Editor's Note: The Public Affairs Office encourages employees to express concerns, suggestions, ideas, etc., about Laboratory policies, programs and issues in a constructive fashion. In an attempt to address issues raised in submissions to the Reader's Forum, Public Affairs has on occasion asked subject matter experts to provide a response - to be published simultaneously with the original letter - so that employees will know that their issue is being addressed. While this has caused some delay in the timely publication of submissions to the Readers Forum, we continue to believe that this approach is warranted. We are always receptive to suggestions on how the Reader's Forum can be improved to best serve the Laboratory and the work force and hope that employees continue to write to the Reader's Forum.

Sept. 3, 2004

Suggestion for a different way to handle letters needing response

I believe that the current method of not publishing some letters until an official response or path forward is identified could be improved upon. I'd like to suggest that the letter be posted to the Reader's Forum immediately, with a note from the editor stating to which person or organization the letter has been forwarded for comment and/or resolution. If this were done, readers would have an opportunity to comment and make suggestions while the matter was under consideration, and may be able to make a valuable contribution to effective and timely issue resolution. Later, when the official response is completed, it could be published with an active link to the earlier letter just as you do when a reader references another submission.

I think it is curious that letters to the forum have dropped off so sharply during this time when people all across the Lab are struggling to do what we need to do to bring our operations back up safely and securely, and then work to restore the positive image of the Laboratory. I think the forum is a good outlet for communication and wonder why it is not being used?

--Melissa Lewis