Rod started as the 3rd Truck Guy with the Atwaters - maybe one of Rob Hopkins first years. "They were from the Harbor and would leave on the 3:30 so I did all the night stuff. The next year I was the 3rd guy with Mark Schoen and Will Marinell in 1994 and 1995 so that they could have days off. The 3rd guy allows for help when it is really busy or when someone needs to take a day off. I never took the lead because I was in high school so I couldn't be on the Island in May.
"Why did I do it? There is great money. It is one of the better paying jobs. There is a lot of responsibility in interacting with Islanders. Looking back, having interacted with almost the entire Island for 4 years, I knew when people were here, when they left, when they got groceries.
"The biggest challenge was getting up for the 7:30 and meeting every boat, especially when it was cold. June was somber. Emergencies were also a challenge. I remember I had to wait for the Coast Guard when someone at John Merrill's cottage had a heart attack. They all hopped on the truck, and I got them to the cottage. Rob was there so I could bow out. Fortunately, there were no fires.
"Much of the work in the '90's was delivering phone messages. Sue Hopkins would take the messages at the Town Hall office, and the truck would deliver them. Most appliances that arrive may get a little dinged up in the Harbor or on the truck. If I were to recommend the job, I would say it's a great job. There are some slow days and some very, very busy days. You need good people skills for Squirrel people. Everyone is a bit different; they operate differently. At the time, I was living at the little cottage. When Jane and Bill Burke were there, I stayed I the bunk house in June. I also stayed at the Farm House before it was remodeled. I was not fed there; I fed myself by ordering food, sandwiches and chips from the shop near the Foothold. They would put the food on the boat.
"People should understand that all bags and boxes need to be labeled; otherwise it is quite a challenge. I used excel and printed off bills in 1995. Getting the last bills paid was not easy. I wrote off younger people or renters. It was wonderful that some people sent tips in December!
"I may have been an early crew guy for Rob. I would use the truck for him early in the day and then with the truck guys later on. Truck guys now are an independent business event though they use the truck. That independent approach may have started with Rob. I'm not sure if Mark and Will were Island employees or independent contractors (Deliveries, Inc.). I think there was a contract, more of an agreement, with Rob to meet every boat, be available for emergencies, and on call. That's why the truck is parked near the Truck Guys at night.
"We got no checks from Rob. You could make only $4 on days in June. I would do odd jobs to make money. You still had to meet all of the boats. You also had to get the luggage off the boat and up the ramp."
"Why did I do it? There is great money. It is one of the better paying jobs. There is a lot of responsibility in interacting with Islanders. Looking back, having interacted with almost the entire Island for 4 years, I knew when people were here, when they left, when they got groceries.
"The biggest challenge was getting up for the 7:30 and meeting every boat, especially when it was cold. June was somber. Emergencies were also a challenge. I remember I had to wait for the Coast Guard when someone at John Merrill's cottage had a heart attack. They all hopped on the truck, and I got them to the cottage. Rob was there so I could bow out. Fortunately, there were no fires.
"Much of the work in the '90's was delivering phone messages. Sue Hopkins would take the messages at the Town Hall office, and the truck would deliver them. Most appliances that arrive may get a little dinged up in the Harbor or on the truck. If I were to recommend the job, I would say it's a great job. There are some slow days and some very, very busy days. You need good people skills for Squirrel people. Everyone is a bit different; they operate differently. At the time, I was living at the little cottage. When Jane and Bill Burke were there, I stayed I the bunk house in June. I also stayed at the Farm House before it was remodeled. I was not fed there; I fed myself by ordering food, sandwiches and chips from the shop near the Foothold. They would put the food on the boat.
"People should understand that all bags and boxes need to be labeled; otherwise it is quite a challenge. I used excel and printed off bills in 1995. Getting the last bills paid was not easy. I wrote off younger people or renters. It was wonderful that some people sent tips in December!
"I may have been an early crew guy for Rob. I would use the truck for him early in the day and then with the truck guys later on. Truck guys now are an independent business event though they use the truck. That independent approach may have started with Rob. I'm not sure if Mark and Will were Island employees or independent contractors (Deliveries, Inc.). I think there was a contract, more of an agreement, with Rob to meet every boat, be available for emergencies, and on call. That's why the truck is parked near the Truck Guys at night.
"We got no checks from Rob. You could make only $4 on days in June. I would do odd jobs to make money. You still had to meet all of the boats. You also had to get the luggage off the boat and up the ramp."