First Annual Staff Retreat

Thu, Jul 29, 2010

On Thursday, July 29, administrative offices closed at 10:30 AM and staff departed for Buddy Attick Park in Old Greenbelt for the First Annual Departmental Retreat.

The event, designed for managers to determine staffers' learning styles and to foster teamwork, began al fresco on the warm day, but the venue was shaded and welcoming. The morning's exercises were followed by a hot dog and hamburger barbeque where all preparations, cooking and serving were done by senior managers.

Mother Nature decided to participate in the day's events and the group was forced to retreat to the Woods Atrium back at the Chemistry Building-and here was displayed the ultimate in team effort as everyone worked to clean up and get everything back to van and our cars before the storm arrived. Not even one raindrop landed on any of the assembled group!

So, the team-building exercises took place on folding tables and chairs (and air-conditioning), but that did not dull the mood nor our spirits as the work concluded (with team prizes awarded) and we moved on to games just for fun and ice cream from The Dairy.

As one staffer said, "Rain could not dampen our mission to have fun and enjoy each other's company."