NIEMAND  ASSOCIATES

I started working for the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 1960.  I was hired as a Benefits Analyst and worked in several capacities under that title for three years.  I loved my job.

For some reason that I couldn't figure out, I was selected to become a computer programmer.  Now I was working at another job that I learned to love.

In a few years a promotion opportunity occurred that I couldn't resist trying for. Even though I would hate to be leaving a job I loved, a promotion would give me more money to provide for my soon to be augmented family.  

To get that job, I had to compete with lots of other people in interviews and a very difficult test.  The test was called The Organization and Management Test which I "Ace'd."  

(I had thought while taking the test, "How would President Johnson answer this question?" I had met the President by "snotgrams" when I temporarily served in the "SSA Congressional Unit, and I did not like him.  But... following his presidency and noticing his likes and dislikes ... helped me with the test.)

(Do you think that was cheating?)

I got the job.

My new unit was involved in computerizing the punch card Social Security benefits program.  This was a massive job, taking many years.

The leader in the effort was Sid Nibali, a computer genius, and knowledgeable analyst on social programs. Sid went to Saudi Arabia for sometime, to develop their Social Security program.

Sid was a very hard worker.  Most of his children eventually came to work at SSA.  They were also hard workers, like their dad.  It was a pleasure for me to have a couple of Sid's children work for me when I was a Branch Chief.   

Sid was my idol. I followed his workday carefully.

Each morning after he had signed in, his secretary would put reams of important reading material in his in-basket, and during the day more would show up.  Sid would not leave work until he had taken action on every document.

His Section Chief, John W. handled all personnel activity. (Side note: John was a real nice guy but he felt that people avoided him and he had no good friends.  Somehow, he got the idea that people liked me and I had lots of friends.  He sought my advice.  

I recommended a book on the subject that he could buy and also gave him a copy of Dale Carnegie's great book: How to Win Friends and Influence People. He seemed happy about this and rewarded me with a nice cold bottle of New Bedford's Dawson's Beer. Where he found that I'll never know.) 

Like Sid, all the members of our programming staff had constantly filled In-Baskets.  The programmers seldom read any of it and just threw it into the waste basket. In addition, there were important documents that were not circulated below analysts' level.

Usually, the programmers had time to read while:

Waiting for "autocoder" sheets being turned into coded punch cards.

Waiting for punch cards to be used to generate programs and other information.

Waiting for tests to be run.

I thought that this was time that could be used to read incoming documents and books and learn new and exciting things. To emulate our Branch Chief, Sid. (A real nice guy, by the way.)

I started an experiment, I took all of my in-basket stuff (after I had read it, of course) and put it into a folder.  I also included an issue of a computer magazine that I subscribed to and added some "Programming Tips" that I copied from a library book.

I attached a "Buck Slip" (routing form) to the folder with the names of two of my buddies and sent it on its way.

My buddies seemed to like the folder bit, so I altered the routing slip to cover all of the programmers and analysts.  Nobody complained.

To have some fun, I labeled my readers "Niemand Associates, and made up one of my famous aliases, which became a constant presence on the folders.

Niemand in German means "nobody."

Alias: H.M. Niemand for:

Herman Melville Niemand (a nautical touch to coincide with another alias (nom de plume) which I use in the National Puzzlers League ... AHAB.

Niemand Associates became a "household name" at SSA.  In fact, it got quite popular after Niemand Associates took over a picnic arranged by a Government appointee and proclaimed it "Niemand Associates First Annual Picnic."

I still have pens inscribed with the group's name and current address.

Most of the members are either retired now or resting in peace.  We had a lot of fun with this and I think we finally increased our computer knowledge and lived up to Sid's example.