Amid frigid weather Feb. 5, the DowntownDC BID’s Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees (SAMs) enjoyed a warm welcome—complete with hot beverages— from the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (MVPUMC) (900 Massachusetts Avenue NW), which hosted the SAMs’ latest employee of the month meeting.
Pastor Donna Claycomb Sokol spoke of the importance of hospitality. Today, in an era where individuals walk the streets plugged into their electronic devices, it’s easy to miss the “small details” surrounding us, Claycomb Sokol said. “Try not to miss our neighbors.”
The pastor noted that the church welcomes everyone to their Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m. which is “come as you are” in whatever you are wearing. She added that some attendees arrive with all of their personal belongings in tow.
The pastor mentioned that the January meeting was the third time the church has hosted the SAMs and expressed thanks for all the SAMs do as the eyes, ears and caretakers of DowntownDC. “I consider you a gift,” she told the SAMs.
The work of the SAMs, who act as on-the-street concierges for Downtown, perform safety and maintenance tasks and a variety of other functions 362 days a year, was featured by media outlets in 2014. Last year, Safety/Hospitality SAM Crystal Saunders was profiled by Scripps-Howard Foundation Wire as part of a series on unique jobs in Washington, D.C. and NBC Washington in December featured SAMs as well as BID Communications Director Karyn Le Blanc in a piece on homelessness. Online video footage of those stories was showed to the SAMs at the meeting.
Director of Operations Everett D. E. Scruggs expressed his pride in seeing the SAMs receive media recognition. “It’s indicative of the job you do every day,” Scruggs said.
Scruggs also reminded SAMs of plans this year to add a new Safety/Hospitality SAM class, the first Safety/Hospitality class in several years. Safety/Hospitality SAMs provide directions, recommendations, are trained in safety and emergency response and overall create a welcoming and safe environment. The BID hopes to add 10 new Safety/Hospitality SAMs to its current staff.
Last year, the BID welcomed a new SAM Maintenance class who were hired to work a later shift in response to a significant increase in nightlife Downtown.
In inclement weather, Maintenance SAMs provide valuable services to the community, shoveling snow, salting walkways and keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians. This winter season has been no exception.
Maintenance manager Mike Williams at the Feb. 5 meeting thanked Maintenance Team 4 for being first on the scene during the recent snowstorm to clear sidewalks of snow and ice.
SAMs were also briefed on future events of note, including Black History Month, the March 25 Building Energy Summit at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, a SAM class graduation April 10 and this spring’s Cherry Blossom Parade, in which the SAMs annually participate.
Each month, two SAMs are recognized for their outstanding performance and are named SAMs of the Month. January’s winners were: Safety/Hospitality SAM Mary Brown and Maintenance SAM Dennis Flack.
Mary Brown has worked as a SAM for for 15 years but was very surprised to hear her name called at the SAM of the Month meeting. “I’m shocked,” she said as she went up to receive her award certificate. January was Brown’s second win of her career. Before joining the BID, Brown wrote parking tickets in the District. While performing that job, she saw SAMs out on the streets of Downtown so she asked for more information. Today, the D.C. native says “helping others” is what she enjoys most about being a SAM, “especially with the homeless… and people who need it the most.” Brown enjoys going out and having fun in her spare time, as well as playing her luck.
Dennis Flack has served as a SAM for four years and was last awarded SAM of the Month in December 2013. This month’s win was especially important to Flack, he said, because he very recently lost his father. “I’m thankful for this,” he said after the award ceremony, gesturing with his certificate. “My dad would be proud of me.” Flack enjoys being outside as part of the job. When not working, he likes to spend time with family, which now includes his 7-month-old son, Christian.