Well, another New Year is upon us, and word is our big Midstate holiday party at the Ramada Inn Northeast last Dec. 16 was a great success. Thanks are due to our party coordinating team of Cheryl Stover, Eloise Baines, and Judy Metzger. One and all were quite impressed by the lovely Christmas-wreath ice sculpture, which was designed by Cheryl's husband Evan. And word is among the staff that the Midstate-logo ballpoint pens that we received in our complimentary gift bags write very smoothly and will be dependable fixtures on our desks for months to come, as will the very practical sports bottles.

The employees of the Cash Room are reporting their pleasure upon receiving a new currency counter. It is much faster than the old one and there have been no reports of jamming. A real time-saver that everyone can appreciate. Santa certainly came through this year.

MYRON'S OFFICE TIP OF THE MONTH: Actually, this is a clarification of last month's office tip about saving office paper. I said that one could reduce paper waste by typing documents in single space, reducing margin width, and printing on both sides of the paper. I did not say that one should also reduce the leading and kerning between the letters and lines. That makes the documents almost unreadable, and is actually counter-productive, because it means one must adjust the leading and kerning back to normal and reprint the corrected version. I strongly suspect my leg was being firmly pulled on this one, because once I corrected the document it turned out it wasn't work-related at all. Kidding and jokes are all valid ways to improve office morale, but if they cut into productivity, no one wins.

WRONG WAY:		RIGHT WAY:

My assistant Judy Metzger is pleased to announce her recent engagement to her longtime beau Phil Weinstein. Dean, you might remember, worked in the Customer Service Department from 1997 to 1999. I'm sure most of the Midstate family joins me in wishing the couple well. There are some that remember the unfortunate business between Phil and a certain employee who, to this day, claims that he drove Phil out of Midstate because Phil coveted his Employee Of The Month "rep." I am happy to say that Phil, a 1997 graduate from DeFret University Law School, has since joined Brindleman Probate & Appraisers LLC as a junior partner, and contrary to popular and persistent belief. chose to leave Midstate of his own volition.

With winter upon us, employees in the eastern side of the administrative offices are once again being asked to keep the window-blinds drawn. The recent sunshine is a cheerful alternative to the wintry gloom of the past weeks, but raised blinds allow heat to escape, and because our windows are located high above our cubicles, the glare from the sun can be quite distracting, particularly for people on the opposite end of the office. For example, the Accounts Payable department is on the west wing of the office. If window-blinds on the east wing, where the Accounts Receivable department is located, remain open, the morning rays come in at an acute angle and can become almost blinding.

This has been a recurrent problem every winter season, and it seems that gentle reminders are ineffective. In fact, if memory serves, the problem has only seemed to worsen. It is unfair to force employees to resort to wearing sunglasses, or in my case, a large dark plastic eye-shield over my regular eyeglasses, in an interior workplace. It is a testament to the patience and tolerance of our administrative staff that no one has lost their temper over this situation, for it is quite distressing.

Yet those who do complain are called "player haters." I do not understand the etymology, but I understand the intent. We have been called far worse, too, and I am familiar with these particular terms. As far as I'm concerned, the only haters in this company can be found in the Accounts Receivable department, and I should say "hater" in the singular because the two other A.R. employees are fine, upstanding people. All I can say is I am glad that there are no windows on the western side of the office, or people would be too tempted to mete out the same punishment that's been inflicted on them for so long. I think I have made my point clear.

Finally, the winner of the Autumn Office Supply Word Jumble random drawing is Herbert Kornfeld. Herbert, you may pick up your $20 Applebee's gift certificate from Judy Metzger at any time