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« Back to the September/October 2005 Explorer newsletter
FEATURE
From Cambodia, With Love
By Charles Handler, Ph.D.
Rocket-Hire systems and servers are safe and running just fine. They are located outside of the state, and though I lost some of my computers, the back up data was saved and I now have a generously donated laptop from my Australian buddies.
Fresh off a three-day speaking engagement booked by the Australian firm Onetest, I’m winding my way with my wife Anne via train from Bangkok through Cambodia, thinking about possible next steps.
We are in many ways fortunate to have been out of the country when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. We did not need to evacuate in haste, nor suffer through shortages or hardships. And we have been seeing the sad images from afar, which lends things a different perspective. But we have been franticly worried about our animals — three dogs left behind in the care of a courageous neighbor who spent his time rescuing others and lending our mastiff to an elderly woman in order to protect her in the chaos of the past two weeks. Now we know that our dogs have been moved to shelters run by the SPCA, that they are safe, cared for and identified for pick up when we get back home.
Getting back home
Therein lies the rub. Getting back home. Many of you have written with concern about our well-being — and I can’t thank you enough. While we do not know the exact extent of damages, we do know that our house itself escaped the worst of the flooding, but the warehouse containing our businesses was not so lucky. WHEN we are allowed back into the city, there will be a lot of work to do and we’re not sure what can be salvaged.
The good news: As stated on the homepage of the website, Rocket-Hire systems and servers are SAFE and running just fine. They are located outside of the state, and though I lost some of my computers, the back up data was saved and I now have a generously donated laptop from my Australian buddies.
I also learned a lot about international assessment usage during my stint Down Under. In Australia they are actually very active in using assessment - most guests at my lectures have been using it. Also, they are facing a serious skills shortage that is forcing them to use assessment to select for potential as opposed to specific skill sets. They simply don't have enough candidates for positions, as their employment rate is very high. All very interesting stuff that I plan to research further.
Right now I’m planning on a return to the States next week, to Los Angeles first — to do the Taleo sponsored Webcast, and then on to the ERE Expo in Boston. After that — we shall see.
Temporary office
MEANWHILE, my associate Mark Healy is fielding things for me from lovely Oakland, CA, and my publicist/marketing rep Donna Lehman is answering questions from Georgia. We are using her office as a temporary base, so any hard copy correspondence can be sent to her address: 4320 Sprucebough Dr., Marietta, GA 30062.
Heartfelt thanks
For those of you who have offered help: A HEARTFELT THANK YOU. Anne and I are trying to remain optimistic. We WILL rebuild things. And we want to help others too, so for the next month, 25% of all proceeds from subscription sales to the Online Buyer’s Guide will go to the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and perhaps other relief organizations helping the hurricane victims.
With love.
— Charles
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