Come on, people! Feel free to talk! Reagan has Clara Belle in her office and she already wanted to rip her hair out and hide in the Locked Room on Level Nine! But at least my office isn't stuffed full of people like it usually is... LOL!

Though I doubt the peace will last long...

Well, I'm here, happy to see we have a thread now to discuss various stuff going around the Ministry (thanks, Tiffanie!)

Come on, people, this could be really fun, think of all the great subplots we can dream up and inflict upon the world! I'm just kind of relaxing right now myself, having finally completed all the tasks that my department has been assigned for the upcoming Ministry convention, so it's a really nice time to relax and plot. Not that any time isn't a good time for that, teehee!

Alright, you've convinced me, Linda!

Right now, Lorraine is going around to all her divisions to perk some interest up / hand out tasks to those who haven't received anything yet... *sigh* *kicks employees into gear*
Oh and right now she's in the Floo Network, talking with a Ms Myers about a certain male groundskeeper albeit Lorraine has no idea who the male is in question, but whatever! ;P

Well Egypt has gotten all her research done and is chatting up with ice maiden Alexa

With the school term coming to an end at the end of August, we need to take advantage of the surge of activity we may get during the sorting time. I'm tempted to set the Conference during that time, though I haven't decided upon that yet b/c I need to discuss with Ern, but it is looking a bit appealing.
Though I have to determine if that will be enough time for each dept to get done, but everyone should start working toward that goal for now

But anyhow, enough a plot stuff... does anyone have anything fairly hilarious going on in their departments? If so, please share!

I don't have any employees! I've sent them like 3 PMs already and many of them have gotten them and they still don't do anything. I'm at a loss as to what else I can do

I think we all feel your pain... Personally, I myself have like three total active employees! Which isn't good for a department that has four divisions!!
and one of division heads is frustrated cause he feels he is doing the work of employees, since he has no active ones. I'm like; there isn't much i could do!
I've just sent them all a PM... so we'll see what happens

I feel the same. I have 0 at the moment. But I usually have 2.

It seems we all have a problem getting people to stay here within our departments. I think we need to possibly brainstorm some exciting activities, something to keep people busy. The conference is going to provide something for people to do, and there was quite a bit of activity going on for a while as people worked on the OWLs and NEWTs, but now my department has died down to its practically extinct level of activity again. Let's think up some stuff to motivate people and keep them interested!

So, I had this idea. For the tasks we have within our departments, what if we found a way to reward people for doing a good job, such as raises, etc.? What do you guys think of this? (This may not be the right forum for this, but I thought I would get the idea out in the open.)

Oh yeah. As far as the conference goes, I think it would be awesome if we could have it during the time when school is out of session. It would work better for most of us, I'm sure! Give us a little something to do, plus we could concentrate and devote more attention to this.

See I thought the whole point of us being Department Heads was that we brainstormed plots. And I haven't really seen that happening.

Me neither. Maybe we should have a brainstorming session or something, something to get motivation going within the departments. Maybe we can think up some good ideas. Ideas for plots within each individual department seem to be an issue, and I think that's something we should all work on. Wouldn't it be great if the Ministry became as big a thing as the school?

As department heads, you all are responsible for developing subplots for your department in addition to seeing forth any major overall plots that have been decided for the entire Ministry RPG and for suggesting new ideas for major plots when one major plot is coming to a close.

You have the freedom to do develop you dept plots at any time you feel your department needs a boost. You are encouraged to do that and I expect you all to be doing that.

