There are more awards in America than you can count. There are book awards, thousand points of light awards and cooking awards. Because of something that happened here recently I want to create the "WHAT IF AWARD" for people who have the ability to call into play experience and action when things do not go as planned or are not neatly outlined in job specification.
I live in a ten-story apartment building. On each floor there are about ten apartments with just two some-time working elevators. People who live here range in age from job holders to retirees who are mid-life and older. Most are mobile. Some use walkers. Some are in wheelchairs.
On one of the coldest nights of this long winter both our elevators went kaput. Some people were stranded coming into the building. Some residents were stranded in the drafty lobby at a function that was taking place. Only one member of our full-time management staff, our director of community services was on duty and about to leave for the day. Our maintenance chief had just pulled out of the drive way toward home.
When the elevators broke down our maintenance chief turned around and came back to work. The director of community services took off her coat, grabbed some chips, cookies and water and distributed them to residents who did not walk up the steps but stayed in the lobby. Within a few minutes the fire department and local police arrived to assist with people who needed help.
The next morning the elevators worked. Our staff was weary. Residents talked of the help they
received from people who extended themselves even when things did not go as planned. For this, I give them all
my "WHAT IF AWARD."
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Well said, Beverly. I was there for an hour and a half of the wait for the elevators to begin working again, but that's when I decided to climb the six floors up to my apartment. Our staff did, indeed, deserve your award.
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