This is a memorandum aimed at the managers (primarily District Chief)
November 20, 1995

To: "DC - All District Chiefs"<distribution@usgs.gov>
From: "Robert M Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA" <rhirsch@usgs.gov> (Robert M. Hirsch)
Subject: This is a memorandum aimed at the managers (primarily District Chiefs) who were on the job last week
Cc: "A  - Division Chief and Staff"<distribution@usgs.gov>,
        "B  - Branch Chiefs and Offices"<distribution@usgs.gov>,
        "Bruce K Gilbert, DACH/Operations, Reston, VA" <bgilbert@usgs.gov>,
        "Robert R Mason Jr., Hydrologist(Engr), Reston, VA" <rrmason@usgs.gov>,
        "Ernest F Hubbard, Assistant Chief, OSW, Reston, VA" <ehubbard@usgs.gov>,
        "Gail E Kalen, Computer Specialist, Reston, VA" <gekalen@usgs.gov>,
        "Thomas C Pierson, Geologist, Vancouver, WA" <tpierson@usgs.gov>,
        "Verne R Schneider, ACH for TS, Reston, VA" <vrschnei@usgs.gov>

To: District Chiefs and others on the front line during the shutdown --
Thank you for your hard work.  We are indebted to you.

Before we turn our attention to the difficult job ahead, digging out from
the hole we are in from this shutdown, I want to ask you to provide a small
amount of feedback on the shutdown experience.  Please take a few minutes
to put together a brief e-mail to me and Bruce (Gilbert) describing three
things (please present them in this order).  You were on the front line of
this experience and I expect that it provided you with some new insights
(good and bad) about our relationships with other sectors of society.  We
would like to have all of WRD management gain from what you have learned.

1.  What were the reactions of our paying customers to the shut down?  This
need not be a complete compendium of your interactions with these OFA and
State or local funding agencies but rather a couple of examples of the
kinds of reactions they had to the situation.  Where possible pass along
exact or paraphrased quotes.

2.  What were the reactions of our data or information users (other than
those discussed in 1 above)?  This might include: engineering firms,
governmental agencies that seek our help or data, educators,
recreationists, or the general public.  Again, quotes would be of interest.

3.  What should we have done differently to prepare for the shut down or to
manage it after it started?  This was our first experience with a shut-down
of this magnitude.  To prepare for other shutdowns that may occur in the
future how could we do it better (given the overall constraints of dramatic
limitations on staff).

Please send your comments on these three questions to Bruce, myself, and
your supervisor by COB November 27.  Keep your comments brief.  A page is
more than enough.  If we want to know more we will ask.  I think the
information will be useful to us whether or not we ever face another
shut-down like this.

One final note: several of you have raised the questions about where to
charge the hours of furloughed employees.  I have asked Cathy Hill to work
quickly towards an overall WRD policy on this matter.  I am asking her to
give you at least some interim guidance by the end of the day.

Thanks.  Bob

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* Robert M. Hirsch           Phone: 703/648-5215         *
* Chief Hydrologist          Fax:   703/648-5002         *
* 409 National Center        Internet:  rhirsch@usgs.gov *
* U.S. Geological Survey                                 *
* Reston, VA 22092                                       *
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