As for activity, right now is a tough time. The summer always sees a lull in activity, both in the school RPG and now in the ministry, because lots of people take vacations (or don't have any schoolwork to procrastinate doing by using SS ). Hopefully, activity will pick up soon. *crosses fingers*

I'm discussing with the other admin the suggestions that many of the dept heads have put forward to improve the RPG. A lot of the bigger suggestions that were made (like salaries or some other incentive program) require input from tech and other admin to even discuss feasibility, so bare with me as these things take time

Just another thought with regards to plots; is there anyway to perhaps encourage members to have their Ministry charries develop their own character subplots, as people do with their School Charries? I know this might seem rather silly or whatnot, but if people didn't develop their school charries then would they really see the point of RPing in places like the lake or pathways? No. They'd go to classes ... partake in the bigger plots of "house pride" and earning house points... but, they need to create their own individual charrie. Same with the Ministry.

Yes, some people do this already, but I think activity would increase more if we could somehow encourage people to develop "business relationships", perhaps even throwing in "workplace romance".

So Dept heads have the role of developing subplots. What exactly is the role of division head? Are they supposed to help develop the plots or just carry them out and do the work of a regular employee?

Yeah there doesn't seem to be any charrie subplots going on in the Ministry like at the school. I wonder why that is. I mean I know my charrie started off with drama in the break room.

Salaries would be awesome!

Members should definitely be encouraged to develop subplots for their own characters. I completely agree that what makes the RPs so unique is the uniqueness of the individual RPers characters. Hopefully the opening of Diagon Alley and the chance to RP a bit outside the workplace will encourage the members to develop their own characters away from work and then they can bring those attributes to the Ministry as well.

To answer your question Jess, Division heads are meant to assist the dept heads in the development of subplots, sometimes coming up with the ideas but at the very least helping flush them out into something manageable. They are expected to see any subplots in their Division through with their employees, keeping the flow of the RP continuously moving, and ensuring that their employees are informed both IC and OOC (unless you choose to have all OOC contact with your employees. That is the dept head's individual choice). They are meant to assist you in nearly whatever you need from them for the RP, both IC and OOC.

Ok I've sent out my 5th PM to all my employees, and all of them have gotten the PMs and many of them are online right now RPing in Diagon Ally just like I didn't nicely ask them to make 1 little post in the Ministry doing their job.

I'm at my wits end to be frank.

Hey guys, I have a question - how many of you have x-HermioneGranger-x as an employee in your department? Apparently she applied and got placed at least 3 different times back in the day and now I have no idea what department she really works in. Her profile says Education, but she's on other departments lists. I'd like to know #1) if she was placed into your department and #2) if she is an active RPer.

I'd also like EACH and EVERY one of you to go through your applications and record any person who has been placed in your department in the Employees Listing on the Ministry OOC. I often use this list to check if people have been placed before and I know it is incomplete. Even if your employees have told you they don't want to RP anymore, we need them on the list b/c if they ever come back, they stay in that department. SO PLEASE UPDATE THAT MASTER LIST ASAP! If the application is in your box, their name should be on that list.

I will be checking to see if this gets done and hunt you down if you don't do it! MAUAHAHAHAHA Pwease do it!

x-HermioneGranger-x - She's in my department (Magical Education) and is not very active, never really has been except possibly in the first couple days. I can't remember the last time she posted there. (I just checked, the last time she posted was June 29.)

My employee list should be up to date, though most of the people don't play in the Ministry very frequently. Only change that I know of is that PhelpsLover101 has left the Ministry and is going to RP exclusively in the school. That's the latest I have!

hmmm I think she was in mine as well but got moved. Hmm she active in Knockturn Ally shes posts in there almost every day. So I mean shes active on the site.

She's hasn't been sorted in my department; hmph! I feel left out (I kid!)

As for my employee list, it should be up-to-date, but I could double check that again for you =]

I don't have her either!

I am up to date, I did it yesterday when I updated my colour.

So you guys wanna know a secret.... I find myself slacking in other parts of SS to play in here >.<

*dances*

^

*listens* I like secrets. Ooh, that's kinda interesting Caitlin

Guess what? I like playing my Ministry Charrie better than my Hogwarts Charrie
except other people seem to like him for some reason?

Hey, Tiff, what day are we looking to end this plot? For the finalllllll big, last day of the conference thing to happen?