It’s that time of year again—snow on the ground, lights
on the tree, “Silver Bells” from the tinny speakers
above the sidewalks downtown. Campus is decorated too, and Westview
Dining is decked in holiday splendor. Physical Plant employee
and journeyman painter Al Tetsworth is donning a plush red Santa
suit and hat in preparation for the annual Ferris State University-MOARC
Christmas Party.
Office Christmas parties aren’t any more
unusual than vacation slips and performance reviews, and Tetsworth’s
starring role as St. Nick mirrors other office Santas right down
to the ho-ho-ho. What makes this party exceptional is the fact
that it is completely funded out of employees’ pockets and
thrown in honor of a crew of dedicated and enthusiastic workers
from the Mecosta Osceola Area Rehabilitation Center—employees
who also happen to be developmentally challenged.
Premium
Jobs?
“Let’s face it—the work we
do here isn’t the most glamorous,” says Bryan Marquardt,
manager of Rankin Center Dining Operations and the man who spearheaded
the Ferris-MOARC partnership. “We need workers in the afternoon,
when students are busiest, and they don’t want to wash dishes.
We were having a tough time getting and keeping good student employees.”
Marquardt and Assistant Manager Stan Vallier
brought the idea of working with people with disabilities from
previous experiences partnering with MOARC. Such an arrangement
had never been proposed at Ferris, however, and the University
proceeded very cautiously, he says—carefully examining issues
regarding training, oversight, compensation and liability.
According to Marquardt, in the time since,
the benefits of the partnership have been undeniable.
“Our relationship with MOARC is so strong
now that the agency’s clients consider our positions to
be premium jobs—everyone wants to join the Ferris team and
do well.”
“MOARC has two teams in the dishrooms
for us: one in Westview and one at the Rock,” says Vallier.
“MOARC was thrilled to get on campus. They’re always
looking for new opportunities, and everything just kind of fell
into place. It’s been a great, great relationship!”
The
Spirit of Giving
The relationship is so strong that the Rankin
Center dining services staff decided to give something back.
“Our staff wanted to do something special
for the MOARC team,” Marquardt says. “They got together
and funded a Christmas party out of their own pockets. Everyone
donated money for food and gifts, and Al dressed up as Santa.
It was beautiful—it put everyone in the holiday spirit and
everyone really enjoyed it. Not only the MOARC crew, but the staff
as well.”
Marquardt credits the partnership with MOARC
in part for a close-knit sense of teamwork and community enjoyed
by his staff. They have since made the Christmas party an annual
celebration and mid-year morale booster.
“It reminds everybody of the true meaning
of Christmas,” says Vallier. “If you’re around
when Santa comes you’ll see. It’s unbelievable—it
gives you such a good feeling.”
