Resignation Tendered

September 2010

Today I tendered my resignation with First Services, LLC. I no longer work for Ronald Bell, President & CEO.

Prior to accepting a position at First Services, a self proclaimed "leading edge telesales company that provides "unparalleled telemarketing solutions:, I was told that First Services (Ron Bell) was interested in the betterment and rehabilitation of prisoners, reducing recidivism, and helping prisoners learn marketable skills they can utilize upon their release to get a foot in the door of the job market. I was offered to be a part of this and to be a valued partner of a company that recognizes and appreciates its "people", rather than a simple "worker". I enthusiastically jumped at the chance.

My first campaign was with an Australian company named Smart Phone Hub. For two weeks, I called small and medium-sized businesses all throughout Australia. My mission: To get the IT Manager or business owner to agree to an appointment with a Smart Phone Hub salesman. The product: A new Blackberry, IT/Telecom service, and a unique and very neat pocket projector. I loved the opportunities to speak to the Aussies! Despite three day of First Services' PC/Dialer problems and failure to provide product info (I was told its not important, despite the fact I've been locked up and haven't seen a Blackberry), and the fact that many that I called were in binding contracts with other providers, I manage to set up 4 of the 7 appointments that our three man (prisoner) team set in 2 weeks. Our client wasn't happy with First Services' results. We lost the client.

My second campaign was with a Nevada business named SouthWest Industrial selling Sprayway Foaming coil cleaner and Silicone spray. For about 3 weeks, I called Arizona HVAC companies offering a free sample can of coil cleaner, in hopes of selling cases of it after they'd tried it out. Having learned HVAC while at Manzanita unit, I was familiar with HVAC and such products. I'd been sending an average of 25-30 samples a day. Problems: First Services had dialer malfunctions which caused me to call the same leads 2, 3 and some times 4 times within hours of the 1st call, in addition to samples not being sent on time for my call-back a week later. I made no sales. The client was not happy with First Services. We lost the client.

My third, and final campaign was with a company named Easy.ly Family Law Marketing. A new, web-based business owned by a man named Daniel Roth, which provides potential client referrals to Family Law Attorneys. For about 6 weeks, I called California attorneys who practice family law. I was to convince these attorneys to sign up at Easy.ly's website and receive potential client referrals for an upfront and one time fee. A great service, especially considering the fees are reasonable and the lawyer only pays for the referrals they get, and are reimbursed for each referral they aren't sent. After six weeks of talking to lawyers, assistants and secretaries and listening to their concerns about Easy.ly and discussing them with Ron Bell and his assistant, and Daniel Roth, I grew more discouraged when I was ignored and told to "do whatever you have to do to make the sale". Daniel listened and was trying to make improvements to his business. First Services however, was only concerned with making money.

Since going to work for First Services, everything I was led to believe about its quality of services and its ethos regarding prisoners was false. First Services is simply just another small telemarketing call center. One that chose to exploit Arizona prisoner for cheap labor. We are paid $3.00 an hour. After deductions by ADOC for Room & Board, Retention fund, and other deductions, I make around $.65 an hour spendable. Desperation by most prisoners has caused this to be a top-dollar job that many want. I resigned. I can't bring myself to ignore this exploitation. I won't. It's not right! First Services should pay its prisoner employees no less than that State's minimum wage, and not portray itself as something its not.

What do you think about this?

LOVE

I am taking this entry out of dated order to sort of keep it in context with the previous entry. I don't think anything is more important to an inmate than searching for someone to be a significant other or make the present situation more bearable. Shannon requested comments on his views about l'amore. Blog administrator

September 7, 2010

In about 18 months, I will be released. I've been preparing for that day for many years and nearly everything has been falling into place. If I were to be released tomorrow, I'd step through the gates and right into a new life. A safe, sane and secure life. A home, vehicle, food, clothes, good friends, goals, no desire to ever put myself in a situation which would risk my freedom again, and even the will, wisdom, and means to LEGALLY make more money without struggling or working menial jobs just to make ends meet.

Unfortunately, one specific thing I've spent years trying to change in my life remains the same. I am still without a significant other. Alone. Good friends near and far I've been blessed with. A tiny, close family too. But that one special woman who I'm meant to spend my life with eludes me.

Some of my friends and family think that I should remain single until I'm released. (Moi for one). I do not agree. I believe that meeting my soulmate while locked up is not only wise but important to my future. Am I as desperate as it seems? No more desperate than anybody else who simply wants to be with their Mr. or Ms. Right and is willing to put themselves out there to find them.

I believe that if a relationship can start, grow and survive while one person is in prison, the relationship will be a powerful force once both people are free and finally together. It's only the strong, dedicated and honest relationships that survive prison. I'm also convinced that all a person's vices, flaws, lies, etc, will surface eventually during incarceration, on both sides of a relationship. If the love survives and you can continue, after being released, the relationship will thrive.

In addition to all of this, for me, having somebody to get out "to" is important, if not vital. Somebody who I have committed myself to; other than myself, family and friends, to care for, love, protect and do right by.

I've tried the prison pen pal sites, and various other means to meet somebody, to no avail. Now I'm out of ideas, so I've decided to ask every person who reads this to do what they can to help me meet a single woman in Arizona. I ask you to place any personal ads you will, send copies of my pen pal ads to your friends, and/or family, e-mail everybody you know, twitter about me, put me on Craigs List and anything else you can think of. If you want to know more about me or what kind of guy I am, I'm sure that all of my friends reading this will leave their comments and answer any questions.

Anybody can snail-mail me at:

Shannon M. Clark #113372

ASPC-Lewis Eagle Point Unit

PO Box 3700

Buckeye, Arizona 85326

Send me your first e-mail response by going to:

http://writeaprisoner.com/Template.aspx?:=z-113372

A New Start

August 17, 2010

In about twenty months I get to start my life over again. I am often asked what my plans are. Although many of my plans are more like fanciful desires and grandiose proposals to myself, I have a specific set of objectives that I will successfully achieve.

1) I will live in a comfortable home, with some luxuries, in a rural area without smog, traffic congestion, skyscrapers and so many lights that you can't see the stars. A safe place. A place where wildlife are squirrels, pine trees and wildflowers, instead of tweekers, pigeons and cockroaches. I'm partial to Prescott, Arizona.

2) I will own a nice medium sized 4x4 SUV. one that I start with keys instead of a screwdriver. Four-runner.

3) I will be attending a good college, studying subjects that interest me, that will help me secure a career in business and further help me pursue my passions. Preferrably a school with lots of single attractive women with brains who love tattooed guys with brains, brawn and baggage (I'll own lots of clothes and stuff. LOL) I'm leaning towards Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona.

4) I will own my own online business.

5) I will be a published author.

6) I will be financially stable and secure.

7) I will still have all of my great friends I met while in here and some new ones. I'll visit my friends Shaun, Louise, Helen and Emilia in the UK and many others in the states.

I have many objectives and all of them I can obtain with hard work and dedication. 20 months until the beginning starts.