||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Patty Rubstello
As we bid farewell to 2023 and I reflect on a remarkable and challenge filled year, I’m filled with gratitude to be part of an organization where individuals like you face adversity with resilience and dedication.
I intend to spend as much time as I can with my family during this season. As some of you know I lost my father this fall, so this family time will be filled with sharing of fond memories of him.
I know others can find this time of year difficult due to losses of family or friends. Dr. Kira Mauseth shared her thoughts on this during a recent all-staff presentation. If you are interested in watching a recording of the presentation, please use the Stream link provided in Secretary Roger Millar’s all-staff email or contact Employee Communications for access information.
Whatever your holiday traditions, I hope you’re able to enjoy the season. I truly appreciate that many of our ferry family will be hard at work to ensure our customers, friends and family can safely reach their destinations.
When it comes to work, our workforce development initiatives like the New Mate Scholarships, AB to Mate Programs and the Oiler to AE license prep class underscore our commitment to your growth.
Adding a second shift at Eagle Harbor, along with more apprenticeships, will help ensure robust support for our fleet.
These innovative programs and a focus on recruitment will go a long way toward addressing staff shortages in the coming months.
While our aging fleet poses a serious challenge, there’s progress as we’re set to build new hybrid-electric powered ferries. The electrification effort is already underway with the conversion of Wenatchee. When Wenatchee returns to service next year it will be quieter and cleaner. This needed propulsion upgrade required the vessel to be out of service anyway, so I’m thankful we grabbed the opportunity to covert to electricity at the same time. This paves the way for the Wenatchee to serve the public for decades to come.
Your collective efforts – from dispatch to terminals, vessel crews to Eagle Harbor and every area across the organization – have made this year as successful as it could have been under our many constraints.
As we look ahead to a better 2024, I extend my heartfelt thanks to you for your steadfast dedication.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season.
So now we get a new equity hire for on-the-job training who will visit Norway, develop new programs, explore advances with electrical ferries and bubble over a rosy future! So much to look forward to.
The here and now, not so much.
Totally agree, Phil, thanks.
(Oh, and could someone from Maintenance please check the illustrative photo used here: our accelerator adjustment lever thingy is on “Dead”.)
Therein lies the crux of this WSF predicament, Carl. There may have been an Alert that the Maintenance Department is out of service due to no SERVICE. Alas.
Weird letter… literally no mention of the headline topic: “Rubstello stepping down as WSF Assistant Secretary”