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Archiver > APG > 2002-07 > 1026855854


From: Ray Beere Johnson II <>
Subject: [APG] MA Vital Records Closing
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 14:48:46 -0700 (PDT)


I'm afraid the situation has been made worse
by recent events; I was forced to work in the
Vital Records the week of the Fourth during the
heat wave, for a rush missing heirs case.
Everyone's temper was pretty thin, and the staff
was slow calling for record slips.
I've been pretty steamed in such situations
myself at times, and was not very happy then, but
I have the sense not to raise a fuss with the
staff. For one thing, they do not set the
policies, rates, etc. and would undoubtedly
prefer to see more people hired to help them out.
Unfortunately, not everyone had the same
sense. One woman started loudly complaining that
she was going to "write Secretary Galvin", which
made no sense, as he is not in charge of the
Vital Records. Another woman got in a long
argument with the man in charge about the $3.00
per hour fee and whether she should have to pay
it since they hadn't called for slips in a while.
Like I say, with the heat, tempers were frayed
and a lot of people started 'dumping' on the
staff.
I was just in there again last Friday, and
there was a new notice posted; effective Aug. 5,
the hours are returning to 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm with a two hour closing
for lunch as in the bad old days. And I do not
think that the recent troubles will have made the
Dept. of Health any more sympathetic to
genealogists! Just so we all know what we're up
against.
Unfortunately, a few people lose their
heads, and everyone suffers. Well, I guess that's
like a lot of things in life. :<)
Sorry I didn't notify everyone sooner; I've
had my hands full with a rush report that turned
out to be a lot more complicated than I'd planned
on (don't they all?) and a dying cat who still
wants to live but requires more and more... Of
course, it's only repaying a small fraction of
what he's given over the years.
Ray



=====
Ray Beere Johnson II - Genealogist
279 East Central Street, Suite 259
P. O. Box 95
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038


FAX: 508-541-6788

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