European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday september 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 11 letters rights of spouses seeking jobs discussed i came to Europe in May 1989 on Loop leave without pay from an appropriated fund position at which i had earned my career status. I was Imor med by my civilian personnel officer co office at fort Benning a that i had priority placement rights and should be referred As such for any position for which i was qualified at the level i was currently working or any lower Grade. I applied for several jobs and was never called for an interview. I visited the chief of my co to inquire Why i had not received an interview. He pulled my paperwork and saw that i had hand written very legibly my application and stated i May not have been considered because i had not typed my application but could find no other reason for my not being placed. He did Tell me i would be placed in a position and a few Days later i received a Call for a temporary assignment. I Felt unsure about accepting a temporary assignment but was assured that i would still be placed on referral lists and should have a permanent position before Long. Shortly after this the hiring freeze went into effect and there were no positions being filled so i could not pursue any other jobs. When the freeze lifted and i began to pursue another position i was told that i had lost my spouse preference because the activity for which i worked had issued a personnel action extending me past one year. I was not asked if i was interested in being extended. I signed no paperwork agreeing to an Extension. This was done by my activity and the co office but because of this action i have lost my military spouse preference. This did not alarm me too greatly until i was also told that in my Community very Seldom is any Job announced with reinstatement eligible rights to which i am due because i have gained career status. Why did i work so hard to gain this career status if it is of absolutely no use Here in Europe i feel this is direct discrimination against a spouse who has worked hard and gained career status. Why did i even need to use military spouse preference to get a temporary Job when i am a career employee who was definitely qualified for this position could someone please answer some of these questions for a very mixed up career employee who May soon be without a Job a Betty l. Cornett Pir Masens West Germany i would like to support a recent letter by John g. Donovan of Nimberg. He relayed the painful Story of losing his sister to a Drunken Driver almost 12 years ago on oct. 28, 1978. Donovan will never forget that Day and i will never forget May 14,1988. I was visiting my parents in Florida when i got the Call from my brother that there had been a terrible bus Accident in Kentucky. There were Many injuries and deaths. He did no to know yet if Patty his 10-year-old daughter was dead or alive a he was still searching the area hospitals to see if she was among the survivors. She was not. Patty was killed in the worst Drunken driving incident in american history along with 26 other people a almost All children. She was smart Sweet and had tremendous potential. The bus was returning from an amusement Park. We watched the news on to All Day a a horrible burned out school bus with 27 bodies inside. They had been hit head on by a 34-year-old Man who was stinking drunk driving in the wrong Lane. Patty smother was in Florida at the time visiting editors note a Carolyn White personnel staffing specialist office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel civilian personnel division he Usa eur replies the writer makes a Good Point about not being asked or consulted regarding the Extension of the temporary appointment under which initially hired in the overseas area. Neither management nor the civilian personnel office should assume that an employee is agreeable to such an Extension. As the writer Points out there Are other things that must be considered by the employee such As the Impact that such an action will have on benefits entitlements and other appointments. A representative in the civilian personnel office should discuss these things in detail with the employee prior to a decision being made. The writer is wrong in thinking that reinstatement rights Are of no use in Europe. Individuals with reinstatement eligibility May apply for any vacant position for which qualified and eligible. If the position is at a higher Grade than that for which they have reinstatement eligibility they must compete with other candidates. Competition is not required for positions at the same or lower Grade. There does not have to be a vacancy announcement open in order for the individual to submit an application. Applications can also be accepted under applicant Supply file procedures. The writer wants to know Why As a career employee military spouse preference had to be used to get a temporary Job in Europe. A career employee does not necessarily have to use military spouse preference in order to get a temporary Job in Europe. However there Are two Basic reasons Why the writer May perceive this As the situation. The first reason is that within Usa eur we give military spouse preference to All eligible applicants whether they have requested it or not. The second reason is that the number of applicants available for employment exceeds the number of positions available thus Competition is very keen. Military spouse preference affords this group of family members the Opportunity to obtain employment More expeditiously than it would otherwise be Able to. Were it not for military spouse preference career employees would have to take their chances with other family members and non family members. Her own very ill Mother Only to be informed by my parents that her precious daughter had been killed. My sister and i arranged the funeral to be held in our Hometown. I remember picking out a Little child size casket and bringing Patty a favorite stuffed animal to be placed inside with her. I am fearful every time my children leave my sight. I worry a lot More than i used to. In Germany the land of free flowing Beer and fast cars the autobahn and Windy roads scare me to death. Patty Nunnallee had her life snuffed out when she was in the fourth Grade. Not a Day goes by that i done to think of her and the pain endured by her parents Jim and Karolyn Nunnallee and her sister Jeanne. Jim and Karolyn Campaign heavily for Madd mothers against drunk Drivers and Are trying to see something positive Spring from their own tragedy. And i bet you can guess what their message is a that a right a Drunken driving is a crime and should be punished. A sue n. Roman Garmisch Ger Manyann Landers dear readers a while Back i confessed that i did no to know much about bar etiquette and asked for some guidance from my savvy faithful. The heft of the mail convinced me that i had led a very sheltered life. A Rockland  won a baseball Pool at the local pub. When he went to pick up his winnings the bar owner asked if he was going to buy a round for the bar. He replied a Why should i i done to know these  the owner suddenly had an attitude problem and said a a that a not proper bar  the question was the bar owner right Here a what the readers say from Boston that bar owner was looking to beef up the Days take. The Standard practice is to buy drinks for the other members of the Pool not for every person in the place. Hampton roads a i blew a lot of Money in bars before i sobered up six years ago. There a no such thing As a bar  Pittsburgh i owned a tavern and have run hundreds of pools. In some states pools Are illegal so both buyers and Sellers have to be careful normally the bartender gets 5 percent of the winnings. The Winner can buy drinks for the House if he wants to but its not expected. Brooklyn unfortunately i happen to know a lot about bar etiquette. My advice to a a Rock the Guy who wanted to keep All the winnings is to watch the game at Home and go to the bar to collect at 10 30 the next morning. Cincinnati Only a fool would offer to buy drinks for the House. In be seen this done and do you know what happens the Beer drinkers switch to scotch and the winos suddenly develop a taste for double Strawberry daiquiris. Burlington it 1 resent the bar owner trying to make the Winner of the Pool feel guilty. The Winner is under no obligation to buy anybody anything. In be made that scene plenty and i  spend $50 on drinks for strangers unless i had won a Pool at least three times that amount. A fool i am not. Sacramento if a bartender handles the Pool he is entitled to a 10 percent tip. In a in a few pools around town and one of them keeps 20 percent out for the United Way. Please done to use my name if you print my letter. My husband does no to know i do this. He would be mad As hell. San Diego that cheap bum in new York burned me up. Ill bet he wont be invited to be a part of anymore pools. Word travels fast in the tavern circuit and Guys who cheap out get passed Over. Orlando a few years ago in Las vegas after i lost my limit of $200,1 stopped in a bar to drown my sorrow. I spotted a Slot machine and bought a half dozen $10 Rolls of quarters. Of course i lost it All. Like the drunk who goes from scotch to wine i bought six $10 Rolls of Nickels. After getting Down to my last Roll Bells rang and Neon lights flashed All Over the place. I had hit the Jackpot a $450 when i handed the bartender $10, the Guy next to me said a you must be from out of town. Its customary to give the bartender 20  i picked up the $10 Bill put Down a $20 and walked out. Did i feel guilty nah c creators Syndicate writer recalls own Drunken Driver tragedy european edition col. Oene e. Townsend u8af commander editor in chief it. Col. Suzanne l. 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