Kudos once again to the National Gallery of Art for hosting the December SAM of the Month meeting. The very impressive and elegant gallery extended a warm welcome to the Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees (SAMs) and other DowntownDC BID employees just a year ago. Everyone was more than happy to return to the NGA, located just outside the DowntownDC BID area boundary at 4th Street and Constitution Avenue. The gallery is a major tourist destination for domestic and international visitors and a gateway for many traversing into Downtown neighborhoods.
Deborah Ziska, chief press and public information officer, and Heidi Hinish, head of NGA’s teachers, school and family programs, spoke to the SAMs. Ziska shared information about Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, the exhibit running through Sunday, January 13. More than 100 of the artist’s greatest paintings are on display, along with a selection of related drawings and sculptures. Hinish discussed online resources for teachers and students and distributed the NGA Kids bulletin, also available online.
During the meeting, two SAMs who exhibited dedication to excellence and hard work were recognized as the October SAMs of the Month. They are Safety/Hospitality Team Member Alvin S. Chase, III and Maintenance Team Member Bernard Bond.
Alvin S. Chase, III is a multiple SAM of the Month winner. The 13-year SAM veteran leads by example and takes his appearance and dedication to working the high-volume Chinatown neighborhood seriously. The former Hecht’s (now Macy’s) clerk and shoe salesman relishes being outdoors and interacting with different people. Born and raised in D.C., Chase is the proud father of four sons and three grandsons and is a loving husband to his wife of 22 years. In his spare time, he enjoys sparring at the gym, jogging and riding a bicycle.
Bernard Bond has only been a SAM for two years, but this is his second SAM of the Month designation. Known for filling in when the Maintenance Team is understaffed, Bond doesn’t hesitate to help out. Says he: “I have pride in my work,” and he’s not shy about letting everyone know! Bond transitioned to the DowntownDC BID after losing his job as a maintenance crew chief for the city. He has four children and two grandchildren.
Congratulations, Chase and Bond!