Staff celebrated for 'vital' contributions
Employee Appreciation Day 2008 Staff members celebrated with colleagues and friends.
Employee Appreciation Day 2008 Interim president Reveley honored Lawrence Charity, among others, for their service anniversaries.
Employee Appreciation Day 2008 For many, the day ended with a spirited version of 'The Electric Slide.'
Hundreds of William and Mary staff members gathered by the Wren
Courtyard June 26 to enjoy a picnic lunch, door prizes and the
accolades of College leadership.
The celebration was a part of Employee Appreciation Day, an annual
event where the College's staff members are recognized for their
contributions to the success of the institution.
"I learned a long time ago that the work of the staff is absolutely
vital to the health and happiness of an organization," said Interim
William and Mary President W. Taylor Reveley III. "Indeed, most places
would grind to a quick halt, a dead stop, if the staff suddenly headed
for the hills. This is certainly true of the College of William &
Mary. You all are vital, vital to what goes on here. And you do a
marvelous job of holding this place together."
Anna Martin, vice president of administration, opened the event by
thanking the staff members for their service over the last year.
"It's been a time of change and transition, and you've rolled with
those changes with terrific grace and focus and determination," she
said. "You keep this place moving forward, and I'm so, so grateful for
that. Thank you for all that you do for the College of William and
Mary."
During
the lunch, Reveley recognized staff members celebrating their five-year
milestone anniversaries – between five and 50 years -- with the
College. He also presented special gifts to James Barbour and Thomasine
Lewis, who were celebrating 45 years of service, and Lawrence Charity,
who has worked at the College for 50 years.
Tom Meier, electrical technician for the biology and psychology
departments, was also recognized during the event. Meier was this
year's winner of the Duke Award, the College's highest recognition for
a staff member.
During the lunch, employees enjoyed a meal of chicken, barbeque and
other delights while volunteer faculty and administration members
served them iced tea and lemonade. Some staff members also won doors
prizes, including tickets to Busch Gardens and William and Mary parking
passes. Employees who filled out evaluation forms received free
Employee Appreciation Day T-shirts.
Though a staff member herself, Carla Costello, an administrative
assistant in the Office of the President, volunteered during the event
because she said she wanted to serve other employees. Costello, who is
the secretary for the Hourly and Classified Employees Association, said
she thinks that the event is a great way for the College to let the
staff know how much they mean to the institution.
"I think that it's a good way to show everybody that we really are
appreciated because, as the staff, we are the meat of the College," she
said. "And, as the president said, the College would fall apart without
us."
