A letter to Starbucks management
Few things are more annoying and customer-alienating than to experience one class of customer being treated preferentially above other customers.
Thus, this morning at the South Mercer Island Starbucks, when inquiring about charges for a coffee refill, we were cheerfully told by sales people that refills were free, but only if we had the new “Starbucks registered” card or other elite plastic to present.
When I asked the sales lady why an old card holder like me was being discriminated against, she blankly asked, “What do you mean?” I told the young lady, resisting the urge to use Obamaese “sweetie”: “Just what I said,” to no avail.
It takes a lot of effort by the mahogany-row thinker types to really antagonize old customers, but some brooding omnipresence in the Starbucks sky has succeeded magnificently with me and other insulted customers with me this morning.
If my years-old Starbucks card isn’t as good as some folks’ cards, perhaps [Starbucks] President [Howard] Schultz can offer some justification in the Reporter — it will have to be Oscar quality, or else we are off to Tully’s. Still smarting,
City attorney story
Something is wrong here. Sterbank starts work in January 2007 and gets a $7,000 signing bonus and full benefits. One year later, he is terminated and paid more than a full year’s salary in severance, $135,000, and signs a confidentiality agreement. He also extracts a glowing letter of recommendation.
Now we learn that Sterbank was unsatisfactory as City Attorney as far back as six months ago. That begs the question: If Sterbank was such a bad employee, how come he is paid $135,000 in hush money for just one year’s employment and gets a favorable letter of recommendation, too?
Something is wrong here.
Eastside Baby Corner
The Kiwanis Club of Mercer Island wholeheartedly thanks the Mercer Island community for its support with generous contributions of baby supplies and cash for the Eastside Baby Corner.
“It was a very successful drive,” said Dr. Bob Faine of the Kiwanis Club of Mercer Island, who organized the day-long solicitation at Albertsons last month. “Our Island residents have a giving heart. We thank everyone who dropped baby items into the collection carts or made monetary contributions.”
The Kiwanis Club member are grateful to Albertsons’ management for the opportunity. The volunteers at Eastside Baby Corner have expressed their appreciation in the Thank-You note saying, “Thank you for your continual support of EBC. All the diapers, wipes, food, clothing and cash are much appreciated. They have already been put to good use.”
EBC was founded in 1990 to collect children’s needs and then distribute them, free of charge, directly to families in need. Over 140 care providers such as service organizations, congregations and parent groups on the Eastside order items from the EBC for their families in need.
The Kiwanis Club collects the donated items and delivers them to the Eastside Baby Corner Collection and Distribution Center in Issaquah. For further information about Eastside Baby Corner, please call (425) 427-9341.
