensitive boss who took pains to consult Donna, though he “didn’t have to,” about the wisdom of the action he was then contemplating. During the call, said the Gooster, Donna repeatedly stated her “support” of his proposed action.

That inspired the reticent Ms. Martin immediately to demur: “No, [what I did was] I thanked you for calling me….”

Naturally, the Imperial Goo cut her off, commanding: “Please don’t interrupt me!”

It went downhill from there. The episode was most unpleasant.

Well, Donna’s send-off was a big success. We do have some great employees here in the old SOCCCD, don’t we?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Raghu is so classy that way. He doesn't like to call attention to himself.

I bet he simply gave Donna a fabulous gift to show his appreciation of all those years of dedication and professionalism.

He goes for those big gestures, you know. Just ask his secretaries. There's no other 1/4 million dollar man who lavishes gifts like Raghu. He really goes all out.

He doesn't have to say anything. His actions say it all.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Everyone knows that Raghu's generosity knows no bounds.

Anonymous said...

Yes, he may be the most highly paid chancellor in the state but he is the most generous too! He really spreads it around!

Anonymous said...

That's so true! He is the emodiment of the spirit of the season.

Anonymous said...

I too can attest to Raghu's generosity. When someone is deserving or in need he is always right there!

Anonymous said...

There is no one else like Raghu in terms of his generosity and compassion.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who has been on the 3rd floor knows the brutal treatment of Donna by this Chancellor. From requiring her to make a record for him of everyone who visited her district office, every call that she made or was made to her, and every e-mail coming in or going on. The old adage, you know the quality of the leader by the way he treats those who work for him. There IS NO leadership in this man who claims to be a leader.

The wrong person went and this district lost another well trained, well committed employee.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...