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March 16, 2006
IT Support is Key
I’m really fortunate in my job to be supported by a fantastic I.T team, not only are they completely on-the-ball but have a cool sense of humour. As you can see my Laptop has suffered a bit of a crisis, in that the ‘Z’ key has fallen off limiting how much ‘_ing’ my writing can have!
In a fairly tongue in cheek move I e-mailed I.T support asking for advice on my one-key-short of a keyboard crisis. The e-mail I got back was class. They said,
‘not sure what we can do about it but in the meantime use the following and ‘cut and paste’zzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ’
It’s been interesting recently as I spend a bit of time working within local authority settings. I.T within one of these settings is really naff and I could not do my job effectively or creatively if I had to work with their limited and outdated set up.
Being a youth worker in a Church can be EVEN more of a challenge. With one job I did I was promised an office, which in fact turned out to be a room NOT any equipment. Worst story I heard recently though was a new youth minister appointment where the applicant was promised a new lap top. HOWEVER on starting the job the Church Minister stepped in and claimed the lap-top then dumped his ancient computer on the youth minister!
I.T nightmares anyone ……………………………
Posted by ian at March 16, 2006 11:15 AM
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Comments
Just FINALLY got fed up with the PC at work beng slower than me even when I have a horrible cold SO... I ordered broadband for the office!
Posted by: Sarah H at March 16, 2006 03:05 PM
When I worked at CPAS I spent a bit of time on the road counselling hard-pressed youth ministers. One was disciplined for changing his screen-saver; the argument was that if he had time to do something like that he wasn't working hard enough.
He now has a wonderful youth ministry using his technology skills to serve an alternative community. No idea what happened to his old church. Nor do I care, frankly.
Laugh/cry; the decision is yours.
Posted by: St at March 16, 2006 03:12 PM
Steve,
That's depressing. Have just changed my screensaver AND Wallpaper on principal :-)
Posted by: Youthblog at March 16, 2006 03:16 PM
The 'n' key used to fall off my mum's laptop regularly. We just balanced it where it needed to go until my bro took it all apart and fixed it properly.
I love my IT support - pretty much 24 hours a day and freefone - I missed call my Dad or bro and they call me back and help me! hehehe!
Posted by: KT at March 16, 2006 03:32 PM
I hope you recommended the Youth Minister to reciprocate by occupying the vicarage!
Posted by: Mark at March 16, 2006 04:57 PM
A charity once gave me a whole load of second hand IT equipment, on the strict condition that it was for the youth club and that the church did not shut the youth club down and confiscate all the technology for itself.
When - a few months later - the church did exactly that, I had to engage in a midnight raid on the vestry to retrieve all the kit and return it to the charity.
Sigh.
Posted by: Ray at March 16, 2006 06:31 PM
I actually can't wait until I get a YW job and can look after my own IT.
Currently where I work, the system is tied down so much that in order to fix a problem or instal something which i am 100% competent in doing I have to
Phone a helpdesk in Ireland
Explain the problem to someone who's ONLY IT knowledge is "have you switched it off & on again?"
Wait for up to 2 days for a referal
Receive a phone call from someone in India who struggles to understand me & me him.
Explain problem and solution required
Listen while he explains his own (useless) solution
Wait 2 more days
Re-call Ireland to re-explain problem, action taken & action which should have taken
Receive e-mail asking for 'customer feedback'
2 days later - problem finally resolved
Posted by: barrie at March 17, 2006 01:36 PM