Employees August 17, 2011
Mutual Respect Committee celebrates 40 highly productive years
The Mutual Respect Committee, the hospital's longest serving employee committee, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The committee recently kicked off its celebration with a luncheon honoring its Outstanding Employees and a recap of some of its accomplishments over the past four decades. In 1971, the committee began with simple goals.
"The Mutual Respect Committee was established to help improve relationships among employees, and serve as a bridge to the hospital's community," said Lina Perrotti, manager, Employee Relations. "It has far exceeded its mission. Over the years, employees have generously dedicated their time to this committee and have helped us fulfill those goals."
In four decades, some of the MRC's milestones include:
- 1971: The Mutual Respect Committee is established with the Rev. Edward Dobihal, Jr. as its first chair.
- 1974: The annual Holiday Food Drive kicks off. Mutual Respect still organizes the hospital-wide drive and members deliver food to local food banks and shelters.
- 1977: What is now known as the Outstanding Employee program is created. Since 1977, more than 300 employees have been recognized for their exceptional contributions.
- 1988: A clothing drive brings in enough donations to fill a room. The committee now collects specific items such as hats and mittens and targets particular needs.
- 1996: First Employee Health Fair provides employees with a central place to get information on such topics as diabetes and eye health, and have their blood pressures taken.
- 2000: MRC holds a book drive for the Pediatric Primary Care Center.
- 2004: MRC collects soda can tops for Ronald McDonald House and the following year holds a drive for cell phones for local shelters.
- 2009: Hardy members of the MRC rebuild the shed at the Ronald McDonald House as part of United Way's Day of Caring.
In the past few years, the hospital has developed a number of recognition programs — including the Service Excellence Heroes program. "The MRC is now shifting its mission from employee recognition to focus more on developing drives and activities that meet the ever-growing needs of our patients and the community we serve," said Perrotti, administrative liaison with the MRC.
At the recent celebration of the MRC's 40th anniversary, Dan Williams, maintenance mechanic, Plant Engineering, commended the group's 40 years of dedicated service. "The work of the Mutual Respect Committee supports patients, employees and the community-at-large," Williams said. "People everywhere need to feel respected and it's the duty of all people to extend and build respect where sometimes there is none. We like to think of our motto as 'people helping people.'
In the photo: Outstanding employees received special notice at the recent MRC celebration. Shown (l-r) are: Richard D'Aquila, executive vice president and COO; David Naccarato, application coordinator, Epic; Barbara Sabo, APRN, Newborn Special Care Unit; Dan Williams; Marna Borgstrom, president and CEO; Ruth Ferro, virology processing associate, Virology Laboratory; Tamira Wilson, reference laboratory associate, Specimen Processing; Syline Dawkins, business associate, Maternity Services; and Jan Murphy, business associate, Trauma/Surgery Unit.
