As many of you know, Robert had taken on the project of investigating the vending machine issue of empty or poorly stocked machines at visitation areas. This is the latest post from him as it appeared on tifatalk Yahoo Group. It appears that progress HAS been made and REFORM is in fact possible.

Enjoy.

Jim


----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Elzner
To: tifatalk@***********.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 12:06 AM
Subject: [TifaTalk] Good News about Vending Machines


I wanted to tell all that the Vending Contractor for the McConnell unit, Garza
Units and several others are going to be replaced. Lance corporation has bowed
out. Looks like our info to TCB has paid off. The new vendor will start to
take over on Oct 3rd. Nancy Jones was very appreciative of our concerns.

She has passed some more information on to me. When a machine is reported "out
of order" with a phone call to the vendor, they have 24 hours to get it
repaired. She would like to know when someone reports a call to a vendor so
that she can check up on them.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Please continue to give me information. I mentioned that the soda machines at
McConnell needed some more variety and she will be emailing the contractor and
subcontractor. What goes in the soda machines is dependent on the contractor.
For example, if it is Coke, they will only have coke products and likewise with
other vendors.

Robert

great news! change can happen! fuels the motivational fire!

that is good to hear

PLEASE HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THE MACHINES @ RAMSEY ONE WE HAVE CALLED MANY TIMES TO THE VENDOR AND THE WARDEN NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE THE MACHINES HAVE BEEN OUT FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. THE COKE MACHINES WORK MAYBE TWO WEEKENDS OUT OF A MONTH BECAUSE THE GUARDS DONT KEEP THERE HANDS OFF. THEY BUY OUT THE MACHINES BEFORE THE WEEKEND AND THE VENDORS HAVE FILLED UP FOR THE UP COMING WEEKEND AND BY THE TIME WE GET THERE THEY ARE EMPTY.