Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley were among those in attendance January at the DowntownDC BID’s Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance (SAM) team members’ SAM of the Month meeting.
The event was hosted by Madame Tussauds (1001 F Street), which on Jan. 7 added Johnny Cash, James Dean, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and John Wayne to its collection of signature wax figures for a special, limited-time “American Icons” exhibit which will run for three months. Museum visitors in the remainder of the museum can continue hobnobbing with wax celebrities, athletes, politicians and historical icons and visit popular museum highlights such as the “Oval Office” and media room.
Though Sinatra and Presley remained in their exhibition space for the duration of January’s monthly meeting, Madame Tussauds did permit a wax SAM figure—created by the museum in 2012 for the DowntownDC BID’s 15th anniversary celebration— to preside over the meeting held in the museum’s meal space. Ashley Robinson, the museum’s marketing, promotions, and social media specialist spoke to team members about the museum.
Two SAMs were honored as SAMs of the Month for their stellar performance: SAM Safety/Hospitality Member Lawrence Alston and SAM Maintenance Member Dennis Flack.
Lawrence Alston, who has worked for the DowntownDC BID for five years, said the best part of the job is that he is someone who “likes to help people” and counts the “tourists and patrons” as reasons why he enjoys what he does. “It feels great,” he said of receiving the award. Alston’s desire to help others doesn’t stop during working hours. Alston coaches youth football for the Peppermill Pirates in Maryland. When not helping people, you might be likely to find Alston spending time with his family or watching his beloved San Francisco 49ers. He credits former wide receiver Jerry Rice for prompting his involvement in football at a young age and his lifelong love of the sport.
Dennis Flack is a man of few words. Fellow team members called on Flack to give a speech as he accepted his award, but he declined, later explaining that anyone who knows him knows he’s “reserved” and laid-back. “It feels good,” to be recognized, he later said. Flack appreciates that his job allows him to be outdoors and meet new people. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, family and his girlfriend, going bowling, and watching movies. The movie buff counts “Friday” as his favorite movie, but don’t ask him about “Next Friday.” “I didn’t like the sequel,” he said. “They start messing with all the characters.”