Good Afternoon,  

 

This year, I intend to use this technology to communicate more regularly with the leadership of this agency. Meetings of executive staff, wardens, division directors and divisions are great, but it is impossible for me to be present at all of those meetings. There will be no set schedule, topic or format. These emails are not for general distribution. I will still depend on you to keep your staff up to date, but some of the information in these notes may be helpful as you do so.

 

I am back on the road once a week, and I have been pleased with the progress in the institutions that I have visited. It is clear that the leadership of these prisons is continuing to push everyone to focus on appearance, order and cleanliness, even in the small and out of sight details. I am especially encouraged by continued improvement in making our kitchens and cafeterias clean and orderly. While we can only buy what we can afford, it is imperative that our food be the best we can make it. It should be served in clean and quiet cafeterias. Thanks to Tonja Jewell and her staff and to all of you as you continue to push forward on this issue.

 

In accordance with Governor Sanford’s Executive Budget, we have made our budget request to our House and Senate subcommittees. Our request was well received by both. Basically, we are asking for $5.2 million in recurring funds and $14 million is one time funding. Recurring funds are harder to come by, as only certain revenue streams can be considered recurring. On the recurring side, in order of priority, we have asked for $2.25 for staffing the vacant unit at Turbeville; $2.0 for drug abuse programs, we are losing much of our RSAT funding; and, $1.0 for mental health positions. On the non-recurring side, in order of priority, we have asked for $7.0 million is Facility repair and maintenance; $4.8 for a new food service warehouse; $600,000 to match private monies raised and build those chapels; $1.1 for a new roof on Gilliam: and $480,000 to completely automate our medical records.

 

By the way the Governor’s executive budget proposes 3.0% for state employees and holds the line, again, on health insurance costs. However, for smokers there would be about a $10.00 increase in health insurance costs.

 

Regardless of your view of Wal-Mart (I love the prices), Sam Walton was a genuine American success story. Over the course of his career he developed what he called, “Sam’s Rules for Building a Business.” Many of them are applicable across the board.

 

Rule 1: Commit to your business: In our case, that would be commit to your institution, division, operation or agency. We can overcome many shortcomings by sheer passion for what we do. If we get out and do our best, pushing forward everyday, our people will see it and many of them will commit as well.

 

Rule 2: Share your profits with your associates. We cannot really do this. But, when combined with Rules 5 and 6...

 

Rule 5: Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. All of us like to be told when we have done something that we are really proud of. Nothing else can substitute for a few well chosen word of praise.

 

Rule 6: Celebrate your successes. Show enthusiasm. Find humor in failure and have fun.

 

Of course we cannot share profits, but we still believe that staffing realities should drive the distribution of pay increases. Our officers benefited from that philosophy last year, with a 10% increase. However, these three rules taken together encourage us to reward exceptional performers and show our appreciation to all of our dedicated employees. At least once a year, we do this in a big way, but there are 100’s of opportunities to make smaller gestures throughout the year.

 

I will share more of Sam’s rules next time.

 

Godspeed this week,

 

Jon