Ricki, I agree that certainly Louis contributed to how the kitchen staff feels toward his presence (and absence). However, I also feel that this behavior of the kitchen staff might be a telling attribute of the Miami of Ohio community; i.e., ALL members have been given the sense that they have an important role in welcoming visitors and impacting their overall impression.
I recall the terrific medical writer, Dr. Gwande talking about how one of the custodial staff at Mayo Clinic greeted their investigative group with great cheer and proceeded to assist them in finding their way around. The entire committee was very impressed but also felt they this one event made them already understood why this particular medical community functioned so effectively. That is, all members of the community were felt to have an important role, functioning regardless of rank and serial number. Joan [email protected] > That you spoke to them as individuals and most people treated them as > though they were no different than the food they were putting out. > > Riki Koenigsberg > > > On Sun, Dec 1, 2013 at 6:34 AM, Louis Eugene Schmier > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> In this season of gratitude, coming out from the fog of a >> Thanksgiving caloric coma, I thought I'd share what I call a humbling >> "little/big" teaching moment. The place was the Marcum Conference >> Center >> on the campus of Miami of Ohio. The occasion was the Lilly Conference >> on >> College Teaching held during the weekend before Thanksgiving. The time >> was >> Friday morning (11/22), about 6 am. I had come downstairs into the lobby >> area for some coffee and a newspaper. Two of the Center's kitchen staff >> were putting out the coffee. With a smile, I said to them, "Good >> morning. >> How are you doing this 'brrrrr' day?" They turned towards me and >> stopped >> what they were doing. One of them replied with a smile, "You weren't >> here >> last year. We missed you. Glad to see you made this year." Then, they >> came >> over and gave me a hug. I stood there, floored. Stunned. Deeply >> touched. >> Almost teary eyed. All I could muster at the moment was a quiet and >> deeply sincere, "Thank you." >> >> Think about it. I did, and still do. The staff! The kitchen >> staff that makes momentary unnoticed appearances amid the crowd of >> attendees to replenish the knosh tables! Noticed my absence a year ago! >> Missed me! Were glad to see me! Of all that happened at Lilly this >> year, >> and a lot happened, nothing touched me more than this. >> >> The next morning, still feeling both grateful and humbled, I >> asked >> these people how was it that with over 600 people at the conference last >> year they noticed I wasn't present and remembered me a year later--two >> years since they had seen me--enough to say something the first time >> they >> saw me. I scribbled down their answers when I got back to my room. >> What >> do you think they said? >> >> Make it a good day >> >> -Louis- >> >> >> Louis Schmier >> http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org >> 203 E. Brookwood Pl >> http://www.therandomthoughts.com >> Valdosta, Ga 31602 >> (C) 229-630-0821 /\ /\ /\ >> /\ /\ >> /^\\/ \/ \ >> /\/\__ / \ / \ >> / \/ \_ \/ / >> \/ /\/ / \ /\ \ >> //\/\/ /\ >> \__/__/_/\_\/ \_/__\ \ >> /\"If you want to climb >> mountains,\ /\ >> _ / \ don't practice on >> mole >> hills" - / \_ >> >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13477.dbc50898cf582dfebd6d7adf4eaf9eb6&n=T&l=tips&o=30902 >> or send a blank email to >> leave-30902-13477.dbc50898cf582dfebd6d7adf4eaf9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu >> > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752d0d&n=T&l=tips&o=30914 > or send a blank email to > leave-30914-49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=30942 or send a blank email to leave-30942-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
