In May 2005 I was selected as a Fire Prevention Technician on the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The two letters below were written about my work there in February and March 2007 — one by the Deputy District Ranger, the other by the Battalion Chief who hired me. I am publishing them exactly as they were written. Each appears as the scanned page, followed by a word-for-word transcription. The original spelling and punctuation are kept, nothing has been corrected, and nothing has been left out.
Justification for Extra Effort Award — February 11, 2007
February 11, 2007
JUSTIFICATION FOR EXTRA EFFORT AWARD FOR MIKE McNEIL
This is an “above and beyond the call of duty” award to Mike for his extra efforts to help the San Jacinto Ranger District meet its goal of a safe and healthy work environment for employees and visitors during the period of October 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006.
The San Jacinto Ranger District had several unresolved hazardous materials issues. There were sites that needed cleanup and long-standing requests for cleanup were not moving forward. There were too few individuals trained in hazardous materials. There were working sites where MSDLs, appropriate storage, and information signs were out of date or missing, etc. As a result, “Mike stepped up” to see what he could do help.
Mike made outstanding contributions to the cleanup of existing hazardous material sites and the prevention of new problems involving hazardous materials. Although outside his position description, he made it his responsibility to get management support and then do whatever he could to get existing sites cleaned up as quickly as possible. To this end, Mike coordinated with District employees, Forest safety officials, and County safety representatives. Mike identified and posted hazardous material signs at District work sites where employees use and/or store hazardous materials. Due to his efforts, the District is upgrading storage lockers for hazardous materials. Mike set up hazardous material safety data information boards and right to know information stations where needed. Mike checked the District employee’s records for current training on hazardous materials in the workplace and encouraged the appropriate personnel to initiate or upgrade their training.
This work was an add-on to Mike’s normal fire prevention duties. Mike’s initiative to work on these problems, willingness to take the lead, dedication to getting work done the right way, and overall extra effort regarding hazardous material management resulted in a much safer work environment for all. In response to Mike’s exemplary efforts outlined above, I propose an Extra Effort Cash Award.
GREG CASSELBERRY
Transcribed from the scanned page above, as written.
Deputy District Ranger
[signed]
Letter of reference — March 14, 2007
United States Department of Agriculture · Forest Service · San Bernardino National Forest, San Jacinto Ranger District · P.O. Box 518, Idyllwild, CA 92549 · 909-659-2117 (Voice) · 909-659-2107 (FAX) · 909-659-5748 (TTY)
File Code: 6100 Personnel
Date: March 14, 2007Letter Reference for Mike Mc Neil
I selected Mike Mc Neil as a Fire Prevention Technician in May of 2005. Mike reported to work on the San Jacinto Ranger District on June 12, 2005. Mike has done an excellent job as a Fire Prevention Technician on the San Jacinto Ranger District. In the past twenty one months Mike’s performance has been outstanding. I would like to talk about some of Mike’s accomplishments.
Mike has been instrumental in establishing an excellent working relationship with the communities of Snow Creek, Cabazon, Palm Springs Catherdral City and Palm Desert. Mike has greatly increased the public awareness in the Desert Communities of the many Forest Service Fire Prevention programs and other Forest Recreation opportunities that are available to them. Mike was responsible for up dating the Forest Hazardous Material Training Program and by doing so has saved the Forest several thousand dollars in our training budget. Mike also serves as our district Hazardous Materials coordinator and as usual he has done an outstanding job in maintaining our complaisance with Hazardous Material regulations. Mike is a very good fire origin and cause investigator. I have received several performance rating from C.D.F. Battalion Chiefs giving Mike excellent rating for his help in origin and cause investigations in there mutual threat zones. In the past twenty one months Mike has received two Certificates of Merit and cash awards totaling 1,500.00 dollars.
I have never had any performance or conduct problems with Mike. He has always presented himself in a highly professional manner and he has always represented the San Bernardino National Forest in the same manner. He will be an asset to any department that gets him as an employee.
Sincerely
William Gevedon
Transcribed from the scanned page above, as written. The printed footer line at the foot of the letterhead is cut off in the scan.
Battalion Chief San Jacinto R.D.
San Bernardino National Forest.
The scanned originals can be downloaded as PDF files: Justification for Extra Effort Award, February 11, 2007 and Letter of reference, March 14, 2007. Other reference letters and incident performance ratings from my fire service are quoted on the Recognition and References page.
Michael Karl McNeil
Michael Karl McNeil 