Kicking off our Membership Campaign
Delarc staff recently gathered at our Hamden location for our First Quarter Staff Meeting, and the room was filled with energy, connection, and a whole lot of green.
To kick off our “Go for the Green” membership campaign, staff were encouraged to wear green to show their support. Our team certainly delivered. The meeting room was filled with green as staff came together to celebrate the start of the campaign and connect with one another. They had the opportunity to enter their names into a drawing to receive a free Annual Membership.
Welcoming New Faces and Celebrating Growth
One of the meaningful parts of our quarterly staff meetings is the opportunity to recognize the people who make our organization stronger. During the meeting, we proudly welcomed our newest employees to the Delarc team and celebrated staff members who were recently promoted within the organization. It is always exciting to see our team continue to grow and to recognize the dedication and hard work of those who are stepping into new roles.
Newly hired staff, Kaitlin and Corey
Recently promoted staff, Katie, Christine & Terri
Recognizing Excellence: The S’happenin Award
One of the highlights of the meeting was the announcement of the newest S’happenin Award recipient. Congratulations to Nicky Carr, who was recognized for putting newly learned skills into action. After completing a recent behavioral training course, Nicky applied what she learned at Studio 190, helping an individual develop a new art goal. With Nicky’s support, the individual completed their project and experienced a wonderful sense of pride in their accomplishment.
Nicky’s actions are a perfect example of how “Shift Happens” when we take what we learn and apply it in meaningful ways. After receiving the award, Nicky joined previous S’happenin Award recipients for a celebratory photo.
S’happenin award recipients to date.
S’happenin award recipient, Nicky Carr
A Chance to Connect and Collaborate
During the meeting, staff broke into small groups of 12 people for two different values exercises.
In the first round of discussion, groups were asked to consider a fun but meaningful question: If you had $20 to spend on a coworker at Delarc, what are 20 creative ways could spend it that would contribute to their Employee Satisfaction? Over 120 different creative ideas were generated, such as a fishing license, fishing pole, snack basket, various gift cards, movie tickets, chocolate, flowers, and many others.
The activity encouraged staff to consider simple yet thoughtful ways to recognize coworkers and contribute to the employee satisfaction of the and the colleagues we work alongside every day. After the activity, everyone was surprised with a thank you note and $20 cash.
Those same groups gathered again for a second discussion focused on a bigger question: How could we make Delarc even stronger, and what do we want to continue doing, start doing, or stop doing? These conversations gave staff the opportunity to share ideas, reflect on the work we do, and collaborate with coworkers they may not normally work with. It was a great way to bring different perspectives together while continuing to strengthen our Delarc community.
Wellness Committee: Promoting Healthy Habits
The Wellness Committee shared a brief video about building healthy habits, reminding staff that small, consistent changes can lead to meaningful improvements in overall well-being.
Following the video, Wellness Committee members Wionna and Grace led staff through a few simple chair exercises designed to help stretch and move the body. These easy movements are especially helpful for people who may spend much of their day sitting at a desk. It was a fun and engaging way to encourage everyone to take a few minutes to move and refocus.
Celebrating Healthy Habits
The Wellness Committee also shared the results of their first challenge: submitting healthy snack recipes. Staff arriving at the meeting found a Snack Recipe Booklet placed at each seat, featuring all of the delicious and creative entries.
Everyone who submitted a recipe received a one-hour time-off certificate as a thank you for participating. The top three recipes also received special prizes:
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First Place: Stephanie Patrick for her Fluff Cups recipe. She received handcrafted wooden spoons and a Price Chopper gift certificate.
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Second Place: Grace Baker for her Cream Cheese Cucumber Snack. She received a cutting board and a Price Chopper gift certificate.
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Third Place: Shyla Higley for her Bird Food snack recipe. She received a Price Chopper gift card.
Wellness Committee and those who submitted recipes
A New Wellness Challenge Ahead
The Wellness Committee also introduced their upcoming 30-Day Movement Challenge, which kicks off April 1. Staff were encouraged to participate by tracking their daily movement throughout the month. The challenge is designed to promote wellness, encourage healthy habits, and bring a little fun and friendly motivation to the workplace.
Stronger Together
Throughout the meeting, important updates were shared, questions were answered, and plenty of laughter filled the room. It was a reminder of how strong our Delarc community is when we come together.
Spending time together like this helps us stay connected to our mission, celebrate the great work happening across the organization, and continue finding ways to grow and support one another.
At Delarc, it is always a great time when our team comes together because we are stronger together.
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