How To Be An Excellent Groundie - From The Climber

[robinia]

IN REVERSE:
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...e=0&fpart=1



My tried and true groundie of 9 years is retiring. He's had enough of municipal life and is eager to begin his own version of "Freedom 55". I'm really happy for him.

I'm also leary and apprehensive about starting all over from scratch with someone new. My manager is trying to find a good fit from within the department but they are all pretty green from a treework perspective. Not looking forward to it.

I know the private companies out there deal with this all the time but I just can't think of where to start. I told my boss to buy ISA's "Basic Training For Ground Workers" and we'll go from there...

Any pointers??

Retire In Peace, Bob!

 

[unatool]

sober, big, orginized, safe. Telepathic is a plus...

 

[moonfarm]

You can teach someone the job, but you can't teach them to be the kind of person you want to work with 40 hours a week.

Tim

 

[JeffL]

Clearly you need to find someone who first of all WANTS to work, and not just there to put in some hours and collect a paycheck. Im in love with climbing, but ill run ropes any day of the week, especially in tight spots where timing and aim come into play.

That's alot of what we run into with summer help /college kids. Some are newbie arbs trying to learn the trade and take a genuine fascination and interest in what you're doing, then there's the guys who are there for the paycheck alone and it shows.

I think one time I said something to my boss along the lines of "you can teach them the job, but can't make them want to do it. " I dunno, I think its true.