In a special expression of gratitude, the Benedictine Sisters thanked all the good people who work at the monastery and help them carry out their good works at the annual Employee Recognition picnic. Running a monastery is no small task--ask any of the more than 30 staff persons in the food service, health care, housekeeping, physical resources, insurance, or development and communications departments what goes in to keeping things operating smoothly and efficiently.
Staff persons and many of their families including spouses, children, and grandchildren joined the sisters as more than 130 people filled the dining room for the catered luncheon. Sister Judith Trambley, coordinator of human resources for the monastery, and Sister Diane Cook, treasurer, welcomed everyone and recognized employees reaching significant milestones, including 20, 15, 10, and five years. Prioress Sister Stephanie Schmidt offered a prayer and called on the sisters to stand and sing a blessing for our employees before the celebration began.
After lunch, each employee won an envelope with a cash prize. True to the Benedictine way, Sister Diane Cook called employees forward to chose the unmarked envelopes by rank starting with the longest-employed and ending with the very newest employees.
