When you walk into the main entrance of Browning Masonic Community (BMC), you get a distinct feeling of coming home. From the plants and the fish pond, to the view outside to the gardens, it is an extremely welcoming place. Also in the front lobby, hanging over the fish pond, there is a plaque which reads:
Employee Appreciation Day
Organized by the
Browning Masonic Community Residents To Celebrate and
Honor Our Exemplary Staff
Each year in August since 2006, this appreciation day has been celebrated in the community. Every year an engraved tag with the year is added to the plaque and this year was no different. Back in 2006, the Employee Appreciation Day was the brainchild of the BMC Resident Council. It was spearheaded by residents Jackie, Chuck and JoAnn with the help of a number of other residents. It started with a luncheon provided by funds raised from Resident Council activities with the help of outside volunteers from the Masonic community. Residents and employees got to sit down together and have a meal. Employees loved it! First, because they had never heard of anywhere else that not only declared a special day for Employee Appreciation, but second and more importantly, because it was the brainchild of their very own residents!
This year Jackie and JoAnn continued the tradition with the help of the other 2014 Resident Council officers and resident volunteers with donuts and coffee served by the residents to employees throughout the entire day and into the evening.
“The lunches were great,” said Donna Davis, “but this is even better! We only got one lunch hour but we get two breaks!”
“Life Enrichment traditionally puts on the parties and activities and such but this day was all handled by the residents and we just enjoyed the day!” said Sharon Elliott, Resident Affairs Concierge.
This year’s Resident Council also made sure all three shifts were covered and got the same treatment! Everyone from the President, David Subleski, to the third shift Resident Assistants and Nurses were able to enjoy the day and the donuts!
It is truly a wonderful thing to be appreciated by the people you work for, to know that what you do truly reflects our mission statement:
We are the living expression of our Masonic obligation – we serve as the trusted partner to help people age respectfully: how they want, where they want.
