After September 11, all our lives changed. But at the same time, they stayed the same. State employees
were still due to receive a small raise that made barely addressed the simultaneous increase in health care
costs. Lay-offs had already occurred at some agencies and whispers were already circulating that more
were expected. Remaining employees were still expected to do their work and that of their departed
co-workers, too.
Given the scenario, state employees are one of the last groups you might expect to pony up their hard
earned dollars and scarce time to put together a 9-11 fundraiser, right? Wrong.
At the Division of Waste Management, Leann Ishak, who works in the Underground Storage Tank section was working to publicize a BBQ fundraiser that the section’s employees had hastily put together.
The combination of Clyde Cooper's barbecue as bait and a deluge of e-mails, fliers, shameless begging
and arm-twisting made the event more successful than ever expected. Hasty offers to transport food to
other locations broadened the event. And when it was all over, $1,000 was raised for the Red Cross relief
effort in New York.
The proud employees chose December 5 as the day they’ll present this check to local Red
Cross officials. They'd like to do it sooner, but travel restrictions would keep many from attending.
Fortunately, a scheduled meeting that day meets approved travel guidelines.
At first glance, it’s amazing that this group of employees --recipients of low raises, higher healthcare
costs, increased duties and decreased numbers - felt motivated enough to put together the event. But
at the same time, it’s not that big of a surprise.
Like everyone else post 9-11, these employees were grieving, confused and angry. And they have less time and money than most. But they are already used to solving tough problems with scarce resources. After all, how many folks do you see lining up daily to take on environmental contamination and the controversy that surrounds it?
So when they hand over that check for $1,000, a lot more than money is changing hands. These DENR employees are also handing over skipped lunches, gas burned by personal cars for deliveries and free time spent meeting with vendors and plotting logistics. Not to mention a whole lot of grit, compassion and persistence.
These folks accomplished with scant resources. But perhaps amazement isn’t the right response. State employees are used to accomplishing great things on a shoestring. Grit, compassion and persistence have always been a primary ingredient in the mix we call “state government”. Come to think of it, things haven’t changed that much after all.
