THREAD: A STORY: When I was working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as the supervisor of the San Diego VA Health System Call Center as a GS-9, I wanted to create a monthly customer service award. Kind of like an “employee of the month”. 1/

But the VA wouldn’t budget for a plaque and a trophy, so I went about buying one with my own money. First, I contacted my supervisor, who directed me to the ethics officer. I picked up the phone and they told me I couldn’t spend more than $20 per policy. 2/

I then had to fill out an approval form to be signed off by about five of my superiors, up to and including the VISN director and the undersecretary of health operations in DC. After a few months, I received the green light to spend less than $20 on the award. 3/

I also had to submit the parameters of HOW the award would be determined to the Union. I received approval for that after some negotiation with the Union Steward, then I went on the hunt for a trophy that cost less than $20. I hit pay dirt on eBay. 4/

Someone was liquidating an estate for a man who had recently passed away and was selling an 18” copper bowling championship trophy from 1963 I bid $10, and with the shipping and eBay costs, the total came in at just under $20. 5/

When I received the trophy, it had a little bowling guy on top and a plate on it that read GLENN WELDEN :: LEAGUE CHAMPION :: 1963-1964. At first, I thought about removing the plate and replacing it with CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD, but that would put me over the $20 limit. 6/

So I contacted the eBay seller to find out more about Glenn Welden. 7/

Here’s what I got back from the seller. 8/

Then I googled Glenn and learned he was a WWII veteran, then spent the remainder of his life in public service working for the US Department of the Interior @USInteriorPress Bureau of Reclamation to protect waterways in Oregon. So I wrote back to the seller. 9/

Ultimately, I decided to keep the Glenn Welden plate and call it the “Glen Welden Public Service Award.” 10/

So with $19.98 and a ton of paperwork, I was able to comply with VA ethics. AND CLARENCE THOMAS DOESN’T THINK A $500,000 TRIP NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. DRAFT IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES. We don’t have the votes, but we need to get the GOP on the record. END/

I realize this story took a hard left turn at the end, but I’m pissed. Lol.