That’s a lot of years!
Employee recognition ceremony an enjoyable event
by Sharron Walls
At an event often interrupted by bursts of laughter, 745 members of the MCG community who have been with the university for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years were honored at a packed house during the 39th Annual Employee and Faculty Service Recognition Ceremony Oct. 12 in the Large Auditorium.
The ceremony is held each year to recognize long-term employees. Provost Barry Goldstein in his opening remarks said that MCG “values human resources as the most important aspect of what we do.”
Noting that those 745 employees represented 8,760 years of service, President Daniel W. Rahn called attention to four employees who have each been with the institution for 35 years, offering his “sincere condolences” and promising “appropriate psychiatric services.” His tongue-in-cheek remarks were one of many light-hearted moments during the ceremony, which was followed by a reception at the MCG Wellness Center.
The afternoon also marked the naming of the 2006 Erie P. Blissit Award winner, Diana Morris, administrative assistant to R. Bryan Ginn Jr., vice president for university advancement. (see related story)
MCG’s first lady, Lana Rahn, awarded her husband the first pin of the afternoon in acknowledgment of his 15 years of service to the university. Dr. Rahn in turn presented Dr. Goldstein with his 25-year pin. Employees with five, 10 and 15 years were then asked to stand, before the deans and vice presidents called out the name of each person in their area with 20, 25, 30 and 35 years for individual presentation of service pins and awards.
One of the newest members of the administration, School of Medicine Dean D. Douglas Miller, provided the house another chuckle when he began his remarks by pointing out the irony of what he was doing: “I am pleased to announce that I have been here 104 days of service and commitment. I have met 19 percent of you.” Shaking hands with employees as they came forward, Dr. Miller often remarked, “It’s good to meet you.”
For one 20-year employee, the day was doubly rewarding. Janet Hopkins, administrative assistant to Deb Barshafsky, vice president for decision support, received a rousing happy birthday serenade from the audience.
Blue and silver balloons added a festive air as they decorated the auditorium but, without a doubt, the top prop of the day was the podium microphone. It began as Dr. Rahn and Dr. Goldstein, men of noticeably different heights but similar good humor, took turns with their remarks. The ensuing microphone manipulation and commentary, picked up by other presenters as well, infected the room with laughter.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Rahn spoke of purpose – that as we come to work each day at MCG, we serve “no higher purpose than serving the needs of our fellow man.”
Congratulations to all those recognized for their service.